After covering the Barcelona versus Real Madrid topic, it is only logical if Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were discussed due to their pivotal role in both teams. The two wingers are currently playing for two of the best clubs in Spain and two of the most popular outfits in the world.

We're not there yet, but we are getting closer. The Bundesliga, Eredivisie and Ligue Un all reached the point in the season where last season's results have dropped out of the calculations for the WCR Top 25. For clubs from England, Spain, Italy and Portugal, results for last season still count because all clubs in each of those domestic leagues have yet to play five matches, but we are getting close.

- The summer transfer window was supposed to have closed a few days ago, yet the rumours persist, with an avalanche of new reports crashing down on us, all claiming the same thing: A Robinho-Henry swap is on the cards for Barca and Man City.
Apparently, Pep is still hankering for a winger after failed attempts to sign Riera or Mata, and Robinho would be a fitting choice; while Man City owners are really keen on having Henry join their team.

For the second time in a row, Atletico Madrid's visit to Camp NOu turned out to be a nightmare. But it was better than last time, I mean they score one more and conceded one less too this time around. With this heavy defeat Atletico's start to the season has gone from bad to worse. First half goals from Ibrahmovic, Messi, Alves and Keita, and an injury time strike from Messi condemned Atletico's to their heaviest defeat this season.

The Sun today has an 'exclusive' which claims Rio Ferdinand is thinking about a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

"Rio can see the sense of it," said 'a source'. "Not only would it be a fresh challenge as he nears the end of his career, it would also fit all his projects off the pitch.

Morning Insiders another weeks ends with a 2-1 victory for England yesterday, as you would expect most of todays papers concentrate on the Internationals. We have managed to find a few Arsenal related stories from todays papers. Below's a quick roundup:

News Of The World: Manchester City's Robinho and Barca striker Henry will be the subject of further talks in the January transfer window.

It is mouth-watering just to imagine a match featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema taking on an opposing team which includes Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi Hernandez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to name just a few.

The dream of many football fanatics has come true following a spending frenzy by Los Blancos which included the record signing of Portuguese Ronaldo from Manchester United.

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

Even American teen shows know Cristiano Ronaldo will give you something itchy. [ONTD]

Why was a very bored Jose Mourinho, who was doing his Barca scouting for the Champions League, sitting next to his opposition's newest signing?

Even non-news is news to the Dutch fans, isn't it :-) ? Anyway, a nice little titbit. In the game against Japan, Van Marwijk used eleven players who all come from different clubs! Normally, it was a bunch of Ajax blokes, paired with some Feyenoord lads. We've seen the AC Milan trio, the Barca

Barca's other curly-haired centerback, Gabriel Milito, has been out with his knee injury for a million years now, and could well be out for a trillion years more, but we won't be forgetting him anytime soon! Gaby is in our hearts as he turns twenty-nine today, and with his birthday comes and interesting development.

#12: Espanol

If there is any team in La Liga that deserves a good finish to the season it is likely Espanol. The club has gone through a horrific last few months that puts frustrating season's on the pitch into perspective. While training for the La Liga season captain Dani Jarque died on the pitch of a heart attack in a preseason practice.

Here we go again!

It appears Barcelona will renew their efforts to sign Javier Mascherano and Cesc Fabregas at some stage in the future, after their director of football Txiki Begiristain was quoted by Sport as saying that the pursuit of the two midfielders is "something the club has left for later".

...Pep Guardiola?
Apparently there's a huge underground movement in Argentina to get the Barcelona coach to replace Maradona at the helm of the national team.
Not sure this is a step up or a draw to take Pep from Barca. Maybe the head job for Spain is the only one that can.
But I like the idea.

In one of football's ironic twists, Barcelona have taken the current footballing debate to new levels as they have clinched the signing of Lyon's seven year old prodigy Kais. While the entire footballing world is debating the legalities and moralities of signing players under the age of 18, most discussions have revolved around players aged 16 to 17.

It seems Lionel Messi isn't leaving Barcelona. Besides the fact that he stated as much after signing a contract extension the other day.

"I want to spend all my career here, in Barcelona, if it's possible. I would love to finish at Barcelona. This contract is a result of everything that happened last year and of what I have done since coming into the first team.

There were two Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) matches on Tuesday as Sevilla took on Mallorca and FC Barcelona faced Racing Santander. Barcelona has started out strong and looks ready to challenge for the UEFA Champions League and La Liga trophies. Here's a recap of Racing Santander v FC Barcelona in La Liga along with video highlights for Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

Barcelona rejoined Real Madrid at the top of Spain's La Liga with a maximum of 15 points from 5 games courtesy of goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gerard Pique at Malaga on Saturday. Ibrahimovic had as a substitutes bench with an ankle injury but came on for the injured Thierry Henry in the 28th minute.

#20: Gijon

Gijon needed to get much tougher on defense this off-season and to the club's credit they brought in some young transfers from strong organizations reserve benches. Alberto Botia and Joni Lopez join the squad. Botia was on transfer with Barca's reserve team and Lopez is on transfer from the same club.

Here we go:

• Mutu to Russia?
  
• West Ham eyeing Toni?
  
• The big Italian is still jonesing for some PT.
  
• Dutch coach warns van der Vaart about Madrid stay.
  
• Faking an injury to leave Newcastle.
  
• L.A. Galaxy and Rafa Marquez?
  
• Robinho flirting with Barca?

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez, at a press conference, has claimed that the national side share the same football philosophy as his club.

"The philosophy is almost the same, dominate, keep possession of the ball and pass," Xavi said.

The 29-year-old midfielder is an ever-present member of Vicente Del Bosque's side and Xavi declared that it is a real pleasure to play amongst players of such quality with Spain and also with Barca.

The Inter Milan v. Barcelona was a fun matchup, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened his mouth.
Of course, the ex-Inter (now Barca) forward added some extra spice before next week's game by saying the Italian club essentially owed him for its recent success.
Naturally the remarks didn't go over well with Marco Materazzi or Mancini.

Hello people, I am still feeling bad over our loss to Man City yesterday and this has left me thinking about our current situation as a whole. I have already, a few weeks ago voiced my feelings over Wenger and how he should of and needed buy, and how he didn't so today I am going to tell you what will be of Arsenal next year, so read on:

The overall result of this season when it ends:

In the league we will finish fourth with either Man City or Liverpool being a close 5th.

Is anyone surprised?!

It appears Barcelona will renew their efforts to sign Javier Mascherano and Cesc Fabregas at some stage in the future, after their director of football Txiki Begiristain was quoted by Sport as saying that the pursuit of the two midfielders is "something the club has left for later".

According to Sport, back in January 2008, a secret meeting between a then unemployed Jose Mourinho and Barcelona directors Marc Ingla and Txiki Begiristain, who were looking for someone to replace Frank Rijkaard as manager. At the suggestion of Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, the meeting was held in the boardroom of a bank in Lisbon "to avoid being recognized".

While Emmanuel Adebayor's infamous lack of sportsmanship this past weekend has overshadowed Manchester City's emphatic 4-2 victory over his former club Arsenal, it is impossible to overlook the strong impact he has made at the Eastlands already.

Lots of good stuff:

• Messi to sign a mega-deal with Barca.
  
• United give new deal to Park Ji-Sung.
  
• Ribery hints to new Bayern deal.
  
• Juve may keep Trezeguet too.
  
• Viduka back to Australia?
  
• Milan to axe Ronaldinho?
  
• Adriano back to Europe?

You'll have to excuse me if my heart hasn't exactly calmed back down after Arsenal's first 5 minutes in Belgium today. The only thing that kept me even close to sane was switching back over to the "headline match-up" between Inter and Barca - if ever there was a match that could lower your heart rate then this was it.

No conclusions today, only questions 1. Was giving Standard Liege a one-goal headstart part of a deal cut between Eduardo and Uefa to overturn his diving ban? 2. Why are the best games on paper always the worst in reality? I'm looking at you, Inter and Barca. 3. If Arsenal had lost 3-2, having led 2-0, and conceded [.

Is it just us, or does the club seem to offer Leo Messi a new and improved contract every year? His salary and buy-out clause continue to climb, keeping him satisfied and far from the groping fingers of other clubs (ahem, Man City); and now his extension is going up too.
.
Leo just penned a new deal that keeps him on the club for a whole seven years more, until 2016 to be precise.

AC Milan boss Leonardo has admitted Brazilian Ronaldino is not the player he once was, but insists the former Barcelona man is still very much in his plans.

The 29-year-old won the Ballon d'Or back in 2005 but has yet to match the standards he set in his early years at the Nou Camp in his time in Milan.

How Joan Laporta keeps his stars happy With Barcelona star Lionel Messi signing a new deal that extends his contract from 2014 to 2016 and makes him the highest paid player in La Liga, cult Catalan football comedy show Crackovia could not resist showing its version of the negotiations. I don't think you need the lingo to [.

Lionel Messi scored a brace to lead defending La Liga champions Barcelona to a 4-1 win at Racing Santander in La Liga on Tuesday. Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Gerard Pique also scored for FC Barcelona before Oscar Serrano got a late consolation goal for Racing. Posted in Spanish La Liga, Videos Tagged: Barca, Barcelona, FC Barcelona, [.

The summer's Blockbuster trade involved Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel. Eto'o swapping clubs and Inter also received a boat load of cash. The first Champions League clash between the two clubs failed to give a decisive edge as to which team gained the most from this transaction. While Inter made a handsome profit, Barca was able to offload an unhappy camper and replaced him with a stocky and talented forward, albeit one who has often failed to deliver on the big occasion.

via GettyImages

Yes Kun Aguero, we know you'd like three additional kids in future with The Dona but lighten up lady!!! Messiah is unimpressed and you'd best leave all the petty family talk off the pitch.

Anyway, the Argentinean tipos have started their training sessions under the watchful eye of Kun's suegro.

Fifa ruling against Chelski today could have far reaching economic ramifications on the football world in the coming years.
Chelski are banned from signing any new players until 2011 after they were found guilty of illegally inducing a French youth international to sign in 2007. The ruling from Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber also banned the 18-year-old attacking midfielder Gaël Kakuta (pictured above), considered the cream of the club's academy talent, for four months and fined him €780,000 (£681,000).

Real Madrid's 3 goals against Espanyol came from Estaban,Guti and Ronaldo - who came off the bench as a second half sub and scored his second goal in as many games.

Zlatan and Messi scored for Barca against Getafe....

We're sorry for the lack of updates lately, but things have been busy... please bear with us, and hopefully we'll be able to pick up normal posting soon!
But right now we have a match to discuss: Barca's win over Getafe last night. The result was better than we'd expected, kudos to the boys for breaking the international curse and achieving this.

Two weeks into this early season and the top dogs in Spain are looking the part. Barcelona has started their defence of their crown with two solid performances; a much brighter start than last year when they lost and tied their first two games. The Blaugrana's back line has impressed me and their mega-signing Dmytro Chigrynskiy has added some much needed stability in front of Victor Valdes.

Parece que a la lucha por el título de la Liga BBVA entre el Madrid y el Barcelona se les puede unir el Valencia. En su visita al José Zorrilla arrasaron con el equipo local cuatro goles por dos, anotados por su espectacular tridente español Villa-Mata-Silva, lo que les permite mantener un récord perfecto en este inicio de Liga.

Jose Mourinho has continued his special ways as he announced his Inter Milan starting eleven an entire day before his side's crucial Champions League fixture against Barcelona. The former Chelsea manager was never afraid to pull this stunt during his time in the Premier League, and his latest display raises the question: is the special one arrogant or intelligent?