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!!! LIVE MATCH CHAT !!!
from two hours before until two hours after the game you can join a match chat
(read more here)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta gave an interview to Spanish newspaper El País.
Since you surprisingly won the elections back in 2003, a lot of the decisions you have taken have been courageous, and sometimes they even seemed reckless.
If you want to be a good president, you have to be courageous but responsible.
It looks like you took advantage of the exit of some board members in July to do what they didn't let you do before.
The decisions are certainly working quite well: the appointment of Josep Guardiola as manager, the organizational impulse with the new chief executive officer Joan Oliver, the challenge of collecting the 380 million euro we predicted and keep a surplus on the budget. We've paid all our bank debts and the new sports centre, we've reactivated the sale of the season-ticket holders’ seats, Barça TV will broadcast publicly and we continue with our solidarity activities. Every year we create new successes that all start from a competitive football project.
You now understand your predecessor Josep Lluís Núñez when he took some decisions against the public opinion?
We cannot be compared. I take a position and then the board makes the decisions.
The bid for an MLS franchise doesn’t seem very supported by the entourage of the club, like your visits to Uzbekistan and some of your relations with persons who are not linked to the world of football.
I feel the energy to keep on innovating. If we are more than a club and we live in a global world, you have to look at all the options. I have always been innovative and courageous when it came down to making decisions.
You have become richer since you became president?
I have my businesses and I try to make them work, but never at the expense of the club. Being the president of Barcelona, gives you more chances to meet people. It’s a phase of your life, a privilege. On the other hand, I’ve also gone through some very difficults moments in my private life.
Nowadays the politicians aren’t so keen anymore to get on the picture with you and there’s no talk anymore about your possible political career.
I already said a while ago that I’m not motivated to get involved in these matters. I would have liked to be the centre forward of Barcelona.
You are still true to the spirit of former sports director Armand Carabén and to the slogan “more than a club”, just like you are true to the football legacy of Cruijff and the Dream Team?
We keep on respecting the spirit of the founder and of Carabén. His example showed us how to lead the club, like Cruijff showed us how to play. The result is the club that I’m leading.
You’ve already found your computer that was stolen at the Camp Nou earlier this year?
I’m not looking look for it anymore.
Your outbursts, like the incident at the airport and the discussion with your driver, don’t cast a shadow on your work as president?
If that’s the only thing that can be criticized, this means there’s not a lot to criticize. The main thing are the ideals.
You think Barcelona will win against Madrid next week?
I’ve stopped thinking about things that don’t contribute anything. We’re focused on staying cautious and to keep on working hard. To govern is to resist. To win, you have to resist.
This was the second and last part of this interview. Read the first part here:
Asked about the exit rumours regarding Chelsea midfielder and Ghana international Michael Essien (26), Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has said at a press conference that Barcelona is one of the clubs interested in the player but that he wants to keep the player:
"Inter, AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid all want Essien but he is at Chelsea. If I stay for three years I don't want him out, I want him to stay with me.
This is because he is very good player who can play in five positions very well. He is young and dedicated. He is our player and I think he is happy here.
Michael Essien is good news for me everyday. At this moment he is injured but he is recovering quicker than we thought. He comes here at 10.30 in the morning and doesn't go until four in the afternoon. He tries to come back early. It is good for us. He is a fantastic example for other players. I don't want to put pressure on him but I think we will have good news sooner than we expected."
Read more:
Swap deal including Essien and Xavi
Mourinho's eleven
Busquets renewal could be closed this week
Bayer Leverkusen played this afternoon their sixteenth Bundesliga game of the season. Bayer defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-3.
Brazilian central defender and Barcelona loan out Henrique (22) started the match and played the whole game in the centre of the Bayer defense.
Barcelona bought Henrique this summer and decided to loan him out to Bayer Leverkusen for one season (read more here). This blog will follow Henrique's performances during this season.
Sunday 10 August - Cup round 1: Rot-Weiß Oberhausen-Bayer Leverkusen 2-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 120 minutes.
Saturday 16 August - Bundesliga game 1: Bayer Leverkusen-Borussia Dortmund 2-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Saturday 23 August - Bundesliga game 2: Vfb Stuttgart-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Saturday 30 August - Bundesliga game 3: Bayer Leverkusen-Hoffenheim 5-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.
Saturday 13 September - Bundesliga game 4: Hamburg-Bayer Leverkusen 3-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.
Friday 19 September - Bundesliga game 5: Bayer Leverkusen-Hannover 4-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Tuesday 23 September - Cup round 2: Augsburg(2)-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.
Saturday 27 September - Bundesliga game 6: Bochum-Bayer Leverkusen 2-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Saturday 4 October - Bundesliga game 7: Bayer Leverkusen-Hertha Berlin 0-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.
Saturday 18 October - Bundesliga game 8: Eintracht Frankfurt-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Friday 24 October - Bundesliga game 9: Bayer Leverkusen-FC Köln 2-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Tuesday 29 October - Bundesliga game 10: Werder Bremen-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Friday 31 October - Bundesliga game 11: Bayer Leverkusen-Wolfsburg 2-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Saturday 8 November - Bundesliga game 12: Karlsruhe-Bayer Leverkusen 3-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.
Saturday 15 November - Bundesliga game 13: Bayer Leverkusen-Schalke 2-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Saturday 22 November - Bundesliga game 14: Bielefeld-Bayer Leverkusen 2-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Saturday 29 November - Bundesliga game 15: Bayer Leverkusen-Bayern Munich 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.
Saturday 6 December - Bundesliga game 14: Borussia Mönchengladbach-Bayer Leverkusen 1-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.
Table
1. Hoffenheim 34
2. Bayern München 34
3. Bayer Leverkusen 31
4. Hertha Berlin 30
5. Hamburg (15) 27
6. Schalke 26
7. Borussia Dortmund 26
8. Stuttgart 24
9. Werder Bremen 23
10.Wolfsburg (15) 23
[...]
1st and 2nd place: group phase of Champions League
3rd place: third qualifying round of Champions League, winner enters the group phase, losers enter the Uefa Cup
4th place: qualifies for 4th qualifying round of Uefa Cup
5th place: qualifies for 3rd qualifying round of Uefa Cup
Barcelona player Rafael Márquez gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.
The win against Sevilla was the definite confirmation of the candidacy for the league title?
We're working for that. We take match after match, like the coach wants us to do. There won't be any easy games and thinking from match to match is the way leagues are won.
One thing is the theory and another thing the confident way in which you settle the games on the pitch.
The truth is that we feel very confident. Every player who takes part feels very strong and, above all, believes in the coach, which is also important.
Guardiola is the main reason for the change?
He organizes everything and we need to follow him. But yes, I think he's is greatly responsible for the change, because of his ideas, his work. We just deal with the orders with a different mentality, a new chip for a new era.
You said that the group worked less with Rijkaard. A player maybe needs it to perform well that a coach is watching him closely?
Yes, Guardiola has set his rules very clearly and this makes us follow his way of dealing with things and it has worked until now. With Rijkaard it also worked at a certain point. We won a lot of trophies and this should be remembered.
Which fundamental change made you work all very hard from the first day this season?
Independent of the work, I think that it's also a mental issue. Guardiola is very pressing, he tries to motivate us and to prevent that we relax too much or get down. Not only in the games but also in every training session, every single day. This is good for us because we cannot fall asleep one second. Sometimes you're not really aware of things but he makes you aware. That's an advantage we cannot give ourselves.
Which detail of Guardiola has striked you most?
He's very persevering. He's always there. Sometimes it seems he's not but he sees everything because his staff is controlling things. His mentality and the motivation he gives us is important for the self-esteem of every one of us. It's all very intense. He gives everything for the club, wanting to be the best. It's a born winner.
The great performances on the pitch are only a matter of motivation or you also fear to have to sit the bench?
Every player of the squad has qualities. You only should try to get the player to give everything he has and he achieves this.
Xavi said that you will at least win the Liga. You agree?
That's what we all want. After two years without trophies, we want to win again. We have to be cautious though and keep on working like we have done until now. If we continue like this until the end, it looks dificult we won't win anything.
After defeating Sevilla, would it be a final blow for the Liga if you also win against Valencia, Madrid and Villareal?
Not a final one because there will still be a lot of games left, but maybe it would indeed be a big knock for all the teams that are behind us. Defeating them would mean an important step to win their respect.
Valencia seems ready to take you on. There's something about them that you're afraid of?
They have a good team, but their attack is especially strong, with Villa and Mata, who are both in a good moment.
This was the first part of this interview. You can read the second part here in the coming days with Marquez talking -among other things- about the game against Real Madrid.
Read more interviews with Barcelona players here
Asked about the future of his club, Paris Saint Germain president Charles Villeneuve has said in an interview with french sports paper L'Equipe that the French club could try to sign Barcelona forward and Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o (27):
"We're interested in Eto'o. The player loves Paris. Gucci, Gianfranco Ferre, Dolce & Gabbana... I don't think it will be a matter of money. Paris Saint-Germain is worth more than Manchester City, so more than 200 million euro. A PSG that works, a PSG that can participate in the Champions Legaue, believe me that this would be worth a lot."
Read more:
Messi and Eto'o on Manchester City wish list
Paris Saint-Germain not interested in Gudjohnsen
Eto'o wants to end career at Marseille and Mallorca
Asked about the continuous rumours linking Zenit Saint Petersburg forward and Russian international Andrei Arshavin (27) with several European top clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Dennis Lachter has said in an interview with football site Goal that his destination will be one of the three top leagues in Europe:
"We have not verified the situation just yet, but we know that there are several clubs in Spain, England and Italy who are all interested in Arshavin. I don't want to comment on which clubs are interested because there has been plenty of speculation regarding the situation.
It will be clearer in around a few weeks when the Champions League and UEFA Cup takes a break, and it will be much easier to understand where he will be going. The final match for Zenit in the Champions League could be his final accord with the club and this is significant for Andrei. He has won two titles in Europe as well as bronze in the Euros.
The key leagues for the player are the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. I don't think it's right to comment about whether he will go. I don't think it's the right way to promote the player by speculating about where he could end up, but we will have a clearer idea around the middle of December when the interested clubs decide to come forward if they are serious."
Read more:
Arshavin agent invites Barcelona to move
Barcelona wanted Cesc and Arshavin was close
Barcelona could make a new move for Arshavin
Argentinian sports site El Depornauta claims that Barcelona will sign Atlético Madrid forward and Argentinian international Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (20) next summer (read more here).
Barcelona would pay the 55 million euro° buyout clause of the player and Barcelona president Joan Laporta would be personally leading the negotiations with the player. With only a few details left, there would be a principal and verbal agreement between the two parties.
Barcelona manager Guardiola would have approved the transfer and sees a key role for Agüero in his team. Besides his football qualities, Agüero would also be appreciated because of his stable private life.
Argentinian football site Golpasión claims that Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have been holding talks for several months about a transfer of Agüero, who would be pleased with the idea of joining his Argentinian compatriot and close friend Lionel Messi.
With Barcelona willing to pay the buyout fee and Atlético wanting to hold on to the Argentinian striker until the end of the season, the two clubs would recently have reached a verbal agreement on a transfer in June of next year.
Read more:
Guardiola wants Aguero
Possible next Barcelona president wants Aguero
Barcelona board considers Aguero transfer
Barcelona presidnet joan laporta gave an interview to Spanish newspaper El País.
Intuition? Courage? How do you explain your capacity to survive?
I believe you have to be able to understand Barça in a certain way. There were people who are true to club but who have stopped walking along with me for certain reasons. Everybody has his own way of being. I have not changed and I keep going on with those who continue at the institution. The ideals of the club are a lot stronger than personal ambitions and to bring them into practice the club needs to be governed. I believe in what I'm doing and I have the strength to overcome, the motivation, the energy and the innovative spirit that is needed to lead. Barcelona is an international reference at a social, sporting, economic and solidary level and we have to strengthen that.
Those who have abandoned you are suggesting that your behaviour is too focused on your own person and that your management is not cautious enough. You didn't transform from a president into a manager?
I've always been an executive president. Barça is travelling at a high speed and you need a will to innovate. You need to hold the steering wheel firmly to get the club where we want it, without being turned away from our objective. There are things that were meaningful four months ago but that aren't anymore now.
The economic crisis has also an impact on the attendance at the Camp Nou.
We're talking about a global crisis. The fact that the games are broadcasted by non-pay channels and the hours at which most of the games are played also have an influence. Maybe we should start to play at different hours for more people to come and watch the games.
The fans sure have stopped watching at the president's box and are now watching the pitch again. You feel more comfortable than last season?
In the delicate moments, you should show that you're able to resist. There's a lot of pressure and I understand that other board members couldn't deal with that anymore. I stayed with those who believed in the project and didn't leave the ship.
Those who resigned were preparing a coup?
I don't feel betrayed or disappointed. I believed in the project and I had to assure the stability. It had been decided since February that Guardiola would be the manager this season in case Rijkaard wouldn't win a trophy, and if not, next season. And there also were the economic challenges and the project of the new stadium.
Why Guardiola?
The first who spoke to me about Guardiola as a coach was Cruijff in December 2007. At that time, I was worried about the performances of the team. It looked all very similar to the season before, so I asked Cruijff for advice. I mentioned the name of Guardiola because those who were following him as B-team coach were talking very positively about him, and especially sports director Txiki Begiristain. I realized that if we needed a substitute, we had one within the club. I talked about the situation with Rijkaard. Then the team made a good comeback and I decided to meet with Guardiola to tell him that if the team wouldn't win a trophy, he would be next season's manager. I also explained that to Rijkaard, who proposed to appoint Guardiola as assistant coach so he could prepare the change. Guardiola nevertheless wanted the B-team to win the championship and to get promoted. We chose Guardiola despite some board members prefering other options.
Mourinho and Wenger?
Among others. We chose Guardiola for his knowledge about football and the club and because of his football philosophy. Cruijff told me that Guardiola sees the game in a very clear way. It was my responsibility that the new manager would respect the history of the club. And Guardiola has a fine history at this club. I was convinced by his modesty, skills, knowledge and dignity.
Although people accused you that appointing Guardiola was a way to protect yourself, wouldn't appointing Mourinho have been a better umbrella in a way?
The president has to hold on to a way of playing football and not go after the brand of the day. The appointment of Guardiola shows the attachment to the cruijffian philosopy. After Rijkaard, there's now Guardiola and that's clear to everyone. When we appointed him as coach as coach of the B-team, I was convinced that he would end up as manager of the first team. Mourinho was a more pragmatic option, a more secure one, but Guardiola fitted our way of understanding the game of football. Now a lot of people want to make me believe that they've recommended Guardiola to me while in fact they advised against him. Guardiola is a constant source of football inspiration.
This was the first part of this interview. The second part will follow in the coming days with Laporta talking -among other things- about the MLS bid and his political ambitions.
This is the final result of this blog's Who should replace Eto'o as centre forward? poll:
1. Henry 62%
2. Bojan 20%
3. Messi 12%
4. Gudjohnsen 4%
5. Other option 2%
Poll result: Who should replace Iniesta?
Asked about his renewal negotiations with the club, Barcelona attacking midfielder and Spanish international Xavi (28), whose current contract expires in the summer of 2010, has reconfirmed to journalists that a deal has been closed (read more here):
"It seems that I will renew, although nothing has been signed yet. The president has given me his word and I gave him mine. If everything goes like planned, we will sign the contract next week when Txiki Begiristain will be back in Barcelona.
I feel respected by the club, in every possible way. I'm very happy. I hope to retire at Barça but when I don't feel useful anymore for the team of my life, I will go. I will be the first to notice that and I will leave. If I sign until 2014, I will keep on working as always and I hope to win some more trophies.
I'm in a great moment. I feel very confident and after the Euro, I have an incredible believe and motivation to try new things. I feel very comfortable on the pitch and I'm surrounded by the ideal teammates who help me show my game."
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo meanwhile claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta misused the absence of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain to close a deal by giving in to all Xavi's wishes regarding both the salary and the duration of the contract.
pep's opinion:
signature in the week before the madrid game. very well planned, indeed...
Read more:
Xavi confirms renewal until 2014
Xavi is top target for Manchester United
Agreement on Xavi renewal until 2014
The European football association UEFA has announced that Barcelona will receive a sum of 955 090 euro° for the participation of Barcelona players in this summer's European championships.
Clubs who contributed players to Euro 2008 are set to receive solidarity contributions after UEFA finalised the calculations on the amount of money to be handed to national associations following this summer's tournament.
The club's share was calculated by the "per player per day" amount multiplied by the number of days each player was at Euro 2008. This started two weeks before the first match of a player's national team until the day after his team was eliminated. From this, the relevant percentage of the share was calculated to be passed on to the club(s) with which any player was registered in the preceding two years prior to the start of the final tournament.
The top three clubs providing players for Euro 2008 in order were first Werder Bremen, with a total payment of 1,093,732 euro, Olympique Lyon (1,039,115 euro) and Bayern Munich (1,018,109 euro).
The target total amount set for distribution to the national associations from EURO 2008 was fixed at 43.5 million euro. For Euro 2012, the target total amount to be distributed is set at 55 million euro, provided the final financial results of Euro 2012 are substantially similar to those of Euro 2008.
(for the total amount received by each club, click here)
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta dreams of signing Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (21) and Olympique Lyon forward Karim Benzema (20) next summer.
Laporta, who will leave the presidency in 2010, would this way want to prepare the future and leave a legacy for years to come.
A serious economic investment would be needed for both transfers. Arsenal would ask 30 million euro° for Cesc but Barcelona doesn't want to pay such a fee for a former youth player since this would send a bad signal to the fans and the current youth players. The club therefore hopes that Cesc will put pressure on his club.
Read more:
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that while Lionel Messi ran to Barcelona second goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto after his first goal in Saturday's game against Sevilla, he dedicated his second goal to his sister María Sol, who celebrated her fifteenth birthday last Sunday.
After scoring his second goal of the game, which was also his fifteenth official goal of the season (read more here), Messi ran to the closest television camera saying "Para vos, María Sol" (For you, María Sol). After this he touched his belly, which would be a reference to the fact that his sister had her belly button pierced against the advice of part of the family.
Read more:
To whom did Messi dedicate his goal?
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that São Paulo midfielder Hernanes (23) will be put on the market by his club in 2009.
Hernanes will be sold by São Paulo to cover this year's financial deficit. A transfer will be discussed when the Copa Libertadores has come to an end for the Brazilian club next summer.
São Paulo would have rejected earlier this year an offer of 11 million euro° for Hernanes presented by Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain (read more here), but despite the buyout fee being 25 million euro°, the club could now change its mind due to the global economic crisis.
Sports marketing agency Traffic, that holds 17 per cent of the rights on the Brazilian midfielder (with 75 per cent belonging to the club and 8 per cent to the player), now thinks that Hernanes' value has reached its top last summer and that the transfer fees in international football will drop next year.
Read more:
Hernanes could come next summer
Hernanes waiting for Barcelona
Sao Paulo holding on to Hernanes buyout fee
Barcelona left back defender Eric Abidal (29) received earlier today the green light from the Barcelona medical staff.
The Frenchman, who has been training with the squad since last Thursday, is therefore available for the league game against Valencia on Saturday.
After Abidal had to leave a training session on 30 October, a meniscal cyst in his right knee was discovered. The club preferred a conservative treatment rather than a surgical procedure (read more here).
Read more:
Medical: Iniesta returns to the pitch
Medical: Milito return three to four months away
Medical: Abidal out for three more weeks
During yesterday's draw for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden next summer, the Spanish team has been drawn in group B, along with England, Germany and Finland.
Group A consists of Sweden, Italy, Belarus and Serbia. The tournament begins on 15 June. The top two in each group will advance to the semi-finals. The tournament concludes with the final on 29 June.
The group stage match schedule for Spain looks like this:
Monday 15 June: Spain-Germany
Thursday 18 June Spain-England
Monday 22 June: Finland-Spain
Barcelona players Gerard Piqué (21), Sergio Busquets (20), Pedro (21) and Bojan (18) have participated in qualifying matches for this tournament.
Read more:
International: Spain qualifies for Euro under-21
International: Busquets scores in Spain debut
International: Piqué, Pedro and Gai
author: Michelle Kaufman
source: Miami Herald
date: 30 November 2008
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com
Major League Soccer executives apparently still need some convincing that Miami will support an MLS team. Marcelo Claure, the Bolivian cellphone mogul trying to bring MLS back to Miami, was in Carson, California, last week with his partners from Spanish club FC Barcelona, and they made their pitch to MLS owners.
Claure said that the meeting went "really well", that everyone seemed excited about Barcelona's backing and that he left feeling Miami is "a frontrunner for an expansion team". But, he said, owners asked to see more proof of local fan interest and a plan to spruce up FIU Stadium to make it look "more professional".
MLS Commissioner Don Garber was in Miami last week scouting the stadium and the market. Miami is one of the nation's most soccer-crazed cities, but it remains to be seen whether those fans will support a U.S. pro team. Six cities are bidding for teams (Montreal withdrew its bid), and MLS executives met with the ownership groups from Miami, Vancouver, Ottawa and Portland late last week. Atlanta and St. Louis are also in the running.
"They said they want to see more support from people here, and there was some concern about the stadium not being up to par with other MLS stadiums," Claure said. "They want better press boxes, more amenities, and they had questions about the artificial turf, which we told them is the best turf there is."
Claure, who owns Miami-based Brightstar Corp., will embark on a media blitz next week "to get our name and face out there". He urges South Florida soccer fans to register and put down season-ticket deposits on the group's website (miamifcb.com). More than 6,000 fans had signed on as fans as of Thursday, and 2,000 of those were interested in season tickets.
Miami's bid is hurt because the previous South Florida MLS team, the Miami Fusion, folded after four years in 2001. Claure, whose group is putting up a $40 million expansion fee, insists this team will do better because it will be based in Miami rather than Fort Lauderdale, because the demographics fit better now and because Barcelona, one of the world's top soccer brands, will have its fingerprints on the club.
"No, Miami is not a city where people support the team whether they are in first place or last, but if you put a good show on, people in Miami will come," Claure said. "Miami people are very picky, but if there's a first-class product, they'll pay, and there is no better style of soccer than what Barcelona plays. We will be their sister team, and we will be entertaining."
Claure believes the Miami team could become "the Yankees of MLS", with fans all over the world. "We have the No. 1 soccer brand in the world, we have the money, we have a stadium ready to go that is comfortable for what we need," Claure said. "I will be very disappointed if they don't give us a chance. I feel confident in this bid, and I am acting and planning as if we are going to have a team in 2010."
Garber discussed the expansion meetings in his state of the league address last Friday. It's hard to read much into his diplomatic comments, but one can deduce that Ottawa and Vancouver had outstanding presentations, but Miami would be a more attractive market if Claure's group can ease the owners' misgivings.
The Miami bid intrigued Garber, but he said he wanted to research more. "If we go back to Miami, we'd better be sure we get it right," Garber said. "Barcelona could make investments in lots of different countries but they believe in developing the sport here. Miami had a smart and focused bid and there are no stadium issues there, but Miami has long been a challenge for professional sports."
Claure said he and his group will work tirelessly through the next few weeks and meet with MLS officials again in late December. An announcement is expected by mid-January. The league is expected to add two teams by 2011.
Read the full and original article here
Read more:
Interview with Barcelona partner Claure
Henry could leave for Miami in 2010
Weighing the seven bids
Asked about the continuous rumours linking Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25) with several European top clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said in an interview with the club's official magazine that the Frenchman is not for sale:
"A transfer of Franck Ribéry is not on the table this Winter or even next Summer. We know what a great player he is and I can reassure all fans.
There is no amount in the world which could make us think about a transfer for pne second. Absolutely none. The board is completely united on this: Franck Ribery has a contract until at least 2011 and he is intransferable."
Read more:
Ribery was on top of Guardiola's wish list
Deco top target for Bayern
Failed bids for Bayern duo Toni and Ribery
Ronaldo: (click the cartoon to enlarge)
see more cartoons here
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