Leverkusen wants to keep Henrique longer

Asked about the rumours saying that Bayer Leverkusen would want to keep Barcelona central defender and Brazilian international Henrique Adriano Buss (22) on loan for another year, Bayer Leverkusen general manager Michael Reschke has confirmed this in an interview with German tabloid Express:

"Yes, we're dealing with this issue. The question is: what does Barcelona want? With Cáceres, Milito, Márquez, Puyol and Piqué, they already have a lot of centre backs. We talked with Barcelona, they're getting regular reports about the performances of the player and they are very happy with the progress he has made.

It's clear that the player feels excellent here, he has integrated very fast. He likes the team, the club, he feels very good in Cologne, where he lives. We have already talked with him, his family and his agents and we would be very happy if he could stay."

The wish of the German Bundesliga leaders to keep Henrique for a longer period, has meanwhile been confirmed by Bayer Leverkusen sports director Rudi Völler in an interview with German sports magazine Kicker ("We're in contact with Barcelona, we will meet soon") and by Bayer Leverkusen president Wolfgang Holzhäuser in an interview with Cologne regional newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger ("This issue is a priority for us, although it isn't in our hands").

read more:
How is Henrique doing at Bayer Leverkusen?

Henrique is making progress in Leverkusen

Henrique getting ready to play for Barcelona

Henrique's first experiences with Leverkusen

Barcelona central defender and Brazilian international Henrique Adriano Buss (21), who will play on loan with Bayer Leverkusen this season (read more here), told in an interview with German tabloid Express about his first experiences in Germany.



Is your transfer to Europe a dream come true?
Yes, it is. I've worked hard for this and then Barcelona came with an offer. When it was clear that they wanted me to go on loan this season, Leverkusen was my first choice.

Why?
Because the club has an important tradition of Brazilian players, people like Lucio, Juan or Emerson.

You can be more compared with Lucio or with Juan?
As my way of playing is concerned, I would say that I'm more like Juan.

What did you absolutely have to bring with you from Brazil?
My playstation and my computer. During the day there are a lot of things to discover in Cologne, but at night there's not much to do, especially because my wife Juliana hasn't arrived yet in Germany. In the coming days I will start to look around in Cologne since we would like to rent a house here.

You only will play here one season. What are your goals with Bayer this year?
First, I want to gain a lot of experience, so it will be easier for me to adapt when I join Barcelona. But I'm also here to achieve something. And since I always strive for the maximum, I want to win the Bundesliga title with Bayer.


Read more on the performances of Henrique in Leverkusen here

Read the complete Henrique transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Henrique will sign on Monday

Asked about the rumours that he's on the verge of becoming a Barcelona player (read more here), Palmeiras central defender and Brazilian international Henrique Adriano Buss (21) has said to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he hopes to complete the deal in the beginning of next week:

"On Monday I arrive in Barcelona to finalize my transfer. There are only some last details left."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that once the 8 million euro° deal is closed, the negotiations on a loan deal will be started with the clubs who already have shown interest to have Henrique in their squad next season.

German tabloid Express confirms that Bayer Leverkusen is, together with Ajax Amsterdam and Betis Sevilla, in the running to sign the Brazilian defender on loan (read more here). Bayer Leverkusen sports director Rudi Völler hopes that the quality of the Bundesliga will be decisive in the decision of Barcelona and Henrique.

Read more:

Henrique will arrive next week

Valencia rejects Villa bid

Last details of Henrique transfer being resolved

Gudjohnsen top target for Bundesliga newcomer

German tabloid Express claims that Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (29), whose contract with Barcelona expires in 2010, is high on the wish list of FC Köln manager Christoph Daum.

Köln will play again in the Bundesliga next season and Daum wants to bring in experienced players. He would have urged his club to find the money necessary to do that. The manager didn't want to comment on the rumour yesterday: "I don't make public statements about possible transfers."

Köln sports director Michael Meier said that the club is ready to invest: "A deal is not close. But it's clear we have never avoided to take risks in the past and we won't change that attitude in the future."

Read more:

Portsmouth and Newcastle in race for Gudjohnsen

Gudjohnsen could be the first to leave

How things stand: Attacking midfielders