FC Barcelona forward and Argentine international Lionel Messi (22) has stated his belief that Arsenal FC captain Cesc Fábregas (22) will eventually leave Arsenal and return to Barcelona. Messi and Fábregas grew up together at Barça’s famous La Masía academy, prior to the Spain midfielder joining Arsène Wenger’s team in September 2003.

“Cesc has a place for Arsenal in his heart but he has Barcelona in his blood,” Messi reportedly told the Daily Express. “He will want to win the biggest prizes in football and I expect him to do that at Barcelona.

“I don’t know exactly when that will be but I expect him to be my Barcelona team-mate again at some point. When you grow up at a club, it is more than just a club. The players, the people in the club will be like family.”

Messi has been integral to that success – the 22-year-old has scored 40 goals already this season, including all four in Barcelona’s recent 4-1 victory over Arsenal at Camp Nou – and he believes this Barça side can go on to become legends.

“What we did last year was special but to go down as the best ever we need to keep doing it and I believe we can,” he said. “I don’t believe we will be remembered for just what we won but how we won it. I hope people enjoy watching us and I hope people in 50 years will talk about how this team played the game.”

Messi also reckons his national team, Argentina, can be successful at this summer’s World Cup. “Argentina have amazing players and I believe we can do it [win the tournament],” he said. “As in any major international tournament, you need a little bit of luck and we need to show we have a big heart.”

(PLAY AGAINST DEPOR) LIKE THEY WERE MADRID

Barça will play to win and avoid “surprises”.

Barça – Depor  (22h, Canal +)

Guardiola: “The players run as animals in Bernabéu. That’s what they have to do in every match.“

The “plot” to win la Liga. This is the last photo of the 0-2 in Bernabéu. The players celebrated together the victory and promised themselves to fight until the end.

Iniesta will be a month out. “It’s a hard moment, but life has taught me to never surrender“

Exclusive interview: Kobe Bryant “Messi is astounding”

Racing – Espanyol (20h) They rest their usual starters thinking about the derby.

COME ON, ANDRÉS!

Guardiola: “I hope we can bring him to the Champions’ final.“

Barça – Depor (22h, Canal +). Barça wants to sleep 6 points ahead Madrid and dedicate the victory to Iniesta.

The Copa del Rey’s final, on May 19th in Camp Nou.

[Non Barça Related]

Madrid: Meeting to talk about Kaká. Florentino asks for some explanations about Kaká’s “eternal” injury.

“Madrid was for many years ahead of Barca, but now it’s the opposite. There is a big difference. Barca is a team and Real Madrid is not. And that is something that is perfectly obvious. They (Barca) are people very true to their principle, home-grown (Catalunya) and that makes them the best.

Madrid is a team bought and Barcelona is a team built. In football, a championship winning team has never been bought. It is always built with time and patience.”

Barcelona legend Ronald Koeman speaking to Madrid daily AS

Relative newcomer José Luis Paradas Romero will take charge of Wednesday’s league encounter between FC Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna at the Camp Nou. After a run of marginal refereeing displays, wouldn’t it be nice to see some balanced decision-making in a Barcelona game? Hopefully, Romero will deliver just that.

Romero, 37, is in only his third season as a first division referee in Spain. His officiating career began in the year 2000, and he was promoted to the top level after distinguishing himself in the second division. This season so far, Romero has whistled in 14 encounters, raising a few eyebrows for handing out 73 yellow and four straight red cards.

In the three years he is in the Spanish top flight football, Romero has presided over FC Barcelona matches on only three occasions, all of them Catalan victories. Astute fans might recall his performance back in October of 2009, when Barcelona destroyed Zaragoza 6-1 at home.

The Spanish Football Federation have announced after reaching an agreement with Barca yesterday, that the Camp Nou will host the final of the Copa del Rey.

The first time Camp Nou hosted the cup final, Barcelona won the title against Zaragoza (3-1) in 1963. On the other hand 1970 was the last time they hosted this event with Real Madrid winning it, by beating Valencia 3-0.

Thus, the Camp Nou, which was opened on September 24, 1957, will host what will be its third final of the Copa del Rey. With a capacity of 98,787, it is currently the largest stadium in Europe and one of the main reasons why it was a favourite for the club finalists who hope to have the ultimate representation of their fans in this important event.

Although the date for this years final has yet to be announced, it is being speculated that it will be held on the 19th of May 2010.

In the 1998-99 season, UEFA acknowledged the services and functionality of this arena, by calling it a ‘five star’ stadium, a privilege that only four other stadiums in Spain have: Lluis Companys Olympic, also in Barcelona, the Olympic Cartuja, Seville, Santiago Bernabeu and Vicente Calderon, both in Madrid.