Jorquera could leave for free

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will soon meet with Arturo Canales, the agent of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30), to discuss the future of the player.

The Catalan goalkeeper can leave this summer and despite several Spanish first and second division clubs, among which Mallorca, Tenerife and Cádiz, having shown interest in Jorquera, his salary of 1 million euros a year would be an obstacle for a transfer.

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Spanish second division club Girona is the last club to have asked for Jorquera, whose contract expires in the summer of 2010.

El Mundo Deportivo claims that in case it wouldn't be possible for Jorquera to leave on a permanent or even a loan deal, Barcelona would be willing to pay the player the rest of his contract and to let him go for free. The whole operation could be agreed upon during an upcoming meeting with Canales, a representative of sports marketing agency IMG.

Read more:
Jorquera doesn't plan to leave
Barcelona's wage structure
Jorquera offered himself to Cadiz

Barça B: Cadiz interested in Oier

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Spanish second division club Cádiz is interested in Barcelona Atlétic goalkeeper Oier Olazabal (19).

Cádiz manager Xabi Gracia has reportedly asked his club to sign the young goalkeeper after a strong showing at the end of last season. At this moment, Oier nevertheless looks like staying.

Oier told the paper that he is happy at the club and hopes he might get a chance with the first team: "Last year went badly, but at the end of the season I felt better and when I got my chance to play I felt that I did well. With Guardiola, you know that you will get the opportunity, but to me what is important is the improvement from year to year, above anything, from a psychological point of view."

Read more:
Barcelona wants Jorquera to leave
Barcelona planning six transfers

Jorquera offered himself to Cadiz

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) with a move to Spanish second division club Cádiz (read more here), Cádiz sports director Julio Peguero has said in an interview with Cadiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz that the player has been offered to the club by his agent:

"It's one of the players that has been offered, his agent has called me... But what can I say, it's an option that seems unlikely at this moment. The most logical thing would be that a first division club would sign him. It would be great for Cádiz to be able to count on a Barcelona player. But, like I always say, it's a name that is out there, together with a lot of other names that all have the same chances to arrive here.

Asked about the transfer rumour, the player's agent Arturo Canales has meanwhile said in an interview with Cadiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz that he thinks a transfer of Jorquera to Cádiz seems unlikely at this moment: "Cádiz did not ask us about Jorquera. And I really don't see this happen."

Read more:
Jorquera close to joining Cadiz
Contract Jorquera to be rescinded this week

Jorquera close to joining Cadiz

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) is close to joining Spanish second division club Cádiz.

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have talked with Jorquera at the end of last season to inform him that he wanted to work with only two goalkeepers and that the Catalan had to leave (read more here).

The player's agent Arturo Canales would since that day have listened to offers and would now be working on a deal with Spanish second divison club Cádiz. Jorquera, who reportedly didn't receive any offers from first division clubs, would have decided to accept the offer of Cádiz.

The Catalan goalkeeper would nevertheless only wanting to sign for one year, hoping that he can go to a better club next year, and under the condition that Barcelona rescinds his contract, so he can leave for free. It is believed that Barcelona will put an end to the deal with Jorquera when the team returns from the United States.

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Abraham to Cadiz
Barcelona's wage structure
Salary demands block exit Jorquera

Barça B - Official: Abraham to Cadiz

Spanish second division club Cádiz officially announced today the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic midfielder Abraham González (23), who was presented this afternoon.

The Catalan midfielder, whose contract with Barcelona Atlètic expired this summer, signed a two-year contract with Cádiz, that just has promoted back to the second division.

Barcelona has confirmed the news. Abraham joined Barcelona B in the summer of 2007 arriving from Spanish third division club Terrassa and played this season with the first team in the last league game against Deportivo and in the cup game against Benidorm.

Read more:
Barça B: Xavi Torres will join Malaga
Barça B: Edu Oriol will sign for two years

Youth: Suso has doubts on Barcelona offer

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Cádiz Cadete A attacking midfielder Jesús Joaquín Fernández Sáenz de la Torre "Suso" could reject an offer by Barcelona to join the youth academy of the club.

Suso would have been offered a deal at Barcelona (read more here) but his advisors think he could get lost in the club's youth system.

English Premier League club Liverpool would also be interested in the Spaniard. After having scouted the player, Suso is expected to come to Liverpool for talks, possibly as early as next week, although Cádiz is resigned to losing their best prospect in years.

Read more:
Youth: Father Deulofeu denies Liverpool deal
Liverpool wants Eto'o in 2010
Youth: Offer for Cadiz talent Suso

Youth: Offer for Cadiz talent Suso

Cadiz fansite Cadistas Finos claims that Barcelona is interested in Cádiz Cadete A attacking midfielder Jesús Joaquín Fernández Sáenz de la Torre "Suso".

The site said earlier this week that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and the agent of Barcelona player Dani Alves planned to travel to Cádiz in the coming days with a firm offer to sign the player.

Spanish football site Airfutbol claims that Barcelona head of youth scouts Pep Boada has already contacted the entourage of Suso to make an offer for the player to join Barcelona.

Suso would be monitored by several Spanish first division clubs, among which Almería, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Sevilla. Cadistas Finos claims that Almería would have already made last summer a bid of 45 000 euro for Suso, but the offer was not accepted by third division club Cádiz.

Read more:
Youth: Father Deulofeu denies Liverpool deal
Barcelona wanted to keep Chico this summer
Youth: Barcelona following Osasuna goalkeeper

Barcelona wanted to keep Chico this summer

Almería central defender and Spanish youth international José Manuel Flores "Chico" (21), who played last season on loan with Barcelona B in the fourth division, has said in an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport that Barcelona wanted to keep him this summer:

"Once the season ended, Guardiola offered me to start the pre-season with the first team but Barcelona and Cádiz, the club I still belonged to, couldn't reach an agreement.

At the same time, I received a proposal from Almería, that gave me the chance to play in the first division, and I accepted that. I would have been delighted to stay with Barcelona, although for me everything in the end also turned out well."

In an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, Chico said that the initial plan was that he would play with Barcelona Atlètic: "I talked two or three times with Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique and his assistant Joan Barbarà. They told me back in June that they counted on me for their new project and I told hem that if I wouldn't find another deal, I would be happy to continue, but in the end things changed.

Everything has gone really fast over the last months. I didn't expect this because I went from Barcelona's second team to a first division club and I knew the competition would be hard. But I immediately had playing minutes, I scored my first goal and I was called-up for the Spanish under-21 team. I cannot ask more but this is not a time to relax. I'm delighted but the most dificult things is to keep this level now.

In the first division you have more space so in that sense it's more easier, but on the other hand the quality of the players is very good. You're playing against the best players of the world, so it's a big change. Although the level of Barcelona's second team was already quite high and almost all of them could play in the first team. And Guardiola knows that, that's why he already promoted Busquets, pedrito and Víctor Sánchez.

Barcelona has been a very positive experience for me. I developed as a player, although I came from a higher division. We won the league and promoted, I got to wear the Barcelona shirt and I got to know a lot of people, players and members of the technical staff.

When I said goodbye to Guardiola, I told him that it was a pleasure to have known him and to have learned so much from him. Guardiola wished me luck. I knew him as a player, but as a person and as a coach he's even better. He knows how to deal with a group and how to treat the players. I wish him the best. He has very clear ideas, he's a winner and he can transmit that to the group. Barcelona made an excellent choice."

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Chico to Almeria
Seven B players taking part in pre-season
Barça B: Chico could continue and be promoted

Barça B: Talks with Cadiz on Ruben loan

Cádiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz claims that third division team Cádiz has started negotiations with Barcelona on a loan of Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Rubén Martínez (24) (read more here).

Barcelona would have confirmed to Cadiz sports director Julio Peguero that the club wants Rubén, who played on loan with second division team Racing Ferrol last year, to leave again on loan this summer.

Rubén started the pre-season with the second team of Barcelona and is considering the offers that are coming in. If the goalkeeper is willing to join Cádiz, Barcelona would be ready to close a deal soon.

Cádiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz claims that the transfer depends on the dispute Cádiz is having with the Spanish football federation regarding the division in which the team will play next season. If the club in the end would be able to continue in the second division, the club would launch an important bid for Rubén.

Read more:

Barça B: Cadiz wants Ruben on loan

Barça B: Plancheria testing at Blackburn Rovers
Barça B - Official: Pau Torres to Terrassa

Barça B: Cadiz wants Ruben on loan

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Spanish third division club Cádiz has asked Barcelona to start negotiations on a loan deal regarding Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Rubén Martínez (24).

With Oier Olazábal (19) and Juvenil A goalkeepers Rubén Miño (19) and Jordi Masip (19), who started the pre-season with the team and are expected to be promoted, Barcelona Atlètic has at this moment four goalkeepers. Rubén has therefore been told that he can leave this summer (read more here).

Rubén, who played two games with the first team during the 2004-2005 season and who played on loan with second division team Racing Ferrol last year, is nowadays training with Barcelona Atlètic while looking for a club where he can play next season.

Read more:

Barça B: Ruben looking for another club

Barça B: Plancheria testing at Blackburn Rovers

Barça B - Official: Pau Torres to Terrassa

Barça B - Official: Chico to Almeria

All parties concerned have officially confirmed that Cádiz central defender José Manuel "Chico" Flores (21), who played on loan with Barcelona B during the first half of this year, will join Primera División club Almería, with whom Chico has signed a five-year contract.

It's unclear how much Almería has paid for the central defender. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Almería paid 700 000 euro for 70 per cent of the transfer rights, Cádiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz thinks the tranfer fee is close to 1 million euro and Almería local news site El Almería says that Cádiz received around 300 000 euro.

Cádiz stated in an official announcement that the third division club will obtain a percentage of the fee if Chico is transferred by Almería. The club confirmed that Barcelona also made an offer but that it wasn't even taken into consideration. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona offered 250 000 euro°.

On the website of his new club, Chico explains why he didn't continue with Barcelona Atlètic (previously known as Barcelona B): "It's an important step from the fourth to the first division but over the last months I have been training several times with the first team of Barcelona and I learned a lot doing so. I feel prepared.

It's true that I had several offers, but Barcelona and Almería were the best options. The thing is that Barcelona didn't want to pay for me, they wanted me for the second team and would only pay if I was promoted to the first team. One of the things that have influenced my decision is that Almería wants me for their first team."

Read more:
Barça B: Offer for Chico rejected
Barça B - Official: Dimas to Numancia
Barça B: Chico could continue and be promoted

Barça B: Offer for Chico rejected

Cádiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz claims that third division team Cádiz has rejected an offer from Barcelona for Cádiz central defender José Manuel "Chico" Flores (21), who played on loan with Barcelona B during the first half of this year.

Barcelona, that wanted Chico to take part in the pre-season of the first team (read more here), proposed a renewed loan deal but was only willing to pay 50 000 euro° in case Chico would make his debut with the first team and an extra amount of money depending on a determined number of appearances.

Cádiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz claims that Cádiz has nevertheless decided, after meeting with Chico's agent Alvaro Torres last Friday, that they will respect the wish of the player to leave and that the club will listen to offers.

Almería local news site El Almería claims that Chico is close to joining first division team Almería, that would be leading the race for the central defender ahead of Barcelona B, Sevilla B and Sporting Gijón.

Asked about the rumours linking Chico with his club, Almería sports director Alberto Benito confirmed in an interview with Cádiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz that they are looking at the option: "We were interested to know more about his situation so we have made some contacts. The player still has a contract with Cádiz, which won't make a transfer easy. At this moment he's not a priority."

Read more:
Barça B: Talks on Chico
Seven B players taking part in pre-season
Barça B: Pedro Garcia looking for Belgian club

Seven B players will start season with first team

Barcelona has officially announced that seven Barcelona B players will start the pre-season with the first team on Monday.

The only difference with the list provided yesterday by Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo (read more here) is that Cádiz central defender Chico isn't there and that his place is taken by Sergi Busquets (picture), the son of former Barcelona goalkeeper Carles Busquets.

It is expected that new Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola will promote some B players to the first squad this summer. The seven players on the official list are:

- right back defender David Córcoles (23)
- midfielder Abraham (22)
- midfielder Sergi Busquets (19)
- polyvalent midfielder Víctor Sánchez (20)
- attacker Víctor Vázquez (21)
- left winger Jeffren (20)
- right wing attacker Pedrito (20)

link

Read more:
Seven B players taking part in pre-season
Barça B: Talks on Chico
Which B players could be promoted?

Barça B: Talks on Chico

Asked about the rumours linking Cádiz central defender José Manuel "Chico" Flores (21), who played on loan with Barcelona B during the first half of this year, with a permanent move to Barcelona (read more here), José Ramón Alexanko, the head of the Barcelona youth academy, has confirmed in an interview with Cádiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz that the clubs are holding preliminary talks:

"We have talked recently with his club and his agent. You can't really say that we're already negotiating, but we are talking to know what their position is. I think we will know the final outcome in the coming days."

Although Chico could do a part of the pre-season with the first team and even travel to Scotland and the United States, Alexanko says that, if Chico is transferred, the central defender would start the season with Barcelona B:

"The plan is for him to play with Barcelona B, although it's obvious that if he keeps performing well, he could have options to make his debut with the first team. Guardiola knows him perfectly and he likes the player a lot. That's also why he explictly asked for his transfer in January. For him, it would be nice to know that Chico is playing with the B team and that he can always count on him for the first team too."

Read more:

Barça B: Chico could continue and be promoted

Victor Sanchez ignorant on first team promotion

Which B players could be promoted?

Barça B: Chico could continue and be promoted

Cádiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz claims that new Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola wants Cádiz central defender José Manuel "Chico" Flores (21), who joined Barcelona B on loan in January but has now still two years left on his contract with Cádiz, to take part in the first team pre-season (read more here).

Barcelona is expected to make a formal offer to third division team Cádiz soon. Chico's agents had a meeting with Cádiz officials last week during which the situation of the player was discussed.

Asked about the possibility of a permanent transfer to Barcelona, Chico said to the paper that he's waiting to see what will happen: "They have talked about the issue with me and of course I would like to do the pre-season and go to Scotland and the United States, but it doesn't depend on me. I thank Guardiola for the confidence but I still have a contract with Cádiz and if they don't want to listen to offers that could come in, I will have to accept that. It could anyhow be a somewhat turbulent summer because I could have several interesting options."

Cádiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz also claims that Barcelona is ready to start negotiating with Cádiz on a possible transfer of the central defender.

Asked about his situation, Chico said to the paper that he prefers not to return to Cádiz: "So far, it has been a wonderful year to me. My idea is now to try to take advantage of this season and to stay on this train, that comes by only once in a lifetime. With all the offers that I have on the table, I have to aim higher. But I know I still have a contract, so I hope to talk with the club after my holiday."

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that an option to buy Chico for 6 million euro° expired at the end of May. Barcelona let this deadline go by and would now come with an offer that is quite lower than that fee. The tabloid claims that Barcelona could buy Chico and then loan him out so he can gain some more experience.

Read more:
Which B players could be promoted?
Barcelona denies Valiente exit
Victor Sanchez ignorant on first team promotion