Ex-Barça: Giovani to Ipswich Town on loan

English Premier League club Tottenham has yesterday officially announced the transfer of Tottenham attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) to Ipswich Town on loan for the rest of the season. The English second division club has officially confirmed the deal.

The statement on the official website of Tottenham reads: "Giovani Dos Santos has joined Ipswich Town on loan for the rest of the season. The Mexican international was a summer signing from Barcelona and has gone on to make 12 appearances in our colours. The 19-year-old scored his first goal for the Club against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup last month."

Giovani dos Santos came through the Barcelona youth ranks and joined the first team squad in the summer of 2007. One year later, he left for Tottenham.

Read more:
Giovani says goodbye
Marquez: "Giovani couldn't deal with the pressure"
OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham

Marquez: "Giovani couldn't deal with the pressure"

Barcelona player Rafael Márquez gave an interview to Spanish football weekly paper Don Balón.





You felt persecuted last year with all sort of rumours about your private life made public?
No. Besides, I take care of not reading the press, I avoid it. I talk with the people around me, the coach and the board member, it's also an important part of my job. They said they believed that I would continue at the club and I didn't give attention to those rumours.

One of the important persons now is Guardiola. How do you get along with him?
Well, very good. The first time I talked with him was very special. When his arrival was announced, it was very clear to me that I wanted to stay at the club. But I didn't know if I was part of his new project. We were lucky to meet and he told me how he felt. His wish was that I didn't leave the club.

What did he exactly say to you?
That he was convinced that I would get back at the level I had shown in previous seasons.

That means he implicitly was saying that he wasn't satisfied with your performances last season?
I also consider myself to be an ambitious person and of course I wasn't playing as good as before during the last two seasons. It was a challenge for me to try to regain my best form again.

You feel a regular this season?
With Guardiola, it's difficult. There are so many games, there's so much competition, it's not easy. There's a big squad and nobody should feel too sure.

Taking into account the years you've been playing here, would you have liked to be one of the captains?
In every team where I have played, I have tried to be a leader on the pitch and to help the team, but I have never been obsessed with wearing the armband.

With the Mexican national team you're wearing it but there you're also a true idol. How do you deal with that?
Well, I always try to be the same person and to not change my attitude. What I try to do is to give the example because being the capitan gives you a lot of responsibility.

How do you look at the qualifiers for the World cup in 2010?
Things are fine. We're having some troubles in the away games but we hope to be present in South Africa.

Guardado is your big hope?
It's a great player, he has already proven that. If he doesn't get injured and he keeps on making progress, the logical thing is that he will join a big club soon.

Giovani seems to go in the opposite direction. Are you talking with him about what he's going through?
We've lost contact somehow but it's a very talented young player and he'll sure recover in Tottenham.

Why do you think he left Barça?
He arrived together with Bojan and people were immediately talking about his talent. But he didn't have enough experience to deal with the pressure and he paid for that. He wanted to do too many things at the same time and he ended up making one mistake after the other. All this affected him greatly and it prevented him from showing what he could.


This was the fourth and last part of this interview. You can read the previous parts here:
"We're starting a new era"
"You won't find a substitute for Eto'o"
"Atlético Madrid wanted to sign me"

Giovani doesn't regret summer move

In an interview with his new club’s official magazine Hotspur, Tottenham attackerand Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) has insisted he does not regret leaving Barcelona for the English Premier League during the summer:

"I'm looking for opportunities to grow as a player and I saw Spurs as the kind of place where I could really develop. I did have other offers, but Spurs was the club I keenly wanted to come to because I know this team is really developing. I believe this club has a big, big future and I want to play my part in that. Now I'm here, I'm really happy."

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham
Deco and Giovani are seen as bargains
Youth: Tottenham wants Jonathan dos Santos

Read the complete Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Deco and Giovani are seen as bargains

British tabloid The Sun has put together a list of the best Premier League bargains this summer.

With Mikael Silvestre (from Manchester United to Arsenal for 850 000 euro) as number one bargain, former Barcelona players Deco and Giovani are on the list at places 3 and 7, with the following comments:




3. Deco (10 million euro)
Deco was hardly cheap but when you compare his fee to the number of expensive flops at Chelsea and beyond, he may emerge as a sharp piece of business. The Portugal midfielder has already proved himself as a matchwinner at Wigan last month and he has a track record of success.

7. Giovani (6+5 million euro)
It was not long ago that Chelsea were weighing up an eight-figure move for the Mexican, so Spurs now look like an early riser at the Christmas sales. Dos Santos is still a raw talent but if boss Juande Ramos can bring the best out of him, Barcelona may rue letting him go.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Deco to Chelsea
OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham

Giovani decided Barcelona exit on his own

Asked about the suggestions that it was his agent Pini Zahavi who made the decision to leave Barcelona for the English Premier League, Tottenham attacker and former Barcelona player Giovani dos Santos (19), who is having a convincing pre-season with his new club, claimed in an interview with British sports site Setanta Sports that he himself is the one responsible for his move to Tottenham:

"My agent backed me to the maximum from the first day I decided to leave Barcelona. Obviously I think that people can give you advice but at the end of the day the player is the one who takes the decision. Who is going to play? Me. Who is going to play well or bad? It’s going to be me, not him."

Read the complete Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Giovani officially presented in Tottenham

On Tuesday, former Barcelona player Giovani dos Santos was officially presented to the fans and the media by his new club Tottenahm, together with Luka Modrić and Heurelho Gomes, two other transfers of the English Premier League club.

At the press conference, Giovani revealed that Barcelona forward Henry advised him to accept the Tottenham offer: "When I knew Tottenham was an option for me I asked Thierry Henry ‘what about Tottenham?’ and he told me it would be good for me to come here. To replace Robbie Keane is difficult because he’s a player of the highest level. But I have a lot of ambition and I hope to adapt quickly. I am not going crazy comparing myself to Robbie Keane or saying that I will do what he did. But I will work very hard to write my own history here."

Read the complete Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Barcelona has six promising youngsters

Spanish football weekly paper Don Balón has made a list of the 100 most promising football players (born in 1987 or later). Six of the mentioned players are playing (and two others have played) for Barcelona.

This is the list (in alphabetical order) :




LAUTARO ACOSTA, forward, arg, sevilla, 14-03-1988
FREDDY ADU, forward, usa, benfica, 02-06-89
SERGIO 'KUN' AGUERO, forward, arg, atletico madrid, 02-06-1988
ISMAIL AISSATI, midfielder, hol, ajax, 16-06-1988
ALEXIS SANCHEZ, forward, chl, udinese, 19-12-1988
JOZY ALTIDORE, forward, usa, villarreal, 06-11-1989
ANDERSON, midfielder, bra, manchester united, 13-04-1988
ARDA TURAN, midfielder, tur, galatasaray, 30-01-1987
SERGIO ASENJO, goalkeeper, spa, valladolid, 28-06-1989
GARETH BALE, defender, wal, tottenham, 16-07-1989

MARIO BALOTELLI, forward, ita, palermo, 12-08-1990
EVAR BANEGA, midfielder, arg, valencia, 29-06-1988
HATEM BEN ARFA, forward, fra, olympique marseille, 07-03-1987
NIKLAS BENDTNER, forward, den, arsenal, 16-01-1988
KARIM BENZEMA, forward, fra, olympique lyon, 17-12-1987
JEROME BOATENG, defender, ger, hamburg, 03-09-1988
BOJAN KRKIC, forward, spa, barcelona, 26-08-1990
MICHAEL BRADLEY, midfielder, usa, heerenveen, 31-07-1987
BRENO, defender, bra, bayern munich, 13-10-1989
DIEGO BUONANOTTE, forward, arg, river plate, 19-04-1988

DIEGO CAPEL, forward, spa, sevilla, 16-02-1988
ANDY CARROLL, forward, eng, newcastle, 06-01-1989
ANDRE CARVALHAS, forward, por, benfica, 07-03-1989
EDISON CAVANI, forward, uru, palermo, 14-02-1987
CESC FABREGAS, midfielder, spa, arsenal, 04-05-1987
AMIRE CHERMITI, forward, tun, etoile du sahel, 26-12-1987
MACAULEY CHRISANTUS, forward, nig, hamburg, 20-08-1990
JONATHAN DE GUZMAN, midfielder, can, feyenoord, 13-09-1987
LORENZO DE SILVESTRI, defender, ita, roma, 23-05-1988
STEVEN DEFOUR, midfielder, bel, standard, 15-04-1988

EREN DERDIYOC, forward, swi, basel, 12-06-1988
ANGEL DI MARIA, midfielder, arg, benfica, 14-02-1988
ROYSON DRENTHE, midfielder, hol, real madrid, 08-04-1987
KERMIT ERASMUS, forward, s-a, feyenoord, 08-07-1990
DAMIAN ESCUDERO, midfielder, arg, villarreal, 20-04-1987
FEDERICO FAZIO, defender, arg, sevilla, 17-03-1987
GUEIDA FOFANA, midfielder, fra, fenerbahçe, 16-05-1991
GAI ASSULIN, forward, isr, barcelona, 09-04-1991
GIOVANI DOS SANTOS, forward, mex, tottenham, 11-05-1989
MAREK HAMSIK, midfielder, slk, napoli, 27-07-1987

JOE HART, goalkeeper, eng, manchester city, 19-04-1987
DAWID JANCZYC, forward, pol, cska moscow, 23-09-1987
JAVI MARTINEZ, midfielder, spa, athletic, 02-09-1988
MILAN JOVETIC, forward, mon, fiorentina, 02-11-1989
JUAN DIAZ, defender, uru, estudiantes de la plata, 28-10-1987
CHARLES KABORE, defender, bur, olympique marseille, 09-02-1988
YOICHIRO KAKITANI, midfielder, jap, cerezo osaka, 03-01-1990
NIKOLA KALINIC, forward, cro, hadjuk split, 05-01-1988
SERGIO CONTAN 'KEKO', forward, spa, atletico madrid, 27-12-1991
ALEXANDER KIROV, forward, bul, levski sofia, 25-10-1990

TONI KROOS, midfielder, ger, bayern munich, 04-10-1990
AARON LENNON, midfielder, eng, tottenham, 16-04-1987
LUCAS LEIVA, midfielder, bra, liverpool, 09-01-1987
LUIS SUAREZ, forward, uru, ajax, 24-01-1987
REIMOND MANCO, forward, per, psv eindhoven, 23-08-1990
DIRK MARCELLIS, defender, hol, psv eindhoven, 13-04-1988
MARKO MARIN, forward, bos, borussia monchengladbach, 13-03-1989
MARTIN CACERES, defender, uru, barcelona, 17-03-1987
JUAN MATA, forward, spa, valencia, 28-04-1988
'MAXI' MORALEZ, forward arg, racing club, 27-02-1987

LIONEL MESSI, forward, arg, barcelona, 24-06-1987
MIGUEL VITOR, defender, por, benfica, 30-06-1989
NIKOLAY MIJAILOV, goalkeeper, bul, twente, 28-06-1988
MARCELO MORENO, forward, bol, shakhtar donetsk, 18-06-1987
CLIFFORD MULENGA, forward, zam, maccabi petah, 05-08-1987
SAMIR NASRI, midfielder, fra, arsenal, 26-06-1987
KRISZTIAN NEMETH, forward, hun, liverpool, 05-01-1989
SOTIROS NINIS, midfielder, alb, panathinaikos, 03-04-1990
AUGUSTINE NSUMBA, midfielder, uga, sc villa, 10-05-1987
JOHN OBI MIKEL, midfielder, nig, chelsea, 22-04-1987

DANIEL OPARE, defender, gha, real madrid, 18-10-1990
RANSFORD OSEI, forward, gha, kessben, 05-12-1990
DAVID ESPINA, goalkeeper, col, nice, 31-08-1988
MEZUT OZIL, midfielder, ger, werder bremen, 15-10-1988
ALBERTO PALOSCHI, forward, ita, milan, 04-01-1990
GIANNIS PAPADOPOULOS, midfielder, gre, olympiakos, 09-03-1989
ALEXANDRE 'PATO', forward, bra, milan, 02-09-1989
PABLO PIATTI, forward, arg, almeria, 31-03-1989
GERARD PIQUE, defender, spa, barcelona, 02-02-1987
SEBASTIAN PRODL, defender, aus, werder bremen, 21-06-1987

IVAN RAKITIC, midfielder, cro, schalke, 10-03-1988
AARON RAMSEY, midfielder, wal, arsenal, 26-12-1990
MICAH RICHARDS, defender, eng, manchester city, 24-06-1988
DIOGO ROSADO, midfielder, por, sporting, 21-02-1990
MAMADOU SAKHO, defender, fra, psg, 13-02-1990
LASZLO SEPSI, defender, rum, benfica, 07-06-1987
YOUNG-ROK SHIN, forward, s-k, suwon samsung, 27-03-1987
ALEXANDRE SONG, midfielder, cam, arsenal, 09-09-1987
BOGDAN STANCU, forward, rum, steaua bucarest, 28-06-1987
MIRALEM SULEJMANI, forward, ser, ajax, 05-12-1988

STEPHEN SUNDAY 'SUNNY', midfielder, nig, valencia, 17-09-1988
MARKEL SUSAETA, midfielder, spa, athletic bilbao, 14-12-1987
THIAGO ALCANTARA, midfielder, ita, barcelona, 11-04-1991
ATSUTO UCHIDA, defender, jap, kashima antlers, 27-03-1988
JONATHAN URRETAVISCAYA, forward, uru, river plate, 18-03-1990
ANTHONY VAN DEN BORRE, defender, bel, genua, 24-10-1987
JAMES VAUGHAN, forward, eng, everton, 14-07-1988
THEO WALCOTT, forward, eng, arsenal, 16-03-1989
ALI YAHYA, forward, qat, al-sadd, 20-01-1988

Giovani says goodbye (part 2)

Former Barcelona player Giovani dos Santos gave in the beginning of last week
'goodbye' interviews to both main Catalan sport papers. These are the most interesting
quotes from the interview he gave to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.

You joined Barcelona's first team at a very early age but after one year you already leave for the Premier League. Why?
I decided to leave to be able to grow as a player. There I will have more playing time and that's what I need. My decision has only been based on sporting reasons. I wanted to play more and Tottenham gave me the opportunity. I also had good offers from Chelsea, Manchester United and Ajax, but I like the project of Juande Ramos a lot. I want to achieve great things with the 'Spurs'.

What will your role be at Tottenham?
I will play as number '10', my favourite position. The project of Ramos is very ambitious and everyone is very . They call me, ask me about my foot, they make me feel loved and important.

When did you take the decision to leave?
Last December. My agent Pini Zahavi told it to Barcelona and I also talked about it with Txiki Begiristain. I could have already left in January, but I wasn't allowed to. Even now they still wanted me to stay, but I had made up my mind.

What did Txiki say?
He respected my decision and I thank him for that. He said that I would always be welcome and he wished me the best for the future.

It wasn't an option to leave on loan?
No, I wanted a permanent deal. A cycle has ended and that's it. Maybe one day I will return to Barcelona - I actually would like that - but it will certainly be under different circumstances.

Guardiola talked to you?
No, because I already made clear that I wanted to leave.

Tottenham also wanted to include your brother Jonathan in the operation.
Yes, they did but he will stay in Barcelona. For me, this will be another way to stay connected with Barcelona.

What did the people say to you?
On the streets or at the club they all asked me to stay. I want to thank all of them for showing their support and their love. That's one of the nice things I will take with me.

But they've also whistled you here...
Yes, but that has helped me a lot to mature. It's something that happened, of course it's wasn't a nice thing, but I learned from it how to behave in the difficult moments and that's why I'm even almost thankful for those whistles, even when they hurt a lot at the time. It maybe was something like a warning sign to me, I guess it happened for a reason. I leave only remembering the positive things. I was lucky and privileged to grow as a player in a club like Barcelona and you cannot forget that.

What caused the pre-season top goalscorer asking to leave the club at the end of the season?
Maybe I wanted to show too much instead of just being myself. In the beginning I enjoyed everything and didn't feel any pressure, but in a way I later wasn't Giovani anymore. Because of my age, I didn't really realize that I wasn't doing the right things, although at the end I found the right track and I was just myself again.

How is your foot now?
The operation was a success, my ankle is in perfect conditions. Everything feels comfortable and I can make all movements without any problem.

Why didn't you get operated earlier?
Because I felt I had to sacrifice myself for the team. There were a lot of players who were unavailable. I played with injections and a lot of pain, sometimes I just couldn't shoot on goal. But the most important thign was to help the team.

You have been able to say goodbye to Rijkaard or the team-mates?
No. They were at the European championship or on holiday. I sure want to thank Rijkaard for his unconditional support, even when he also was living difficult moments. But I will come back later to say goodbye in a proper way. One of the days I will come to Barcelona with the permission of Tottenham.


Read here the most interesting quotes of the interview he gave to Catalan sports paper Sport

Read the complete Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Giovani says goodbye (part 1)

Former Barcelona player Giovani dos Santos gave in the beginning of this week

'goodbye' interviews to both main Catalan sport papers. These are the most

interesting quotes from the interview he gave to Catalan sports paper Sport.

What has caused one of the major talents of the youth academy to leave the club after just one year with the first squad?
I'm aware that I'm at a great club and that you have to be patient but I have reached an age at which I need to play on a regular basis if I want to keep making progress.

Barcelona did something to keep you here?
They tried to convince me, but the best thing was to leave.

Why does a young player with a bright future leaves Barcelona for only 6 million euro?
I don't know. And I don't really want to enter the economic issue.

You have some bad feeling about leaving?
Of course I have. I was here for six years, I had settled down here, my parents live here and my brother plays for Barcelona. How could I not feel bad?

What is the best you'll remember from this club?
A lot of things. I learnt a lot as a player and as a person. I got more mature. I lived moments that at my age are not easy to go through. I have to thank the people who, maybe unconsciously, have teached me how to deal with difficult moments. Football is not sunshine every day and when I will again live a moment like that I will be able to stand up a lot quicker.

You sound like you have felt misunderstood at certain times and especially after the whistles in the Camp Nou.
Not misunderstood, but I would have liked... Let's see, when you come out to play and you have a lack of confidence... A lot of elements played a role... At a certain point, it seemed like people wanted me to play bad. That influences the choices you make on the pitch.

What do you think about the Barcelona fans?
They are great. I'm convinced of that. But mainly when the team plays well. Then they influence the rivals a lot. When things are going bad, it's all a bit special. But it always has been like that and I don't think it will ever change...

I suppose you also were partly to blame for what happened?
Of course. I wasn't the Giovani of the pre-season who played without any pressure and showed all his skills. Later I let things influence me too much. Because I wanted so much to show the world what I was able to do, I did things that I shouldn't have done.

In your last game, without the pressure you had felt along the season, you scored three times. You were yourself again.
I started well and I ended well. That game helped me to feel free again. I was very motivated to score and I scored goals that define me as a player. Yes, I was myself again.

We saw the real Giovani that day?
I think so. People who only know me from last season have another idea of me, but those who know me from the youth academy and from the national team know what kind of player I am and what I can do on the pitch.

You would like to return to Barcelona one day?
You never know what can happen in football.

Why did you prefer to leave on a permanent deal rather than on a loan deal?Because when I am somewhere I want to get totally involved without thinking the whole time about the fact that I have to perform well so I can return to Barcelona. I want to concentrate on and give everything for the club where I'm playing. Only like that you can give the best you have, without having your thoughts in another place.

What do you expect of the Premier League?
It's a league where the players are respected a lot and I look forward to start training and playing there.

You spoke with Tottenham manager Juande Ramos?
I did and he really is a phenomenon. I'm very motivated to start working with him.

How is your English?
Terrible! But I will learn.


The most interesting quotes of the interview he gave to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo will be posted on this blog next week.

Read the complete Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

First Tottenham training session for Giovani

English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur started the pre-season yesterday with a first training session. Former Barcelona player Giovani dos Santos met with his new team-mates.

Read the complete Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Youth: Jonathan dos Santos

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Juvenil A attacking midfielder and Mexican youth international Jonathan dos Santos (18) will keep on playing in Barcelona next season (read more here).

Jonathan Dos Santos is the younger brother of former Barcelona player Giovani Dos Santos (19). Both brothers joined Barcelona six years ago after Barcelona scouts spotted them at an international youth tournament.

With the contract of Jonathan expiring this year and his brother leaving to English Premier League club Tottenham, there was some doubt on the future of the younger Dos Santos. Jonathan will nevertheless stay in Barcelona, where the players' parents will keep their residence.

Giovani confirmed in an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that his brother will continue in Barcelona despite the interest of Tottenham: "It's true that Tottenham wanted to include Jonathan in my transfer deal, but he will stay in Barcelona. For me, this will be another way to stay connected with Barcelona."

Watch video:
Jonathan in action

Read more:
Youth: Jonathan Dos Santos
OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham
Youth: Thiago Alcantara

Giovani presented in Tottenham

Former Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) passed a medical and signed his contract with English Premier League club Tottenham earlier this week.

In an interview with the club's official website, Giovani says to be excited about his move to England: "It is a dream for me to come to a big club like Spurs. I've come here to further explore my qualities and give my all for my new team. As a young player I have come to a club where I feel there are many opportunities for me.

I have been made to feel very welcome since arriving at Spurs and everyone has been very friendly. This is clearly a big club with a lot of ambition, and I can see it growing in the future. It is great to see Spurs fans wearing the shirt on the streets of London. I came here because of the passion of the fans as well as the size of the club, and I'm very much looking forward to playing in England."

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos is looking forward to working with the player: "If Giovani progresses as we hope he will be a terrific player. This is a young player with a lot of potential, whom I have watched for some time and I am delighted he has joined the squad. For us it is an exciting signing because he has excellent quality, he operates well in different positions and, above all, is technically excellent."

And Tottenham sports director Damien Comolli is convinced the club has made a great transfer: "Giovani possesses a great combination of physical power and explosivity, along with fine technical skills. He is someone who can create and score goals. He is young but not without experience and will be a great asset for the Club. The fact we have a Spanish speaking coaching staff will help him adapt, settle quickly and I believe he has the skills to be successful in England."

Read more:

OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham

Edmilson presented in Villareal

Deal on Giovani

OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham

Barcelona has announced the transfer of Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) to Tottenham.

The statement on the official website reads: "FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur FC have come to an agreement for the transfer of Giovani Dos Santos to the English club.

The Mexican will sign for the club managed by Juande Ramos until June 30, 2013 for a fee 6 million euros plus another 5 million depending on the player’s appearances for the London club during his five year’s of contract. FC Barcelona also maintain 20% of the financial rights to any possible transfer of the player during his first two years of contract and 10% on any transfer from his new club, Tottenham Hotspur FC."

Tottenham has confirmed the transfer: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of Giovani dos Santos to the Club, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms."

Giovani dos Santos joined the Barcelona youth academy in 2002. He was promoted to the first team last summer.

pep's opinion:
the fee is low for a player of his talent, but if it's true that his contract was expiring next year and he was unwilling to sign a renewal (and that the variables only depend upon his appearances), then you should just take it.

i think his first season was very decent given the circumstances (team wasn't good, crowd didn't like him, he was injured the whole time), so i would have liked him to stay with us. he had the potential to add something to this team. he was treated badly by a part of the fans, something that could have made him decide to leave, but his entourage played a decisive role in that by sending out unclear signals about his future from the beginning.

just a sad story. nevertheless good luck to giovani. go and spread the fame of our youth academy...

Read the whole Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Giovani confirms Tottenham transfer

In an interview with a Mexican television station during the half-time of the international friendly game between Mexico and Argentina, Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) would have confirmed that he's leaving Barcelona this summer stating: "Next season I will play for Tottenham."

Giovani added that the presence of Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has been crucial in his decision (read more here).

Read more:

Giovani's transfer fee in free fall

Deal on Giovani

Favourite Tottenham might have landed Giovani

Giovani's transfer fee in free fall

On Sunday it was 8+3, yesterday it was 7+4 and now it suddenly is 6+5: the transfer fee Tottenham will pay for Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) seems to be in an unstoppable downward spiral.

Catalan sports papers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport both claim today that Barcelona will receive a fixed fee of 6 million euro° for Giovani, with the possibility to pick up another 5 million euro° depending on the performances of the player during his stay in Tottenham.

Read more:
Deal on Giovani
Zambrotta and Giovani transfer fees
Favourite Tottenham might have landed Giovani

Zambrotta and Giovani transfer fees

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that Barcelona will receive 16 million euro° plus a possible 6 million euro° variables for the transfers of Barcelona full back defender and Italian international Gianluca Zambrotta (31) to AC Milan and Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) to Tottenham.

Milan would pay Barcelona 9 million° euro for Zambrotta (read more here). If Milan qualifies for the Champions League in the next two season, they would have to pay each time another million euro°. Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the two million euro° depend on the fact that Milan will end in the first three of the Serie A next season.

Tottenham would pay Barcelona 7 million euro° for Giovani (read more here). the English Premier league club will pay another 4 million euro° depending on the games the player will play for his new club. With the contract of the player expiring next summer and the player not wanting to renew his contract, this could be the last chance for Barcelona to get money for their youth product.

Read more:

Milan announces Zambrotta transfer

Deal on Giovani

Coloccini option drops back

Deal on Giovani

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that a deal with Tottenham on the transfer of Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) could be announced tomorrow.

Barcelona has closed a principal agreement with Tottenham. The English premier League club will pay a transfer fee of 8 million euro°, plus 3 million euro° variables depending upon the games played and the goals scored by Giovani and the performances of Tottenham. Inter Milan would have offerd a higher fee, but the player always has preferred to go to England (read more here).

The decisive meeting was held on Thursday in Barcelona between Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Pini Zahavi, the agent of Giovani, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury. Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Zahavi later met in London to discuss the last details.

Zizinho, the father of Giovani, said in an interview with Mexican sports paper Récord that a deal is close but that nothing has been signed yet: "It's an honour that important clubs like Tottenham are interested in Giovani. Although the negotiations are well-advanced, there's nothing official yet."

Giovani's father suggests that the presence of manager Juande Ramos at Tottenham played an important role in the talks: "The project that the manager has offered to Giovani is promising and ambitious and my son wants to become a great player in Tottenham and help the club grow. The decision to leave Barcelona is of course a risk, but given his qualities it could be the best option for him."

Madrid sports tabloid As had yesterday nevertheless a report saying that Tottenham manager Juande Ramos was not at all interested in Giovani, despite the pressures by Zahavi. The tabloid claims that the most likely destination of Giovani is Inter Milan, that would want to include the player in a deal on Barcelona midfielder Deco (30), hoping that a package deal could turn out to be cheaper.

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Meeting with Inter president on Ibrahimovich

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti met in a restaurant in Barcelona on Tuesday to talk about the transfer market.

While Inter forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovich (26) would be Barcelona's first choice for the centre forward position, Inter seems interested in Barcelona midfielder Deco (30), Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (27) and Barcelona right wing attacker Giovani Dos Santos (19). It has been agreed that the parties while meet in the coming weeks and months on a regualr basis to discuss a solution that can be satisfactory for all parties.

Sport claims that the alternatives for Ibrahimovic are, in that order, Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24) and Tottenham forward and Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov (27) (read more here).

Spanish radio station Onda Cero claims that the two presidents met on Wednesday to talk about the transfers of Deco and Eto'o.

Read more:

Ibrahimovic is on the list

Mourinho takes Deco with him to Inter

Inter willing to pay Giovani buyout clause

Favourite Tottenham might have landed Giovani

British television channel Sky Sports claims that Tottenham has emerged as the favourites to sign Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) (read more here). The English Premier League club would be willing to spend 14 million euro° on the player.

British tabloid The Daily Star meanwhile even claims that the deal has already been closed. Giovani would transfer for Tottenham, who will pay Barcelona a 15,5 million euro° transfer fee.

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Dos Santos heading for Manchester City

Tottenham and Manchester City bids for Giovani

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Tottenham are favourites to sign Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani Dos Santos (19). The English club would be discussing a 9 million euro° deal with Barcelona.

Despite the interest of other Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City, Giovani would prefer to join Tottenham manager Juande Ramos. The former Sevilla manager sees the Mexican as a player who can develop in a midfield role and provide chances for the strikers.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claimed yesterday that Manchester City would have talks with Barcelona about a transfer of Giovani. Pini Zahavi, the agent of Giovani and an adviser of Manchester City president Thaksin Shinawatra, was sent to Barcelona to speak to Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Manchester City has been considering a transfer for two months (read more here) and would now have made a formal offer of 10 million euro°. The English club has also asked for the latest update on the situation of Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28), as they could try to buy him in a double deal with Giovani.

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Giovani gives unclear signals about future

Giovani denies Premier League links

Giovani close to Manchester City loan deal