Filipe talks about missed Barcelona transfer

At a press conference, Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) talked for the first time after his failed transfer to Barcelona earlier this summer (read more here):

"It was all very hard because everyone has dreams, objectives and ambitions in life. I always wanted to be part of the Brazilian national team - happily I have achieved that now - and to win titles.

The hardest moments were those of uncertainty, when I didn't know if I had to leave or to stay. I didn't pressure at any moment, I just asked to think about my future. I gave everything for this club and at the moment, I didn't get rewarded for that.

I asked to talk with the president, not to force my way out but because I felt treated wrongly. I wanted to make him think a little about my future because I thought my buyout clause wasn't in accordance with my salary. But things didn't work out, so now I'm here and I'm only thinking about the game against Madrid. The Barcelona train came by because I have worked hard. And I'm sure that if I keep on working hard, another train will come by."

Read more:
Transfer of Filipe not an option anymore
Missing the Barça train
Filipe putting pressure through press conference

Transfer of Filipe not an option anymore

Asked about the new rumours linking Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) with a move to Barcelona after a FIFA ruling gave the player his freedom (read more here), Barcelona sports direcor Txiki Begiristain is quoted by Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu as excluding the option:

"We're not willing to start the negotiations all over again. We already tried to sign the player and it didn't work. And now we're very happy with the alternative we were able to bring in."

Read more:
Barcelona not reopening Filipe option
Barcelona could sign Filipe for free

Barcelona not reopening Filipe option

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona isn't reconsidering the transfer of Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23).

Filipe could leave on a free transfer when FIFA makes public later this week a judgment in an old case between Filipe and Deportivo saying that the Spanish club loses all their rights on the player (read more here).

Although Barcelona has valued a lot the attitude of the player during the whole process by putting pressure on his club, the left back position is at this moment not a position to be strengthened after the signing of Maxwell. If Barcelona wouldn't be able to sign a left winger, the situation could again change. Filipe Luis didn't want to comment on the matter yesterday.

Read more:
Barcelona could sign Filipe for free
Missing the Barça train
Filipe putting pressure through press conference

Barcelona could sign Filipe for free

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is again looking at the option of signing Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) (read more here).

FIFA would yesterday have made a judgment in an old case between Filipe and Deportivo and FIFA rules would say that the Spanish club has to let the Brazilian defender leave for free to the club that asks for him.

Barcelona is now analyzing the new situation and is considering to sign Filipe as left-back back-up and move new left-back signing Maxwell to the left wing, where the Brazilian played before he moved to Europe.

Read more:
Counterproposal Deportivo for Filipe comes too late

Jeffren could be promoted this summer

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) could be promoted to the first team this summer.

Like he did last year, the Venezuela-born player would start the pre-season with the first team on Monday and will travel with the squad to England and the United States.

If Barcelona doesn't sign a left winger this summer, Jeffren could in the end stay with the group for the rest of the season. In the other case, the winger could leave for another club. Deportivo La Coruña and Tenerife, among other clubs, would already have shown interest in Jeffren, whose contract with Barcelona expires next year.

Read more:
Celtic and Spanish clubs interested in Jeffren
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players
Barça B: Celtic target Jeffren can leave

Missing the Barça train

Filipe:
You've also missed the Barça train?

Villa:
I'm an expert in missing trains.

(click the cartoon to enlarge)

source:
cayecaturas.com
sport.es

see more cartoons here

Counterproposal Deportivo for Filipe comes too late

Less than one hour after the official announcement of the transfer of Inter left back Maxwell, Deportivo La Coruña put out an official statement saying that the club had sent Barcelona a formal counterproposal regarding a transfer of Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23).

The statement on the Spanish club's official website says that Deportivo received a first written offer by Barcelona on Friday 10 July and that they sent yesterday afternoon by fax a counter proposal that was a lot less than the buyout clause of 20 million euro°.

Read more:
Deportivo rejects new Filipe bid
Filipe putting pressure through press conference

Zaragoza offer for Victor Sanchez rejected

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has rejected a loan offer by newly promoted Spanish first division club Zaragoza for Barcelona polyvalent defender and midfielder Víctor Sánchez (21).

Zaragoza reportedly wanted to sign Víctor Sánchez as full-back, while Barcelona wants the player to get more experience as midfielder.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristian would yesterday have been in contact with the player's agent to discuss his future.

The only alternative option would at this moment be a loan to Deportivo La Coruña, although Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro wouldn't be willing to include the Catalan in a transfer deal on Deportivo left back Filipe.

Read more:
Future of Victor Sanchez still uncertain
Deportivo interested in Pedro and Victor Sanchez
Victor Sanchez will leave on loan

Filipe putting pressure through press conference

Galicia regional newspaper El Ideal Gallego claims that Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) could give a press conference tomorrow.

Filipe would have confirmed this to the paper when arriving in A Coruña yesterday after having returned earlier than expected from holiday to talk with Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro.

The player's agent José Carlos Lages told the paper that Filipe will travel today to Madrid to try and talk with the president about his transfer to Barcelona. If the meeting the player asked with Lendoiro wouldn't go through today or tomorrow, Filipe reportedly wants to make publicly clear that he wants to join Barcelona this summer.

Barcelona would have made a bid of 9,4 million euro° for Filipe: 8 million euro° would go to Deportivo and 1,4 million euro° would go to the Brazilian's former team Rentistas. The Uruguayan club still needs to receive money from Deportivo for the transfer of Filipe last year.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain did not raise the first 8 million euro° offer like had been said before (read more here), while Deportivo is asking 12 to 13 million euro° for the Brazilian left back.

Read more:
Deportivo rejects new Filipe bid
Osasuna player Monreal left back option
Filipe putting pressure on Deportivo

Deportivo rejects new Filipe bid

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Deportivo La Coruña has rejected Barcelona's 9 million euro° bid for Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23).

Deportivo would want a fee of at least 12 million euro and has reportedly officially informed the player's agent José Carlos Lages about the rejection of the offer.

Deportivo sports director Richard Moar explained in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the bid is not enough: "They have risen their bid, but so little... Barcelona knows the qualities of Filipe and the progress he still can make. We hope that they make a better offer. We want a price that is right and therefore Barcelona has to make a higher bid. It's difficult to find a left back defender on the market and Filipe is very good."

Read more:
Agent Filipe confirms that deadline expires today
Difficult negotiations with Deportivo on Filipe

Agent Filipe confirms that deadline expires today

Asked about the rumours linking Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent José Carlos Lages said in an interview with Galicia regional newspaper El Ideal Gallego that Barcelona has set a deadline that expires today:

"Barcelona has made a little effort in the last days and their offer is now closer to ten than to eight million euro. We wait for the answer of Depor that should come today, so we know if they accept or don't accept the offer.

If [Deportivo president] Lendoiro doesn't answer or doesn't accept this last offer, Barça will forget about Filipe and start looking at other options. For Depor, it wouldn't be a good thing to have an unhappy player in the squad. Not being able to join Barcelona, would be a serious blow for him on a psychological level, because he was very much looking forward to go there. If Depor doesn't accept the offer of Barça, Filipe will stay with Deportivo until the last day of his contract and they won't be able to make a profit by selling him."

Read more:
Deal on Filipe could be closed today

Deal on Filipe could be closed today

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona could close the transfer deal on Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) today.

Barcelona would have raised late last night its bid with 1 million euro to 9 million euro° and promised Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro that the total fee immediately will be paid cash.

The player's agent Juan Figer is quoted as saying that the negotiations will definitely be broken if this offer isn't accepted.

Read more:
Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe
Filipe putting pressure on Deportivo
Deadline for Filipe transfer

Deadline for Filipe transfer

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has set a deadline for the transfer of Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23).

If on Tuesday, Barcelona still didn't receive a positive answer to the 8 million euro bid°, Barcelona will consider the negotiations as cancelled and will focus on trying to sign centre-backs.

Deportivo would have received a higher bid from an English or italian club but the player reprtedly prefers to join Barcelona.

Read more:
Filipe hoping for a quick solution
Difficult negotiations with Deportivo on Filipe

Filipe hoping for a quick solution

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he hopes for a quick solution:

"It has been a while that people are talking about a possible transfer to Barcelona and one then hopes that things could be solved soon because I don't know if I will have to stay or leave.

I won't deny that I would like to join a club like Barça, it's just a very uncomfortable situation. I didn't talk with anybody from Depor or Barça, I only know what my agent tells me and what I can read on the internet. My mobile phone is always switched on and I'm waiting to see what happens.

What I now know is what president Lendoiro said, that there was an offer and that he rejected it. I leave everything to my agent. He knows what I want. I have a contract with Depor so I cannot say that I want to play for another team but if this is the moment to leave, Barça would be the ideal club. I hope they can find a deal that is good for both."

Read more:
Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe
Filipe calm about Barcelona rumours
Difficult negotiations with Deportivo on Filipe

Difficult negotiations with Deportivo on Filipe

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona hopes that the negotiations on the transfer of Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) can be picked up in the coming days after Deportivo rejected last Friday a first formal offer of 8 million euro° and referred to the buyout clause of 20 million euro° (read more here).

The club hopes that the Brazilian defender will put some pressure on his club and Barcelona might raise their offer to 10 million euro°. Deportivo on the other hand would be willing to drop the asking price to 12 million euro°. Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that several sources say that Deportivo is ready to let Filipe leave for 12 million euro°.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is preparing for a long round of negotiations. A Barcelona source is quoted as saying that Deportivo president Lendoiro "is an artist in this" but that the club is patient and convinced that they will reach an agreement in the end. Deportivo would at this moment be asking 14 million euro°, while Barcelona would have offered 9 million euro°. The paper says a deal may be closed for 10 million euro° plus incentives.

Read more:
Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Filipe calm about Barcelona rumours

Filipe calm about Barcelona rumours

Over the past days, Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) has talked several times about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here).




Catalan radio station RAC 1
I'm in Brazil waiting for the confirmation. I'll only leave Deportivo to go to a top club and I would like to stay in Spain. If Barça and Depor reach an agreement and everybody is happy, that would be perfect. I've always thought about the national team and to get there, you should play at a top club. I'm ready for it. As a player, I've grown a lot at Depor, especially regarding the defensive aspect of my game.

But until everything isn't finalized I cannot close my eyes and imagine myself with another shirt. I have a contract with Depor and I cannot start dreaming because there's no deal. It sure is an honour that Barcelona is thinking about me. Every player would like to be part of the Barcelona team that has won the treble. I've enjoyed watching them play this season.


Galician radio station radio Galega
I'm calm, what choice do I have? I have a contract with Deportivo and until the president tells me that there's an offer and that he wants me to go, there's no reason for me to get nervous. Until now, nobody said me anything, so I have to stay calm like usual. My agent doesn't call me a lot. He knows that when it's just to speculate, I don't want to know anything about. He'll only call me when there's something concrete, in case Depor would accept an offer. I'm not interested in rumours, so I'm waiting.

But of course the people here in Brazil are asking me about it. People told me what the media are reporting on it, I've seen things. One gets happy and very proud of it because you know you have been doing a good job and that others are recognizing that. That's something that makes me very happy. But I cannot do anything about that, it's not in my hands. It's in the hands of my agent, president Lendoiro, the club that wants me, so it's not up to me to do something. Since I cannot do anything, I'm just gonna be calm, looking at the sea and that's it.

When I arrived, I signed a contract and nobody forced me to do that. When I signed, I knew I could be at Deportivo for five years. If I won't leave, I will happily return to Deportivo. It's a great club, a former Liga champion, something few clubs are. We were seventh last season and we have a great team. I wouldn't have problems to return.


Catalan sports paper Sport
Depor is a great club but I've always dreamed about and prepared myself to play one day in a club that competes for all trophies. Barça is the best team in the world, they've won everything and they're the team to beat. After five years in Europe, I'm ready to make this step.

I think that I have the right profile to play in the current Barça defense. When you play at a mid-table team, you have to defend more, while when you're playing at a big club, you have more possibilities to show all your qualities because you have more ball possession. My style to defend is maybe similar to that of Dani Alves, but we play differently, he's more someone who will finish an action, when I reach the goal-line, i'm more looking for the cross. We're different. I'm Filipe and I have my own personality.

At all the clubs I have played for, I've always had to fight for my place. At Deportivo for example, it wasn't easy to win myself a spot in the team. I have total confidence in my qualities because I've grown a lot during those two years at Depor. I have four more years on my contract, so Deportivo has every right to ask a certain fee for my transfer. Nobody foreced me last year to sign a five-year contract. I did it because I wanted it, so I cannot start a fight with Deportivo one year later.


Catalan radio station Ona FM
I want to go to a Spanish top club and Barça is at this moment the best club in the world. I'm better prepared than ever to deal with the pressure of a top club. I don't know what would happen. A player has to compete for a spot and one wants to play always. I played all games with Depor and if I leave, I will keep on fighting like I always do.

The president is entitled to ask the fee he wants since there's a contract that nobody obliged me to sign. Depor treated me as if they were my family, they took care of me. They know what I want, we already talked several times about it and I will keep on doing that. I wish to stay in Spain and go to a top club. Spain is the country I like most, I'm totally adapted to the game of the Liga and to the language. I don't want to leave Spain.

It's very difficult to be part of the Brazilian national team but I have this ambition. That's why this would be an excellent move and I would have more options. On the right we have the best full-back in the world but at the left there's less competition. That's why I think that I can do it and I hope to be able to occupy that spot in the national team.


Read more:
Filipe: "I'm totally prepared for the pressure"
Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe
Filipe could sign five-year deal on Monday

Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe

Deportivo La Coruña president Augusto César Lendoiro has said at a press conference that his club has rejected an 8 million euro° bid by Barcelona for Deportivo left back defender Filipe Luis (23):

"There's no deal. I've informed the agent of the player and an intermediary that if the player would decide to leave for another team, this issue should be solved immediately. We don't want to let him go because it's difficult to find a substitute on the market."

Lendoiro had yesterday evening a dinner with the player's agent José Carlos Lages, who had arrived earlier that day from São Paulo, to discuss the situation of the Brazilian left back defender.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Lendoiro told Lages that he's only willing to let Filipe go for the buyout clause of 20 million euro°. The agent will now reportedly inform Barcelona about the meeting and the two clubs are expected to directly talk with each other from now on. Barcelona would want to offer 10 million euro° plus a player.

A Coruña local newspaper La Opinión A Coruña, that says that intermediary Juan Figer also took part in the meeting, claims that Deportivo wants to hold on to the player and that he will only leave for the buyout clause or a fee close to that. Atlético Madrid, Olympique Lyon and Juventus would also be interested.

Madrid sports paper As claims that Lages made clear that Filipe prefers to join Barcelona. While Deportivo would be willing to drop to 15 million euro°, Barcelona would have offered 10 million euro°. A deal could be found around 12-13 million euro°. Deportivo would have offered to include Barcelona players Pedro (21) or Víctor Sánchez (21) but Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would count on the players, especially on Pedro, for next season.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that it's Figer, one of the two agents of Filipe, who is most involved in the talks since Deportivo still has to pay him 700 000 euro from Filipe's transfer. Barcelona would have offered 8 million euro°, while Deportivo has asked for 10 million euro° plus the loan of one player. Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona has put a limit of 9 million euro°.

Read more:
Filipe could sign five-year deal on Monday
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe

Filipe could sign five-year deal on Monday

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) is expected to travel to Barcelona on Monday.

It is believed that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raúl Sanllehí and Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro will find a deal on the transfer in the coming days.

Filipe would then undergo the medical tests and sign a five-year contract on Monday and be presented the next day.

Read more:
Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Filipe: "I'm totally prepared for the pressure"

Filipe: "I'm totally prepared for the pressure"

Deportivo La Coruña player Filipe Luis gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.





How would you define yourself as a player for the Barça fans who didn't yet see you play?
The truth is that I changed a lot since I arrived here. Before, I only thought about attacking. Deportivo coach Lotina had a lot of patience with me and learnt me to defend as well as to get better going forward. You must attack, but knowing that defending is the priority.

You're only 23 years old and you could join the best team in the world, who just won the treble. The challenge scares you?
I'm totally prepared for the pressure. It's what I want and what I've been playing for. I know that I'm better prepared than ever.

Playing for Barça is the only thing you want now?
My agent knows what I want. Barça is just a very big club. I'm waiting to get news from him.

President Lendoiro has a reputation of being a hard negotiator. You think the deal could collapse?
I don't know, that's what agents are for. I signed for Deportivo, Lendoiro is in charge and he has every right to ask what he wants. But let's hope both parties will end up being happy.

You've played against Messi. He was your most difficult opponent?
Without any doubt. He was the player who gave me the hardest headache on the pitch. It's a big challenge to play against him and now he could hopefully become my team-mate.

Is there anoter Barça player you especially like?
Xavi, Iniesta, Alves, Henry, Piqué… The whole team did a great job. I had a great time watching their games this season.

Besides what you saw, people told you about the club?
Verdú (former Barcelona youth player) was my room-mate and he told me about Pep Guardiola, a coach who gives chances to youth players and who supports them a lot. He explained me things about the players, the way of training...

If this transfer would go through, Barça would have two Brazilian full-backs. You like the idea?
For me, Dani Alves is a star. I hope to be able to play with him, not only at Barça but also at the Brazilian national team. It's better to have him in your team.

Now that it seems so close, would it in the end be a real disappointment not to join Barcelona?
At this moment the only thing I know is that I have a contract with Deportivo and I'm happy there. The team had a great season and maybe it's the best moment to move on, but if they don’t sell me I will fulfil my contract.

read the first part of this interview here


Read more:
Zhirkov first on left back list, Filipe back-up
Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority

Filipe: "Every player wants to play at Barca"

Deportivo La Coruña player Filipe Luis gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.





How does one spend his holidays knowing that his future could be at Barça but that nothing's concrete yet?
It has been a while now that I made clear to my agent that I will only leave Depor to continue in Spain and to play at one of the big clubs and now this moment could have come. I'm nervous because I don't know what will happen in the future. And I cannot travel around either because I might have to travel back to Spain any moment.

Would you be able to play at Barça?
I don't know. But every player wants to play at what is now the best club in the world that has won everything. I've played against them and I know how it feels to run after the ball without coming close. Playing football would be very different if I joined them.

Is there some special thing about Barcelona that attracts you?
Playing at Barça would make it possible for me to win trophies, to compete for big things and to grow as a player, while the door of the Brazilian national team could also go open.

How were you informed about Barça's interest in you?
Through the press, because my agent doesn't tell me anything until there's a concrete offer. I remind you that back then we were still playing. When the league ended, my agent told me that Barça might be interested but that I had to stay calm and that he would take care of everything.

How did you react to the news?
I didn't even want to read the press because we were still playing for a Uefa spot and that could have taken my focus away. In fact, I asked advice to the psychologist at Depor and he recommened not to read anything. When the league ended, my father informed me about everything that had been written.

Someone from Barça talked with you during the last league game you played against Barcelona?
No, nobody talked with me. I couldn't in fact even talk with Sylvinho, whom I know, because at the end there was an invasion of the pitch and we all had to run inside.

You've already dreamt once before about playing at Barça?
I remember that I played a tournament in Lloret de Mar with the under-21 national team in 2004. We won it and we also took the chance to visit the Camp Nou. We attended a training session of the first team and I took a picture with Ronaldionho, who was my idol. That was my first contact with Barça and the truth is that when I saw the Camp Nou I said to myself: "Hopefully I will be able to play here with Barça one day." Later, Rivaldo was my agent. He also made history at the club and that's something you always take with you.

Despite all that, your first club in Spain was Real Madrid B.
It's true that Madrid gave me the chance to play in Spain and I'm grateful for that. I knew that it would be difficult to get into the first team, so that's why I chose to join Deportivo. It seems I didn't make a bad decision.


Read more:
Zhirkov first on left back list, Filipe back-up
Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority