Although none of the two clubs has yet made an official announcement, Palmeiras central defender and Brazilian international Henrique Adriano Buss (21) has confirmed in an interview with Brazilian sports paper Lance that he will join Barcelona this summer (read more here):
"Barcelona is dream, an absolute top club. Even though somewhere I wanted to stay a little longer at Palmeiras, I just couldn't refuse this offer. This is the biggest chance of my life."
Henrique thanked his current club, the fans, the coach and his team-mates for their support over the last months and added he didn't just leave for financial reasons: "It's not only because of the money that I'm leaving now. Before I also had a very nice proposal from Ukrainian club Shaktar Donetsk. But joining Barcelona is something different, a dream. Ajax was also pushing hard, but Spain was just the best option."
Henrique, who five months ago was still playing in the Brazilian second division, said he didn't yet know when he will travel to Barcelona. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the central defender will arrive on Tuesday in Barcelona where he will undergo the medical test and will be presented afterwards.
Almost all sources claim that Barcelona will pay 10 million euro° for Henrique, who is expected to sign a five-year deal. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona will pay 8 million euro plus 2 million euro variables.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the plan is that the player will be loaned out, although he could do a part of the pre-season with Barcelona. In Brazil it's still rumoured that the player could return to Palmeiras until the end of the year.
Madrid sports tabloid As says that the initial idea was to let Henrique play on loan with a European club or with Palmeiras, but now it is expected that he will start the training sessions with Barcelona and that Barcelona manager Guardiola will then decide what to do with the player.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Henrique will start the season with Barcelona but that he could be loaned out to a Spanish club or to another European team. Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam, who was also interested in signing the player, would be delighted to welcome the player for one season.
Read more:
Henrique transfer is one fax away
Sao Paulo holding on to Hernanes buyout fee
Possible deal on Brazilian defender Henrique
Sunday 29 June 2008
Henrique confirms transfer to Barcelona
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2 comments:
Pep--Do you know how many years the deal lasts?
Also, have you heard anything about Rijkaard still being on contract? There was a report in Sport some weeks ago that Frank and Neeskens were demanding to be bought out. My guess is that the club refused to buy them out, so the two of them are now on 'sabbatical' in Barca for the next year...while they collect the remainder of what's owed them by the club.
Just curious. What a win by Spain today!!!
The Henrique deal would be five years.
You could be right on Rijkaard and Neeskens. There was also a rumour that both Barcelona and Rijkaard could cancel the contract anytime without haing to pay anything, but that doesn't seem very relistic.
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