Wednesday 3 June 2009

Guardiola asks Barcelona to sign Ibrahimovic

Italian sports paper La Gazzeta dello Sport claims that Barcelona wants to sign Inter Milan forward and Swedish internacional Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) this summer after Barcelona manager Joseph Guardiola has asked president Laporta for the striker.

With Inter Milan having put a price tag of 70 million euro° on Ibrahimovic, Barcelona could offer Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (28) plus 30 million euro cash. It is expected that the player's agent Mino Raiola will meet with both Barcelona and Real Madrid soon. Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Inter has three options to replace the Swede if he leaves: Eto'o, Drogba and Tévez.

Asked about his future and about Barcelona, Ibrahimovic praised the team in an interview with Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet: "I told you before that I am not the type of player who stays in a club for twenty years. Wherever I will go to, I want to win though. Barcelona has played fantastic, attacking football this season. It looks like the game that will be played in 2015. Other could need five years to catch up."

Asked about the rumours linking Ibrahimovic with Barcelona, Raiola said in an interview with Italian television channel Radio Radio Tv that he didn't yet talk with anyone: "Looking at the past season, Guardiola is apparently an intelligent person. So I can imagine that he will know, like everybody does, that Zlatan is the strongest player in the world.

I didn't meet with Barcelona or with any other club to start negotiations. Those who want to sign Ibrahimovic should come to Milan, because the rights on the player are owned by Inter. It's not impossible that Zlatan could make a symbolic gesture when he wants to move to another team but it's also clear that when you go from Ferrari to McLaren, your salary won't be cut in half."


Read more:
Pre-agreement with Ibrahimovich
Barcelona to pay 60 million euro for Ibrahimovic

43 comments:

pep said...

70 millio euro =

100 million us dollar
60 million british pound


30 million euro =

43 million us dolalr
26 million british pound

Marc4barca said...

if we sign zlatan and real sign kaka, what will become of italian football? nedved and maldini retired, their football has dropped since the calciopoli scandal and now the two best players in the league on the verge of joining la liga, on the bright side juve signed diego.

now about the topic. yea hear that you haters, zlatan is the strongest player in the world.

Trickykid said...

The whole prospect of Ibracadabra along side Messi and Henry is mouthwatering, but I seriously doubt any trainer in the world could make him work as hard as it is required by the attackers in the current Guardiola system.

.. but oh man, it sure would be one hell of a spectacle.

trug said...

Mourinho just cannot let this happen.

tero said...

BS

KluivertsBoots said...

Guardiola would get it out of him. He is a big fan of Ibra so he must see it. Personally, I think Ibra is bored in Italy. I think that's clear based on his comments.

If you drew up the ideal 9 in a lab, it would look resemble Ibra.

I think he just needs a fresh challenge and playing in the Barca system would be perfect. He was made to play in such a system.

Rory said...

in pep i trust. if he really wants ibra, lets get him ibra....but 30 mil + eto'o seems high unless ibra signs a serious extension w/ barca.

Dolce said...

If Barca wants to improve their squad and build a new Dream Team, then they should buy Villa or Forlan and keep Henry & Eto'o. Then we could send Bojan on loan. Swap deals never take place but cash plus Eto'o for Zlatan would be a bad business for Barca although Zlatan would offer new attacking options. I cant believe why Barca is again so desperate to offload Eto'o. It seems that Barca is again lacking ambition what comes to summer targets, although now its perfect time to spend big. Why should we let RM sign our several top targets like Villa and Ribery? Are Barca bosses unwilling to spend and get bigger squad because Barca makes profit only €15-20M a year? Barca´s shirt should not shrink to fit inferior players because only the best is good enough for Barca.

Anonymous said...

Dolce, Villa is not the busbreaker type of player that Pep is looking for. The bus will be parked 99% of the time next season, if any team tries to play football against us, they will be played off the park and humiliated like Man U were. That is the lesson, and Pep knows it. The bus needs to be broken next season in a way never before seen, and to break the bus most effectively, big box player up front, wing play (left wing needed) and midfield shooters (distance shots, free kicks) are the three best strategies.

Zlatan can give us the big box player, making Dani Alves crosses and corners a pain in the ass for the opposition, a new left wing will give us the option to stretch out the opposition team who camps the bus and a midfield shooter will give us something different than Xavi and Iniesta (but Keita and Yaya can play that role too, so midfield shooter is only third priority).

Anonymous said...

the left winger could be Dzsudzsak from PSV?

M.Uggla said...

Yeah, I love Eto'o, and he has clearly been THE best player since he joined, averaging an insane amount of goals per minute and scoring in both finals. He has behaved perfectly in every way, and his work rate on the pitch and also when he's been injured is well more than anyone could expect.

BUT - as anonymous says, next season every team will park the bus and I believe that Zlatan is the PERFECT player against that, with his strength combined with good enough technique to play with us. Also he's showed that he can score. I think it would be foolish not to buy him when he wants to come.

The problem is that we could not have both in the same squad, and Eto'o might not want to go. In that case I don't see how we could sell Eto'o against his will, that wouldn't really be "mes que un club" after what he's done. Let's just hope for ourselves that Eto'o wants a new challenge, preferably in City, for about 70 million...

Tohar Investment Limited said...

a good deal i think,inter as signed diego milito from genoa,so its obviouse that ibra is leaving,just tell txiki to do the deal bfor the wembly cup.i cant wait to see ibra wearing the no 9 jersey in the wembly stadium for my beloved barca.coz now eto'o as finally reached his peak for us,now is the time he will leave and we will give him a good reception.

Vj said...

I wouldn't classify myself as a 'Zlatan hater', I just don't think he's a player that would fit in Barca..

And I don't think Eto'o would be sold, whatever be the 'inside knowledge'..

Besides, being the strongest doesn't necessarily means being the best..
And definitely not when its the agent talking..

LeónDragón said...

...just get the f*** away...think,we don't need mercenaries at barca...

per said...

I wouldn't classify myself as a 'Zlatan hater'

...I would.

I'll go jump of the nearest bridge if this actually goes through. My worst nightmare...

rahul said...

y so many want ibra i dont understand tht guy is a serious big match flop, bigger than ronaldo. his energy n determination on teh pitch against manu was like 'k manu u guys here lets play u score n win k? bt plss let me score 1 so i can prove im teh best. no? k well hehe just asking.' if u want a big bx player sign llorente, trust me tht guy is gona be a hit at barca. i know it. n he has a lot of passion on teh pitch. n ibracadbra is doing all this so he can magically increase his wages at inter.

Unknown said...

maybe this will help you understand.....

he's lazy and he plays horrible in big games. strikers in the barca system can not afford to be lazy.

man i want benzema.

Martin Engelin said...

Whatever Pep decides too do, It'll be awesome. I totaly trust Pep. If Pep thinks Zlatan fits in barca, then great, buy him!

What is it with all of you Ibrahimovic haters? He is a fantastic player. I believe that Guardiola can help him with a lot. I don't know if he would fit in barcelona, but it would be very interesting to see.

Anonymous said...

benzema has scored how many goals in the last 5 months? 1?

Marc4barca said...

nicely said marws, going against pep's wishes means you don't trust his work, if there is any disrespect to anyone it's pep, deco said he preferred to stay at barca but barca still let him go, why didn't anyone had sympathy for him back then. like what marws said guardiola can help him alot just like he changed this squad from what it was last year. just remember no one had faith in pep at the beginning and everyone wanted laporta gone and when i say everyone i mean the barca fans here and in spain and the ones i know here in my country and i was one of those people but you know what they proved everyone wrong by making great signings and winning the treble, i won't be surprised when zlatan joins and each of you jump on his bandwagon and pep prove once again that he knows what he is doing.

Anonymous said...

I kind of agree with Marc4barca. If you are against pep's wishes, you dont trust pep's project and that is wrong, it is treason of your own club. Trusting pep is what every real barcafan should do, always trust pep.

Aussie Barca Fan said...

I would prefer Villa over Ibra and ideally keep Eto'o and buy Villa as it is going to be a long season and Eto'o will be away with the African Cup of Nations. Either way I see it, Villa is now a must buy.

M.Uggla said...

After all, before this season, he was desperate for Adebayor, and wanted to sell Eto'o. We all know we wouldn't win CL if that had happened. Maybe not even the league. So even Pep can be wrong.

Unknown said...

i love u pep!! make the whole world understand that our way of playing is better than every thing including RM!!! RM are buying every thing walking on two feet so it will be tough but with ibra on the pitch and in PEP WE TRUST!!

sashi said...

why cant anyone trust Pep for his decisions??? atleast after winning the treble??? u hate Ibra, fine go with it. but wont u be happy for him when Pep turns him into a world class player? with Xavi and Iniesta, even the biggest flop of alll times can be worth it. and he's got a variety tat Barca has never had. Pep wants to start something different and bring a new dimension to the team and all u guys say NO bcoz u hate Ibra????

no seriously, come on! u want Llorente to spear head Barca's attack? a rookie? wat makes u think he's the perfect big match sensation? sign Forlan, Villa? they are all the same. Villla = Eto = Forlan. same type, we've had such players and have 1 too. i go with Pep. when did Dzeko become the favourite to lead Barca's attack? after he scored so many goals? in 1 season alone? u think he'll be a hit at Barca? Ibra is a better bet than Llorente or Dzeko. honestly.

ira said...

any news/possibilities of signing gourcuff ? his style would fit in perfectly with barca

James said...

sashi?? i don't think you have enough question marks????? you need more??

pep also bought hleb, wanted caceres, adebayor, wanted henry to be the main striker without eto'o. i'm pretty glad only 2 of those things happened and not all 4.

LeónDragón said...

...zlatan proved that he's surely no more a big game flop...he's one of the best...maybe the best...but don't fits in barcas philosophy they following now...when we sent deco and dinho away,we also set a sign,that barca is the star and not their players (one of the reasons,we were so strong this season,by not having necessarily better players like in the past, but the mix was good)...something ibra and cristiano not do...they enjoy their own person and the hype around them...they like people praise them without staying humble...thinking,it's cool to be arrogant...that separates them from the rest...always talking about themselves more than about the team as one...there are players not as good as them,but even talented enough and for a team much more worthy...so let's get the real ones...would say,hold etoo...but if this decision would be right could only showed by time...sometimes you need to renew something on some positions after you won much...to bring new hunger in the team...time will tell...

Anonymous said...

James, it is not appropriate to be rude to Sashi. He has done nothing to you. I feel you should apologize to him.

LeónDragón said...

...to sashi...sorry my friend...but how can u say villa = etoo = forlan?...to me,that sounds crap...if you think in those dimensions...you should use your head too,by watching...how do you know if this zlatan-story is real and not only paper talk?...and what makes you think ibra or dzeko could be better?...it must not be about hate...but maybe those who criticize,realized,that glory comes not only by big names or bigheads...it's maybe like tiki taka...just holding the ball flat...

LeónDragón said...

...p.s....at the end,we all want our club to be on top again,and again,and again...and no matter which players help us to,we all will be happy with whatever names will do...so,let us enjoy the break with a smile...in memory of the treble...ONE LOVE!!!!!...peace to all cules...som un...

ufc_fp said...

@sashi i think we should give Džeko an advantage over Ibra. There are 3 reasons:

Džeko-25 mil
Ibrahimović-70 mil

Džeko-23 years
Ibrahimović-27 years


Sure Ibra is better at the moment, but question is for how long??

ufc_fp said...

sorry, 2 reasons :))

ufc_fp said...

but as far as i can see from our media he will probably stay at
wolfsburg or go to premier league

Anonymous said...

No need to be negative zuka. If Barcelona wants Dzeko, and insideknowledge has confirmed that Dzeko is loved by our staff, then Dzeko will be barca player. Remember, barcelona is the best club in the universe.

barca4life said...

Dzeko is just the latest craze. Last week it was Mario Gomez and the week before that it was Ibisevic. Why buy such a young striker when we have bojan gai (both 18) and messi. We need older players like we had with giuly who stayed for a couple years and let messi come through, not 21 and 22 year olds that will stunt our playes growth. Dzeko said today he is going to stay in germany for at least one more year and he is gonna sign a new contract. Finally look at what laporta said today.

Under the title "The importance of home-grown talent" on the barca website it says

However, Laporta stressed that there would be no wild overspending: “The Club has always tried to pay the right price and we’ll continue in this way. You have to bear in mind that the player increases his prestige with the performance of the team. It’s important to work with the youth teams”.


It is important to work with the youth teams. So we are not going to discard bojan and gai for the latest european craze. As for zlatan we are not going to pay 70 million for zlatan. Please stop saying that everybody. When juventus was relegated they said zlatan will not go for less than 40million euros, he went for 24.8 million euros. We will not pay 100 million euros or 70 million euros.

Nzuu said...

I admire Ibrahimovic... He is such a strong player with great skills and a deadly long range shot.... but...
you must always know that Barca only plays the 4-3-3 and not every player fits perfectly into our formation. The price on his head is too much. I am not willing to pay 70m euros for Ibrahimovic. That's just too much. I don't care how good you are, this is not Real Madrid or Chelsea or Man City. We have to be very rational.

Plus Ibrahimovis has too much of an ego. He would find it really hard to accept that this is not inter milan where he is the best player. I want David Villa or Benzema.

Kamb said...

Zlatan is awesome but there is just so much about his play that worries me. Whenever Barcelona go forward, the Striker has to be running around like crazy to confuse defenders. Zlatan will always ask for the ball instead of running into a good position. Plus, I doubt he will agree with the saying; the forwards are the first line of Defense. I know that he will be good against teams that park the bus but 95% of why he is so expensive is because of his amazing dribbling skills and great finishing but that wont be very useful against those teams. plus, why spend so much money when you can buy someone who is taller and stronger that gets the job done just as well as Zlatan and excepts running a lot and tracking back? Someone like Llorente. This is just my idea but wouldn't it be ideal to have someone that runs a hell of a lot and the big guy to brake the bus? I would love it if Barca bought Tevez and Llorente. Just an idea.

Marc4barca said...

well let me ask many of you these questions, did running around non stop and tracking back defeat defensive football? were all of you behind samuel eto supporting him when he didn't do his job against that kind of football? was any of u angered by ronaldinho lack of defensive ability?

my point is simple don't be fickle, don't support the player cause he scored in the cl final when most of u questioned whether he should play in the final or not, don't bash him on the chat box then praise him cause you hate zlatan. don't wait for something to happen to change your mind, look to the facts that eto is not the answer to all of barca's problems and if something doesn't work then try something else instead of being afraid of that something else making things worst. zlatan or benzema isn't the answer either, they are part of it, an excellent freekick taker is needed also and a much more versatile and faster left winger.

these so called people many of u mentioned barely just showed up this season, dzeko, llorente?? and names that shouldn't even be mentioned gomez, ibisevic?? really now who do you guys think they are, u said not everyone can fit in our system yet these names appear after a brief joy in their rather poor leagues excluding llorente but he himself has failed to perform to a standard barcelona needs, atletico bilboa has been rather poor this season. david villa what will he bring that eto won't. i think he is better than him cause he is taller and faster. forlan?? didn't he flop in manchester?? case closed. only benzema seems to be another candidate for barcelona along with torres.

keirreson?? we have bojan. it is possible to get both zlatan and ribery, cause cash+players seems to be the trend this transfer season.

James said...

There are plenty of people who have supported Eto'o all along. You can't lump everyone in as being fickle. Besides, nobody ever questioned Sammy's ability. The lack of support for Eto'o last year was mostly due to perceived petulance and moodiness more so than his striking ability. Which I think is an important point because I think that's the biggest concern with Ibrahimovic as well.

I mean of course he's talented, everyone should want a player like that. However, he has way more of a reputation than Eto'o for a certain kind of behavior which can be the undoing of a club. We have some really strong leaders on our team so maybe it won't be a problem but I just imagine if Messi wins an award and he doesn't get nominated what kind of a hissy fit he'd throw. He's clearly not known as a 'loyal' player. What's to stop him from demanding a move if we don't win the lot next year? For him it's clearly about proving he's the best and challenging himself, which is fine but I think we have to make sure we can harness that for the good of our club, if we can't then we have to pass on him.

Just to defend Sammy's ability a little bit. While he does miss some chances but his style creates a lot of extra chances that another striker might not be able to get. I mean his goal rate is phenomenal, that's probably the only thing that matters.

I personally don't have a strong feeling either way. I love Eto'o but I understand we can't just look at the situation 1 year at a time. If he doesn't want to renew then getting maximum value for him right now might be the best thing for the club. Either way we're going to be fun to watch. As long as we conduct smart business and not overspend whoever we end up with it'll be interesting.

sashi said...

honestly, i am not sure whether this Ibra talk is rumour or for real. but the sole reason why i say we need to get Ibra is because tat would not put pressure on Bojan or even Gai. would give them the right 2-3 years to continue developing and not being sent away on loan. i guess most ppl aren't concerned with losing Bojan or Gai. just because Bojan says he wants to stay here doesn't mean tat we should buy another striker who is similar to him n only 3-4 years elder to him. tat would be very difficult for him to develop in our team and would eventually leave for another team. i definitely dont want tat.

also, as Marca4Barca says, some of u guys really think tat just becuase Dzeko or Ibsevic or Llorente scored so many goals this season, we should get them? Ibra has been consistently scoring atleast 20 goals every season. and tats why i say tat he is our best bet.

Vj said...

'Marca4Barca'
LOL Sashi, you have killed Marc's nickname.. (poori vaat laga di)..

I'd have to agree with Kamb, Eto'o has worked his ass off when we lost the ball to close down defenders..
If and only if Pep can make Zlatan do such stuff, is he of interest..

We don't know whether Dzeko or Ibisevic will adapt to La Liga leave aside FC Barcelona..
What we need is a Striker having good pace, a striker's instinct, solid technical ability, who is good at free kicks and scoring with headers with a great attitude combined with a feel for Barca..

And such Strikers are only found in mythical football leagues..

IMO stick with Eto'o..
IF HE LEAVES
1. Shoot yourself in the foot.. (Not you Txiki, you already have)
2. Buy a quality CF - [insert name of your favourite here] for a Decent fee..

Anonymous said...

This really helped me!,
thanks

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