Villareal rejects offer for Caceres
OFFICIAL: Gerard Piqué (update !)
Transfer summer 2008: Overview (update !)
Tottenham and Manchester City bids for Giovani
Roma's Juan alternative for Caceres (update !)
Edmilson presented in Villareal (update !)
OFFICIAL: Seydou Keita
Mourinho takes Deco with him to Inter
Deal with Caceres
Abidal is not untouchable
Ibrahimovic is on the list
Crosas in doubt on future
Guiza considered to be a good buy (update !)
Mystery Milan player close to joining Barcelona
Guardiola holds on to Marquez
Henry was close to Manchester United
Valdes on Tottenham list
Barcelona's summer transfer gains
Crosas goes French / 27
Why did Barcelona miss out on Garay?
Benzema will not come this summer
Gudjohnsen top target for Bundesliga newcomer
Guardiola wants Henry to stay
Chivu not planning to leave Inter
(for more news on a specific player, club or manager, you can scroll down and look in the labels at the left of the screen)
(for more news, you can scroll down or look in the archive at the left of the screen)
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Latest news
Villareal rejects offer for Caceres
Villareal president Fernando Roig said at a press conference today that his club has rejected a formal offer from Barcelona for Villareal central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (21) (read more here): "This morning we received an offer from Barcelona for our player Martín Cáceres. Because we thought the offer was not satisfactory, we have rejected it and communicated our decision to Barcelona."
Asked about the rumours linking the defender with Barcelona, Roig had declared at a press conference yesterday that Cáceres will only leave if the buyout fee of 20 million euro° is paid: "He has a contract for the next four years and we want him to stay. Barcelona, or any other club, knows how it works. If they want Martín Cáceres, there's a clause. If they don't want to pay the fee, we will not let the player go."
Barcelona wants to reduce the fee of 20 million euro° and Roig sounded today more open to negotiations: "We're now going to talk with Barcelona. If their final offer approaches what we think is a good deal for us, ok. And if not, the player has a contract and will be a Villareal player next season."
Fernando Sobral, president of Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting who still owns a part of the rights on Cáceres (read more here), said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that Villareal has the last word on the transfer: "Everything depends on Villareal, we cannot do anything. We're only involved as a part of the buyout fee will come to Defensor. We will just observe the events from a distance and we'll support whatever Martín and his agent will chose."
In a reaction on the transfer rumours, Cáceres said to RAC 1 that he was willing to join Barcelona: "I know that Barcelona is interested and of course I would like to play for a great club like Barça, one of the best clubs in the world. I'm 21 years old and I should keep my head cool but everyone knows that it's very difficult to say no to Barcelona. But they will have to agree with Villareal on the price. If not, I wouldn't mind playing for Villareal next season."
Cáceres repeated the same in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio, adding that he can also play as right or left back defender.
Read more:
Deal with Caceres
First meeting with Caceres
Caceres too expensive for Barcelona
OFFICIAL: Gerard Piqué
Barcelona and Manchester United have reached an agreement on the transfer of central defender Gerard Piqué. The Catalan player will sign a four-year deal including a buyout clause of 50 million euro°. Piqué returns to the club where he played between 1997 and 2004.
In a first reaction the the club's official media, Piqué said that he's delighted about the transfer: "It's a dream to return to Barça. When I left, I thought it would be really hard to come back but today the dream has become reality. Barcelona was my first and only option. I have grown a lot since I left, both as a person and as a player. Wining the Champions League with Manchester was something unforgettable and I hope to repeat that with the Barça shirt."
Read the whole Piqué transfer story from the first rumours to the signature
Transfer summer 2008: Overview
IN
Seydou Keita
former club: sevilla
age: 28
country: mali
official announcement: monday 26 may
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 14 million euro
note: barcelona pays the buyout fee which means paying an extra 16 per cent vat (2,2 million euro)
Gerard Piqué
former club: manchester united
age: 21
country: catalunya, spain
official announcement: tuesday 27 may
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 5 million euro (+ 2 million euro variables)
OUT
José Edmílson
new club: villareal
age: 31
country: brazil
barcelona player since: summer 2004
barcelona contract until: summer 2008
official announcement: friday 23 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the contract of the player expired
Tottenham and Manchester City bids for Giovani
British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Tottenham are favourites to sign Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani Dos Santos (19). The English club would be discussing a 9 million euro° deal with Barcelona.
Roma's Juan alternative for Caceres
Catalan sport spaper Sport claims that Barcelona is interested in AS Roma central defender and Brazilian international Juan (29).
Monday, 26 May 2008
Edmilson presented in Villareal
OFFICIAL: Seydou Keita
Barcelona has announced the signing of Sevilla midfielder and Mali international Seydou Keita (28). The player will play for Barcelona until 2012 and has a buyout fee of 90 million euro°.
In a first reaction the the club's official media, Keita said that he received offers from a lot of clubs but that he prefered the Barcelona option for a while now. He hopes to contribute a lot to the team: "But I don't really like to talk because I think in football one doesn't have to talk too much off the pitch."
Read the whole Keita transfer story from the first rumours to the signature
Mourinho takes Deco with him to Inter
Portuguese sports paper A Bola claims that former Chelsea manager José Mourinho has reached a three-year deal with Italian champions Inter Milan. As part of the deal, Inter Milan will sign Chelsea player Frank Lampard and Barcelona midfielder Deco (30) (read more here).
Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said last week at a press conference that there's no agreement on a transfer yet: "Deco has told us that he will go to another club, but we still have to reach a deal with him and with the club where he's going to. At this point, he has just asked to leave." Catalan sports paper Sport claimed this weekend that Deco has asked to leave on a free transfer and is planning to play it hard.
British tabloid The Daily Mail claimed last week that English Premier League clubs Chelsea and Tottenham could make a move after Deco had announced his Barcelona exit (read more here). Madrid sports tabloid As said that the Portuguese midfielder is being followed by Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Juventus.
Read more:
Deco top target for Bayern
Deal with Caceres
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has closed a deal with Villareal central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (21).
Daniel Fonseca, the agent of Cáceres, has been in Barcelona since Friday (read more here) and has yesterday drawn up a final draft of the player's future contract with Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain.
In an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1, Fonseca admitted the interest of Barcelona for Cáceres but said that an agreement between al parties won't be easy: "Barcelona called me and said that Martín Cáceres is a priority for them. We have held the first talks but Barcelona will now have to speak with Villareal. There are also other clubs interested, so we'll see how things will turn out. But which player wouldn't be delighted with a call from a club like Barcelona?"
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona will meet in the coming days with Villareal officials to discuss a transfer. Cáceres has a buyout fee of 20 million euro°, which Barcelona wants to reduce, and still belongs for 50 per cent to Defensor Sporting, his former Uruguayan club. Villareal, who doesn't plan to let the defender go, bought half of the rights of Cáceres last year for 1,5 million euro°.
Read more:
First meeting with Caceres
Abidal is not untouchable
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, although the player shouldn't leave, Barcelona could consider a transfer when the club receives a good offer for Barcelona left back defender and French international Eric Abidal (28). The defender would not be untouchable for future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola.
Ibrahimovic is on the list
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovich (26) is, together with players like Drogba and Adebayor, on Barcelona's list to be the strong and tall centre forward Barcelona wants to bring in this summer to replace Samuel Eto'o.
Crosas in doubt on future
Asked about his plans for next season, Olympique Lyon midfielder and Barcelona loan out Marc Crosas (20), whose loan deal with Lyon expires in June, repeated in an interview with French sports paper L'Equipe that he would like to stay with the French Champions (read more here).
He nevertheless wants to wait and see if current Olympique Lyon manager Alain Perrin will continue. Crosas thinks that Perrin didn't really give him a chance. An exit of Perrin would open the way to stay in Lyon.
In an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo Crosas said last week that he didn't yet know what Barcelona wants: "I still didn't hear anything form Barcelona and I don't know how I should interpret that. I'm very happy here in Lyon and although I would of course love to come back, I realize that not everyone gets that chance. Life doesn't end when they don't want me back."
Read more:
Crosas wants to know Barcelona's plans
Lyon wants to buy Crosas
Crosas in exchange for option on Benzema
Guiza considered to be a good buy
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) is a serious option for Barcelona. He would be brought in together with another first-choice centre forward like Adebayor or Drogba.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Mystery Milan player close to joining Barcelona
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona will sign an AC Milan player this summer. The negotiations are well-advanced and a deal could be closed in the coming hours.
Guardiola holds on to Marquez
All media agree that future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has asked the club not to sell Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29). Guardiola especially likes the passing qualities of the player and thinks it would be very difficult to find a valid substitute for Márquez on the current market.
Henry was close to Manchester United
British tabloid The Sunday Mirror claims that Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (30) was two weeks ago on the verge of signing for Manchester United.
The recent winners of the English Premier League and Champions League would be paying Barcelona 12 million euro° for the former Arsenal striker. Future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola blocked the move when he got appointed as the successor of current Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (read more here).
A source close to the deal is quoted as saying: "Thierry was told by the new coach he didn't want him to leave, that he was going to be a big player for Barça next season and would have an important role to play for them. That was the reassurance Thierry needed but United were ready to buy him."
Read more:
Guardiola wants Henry to stay
Valdes on Tottenham list
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Tottenham is interested in Barcelona goal keeper Víctor Valdés (26) (read more here).
Valdés would perfectly fit the profile that Tottenham is looking for. The English Premier League club would already have contacted the Catalan goal keeper to sound him out on a possible move. Tottenham would not yet have talked with Barcelona.
Tottenham manager Juande Ramos is not satisfied with the performances of first-choice Paul Robinson and will bring in a new goal keeper this summer. The negotiations with Espanyol Barcelona goal keeper Carlos Kameni were cancelled because of the salary demands of the Cameroonian international.
Read more:
First meeting with Caceres
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain met yesterday afternoon in the 'Juan Carlos I' hotel in Barcelona with Daniel Fonseca, the agent of Recreativo Huelva central defender and Villareal loan out Martín Cáceres (21).
Barcelona wants to bring in another centre back defender who can play alongside Puyol during the first months of next season when Gabriel Milito will be out due to an injury. Cáceres would be one of the main options. This is confirmed by Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.
During the meeting the contract situation and the wishes of the player were discussed. It seems that the Uruguayan defender would be very interested in a transfer but that the fee could be a main problem, with Villareal not willing to let Cáceres go for less than 20 million euro° (read more here).
Read more:
Caceres too expensive for Barcelona
How things stand: Central defenders
Barcelona's summer transfer gains
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona hopes to raise 85 million euro by selling players this summer, which would give the club more financial power to build a new squad. This is how that amount should be collected:
Eto'o: 30 million euro (at least)
Ronaldinho: 25 million euro
Deco: 10 million euro
Zambrotta: 10 million euro
(one other player who doesn't really have to leave but who could go if a good offer comes in - Márquez, Henry, Giovani?): 10 million euro
pep's opinion:
(leaving aside the question if those players should be sold...) 30 million euro for eto'o is really the absolute minimum. i value him 35-40 (maybe even 45) million. ronaldinho is worth 25-30 million euro. plus 10-15 million variables, cause if he can get back in shape 25 million euro is ridiculous. 10 million euro for deco really is too low, you should go for 15 million euro, certainly after his good performances in the champions league semi-final. if you're lucky and a club really wants that type of player (this could be the case with bayern), you can get 20. for zambrotta, 10 million euro would be a good price. if you sell henry, you should be able to get 20 million euro, for giovani 15 million euro, for marquez 10 million euro. for gudjohnsen you could pick up another 6-8 million euro.
Read more:
The exit lists
Who could go?
A look at the coming transfer summer
Crosas goes French / 27
After winning the French league last weekend, Olympic Lyon completed the double yesterday. Lyon won the French cup by beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final with 1-0.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Why did Barcelona miss out on Garay?
Racing Santander central defender Ezequiel Garay (21), who signed for Real Madrid this week, admitted in an interview with Madrid sports tabloid Marca that he was close to joining Barcelona a few months ago: "With Barcelona everything was agreed upon. But then the deal collapsed for reasons I'm not aware of."
Benzema will not come this summer
Olympique Lyon forward and French international Karim Benzema (20) keeps being named as the main candidate to replace Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (27) who could be sold in the coming months (read more here). But this week it again became clear that Benzema is just not going anywhere this summer.
Gudjohnsen top target for Bundesliga newcomer
German tabloid Express claims that Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (29), whose contract with Barcelona expires in 2010, is high on the wish list of FC Köln manager Christoph Daum.
Guardiola wants Henry to stay
Asked about his future at Barcelona and the rumours saying that he could be on his way out after only one season in Spain (read more here), Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (30) said in an interview with French sports paper L'Equipe that former Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would want him to stay next season:
Chivu not planning to leave Inter
Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), Inter Milan centre and left back defender and Romanian international Cristian Chivu (27) said to his club's official website that he had no intention to leave Inter already after one season: "I never listen to transfer rumours, not even by mistake. I'm an Inter player and I am very happy and proud to be a part of this club and of this great squad."
Oleguer wants to stay
Asked about the rumours saying that he could be one of the players having to leave Barcelona in the summer (read more here), Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) said at a promotional act for a brand of football boots that he couldn't be very concrete on his future at this stage: "The only thing I can say is that my intention always has been to stay with Barcelona."
Friday, 23 May 2008
Keita passed by the Camp Nou
Sevilla midfielder and Mali international Seydou Keita was in the Camp Nou in Barcelona today to negotiate on his contract.
Keita and his agent met with Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain. It is believed that Barcelona and the player have reached an agreement.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Keita and Barcelona agreed on a four-year deal. Spanish news agency Europa Press thinks that the player already underwent medical tests today.
Before making the deal official, Barcelona nevertheless wants to negotiate first with Sevilla on the transfer fee. Keita has a buyout fee of 14 million euro° but if the two clubs can find an agreement, Barcelona would not have to pay the VAT on that fee (read more here). If a deal is not found, Barcelona will probably pay the 14 milion euro plus VAT (2,2 million euro°) on Monday.
Read more:
Barcelona will pay Keita buyout fee
Keita to replace Deco
Keita possible back-up for Touré
Top meeting with Milan to close Zambrotta deal
Spanish news agency EFE claims that AC Milan president Adriano Galliani (picture) flew this afternoon to Barcelona where he will have a dinner with Barcelona president Joan Laporta. It is expected that the deal on Barcelona right back defender Gianluca Zambrotta (31) will be closed.