The official website of Barcelona reports that the contract of Barcelona Atlètic attacker and Spanish youth international Iago Falqué (18) has been cancelled.
Asked about the rumours linking Zenit Saint-Petersburg forward and Russian international Andrei Arshavin (27) with a summer exit (read more here), Zenit manager Dick Advocaat said yesterday at a press conference that the player will not leave this transfer period:
"The door is closed, the deal is closed. No interested club has offered the 30 million euro° we wanted for him and what we think he is worth. They had several weeks of time to buy him and the highest offer was only 16 million euro°. With respect, I think that Arshavin costs more than that so that’s the end of the story."
Read more:
Five players on left wing short list
Arshavin confirms Barcelona offer
Barcelona will have to move for Arshavin
Spanish fourth division club Sporting Mahonés has officially announced mid-August the transfer of Barcelona Juvenil A forward Walter Fernández (19).
Football site Goal looked last weekend forward to the coming season.
Season Preview: Barcelona
Arjun Miglani - Goal
2007-08: Where It Ended
The latter months of last season seemed inspired by Murphy’s Law. The phrase, “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong” loomed large over Barcelona’s fortunes, or lack thereof. Having endured the heartbreak of losing the title on the last day the season before, Barça fans were left exasperated as they watched the Frank Rijkaard era crumble before them. They never looked like winning the league, even suffering the unbearable humiliation of a thrashing by champions and bitter rivals Real Madrid at the back end of the season. In Europe, they stuttered their way to a semi-final against eventual winners Manchester United before seeing those dreams vanish as well. Not even the Copa Del Rey could provide any sort of joy, as even Valencia, a club that had turned into a comedy act, managed to see the Catalans off in the semis.
As the season descended into despair, talk of a major overhaul gathered pace. The group that had delivered the double only two years ago would have to be split up. As expected, coach Rijkaard was thanked for his services and asked to move on. Ronaldinho, the poster boy of the era, also had a price tag, a move deemed unthinkable not so long ago. Clearly, the Camp Nou was going to be a hive of activity over the summer.
Summer Activity
The name of Pep Guardiola is synonymous with Barcelona, and so it was no surprise that the appointment of the former captain was met with delight from the Barça faithful. The embodiment of Blaugrana values, Guardiola was seen as the perfect man to impress upon his charges exactly what it means to put on the famous shirt. Of course, his lack of managerial experience could not be ignored, but even his brief career record in this regard is impressive, having secured promotion for the B team in his first season in charge. Having been appointed coach, he wasted no time in beginning to form his own squad, to mark the beginning of a new era.
First, he had to get rid of the deadwood. The most talked about sale, of course, was that of Ronaldinho to Milan. Once the icon of Barca’s revival, he was now seen as the icon of their decline, representing the “all play no work” attitude that had befallen certain members of the squad. Guardiola’s intolerance for players with this mentality was made apparent when he let Deco, another former fan favourite, and Giovanni Dos Santos, a hot prospect, leave due to similar concerns. Players well past their prime such as Zambrotta, Edmilson, Ezquerro and Oleguer were also released, while Thuram retired. Consequently, there was a lot of space for fresh blood.
Guardiola’s summer signings all have a reputation for being hard workers in common, a clear signal of intent regarding the direction he plans to take. There are no superstars, with only Daniel Alves being arguably close to that category, but equally there are no players whose attitude has ever been in question. The back line has undergone considerable re-enforcement, with Alves, Piqué and Cáceres being brought on, as well as Henrique, who has subsequently been sent on loan to Bayer Leverkusen. Despite his flair going forward, Dani Alves is known for his uncompromising approach at the back, an attribute exhibited by Pique and Caceres as well. The signing of Piqué represents an important ideological step as well, with Guardiola clearly being interested only in players that will show pride every time they walk on to the pitch.
In midfield, Seydou Keita and Aliaksandr Hleb were snapped up. The signing of Keita is perhaps the best example of the type of player Guardiola needs in his new vision. Arguably the most under-rated player in the league last season, Keita quickly became a fan favourite at Sevilla due to his seemingly endless pit of energy, as well as his excellent footballing brain. His signing alone ensures a significantly higher amount of determination around the Barca camp this year. Similarly, Hleb is a player known for doing the simple things right and not slacking off. When one remembers Guardiola’s playing days, it is not hard to see why he was attracted to the pair.
The make-up of the front line, however, remains shrouded in mystery. After being odds on to leave for the entire summer, it now appears that Samuel Eto’o has been given yet another chance. While all the noises coming from the management are the usual clichéd responses about a change in attitude from the striker, one can’t help but wonder whether Eto’o’s continued presence is more a result of no other club being able to afford his wages than some sort of epiphany on the part of the Cameroonian. That said, his pre-season has been phenomenal.
Thierry Henry remains at the club, despite his transfer being regarded by all and sundry as a disastrously failed experiment. With names like Arshavin, Van Persie and Palacio still doing the rounds of the rumour mill, Pep’s plan for the forwards is still quite unclear.
Analysis and Prognosis
It appears that Guardiola’s Barca will be characterized less by flair and more by steel. Of course, with players like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi in their ranks, there will be no shortage of party tricks, but the overall impression of the current squad is one that will not let their guard down for a second, a problem all too apparent last season.
The defence has been strengthened considerably, and the tremendous depth in that area should be music to Barca fans’ ears. Injuries played havoc with the back line last season, but in Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Sylvinho, Dani Alves, Caceres and Pique, plus some promising youth players, there should be no such problems. The left side is a slight concern, but then there is a serious dearth of quality left backs in world football as a whole. Indeed, the only worrying sign is the continued presence of the woefully inconsistent Victor Valdes in between the sticks.
It is harder to find a more complete midfield in Europe this season that that which will stride out at the Nou Camp. In Yaya Toure and Keita, there are two of the best spoilers in the game, but two players who also possess a classy touch. Complementing them are Xavi and Iniesta, two clear standouts from Euro 2008, and Hleb, a player very much in their mold. This combination of strength of skill should ensure that Barca win the vast majority of midfield battles over the season.
It seems ridiculous to state that a frontline containing Leo Messi is a source of concern, but the current Barca selection provides more questions than answers. Is Samuel Eto’o really the management’s first choice, and how long will it be before his loses his temperament again? Does Thierry Henry have another quality season left in him, and will he be left to rot on the left wing again? How much responsibility will be thrust on young Bojan’s shoulders? Why is Eidur Gudjohnsen still picking up a salary? Clearly, the current set of forwards does not contain any apparent balance. Having said that, on paper, as little as that might mean, there is still an abundance of talent available. Watch out for young Pedrito as well, a player promoted from the B team who has impressed in pre-season.
As with the start of any new project, it is unrealistic to expect any great immediate success. However, there are enough signs, not least the fact that Barca have won every game under Guardiola so far, to suggest that there will be some joy for the Barca faithful come the end of the season. Europe will probably be a bit too far for a side in transition, but the league is a very realistic possibility. As always with Barca, one must compare them to Real Madrid, and the champions’ squad certainly does not appear to match up to Barca’s at the moment. Ramon Calderon’s relentless and ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo has only served to alienate one of the club’s most exciting players, Robinho, who now looks certain to leave. While other clubs have also strengthened, Barca undoubtedly appears to have the best balance among the Primera. A maiden La Liga title in his first season could well be on the cards for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona head of football Raül Sanllehí met Wednesday morning with Iván Corretja, the agent of Barcelona midfielder Xavi (28).
Barcelona, that rejected several offers for Xavi from European top clubs this summer, asked for the meeting that was seen as a first contact regarding a contract renewal (read more here).
Barcelona wants to reward Xavi for his recent performances, especially with the Spanish national team at the European championship last June, and will offer the Catalan player a new and better contract that will link him longer to the club. Xavi's current contract expires in the summer of 2010.
The paper reports that the meeting was held in an excellent atmosphere and that, even when it was just a first informal moment, both parties were already having a very good feeling about being able to close a deal in the future (read more here).
Read more:
Renewal offer for Xavi
Xavi and Valdés willing to renew
Renewal talks coming up
Asked about the situation of Barcelona Atlètic attacker and Spanish youth international Iago Falqué (18), Barcelona Atlètic assistant coach Joan Barbarà confirmed to the club's official media on Friday that the player is negotiating with Barcelona about putting an end to his contract.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that there's no final agreement yet and the player was yesterday seen training with the B team. Juventus is the club that's pushing the most for Iago although it's expected that the Italians will have to find a deal with Barcelona that's not planning to just let the player go for free and without any condition.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Juventus is in poll position to sign Iago and that there were new contacts with the Italian club yesterday which could lead to a deal this weekend (read more here).
Manchester United, Liverpool, Ajax and Celta would all also have made offers for Iago and Real Madrid is also keeping an eye on the situation. It neverheless cannot be excluded that Iago in the end leaves on a one year loan.
Read more:
Barça B: Iago close to Juventus
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona Atlètic attacker Víctor Vázquez (21) could in the end also be permanently promoted to the first team.
If - like is expected - Barcelona doesn't sign any new forwards in the next days, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and his staff are considering to add Vázquez to the first team.
Together with six of his Barcelona Atlètic team-mates Vázquez started the pre-season with the first team (read more here) and participated in four friendly matches before returning to Barcelona's second team last week (read more here).
Earlier this week, Vázquez told the official club media that he hopes for a new promotion chance: "Now I have to work hard with the B team and if Guardiola needs me one day, I'll be happy to go there. Like every youth player, my ultimate goal is to get a place in the first team. I felt very comfortable playing with the first team and now I'm ready to work hard to reach the objectives of Barcelona Atlètic.
For now I'm adapting to the rhythm of the B team and I'm getting to know the new guys. I'm feeling good at the position I'm playing now on the pitch. I like to go forward from midfield. But of course I'll be as motivated playing wherever the coach puts me."
Read more:
Barça B - Official: Valiente to Sevilla B
Barça B: Jeffren, Busquets and Vazquez are back
Seven B players will start season with first team
Today the official team picture for the Uefa Champions League was taken. The official site has a very nice series about the shoot (click on the pictures to enlarge). Only Gabriel Milito, who is recovering from an injury in Argentina, was not there.
Barcelona has today officially announced that Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic (18) has signed this morning a contract renewal that will link him to the club until 2013 and includes a buyout clause of 80 million euro°.
The Catalan-Serbian striker will meet with Barcelona president Joan Laporta in the coming days to formally close the deal.
Bojan confirmed the news at a press conference: "I have signed a new contract and now I just have to meet the president. I'm very happy at the club and I hope to keep on learning and to win a lot of trophies in the coming five years. Players like Puyol, Xavi or Iniesta are real examples for me. This will be my tenth season with the club and I hope to continue here at least as long as them."
Bojan Krkic joined Barcelona in 1999 and was promoted to the first team in the summer of 2007.
Read the whole Bojan renewal story from the first rumours to the signature
Read more:
OFFICIAL: Sylvinho renewal
Barcelona has officially announced the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic midfielder Daniel Toribio (20) to Spanish third division club Terrassa.
Toribio, who will join Terrassa on a one year loan deal, was yesterday presented by his new club (read more here). Catalan local newspaper Diari de Terrassa reports that Barcelona will keep on paying his entire salary.
Toribio, who had already been training with his new team-mates for a few days, said at the press conference that he's very motivated: "I was a little surprised that they welcomed me very well. I've really seen a very united group, which will be important during the season. I have been training with Barcelona Atlètic since the start of the pre-season so I'm available if the coach needs me. My best place is in midfield but I can also play as left back or even left winger."
Terrassa coach Sergio Lobera said that Toribio, who had received several offers, was a top target for his club: "For a while he has been a priority. If we could sign him, there was no need to consider other options. He will help to raise the level of the team. It's a polivalent players, who has a lot of caracter and can sacrifice himself for the good of the team."
Read more:
Barça B: Toribio close to joining Terrassa on loan
Barça B - Official: Fali to Terrassa
Barça B - Official: Pau to Terrassa
This is the final result of this blog's Is Martín Cáceres a good transfer? poll:
29% ... 8
21% ... 7
15% ... 10
12% ... 6
9% ... 9
5% ... Don't know
4% ... 5
1% ... 3
1% ... 4
1% ... 0
1% ... 2
.% ... 1
Average score: 7,57
See the results for:
Seydou Keita
Gerard Piqué
Dani Alves
Asked about his debut with Celtic Glasgow last weekend (read more here), former Barcelona midfielder Marc Crosas (20) has said in an interview with Scottish tabloid Daily Record that he was very happy with the warm reception he received from the home crowd:
"I spoke about the atmosphere at Celtic before I came to the club but I never imagined how great it could be. I was delighted with the way the fans took to me as I came off the bench."
Crosas is already looking forward to the Glasgow derby against city-rivals Rangers on Sunday: "I know derby matches are special because I spent so long at Barcelona watching games with Real Madrid. It was the game everyone wanted to play in. I was no different but the closest I came was last December when I was in the squad. I thought I might get a seat on the bench but I had to settle for watching from the stand.
Being involved in those games is special and even if I'm not playing for Celtic against Rangers I will give my all as a squad member to help them win. But nothing can beat playing. I can only imagine what it would be like to play in a derby and when I do imagine I get quite excited. I've seen quite a few Celtic games on TV and was always impressed by the atmosphere but nothing beats the real thing."
In an interview with Madrid tabloid As, Crosas also said that he had a good feeling about his first official minutes as a Celtic player: "I could play for 20 minutes when the game was already decided. It was a calm debut but it was impressive to feel the unity with the fans when you enter the pitch.
After the game we went to dinner with several team-mates and the fans who we met congratulated us with the win but also made clear that the really important match was the one this Sunday. That was striking. I've seen images from the derbies on youtube and they are really impressive."
Crosas says that he has been advised not to meet this week with Glasgow Rangers attacking midfielder Aarón, who joined Raingers last week on loan from Valencia and who Crosas knows well from their time together with the Spanish youth teams, because the fans of both clubs wouldn't understand that.
Since Barcelona can buy Crosas back in the summer of 2010 for two million euro (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the midfielder over the next two years.
Read more on Crosas' performances with Celtic here
Asked about the rumours saying that Barcelona has already stopped all transfer activity for this summer (read more here), Barcelona sports vice president Rafael Yuste said in an interview with Spanish news agency Europa Press that they keep on monitoring the market:
Tuesday 16 September
Barcelona - Sporting
Catalan local radio station Ràdio Palamós claims that Spanish fourth division club Palamós is interested in Zaragoza B left winger Eneko (24), who played on loan with Barcelona B last season.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona Atlètic attacking midfielder and Spanish youth international Iago Falqué (18) is close to joining Italian club Juventus.
With Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique not counting on Iago for this season and the alternative being a return to the Juvenil A team, Iago has decided to accept one of the many offers he has received.
Manchester United and Ajax have also shown interest in the player but the fact that Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri has asked himself for the transfer seems to have been decisive. A deal could be closed later today.
Iago would leave on a free transfer although Barcelona will receive a fee if he plays a certain number of matches with the first team and a part of the transfer fee is the player is sold by Juventus later on.
Read more:
Barça B: Manchester United offer for Iago
Youth - Official: Valles to NAC Breda
Youth: Iago could leave for Manchester United
Input from the users (yes you!) is of course crucial in this process. What do you like about the blog? What don't you like? What should be deleted as soon as possible? What should certainly stay or otherwise you'll come and hunt me down? Bash me, praise me, do what you want, just don't call me "sweetie". Give me all your remarks and suggestions so I can start planning to make this a better blog!
Spanish football site Air Futbol claims that Barcelona Atlètic attacking midfielder and Spanish youth international Iago Falqué (18) has been contacted by Manchester United, that wants the player to join their reserves team (read more here).
Iago thinks that he hasn't been treated correctly by Barcelona and wants to end his stay at the club (read more here). If he's given the permission to leave on a free transfer, he'll most probably join the English champions.
Asked about the rumours linking him with Manchester United, Iago said to the site that he doesn't see himself staying at Barcelona and that Manchester United is in that case an excellent option: "I consider that club to be the ideal place for me to keep on growing as a football player."
Spanish football site Join Futbol claims that sources close the the current Champions League holders have confirmed that Manchester United are currently the best placed team to sign Iago.
Barcelona site Pelikano claims that, while Barceloa Atlètic coach Luis Enrique told Iago that he doesn't count on him for next season (read more here), other people within the club are having doubts on letting the player go.
Iago's agent would have receive several offers and clubs like Real Madrid and Liverpool would be ready to pick the player up in the last days of the summer transfer window if he would be able to leave on a free transfer.
Read more:
Youth: Iago wants to leave permanently
Nike wants Ronaldo in Barcelona
Youth: English clubs interested in Iago
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic celebrates today his 18th birthday, which means he can now sign another contract that will link him longer with the club.
His current contract expires next summer and it couldn't be renewed until today. All media agree that Bojan will sign in the coming days a new five-year contract including a significant salary rise and an 80 million euro° buyout clause (read more here).
Since Barcelona president Joan Laporta and some other officials like Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain are since yesterday in Monaco to assist the draw for the Champions League group stage this evening, the contract won't be signed today.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, who claims that Bojan rejected several offers this summer, says that a date will be set once Laporta returns from Monaco tomorrow. Catalan sports paper Sport thinks the signature and the official announcement could well take place tomorrow.
Read more:
Bojan will sign renewal next week
Arsenal interested in Bojan
Bojan will accept renewal offer
#
Spanish third division club Valladolid B has officially announced two months ago the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic midfielder José de la Puente García (20).
Spanish third division club Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa has last month officially announced the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic forward Stefan Rodríguez Oreiro (21).
The Spanish-Swiss striker, who played last season on loan with fourth divison team Real Oviedo, could leave for free.
Read more:
Barcelona has yesterday finally published a first official squad list of their second team Barcelona Atlètic, that will be coached this season by Luis Enrique.
This is not the final list since some guys (like Blasco, Toribio or Iago) could still leave the team in the coming days. Luis Enrique has already announced he won't sign any more players this summer.
In green you find the players who were promoted from the Juvenil A team, in red you find the guys who joined the club. Next week I'll have a full overview of Barcelona Atlètic's summer transfers.
Oier Olazábal (18)
Rubén Miño (19)
Jordi Masip (19)
Alberto Tomás Botía (19)
Marc Blasco (19)
Jonathan López (21)
David Córcoles (23)
Víctor Manuel Espasandín (23)
José Antonio Solano (23)
Héctor Verdés (24)
Xavi Torres (21)
Andreu Fontàs (18)
José Manuel Rueda (20)
Sergi Busquets (20)
Thiago Alcántara (17)
Daniel Toribio (20)
Abraham González (22)
Antonio Longás (24)
Víctor Vázquez (21)
Iago Falqué (18)
Manuel Agudo Duran 'Nolito' (21)
Jeffren Suárez (21)
Rubén Rayos 'Rayo' (22)
Gai Yigaal Assulin (17)
Goran Maric (24)
Read everything on the Barcelona Atlètic transfers here
This evening the draw for the group stage of the champions league takes place at 6pm bt. These are the four pots:
Pot 1
1 Manchester United FC (ENG) 107.996
2 Chelsea FC (ENG) 124.996
3 Liverpool FC (ENG) 118.996
4 FC Barcelona (ESP) 117.837
5 Arsenal FC (ENG) 110.996
6 Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) 99.380
7 FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) 96.934
8 Real Madrid CF (ESP) 93.837
Pot 2
9 FC Bayern München (GER) 92.078
10 PSV Eindhoven (NED) 91.610
11 Villarreal CF (ESP) 90.837
12 AS Roma (ITA) 81.934
13 FC Porto (POR) 81.176
14 Werder Bremen (GER) 74.078
15 Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) 67.176
16 Juventus (ITA) 66.934
Pot 3
17 Olympique de Marseille (FRA) 63.380
18 FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) 60.437
19 FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) 59.398
20 Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 52.525
21 FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA) 52.380
22 Celtic FC (SCO) 52.013
23 FC Basel 1893 (SUI) 51.993
24 Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) 51.469
Pot 4
25 FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 49.932
26 ACF Fiorentina (ITA) 40.934
27 Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) 36.837
28 FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 34.932
29 CFR 1907 Cluj (ROU) 13.398
30 Aalborg BK (DEN) 12.748
31 Anorthosis Famagusta FC (CYP) 4.327
32 FC BATE Borisov (BLR) 1.760
Valdés 6_7_6_7_5.5
Alves 5_6_6_6_5.5
Puyol 6_5_5.5_5_5.5
Piqué 5_5_5.5_5_6
Abidal 5_5_6.5_6_5
Xavi 6_5_5.5_4_6
Touré 6_6_7_8_6
Keita 5_6_6_4_5.5
Iniesta 6_4_6_4_6
Eto'o 5_5_5.5_4_5.5
Henry 6_6_6.5_6_5
Gudjohnsen 5_5_5.5_4_5
Hleb 5_5_5.5_3_5
Bojan 5_4_._4_5.5
(sport-goal-barcamania-offside-oleole)
If you have seen the match, you can give your own points. If you know other papers or sites that give points, you can let me know.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has made the first contacts with the agents of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (26) and Barcelona midfielder Xavi (28) regarding the renewal of their contracts that expire in 2010 (read more here).
Both Catalan players would have reacted positively to the intention of the club to keep them for a longer period and the more concrete renewal negotiations will now start. Xavi, who rejected several offers this summer (read more here), could be offered a new contract until 2013 or 2014.
Read more:
Renewal talks coming up
Renewal offer for Xavi
Tottenham was looking for Valdes agent
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona Atlètic midfielder Daniel Toribio (20) is very close to reaching an agreement with third division club Terrassa on a loan deal (read more here).
With wing attacker Pedro (21) and polyvalent defender and midfielder Víctor Sánchez (20), two of the seven Barcelona Atlètic players who started the pre-season with the first team have been permanently promoted (read more here).
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the other five players - right back defender David Córcoles (23), midfielders Abraham (22) and Sergi Busquets (20), attacker Víctor Vázquez (21) and left winger Jeffren (20) - will all start the new season with Barcelona Atlètic although they will be at the disposal of Guardiola if needed.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Córcoles, Abraham and Busquets will certainly stay with Barcelona's second team. Víctor Vázquez will most probably also stay because Guardiola plans to use him during the season and wants to have him near.
The situation of Jeffren (picture) would be somewhat unclear. The Venezuelan player has received several offers from Spanish first and second division clubs, as well as from foreign teams, who want to sign the player on loan or permanently. Barcelona plans to let the player decide on his future and he seems close to leaving the club, although Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique hopes to be able to convince Jeffren to stay.
Read more:
Pedro and Victor Sanchez permanently promoted
Barça B: Valencia, Sevilla and Villareal want Jeffren
Victor Sanchez and Pedro could join first team
7: Seven B players will start season with first team
5: Five B players stay with first team
2: Jeffren, Busquets and Vazquez are back
This is the final result of this blog's Is Daniel Alves a good transfer? poll:
76% ... 10
19% ... 9
4% ... 8
1% ... 7
.% ... 2
.% ... 6
.% ... 4
0% ... 5
0% ... 3
0% ... 2
0% ... 1
0% ... 0
Average score: 9,69
See the results for:
Seydou Keita
Gerard Piqué
Spanish fourth division club Hospitalet has last week officially announced the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic forward Pedro García (24).
The Catalan striker, who played last season on loan with Spanish third divison team Burgos, had been told by Barcelona that he should look for another club this summer (read more here).
Read more:
Barça B: Pedro Garcia looking for Belgian club
Barça B - Official: Valiente to Sevilla B
Barça B - Official: Coto to Sevilla B
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
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
José Manuel Pinto
former club: celta vigo
age: 32
country: spain
official announcement: friday 30 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the contract can be cancelled by both parties after one year, pinto played for barcelona on loan since january, when barcelona paid celta 500 000 euro
Martín Cáceres
former club: villareal (on loan to recreativo huelva)
age: 21
country: uruguay
official announcement: wednesday 4 june
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 16,5 million euro
Daniel Alves
former club: sevilla
age: 25
country: brazil
official announcement: wednesday 2 july
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 29 million euro (+ 6 million euro variables depending on the ranking of the team and the trophies won in the coming years)
Alexander Hleb
former club: arsenal
age: 27
country: belarus
official announcement: wednesday 16 july
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 15 million euro (+ 3 million euro variables depending on the results and the qualification for the champions league in the coming years)
Henrique Adriano Buss
former club: palmeiras
age: 21
country: brazil
official announcement: tuesday 22 july
contract duration: 5 years
transfer fee: 8 million euro (+ 2 million euro variables depending on the qualification for the champions league in the four years after his return from loan)
Pedro
former team: barcelona b
age: 21
country: spain
official announcement: [sunday 24 august]
transfer fee: -
Víctor Sánchez
former team: barcelona b
age: 20
country: catalunya, spain
official announcement: [sunday 24 august]
transfer fee: -
OUT
José Edmílson
new club: villareal
age: 31
country: brazil
barcelona player since: 2004
barcelona contract until: 2008
official announcement: friday 23 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: -
note: the contract of the player expired
Giovani dos Santos
new club: tottenham
age: 19
country: mexico
barcelona player since: 2002
barcelona contract until: 2009 (?)
official announcement: friday 6 june
contract duration: 5 years
transfer fee: 6 million euro (+ 5 million euro depending on the player’s appearances during his five years of contract)
note: when the player is transferred barcelona receives 20% of the fee during the first two years or 10% after that
Gianluca Zambrotta
new club: ac milan
age: 31
country: italy
barcelona player since: 2006
barcelona contract until: 2010
official announcement: friday 13 june
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 9 million euro (+ 2 million euro depending on the qualification of ac milan for the champions league during the next four years)
Deco
new club: chelsea
age: 30
country: portugal (brazil)
barcelona player since: 2004
barcelona contract until: 2010
official announcement: monday 30 june
contract duration: 3 years
transfer fee: 10 million euro
Ronaldinho
new club: ac milan
age: 28
country: brazil
barcelona player since: 2003
barcelona contract until: 2010
official announcement: tuesday 15 july
contract duration: 3 years
transfer fee: 21 million euro (+ 4 million euro depending on the qualification of ac milan for the champions league during the next years)
Oleguer
new club: ajax amsterdam
age: 28
country: catalunya, spain
barcelona player since: january 2004 (cantera since 2001)
barcelona contract until: 2010
official announcement: tuesday 22 july
contract duration: 3 years (with an option for an extra year)
transfer fee: 3 million euro (+ 2,25 million euro depending on the qualification of ajax for the champions league during the next three years)
Henrique Adriano Buss
new club: bayer leverkusen
age: 21
country: brazil
barcelona player since: 2008
barcelona contract until: 2013
official announcement: tuesday 22 july
contract duration: 1 year
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the player leaves on a one-year loan deal
Santiago Ezquerro
new club: osasuna
age: 31
country: spain
barcelona player since: 2005
barcelona contract until: 2008
official announcement: tuesday 29 july
contract duration: 2 years (with an option for an extra year)
transfer fee: -
note: the contract of the player expired
Lilian Thuram
new club: - (retired)
age: 36
country: france
barcelona player since: 2006
barcelona contract until: 2008
official announcement: friday 1 august
contract duration: -
transfer fee: -
note: the contract of the player expired
Marc Crosas
new club: celtic glasgow
age: 21
country: catalunya, spain
barcelona player since: december 2007 (cantera since 2001)
barcelona contract until: 2011
official announcement: tuesday 4 august
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 0,5 million euro (+ 0,9 million euro depending on the player's appearances, the qualification for the Champions League and the titles won)
note: barcelona can buy the player back at the end of the 2009-2010 season for 2 million euro and when the player is transferred barcelona receives 25% of the fee
IN: 87,5 + 11 (= 98,5)
OUT: 49,5 + 14,15 (= 63,65)
fixed investment: 38 (= 87,5 - 49,5)
fixed + variable investment: 34,85 (= 98,5 - 63,65)
worst case: 49 (= 98,5 - 49,5)
best case: 23,85 (= 87,5 - 63,65)
Both main Catalan sports papers claim today that Barcelona has decided not to make anymore transfers after Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola met yesterday in Kraków hours before the Champions League match against Wisla.
Guardiola made clear he's very happy with the current squad and thinks he has all he needs to start the season. The club was interested in signing a player for the left wing who has scoring ability and international experience and who shouldn't cost more than 20 million euro but the names put forward by Txiki didn't convince the coach and both agreed on not buying another player.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that, besides the usual suspects, Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) and Lyon attacking midfielder and Swedish international Kim Källström (26) were the latest names that were discussed.
Both Sport and El Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona could nevertheless well enter the transfer market next January and sign one of the players that were being looked at this summer.
Read more:
Arshavin confirms Barcelona offer
Pre-agreement on Palacio transfer put on hold
Agents deny Capel exit
Barcelona Atlètic attacker and Jordanian international Thaer Fayed Bawab (23) has been testing with Dutch second division club Go Ahead Eagles from August 15 till August 20 but wasn't offered a contract in the end.
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