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Welcome to the La Liga Transfer Roundup. With just a couple of weeks left in the transfer window, we are braced for an intense conclusion to the summer.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top La Liga Transfer News of the day - 19 August 2019.
Gareth Bale will stay at Real Madrid, says Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane telling the press that the "sooner Gareth Bale leaves the club, the better it will be for everyone" feels like a distant memory now. Bale had reportedly got very close to joining a Chinese Super League club on a bumper deal. However, Florentino Perez pulled the plug on the deal in the last minute forcing the Welshman to kick on at Real Madrid.
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Marco Asensio's critical injury in the pre-season is said to have caused Florentino Perez to take a U-turn on the Bale decision. As far as Zidane is concerned, Eden Hazard getting sidelined right before the start of the season meant that he had no one to look to in order to lead the line other than Bale himself.
Bale was one of Real Madrid's best players on the pitch in their season opener against Celta Vigo and his performance helped them record a 3-1 win. Speaking to the press after the game, Zidane said that the Welshman will be staying at the club.
"We talked about it before the match, I think we talked about it two or three times to say that he is going to stay. And all the players that are here now are only thinking about this season.
"I think this is true considering the way Gareth performed, but not only Gareth. I think that everyone played a good game. All we have to do is to think about this season and I am sure that he and all the other players only think about staying here and play."
Also check out: La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20
Coutinho joins Bayern Munich from Barcelona on loan
Bayern Munich have announced the signing of Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona. Bayern will pay €8 million as loan fee and the deal comes with an option to buy for £109 million at the end of the season.
This might signal the end of Coutinho's dream move to Barcelona which he secured while he was on fire for Liverpool in the Premier League. After impressing in his first half-season since joining in the winter transfer window of the 2017-18 season, Coutinho fell out with the fans and the manager owing to a string of lacklustre performances.
Coutinho will be wearing the no. 10 jersey for Bayern Munich. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said,
"Hasan was in contact with [Arjen Robben], because we initially did not want to use the numbers 7 and 10 this year. Arjen had absolutely no problem with it and wishes [Philippe Coutinho] all the best. The number 10 shirt is a gesture to Coutinho that we are counting on him!"
Leonardo says Neymar has made mistakes
Paris Saint-Germain Sporting Director Leonardo has said that Neymar has made mistakes when asked about the PSG crowd voicing their anger towards the Brazilian in their opening game of the season. Neymar was left out of the squad for the game.
Leonardo told RMC Sport:
"Neymar has made mistakes. I didn't know him before. Over time, I have got to know him. I honestly think he is a good boy with a very good heart. On the pitch, he is an extraordinary player."
Leonardo rubbished reports claiming that Neymar has been taken out of Tuchel's playing group. He said:
"It's wrong. He is not removed from the group."
"He follows his personalised rehabilitation program. He's a Paris Saint-Germain player, he's still in Paris for three years, so do not forget. We must analyse everything, we must fix everything before he can play again."
Real Madrid target Paul Pogba isn't going anywhere
Neither Paul Pogba nor Real Madrid have downplayed their interest in each other and despite the player himself admitting that it might be time for him to seek a new challenge, no move has happened. As per Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that situation won't change this summer.
Speaking to the press ahead of Manchester United's Monday night game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Solskjaer said:
"You always put question marks around Paul, don't you? I've got no concerns on Paul. For me, he is going to stay."
"I don't think it is odd saying, 'I enjoy playing, I have fun with my team-mates, I enjoy what I'm doing, I love my job - and I've enjoyed the game'.
"Of course, that sentence with the question mark about him - there's always question marks about Paul Pogba.
"There's not one press conference where I have not answered a question about Paul Pogba."
Barcelona not ready to give up on Neymar just yet
Barcelona are not ready to let go of their hopes of signing Neymar just yet. According to the latest reports, they will return with a new and final offer for the Brazilian. Barcelona know that it will be difficult to cut a deal now that Philippe Coutinho, who the Parisians were interested in, has joined Bayern Munich on loan.
Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for a world record €222 million. However, he has grown tired of life in the French capital after two seasons and wants to leave the club with Barcelona being his preferred destination.
Paris Saint-Germain want Ousmane Dembele, Nelson Semedo and €100 million in exchange for Neymar. Whether Barcelona are willing to accept that deal or whether they have engineered another one is not clear as yet. But the Catalans are making one last bid for the Brazilian who was so effective for them alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
