With Barcelona central defender Lilian Thuram (36) on his way out this summer, Barcelona planned from the start to bring in a new central defender. The serious injury of Gabriel Milito has now made Barcelona speed up the search.
Both main Catalan sports papers think that at this moment the main options are, and in that order of rank, Deportivo La Coruña central defender and Argentinian international Fabricio Coloccini (26) and Manchester United central defender Gerard Piqué (21), like had been analized by this blog last week (read more here).
Piqué left the Barcelona youth academy in 2005 for Manchester United. Due to a lack of playing time, the player has been rejecting until now to renew his contract that expires in 2009 (read more here). British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Manchester United wants to sell players like Piqué and Saha to raise more funds they then want to spend in the summer. It is said that Piqué wants to return to Spain.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Manchester United wants to renew the contract before letting him go on loan to Barcelona. Barcelona would prefer a permanent deal. With only one year left on his contract, the transfer fee is said to be around 5 million euro°.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the Barcelona scouts have also been following two other players: AS Roma central defender and Brazilian international Juan (29) and Stuttgart central defender Matthieu Delpierre (27).
pep's opinion:
if you look at what we have now, there's mainly one thing lacking at the centre back: speed. don't know if coloccini or piqué really have that. and puyol, milito ànd coloccini: that's just too much hair!
Read more:
How things stand: Central defenders
Deal with Coloccini
Piqué tempted by Barcelona return
Friday, 9 May 2008
Looking for a central defender
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5 comments:
° 5 million euro =
8 million us dollar
4 million british pound
Couldn't agree with you more Pep! But then again what other alternatives do we have? and if Barca do in fact attempt to break the bank signing Alves that will afford us even less options! That's why I would rather purchase 2 or 3 "solid" defenders instead of overpaying for one, who will only strenghten his side of the pitch. The team desperately needs a makeover in the back and Alves alone would only serve as a Botox injection instead of the complete facelift the team needs.
I dont want coloccini, he's not an impressive defender and not better than the ones we have...Pique will get better but right now he's average....Juan would be a good choice and so would Lucio!!!! I wish Dani Alves wasn't so expensive but I'd go for him, he's a great defender....can you guys tell I like Brasil? haha
Lucio has said last week he will stay in the end. So that one seems to be off the list (if he ever was on it).
Well with Mourinho being bypassed its pretty clear that Carvalho won't be making his way to Barca any time soon either. I would love to see Barca go after Mexes. But there's no way I see them being able to afford both Mexes and Alves (if they so choose to continue persuing Alves). Also wouldn't mind swapping Eto'o for Bacary Sagna AND cash to fill the right back position should Barca find Sevilla's price for Alves a bit too steep.
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