Deal with Valencia on transfer Villa

Football site Goal claims that Valencia and Barcelona have found a deal on the transfer of Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27)

A source close to Barcelona reportedly told the website that an agreement has been reached, although no details of the fee or any of the Barcelona players going in the other direction were revealed. The clubs are expected to make an announcement soon.

Read more:
Joint offer for Villa and Mata upcoming
Laporta commenting on the transfer season
Looking for a house for Villa

The Season of FC Barcelona

by Steven Bauer for Goal.com-Germany

(Translated by LeónDragón)




The season for FC Barcelona couldn't had been better. The team from the Catalan metropolis won not only the Spanish Championship, but also the Champions League and
the Copa del Rey. Many speak of the best Barcelona team of all times, so it's no wonder that the players deserve excellent grades.

Goal - Grade: Good
Victor Valdés had a very good season, but couldn't manage to become the undiscussed man between the posts. No matter how many nice saves will stay in people's memory, the mistakes will also be unforgotten since they can change a game too. Even if he ain't got the class of an Iker Casillas or Gianluigi Buffon, Guardiola has faith in him and will hold on to him. He will stay as his number one for the next season.

Defence - Grade: Very Good
The defence of Barcelona was in the past not always the best, so much the more it's
important to emphasize the defensive performance of the last season. Despite the
offensive style of play, Barca had many games with a clean sheet and was with 35 goals against them the best defensive team of La Liga. Also in the Champions League, the defence proved his worth. Only Abidal is believed to be a weak point.

Midfield - Grade: Very Good
No need for much words about the midfield. Touré Yaya, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta: the best midfield worldwide. Especially the accuracy, precision and overview of the midfield-actors were a reason for the success of the Catalans last season. Xavi as well as Iniesta are considered to be unsellable, as they don't even think about leaving the club.

Forward - Grade: Very Good
105 goals in 38 League-games are an incredible achievement, but when you take a look
at the strikers, is all becomes clear. Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi have the skills to make every defence feel giddy. Eto'o, one of the most successful strikers in Europe, Henry, who found back his old form and no need to say a lot about Messi. Only the eye for the goal needed a little improvement in some games.

Coach & Management - Grade: Very Good
Summer 2008, after two bad seasons under Rijkaard, followed a rebuilding phase. Stars were sold, others bought and Pep Guardiola was appointed as the new head coach. He formed a strong squad of a young team, that played with passion again and
without star-affections. One year before, he coached Barca's B-Team and reached now the top of world's football.

Season - Grade: Very Good
There's no better time for a Barca-Fan or Player. They are the first spanish team that won the treble. They have the best player of the world and maybe the second-and-third-best player too in their squad. They have the best youth-system and the team plays a football which is far ahead of that of other teams.

Agent Mascherano in Barcelona for transfer talks

Football site Goal claims that Walter Tamer, the agent of Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25), has travelled to Barcelona earlier today.

Tamer would meet with Barcelona officials at the club's Camp Nou offices this afternoon to hold talks on a transfer of the Argentinian.

Mascherano's wish to move to Barcelona could have helped to convince Liverpool to give the player's representatives the authorization to start talking with Barcelona (read more here). No fee has reportedly been agreed upon although the site claims that a swap deal including Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) might be an option.

Read more:
Guardiola talks with Mascherano
Agent Toure sets deadline for renewal
Mascherano wants Spain move for personal reasons

Crosas: "Returning is not an impossible dream"

Celtic Glasgow player Marc Crosas gave an interview to football site Goal.





Will Celtic win the Scottish Premier League title?
I hope so, but things are very tight. It has been like that all year with us on top sometimes and then Rangers taking over at other times. The games are very even and either side can take points off the other so it will be easy to separate us.

Now that you have experienced a derby on the pitch, what is an Old Firm game like?
The setting and the atmosphere are difficult to beat. The only thing that is missing is the level of football. I think that in those games the football itself is quite poor, considering that we are the two strongest teams in Scotland. They are games that leave a lot to be desired. Also, there is too much respect. It is strange because against other teams we play so well, but when the derby comes along it is disappointing. If the level of football improved there would be no derby in the world to match it.

Celtic will play in the Peace Cup this summer and it will be in Andalucia. Is it an added motivation that this tournament is in Spain?
Yes, it will be great to play there again. It is an extra reason to look forward to playing apart from the tournament itself and it will be a chance to play against some of the great sides that will be there. As well as for me, it will also be an honour for Celtic to be able to play in the Peace Cup for the first time.

Do you think that football and peace can go hand-in-hand?
I think so, yes. All sports or mass movements, like football, in Europe, America or Asia, or wherever, can make a lot of people do the same thing and they can all contribute to improving situations in different countries or to easing conflicts. It may not be the role of professional football players because, unfortunately, there is not a great deal that we can do and our influence on an individual basis is limited. But to play tournaments like this is always a pleasure and if our presence helps to bring peace to a region in the world, then that is even better.

You have already lived in two countries outside of Spain. What do you think of them both?
In France I was surprised by how they see football. I think that in Spain there is an incorrect view on that. I thought it was a minority sport behind rugby or cycling, with the Tour de France being so big. But the passion and support is incredible inside the stadiums and many are full. It was a positive surprise. In Scotland, on a sporting front, not only Celtic and Rangers exist. They are the ones that win the most trophies, but there are some competitive teams and the level is not low. There are also some very good players here.

What has the experience been like in both countries off the field?
Learning French was fairly easy. I was able to understand it after a month-and-a-half in Lyon. I think speaking Catalan helped me, although I was keen to learn too. On the other hand, when I came to Scotland I realised what a low level of English I had. I was not very good at speaking it, but I have improved now. But there is a lot more to learn than there was with French.

Is returning to Barcelona now an impossible dream?
No, I do not think so. They have been my club since I was young and also the fact that I have been there since I was 13. But I understand that whether you support the team or how much you feel, the colours does not have an effect when the club is weighing up whether they want you as a player. Here in Scotland I am very happy because everyone at the club are great. That is the only thing that is important to me at the moment.

read the complete interview here


Read more:
Crosas dreams about Barcelona return
Barcelona players congratulate Crosas with goal
How is Crosas doing at Celtic?

There was no referee conspiracy

author: Carlo Garganese
source: Goal
date: 7 May 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





“When people say it's all very suspicious then I get rather angry,” roared Guus Hiddink on June 23, 2002.

“Italy and Spain should look at themselves and their shortcomings rather than the referee’s. It's easy to go on blaming referees or linesmen. Of course they make mistakes, but coaches make mistakes, players make mistakes, and the press make mistakes. They go for you and against you.”

If you haven’t already worked it out, this was then South Korea coach Hiddink’s angry response following widespread claims that there had been a conspiracy at the 2002 World Cup to send his co-hosts through at the expense of Italy, Spain and, to a lesser extent, Portugal.

The 2002 World Cup has gone down in footballing infamy, and indeed the majority of supporters in Italy and Spain refuse to even acknowledge that tournament’s legality. The Azzurri had five perfectly good goals disallowed in three games for non-existent offsides, while they were eliminated by Hiddink’s Korea in the second round after an extra time Golden Goal. During that clash, Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno awarded Korea a questionable penalty, harshly sent off Francesco Totti for diving, and disallowed a good Damiano Tommasi Golden Goal. Spain were the next victims of Korea in the quarter final, losing on penalties after they had had two legitimate strikes chalked off.

Fast forward seven years to May 6, 2009. Hiddink, now interim manager of Chelsea, had just been denied a place in the Champions League final following a dramatic injury time equaliser by Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta in West London. In the post-match interview, Hiddink, referring to five penalty claims that were turned down by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, clearly implied on both English and Italian television that there may have been a sinister plot by those in positions of power.

“I won't say what we really feel, but it's an injustice. It's not just one doubtful call. Ask the people who put the referee in charge of this game,” the Dutchman moaned. “When all these things happen, then you start thinking,” he added.

I know what I'm thinking Guus, and it is not conspiracy, but hypocrisy. The regularity and enormity of the events at the 2002 World Cup were more than enough to form a conspiracy theory, yet Hiddink shrugged them off as Italian and Spanish sour grapes. What took place last night at Stamford Bridge was just plain bad officiating that penalised both sides in equal measure.

Of the five incidents that Chelsea have complained about, only one was a penalty – the clear handball by Gerard Pique. Dani Alves’ obstruction on Florent Malouda may have been inside the area, but obstruction is only a penalty offence when it is really serious, and this was not. The same can be said for Eric Abidal’s slight pull of Didier Drogba’s shirt before half time, which preceded a one second delay before the Ivorian catapulted himself onto the floor like he’d caught the plague.

In the episode involving Drogba and Yaya Toure on 56 minutes, both players were wrestling each other, and even if Kolo’s younger brother did draw back the Chelsea hitman, it was well outside the area. When the two players entered the box, Toure won the ball with a fair tackle. Finally, regarding Michael Ballack’s last-gasp appeal against Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroonian may have had his arm higher than usual, but it was clearly ball-to-hand (the very top of his arm and back), while he also had his back turned. FIFA’s ‘Laws of the Game’ are crystal clear on this.

It is amusing that Chelsea have conveniently overlooked the fact that Abidal was wrongly red carded on 65 minutes for a ‘professional foul’ when Anelka had tripped over his own feet. This forced Barcelona to chase the last 25 minutes of the game with just 10 men. As a result the space opened up for Chelsea on the counter-attack, and it was only after this dismissal that the stonewall Pique penalty incident occurred.

It is also peculiar how Chelsea have discarded the performance of referee Wolfgang Stark in the first leg at Camp Nou. During that game, Stark waved away an excellent Thierry Henry penalty shout, failed to send off Michael Ballack, and also harshly booked Carles Puyol, forcing Barcelona to start a left back at centre back, and a centre midfielder at left back last night.

Over the course of the two ties, the appalling refereeing decisions evened themselves out. There was no conspiracy Guus last night, but there sure was an absurd amount of hypocrisy.

read the full and original article here

Barcelona still favourites for the title

author: Ewan Macdonald
source: Goal
date: 27 April 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





Barcelona may play a brand of football that's easy on the eye, but that was of little consolation to the fans as the Blaugrana picked up just a 2-2 draw at Valencia this Saturday night.

The late equaliser, though, that rescued a point turned out to be utterly vital, given that Real Madrid managed a 4-2 win at Sevilla the following evening. That leaves the gap at the top of the La Liga table at just four points heading into this week's Clasico. Yet to listen to some in the media you'd think that Barcelona were a dozen points clear.

Let's get one thing straight: the Blaugrana do lead the league, but the margin is narrow and is getting thinner. This is despite the fact that Europe collectively drops everything and flocks around the nearest TV when Barcelona play. Fans in England with little interest of the world outside the Premier League wax lyrical about the Barcelona style, and recognise the Culers as being genuine Champions League contenders. But this poetic mode of play has given the Blaugrana just a four point margin.

What's more, with five games left, things are looking increasingly precarious from a rotation point of view. Saturday saw Thierry Henry rested, and while Andres Iniesta filled in well at left forward, the midfield trio was easily swamped. Iniesta was out of the way and Yaya Toure was out - if such an incident occurs again, and the Xavi-Busquets-Keita trident lines up, Barcelona could well struggle.

Real Madrid have selection worries of their own, of course, and this is showing in their performances. Yet somehow they came through to win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Even with Pepe out for the rest of the season, the movable feast that is the midfield, and no Ruud van Nistelrooy, they managed four goals in Andalucia, three of them from a player - skipper Raul - who has been largely anonymous for weeks now.

Yet that he was able to return to form in such incredible fashion belies everything paradoxical about this Madrid side: their squad list is one blessed with talent, but talent that all too often doesn't show. Even when it doesn't, though, there is enough about one or two individuals, and enough of a fighting spirit from the rest, to see results ground out.

That's why the deficit is now so small, and why, when Barcelona come to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, they will be far less cocksure than the turn of the year suggested. Yes, they may dazzle, they may score, and they may win the plaudits. But Madrid, scrambling away, are once again the type of side that can quietly grab a result, almost without others noticing.

My take on it? I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Liga's over, and Barcelona have their names ready to go on the trophy. But I'd be lying if I said that Madrid weren't making a real chase of it. For that we must be grateful: the Liga race is going to be an exciting one right up until the last ball is kicked.

read the full and original article here

Barcelona is a nine-headed monster

author: Cyrus C. Malek
source: Goal
date: 15 April 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





Unsurprisingly, after a 4-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich in the first leg, Barcelona sealed their passage to the Champions League semi-finals with a businesslike draw in the second leg.

Once again successfully navigating the quarter-final stage, Barca have equalled their run in last year's competition, this time to face Chelsea in the semis instead of Manchester United. Unlike last year though, when the Blaugrana drew 0-0 in the first leg before falling to United 1-0 in the second, it is difficult to see any side standing in Barca's way of winning it all this year.

"Barcelona are the best team in Europe," declared Toure Yaya shortly after dispatching Bayern at the Camp Nou last week — a rare instance of self-indulgence from a Barca player this season. Usually press conferences involving Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola or Barca players this year have been treated with a fair measure of humility — always reminding us there was still much work to be done and that they have not yet achieved their objectives.

The fact is that the defensive midfielder is dead right. At this moment in time and for much of this season, Barcelona have been the best team in Europe. And they don't look to be relinquishing that status until they formally claim it with the Champions League trophy in Rome.

It is difficult to remember a team with the balanced weaponry of this year’s Barcelona squad. Even in the Ronaldinho years it was somewhat straightforward as to where the danger would be coming from. This year however, Pep Guardiola has created a monster akin to the dreaded beast in Greek mythology — the nine-headed Hydra. Barcelona can beat you from almost every position on the pitch, and every player in their starting line-up can be lethal.

The most pivotal signing came in the summer addition of Dani Alves who has revolutionised the role of the right back from the classic pick-the-time-to-come-forward defender to a marauding come-at-them-full-throttle attacker. The dimension Alves brings to his side is invaluable. Alves opens up an entire half of the field for Barça, allowing the right-sided winger to pinch in closer to goal and await the stinging cross that is sure to come from the Brazilian's boots.

Eto'o has been in the Barca squad for a number of years now and actually looked to be headed for the exit in the Ronaldinho, Deco, Rijkaard and others exodus that preceded this season. While the Cameroonian striker was best known for making noise in front of microphones, this season Samuel has enjoyed a renaissance and has been making noise in front of goal on his way to netting the title of La Liga's presumed Pichichi.

After considerable growing pains in his first season at Barcelona, Thierry Henry seems only slightly less dangerous than at his Arsenal best. Owning the left wing, Titi has made a habit out of taking defenders on — and more often than not, beating them. Fitting perfectly into Guardiola's attacking trident, the Frenchman has seen his career blossom once more.

Coming off their Euro 2008 win with the Spanish national team, Xavi, Iniesta, and Puyol bring their championship-winning experience to Barca in brilliant fashion. As he is for La Roja, Xavi is the architect of Barcelona’s offence — the engine that powers the attack - cruelly picking apart opposing defences as a child picks the legs off of an unfortunate insect.

In a style all his own, Iniesta darts through the midfield relying on his quick changes of direction to out-wit defenders. Puyol is the rock of the back. As the Blaugrana captain, he lays the foundation for his team and this season in particular, Carles' tackles are made with authority and split-second timing. When he spent a few weeks injured, Barca were an entirely different side in defence without him.

The rest of the back line and defending midfield — Abidal/Sylvinho, Marquez/Pique, and Toure/Keita complete the defence, but all are so equally comfortable on the ball that none are a liability. The truth is that the back line is so rarely called upon to play traditional defence because Barca's best defence is its offence.

Abidal/Sylvinho are cautious going forward, always conscious of their defensive responsibilities, Marquez serves as a second leader in the back while Pique has been playing years above his age, and Toure/Keita provide superb link-up play between the defence and attack.

Valdes is the only real liability in defence. His most notable errors include gifting the ball to Ivan de la Pena in Barca's defeat to Espanyol at the Camp Nou and being embarrassed by Juninho's free kick in Lyon. Nonetheless, he remains an adequate keeper and, to his credit, does pull off a spectacular save now and again.

Oh yes, Messi. They used to say a player the likes of Maradona would never be seen again, but now they say another the likes of Messi will never come to pass. He is undoubtedly the best player in the world and he is only getting better, becoming much better at discerning the times he should take on an entire defence on his own or use his team-mates to surgically cut through it. But unlike Ronaldinho who made Barca tick, Messi is more like icing on the cake.

Bojan, Busquets, Hleb, Gudjohnsen, and Caceres would be undisputed starters for other teams and with that, Barcelona’s feared Hydra becomes complete. With the way the Blaugrana squad has been performing, the Champions League seems more a probability than it does a possibility and if they do not win Europe’s coveted trophy this season, it will be some injustice. For as this Madrid-leaning columnist will be the first to admit, they are the best team in Europe.

read the full and original article here


Read more:
Barça's beauty lies in their bite
Barcelona the team to avoid in Champions League
Barcelona Is Winning With Style

An evaluation of last year's transfer summer

author: Ewan MacDonald
source: Goal.com
date: 22 March 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





Barcelona's summer was one of muted, yet extremely important transition. It was very much a case of quality over quantity - a set number of transfers, to repair a few positions, rather than a trolley-dash to land everyone on the market. Club president Joan Laporta, having just managed to weather a vote of confidence against his leadership, knew more than anyone that it was key to get it right. The amount spent in the summer - €88m for just a few first-teamers - bears testament to that.

Perhaps the best "signing" of all does not appear here, and thus he is not graded. Samuel Eto'o's decision to remain at the club has been rewarded as he storms towards the Pichichi award and Barcelona lead the Primera pack. Frank Rijkaard sauntered out of the Camp Nou dressing room for the last time; in his place strode the businesslike Pep Guardiola, who has certainly done the business so far.

IN: Martin Caceres (Villarreal); Dani Alves (Sevilla); Henrique (Palmeiras); Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal); Seydou Keita (Sevilla); Jose Manuel Pinto (Celta Vigo); Gerard Pique (Manchester United)

OUT: Marc Crosas (Celtic – loan); Deco (Chelsea); Edmilson (Villarreal); Santiago Ezquerro (Osasuna); Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur), Henrique (Bayer Leverkusen - loan); Oleguer Presas (Ajax); Ronaldinho (AC Milan); Lilian Thuram (retired); Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).

Martin Caceres: D+
The idea was right. Carles Puyol, while rock-solid at the moment, won't be around forever; Rafael Marquez, meanwhile, is beginning to show his age. So, what better than a young-centre-back? Well, a young centre-back who doesn't cost €16.5m up front, and who will play something resembling a key role, that's what.

Caceres, a smouldering Uruguayan, has been unfortunate with injury, but even during periods of fitness he has hardly impressed. In other words we have an injury-prone, potentially unhappy, and very expensive youngster on the bench.

Dani Alves: A
Daniel Alves, accepted a move to Barcelona in 2008 in order to test his skills at the next level. Alves has delivered. Flying down the right wing in his trademark style, he is, the finest attacking wing-back in the world. That he plays for a side as forward-looking as Barcelona is simply grist for the mill, rather than a source of worry, for a man whose defensive prowess has been called into question.

In fact Dani is a perfectly reasonable right-back, being strong in the tackle and fast on the chase. It's just that in the attacking sense he goes above and beyond. Only his mammoth price tag - an inevitable one, admittedly - prevents him from picking up the A+ grade.

Aliaksandr Hleb: E
He was no Ronaldinho, sure, but had a proven track record on the left side of attack for a Premier League giant. Hleb has done precisely nothing to justify his massive price tag, scarcely making a league appearance and failing to justify his shirt when he does so. What's more, he's openly entertained the prospect of leaving: hardly the kind of attitude wanted from a man who must earn his place in the team, rather than simply be awarded it.

Well, we know he can be a valuable squad member, as he showed at Arsenal. The 27-year-old Belarussian is under contract for three more years but with Bayern Munich waiting in the wings at least Barcelona can recoup some of the wasted money this summer.

Seydou Keita: B-
The man looked at as the second 'Mr. Dependable', Seydou Keita arrived from Sevilla looking both to compete for Yaya Toure's defensive midfield slot, and also to augment it. So far his appearances have been limited in the Blaugrana shirt, but Keita has repaid the faith shown in him with confident, if largely, unspectacular showings.

Gerard Pique: C
While certainly providing more value-for-money than Caceres, the jury remains out on a local boy made good. Pique arrived this summer from Manchester United for a relatively low initial fee, having failed to make the breakthrough at Old Trafford. At Camp Nou, he's been something of a regular fixture. His earnestness cannot be denied, but occasionally he gives the impression of a great, loping St. Bernard when a sleek greyhound would do the trick.

Nonetheless he has time on his side and, as his loan spell at Zaragoza proves, he can operate as a defensive midfielder in a pinch.

FINAL GRADE: B-
The Blaugrana's transfer policy over the last few seasons has been one of iterative change, rather than wholesale alterations, and this has served them well. However, signings like Martin Caceres and Aliaksandr Hleb, seem like a lot of cash thrown away on very little.

In other words, in a summer in which Barca spent around twice as much as they brought in, the problem of the centre (and to a lesser extent, left side) of the defence remains unsolved.

read the full and original article here


Read more:
Barcelona involved in five summer top transfers
The complete Dani Alves transfer story
Henrique to return and Caceres to leave on loan

Gudjohnsen has no intention to leave

Asked about the continuous rumours over the past years linking him with an exit, Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (30), whose contract expires in 2010, has said in an interview with football site Goal that at this moment he has no intention to leave the club:

"I am a lot more confident this season and I am playing more games. Last summer I spoke to Guardiola and he told me that he wanted me to stay and that gave me confidence, and now I am playing better this year. I do not officially know if I have played more games, but I am enjoying my time this season a lot more.

I really like the city and being here so I am happy. I know that every year things are said, but I have not wanted to leave Barcelona. I think it is normal in football for there to be stories, but with Guardiola coming in and telling me he wanted me that was a big thing.

I would nevertheless love to play at PSV Eindhoven again. I think it is a really good club and I was treated very well during my time there. Maybe I do not have the best memories, given that I was injured a lot, but I learned a lot at the club. But I do not want to go back now of course, because I am playing for Barcelona and I want to stay here and win things."

Read more:
PSV interested in Gudjohnsen
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer
Everton interested in Gudjohnsen

Bookmaker pays out on Barcelona winning Liga

Online bookmaker Expekt has decided yesterday that the firm will pay out on bets made on Barcelona winning the Spanish league this season.

The statement on the bookmaker's official website says: "Expekt.com has already decided to pay out Barcelona as league winners in Spain. We congratulate all the customers who backed Barca to clinch the title. Of course, if another team should win the league at the end, we will pay out them as winners as well!"

Expekt press officer Dan Vikman is quoted by football site Goal as saying that they believe Barcelona cannot lose the title anymore: "We declare that the title race is over in Spain and congratulate our customers who backed Barcelona to win the Spanish league. The money will start to be paid out to their accounts on Tuesday. We see no big risk with the squad that Barcelona have.

They will keep the other teams behind them during the spring, and, if the unlikely should happen, and another team would win, we will make more customers happy later this year and pay out again. Of course, all other league winner bets will still be valid. If another team should win the Spanish league, we will pay out on them as well, but even if there are 18 rounds to go, we see no competition."

Spain possible January destination for Arshavin

Asked about the continuous rumours linking Zenit Saint Petersburg forward and Russian international Andrei Arshavin (27) with several European top clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Dennis Lachter has said in an interview with football site Goal that his destination will be one of the three top leagues in Europe:

"We have not verified the situation just yet, but we know that there are several clubs in Spain, England and Italy who are all interested in Arshavin. I don't want to comment on which clubs are interested because there has been plenty of speculation regarding the situation.

It will be clearer in around a few weeks when the Champions League and UEFA Cup takes a break, and it will be much easier to understand where he will be going. The final match for Zenit in the Champions League could be his final accord with the club and this is significant for Andrei. He has won two titles in Europe as well as bronze in the Euros.

The key leagues for the player are the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. I don't think it's right to comment about whether he will go. I don't think it's the right way to promote the player by speculating about where he could end up, but we will have a clearer idea around the middle of December when the interested clubs decide to come forward if they are serious."

Read more:
Arshavin agent invites Barcelona to move
Barcelona wanted Cesc and Arshavin was close
Barcelona could make a new move for Arshavin

Should Barcelona sign in January?

author: Ewan Macdonald
source: goal
date: 20 November 2008
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





With Barcelona out in front in the Primera, there is a case for saying that they have the strongest squad in the league, with Samuel Eto'o topping the 'Pichichi' standings to boot. Furthermore Lionel Messi and Xavi have enjoyed superb starts to the season so far.

But there is with all leading Primera sides the suspicion that a few injuries, squad changes, or losses of form can see it all crumble. Injury-prone Messi would be a huge loss, while the defence has proved very much changable since the season began. There is a case, then, for one or two January signings to steady the ship.

Goalkeeper
Victor Valdes has begun to silence some of his doubters. It is fair to say that he is improving as a goalkeeper. Whether or not he is good enough for a side that seeks the Champions League as well as the Liga is open to question, but it certainly seems that he is becoming more commanding. This, combined with his already-fine shot-stopping ability, means that replacing him is no longer a priority.

Defence
Here is a paradox of sorts: Barcelona signed more defenders than they did players of any other position during the summer, yet it is here that they could arguably use the most backup. Carles Puyol is shunted out of position with regularity while the centre-back pairing is a movable feast. Yet with Caceres set to return from his spell on the sidelines, and Dani Alves finally starting to show his true potential, the centre and the right seem to be OK - for now.

It is left-back that is a problem position. Eric Abidal is simply not shining. It was thought that he would settle in after that one sub-par debut season, yet he is still playing very much within himself. Perhaps he pines for the setup at Lyon, or he needs more coach support: whatever it is, things are not working out.

Sylvinho, a fans' favourite, is an ample deputy but not an option for the future. So, a new left-back may be on the agenda, and it's not impossible that Philip Lahm of FC Bayern could be on the agenda, given his versatility and relatively young age.

Midfield
With Deco and Crosas heading out over the summer to be replaced by and Seydou Keita and Aliaksandr Hleb, it seemed likely that there would be a sea change in tactics, the much-maligned "double pivot" coming into effect. In fact this largely has not been the case as new coach Pep Guardiola sticks with three up front, meaning three in the middle.

Hleb, troubled by injury, has scarcely had a look-in, while the rise to prominence of Sergi Busquets has even seen last year's excellent defensive midfielder Yaya Toure sidelined. Xavi and Andres Iniesta continue to have a stellar year, though, meaning that things are all well on the midfield front as far as the first eleven is concerned.

But is the depth really there? One wonders how happy Toure really would be sitting on the bench while Eidur Gudjohnsen, for all of his impeccable professionalism and versatility, is not viewed as a realistic midfield option. Iniesta's injury is another worry.

There is a case for saying that another attacking midfielder, at the very least, is required to fill out the squad for those games in which 4-4-2 is required - and even as cover for Iniesta or Xavi. Who is it to be? Werder Bremen's Diego is an outside bet...

Attackers
As this summer's favourite cliché went, Samuel Eto'o was the best signing of the transfer window. By keeping the Cameroonian, Barcelona have avoided the minefield of having to arrange for a new striker - something that, as Real Madrid are currently showing, is far, far, far easier said than done.

Barcelona simply cannot stop scoring goals, and this is even without the influence of Bojan Krkic, who has been largely kept out of first team duties after being thrown in at the deep end last season and netting ten times. Lionel Messi is recognised by many as the world's best, while even Thierry Henry is beginning to look the part.

Moreover the crippling sense of self-doubt that so haunted Eto'o and company last season has gone, being replaced with free-scoring exuberance. Nonetheless there is always room for improvement, particularly in a wide attacking position. Hleb is yet to make his mark and Henry would surely benefit from being allowed to move further inside.

read the original and full article here

An introduction to the coming stars

The underlying tone that there aren't any guys coming through anymore, is of course ridiculous, even more after we started again with six cantera guys on Sunday (plus Bojan entering and Piqué and Pedro on the bench), but although it's not always accurate, this article from football site Goal is nevertheless a nice first introduction of part of the Barcelona Atlètic squad.




Who Will be The Next Barcelona Success Story?

Ewan Macdonald - www.goal.com

Every team loves to have a local boy made good among their ranks, and Barcelona are no exception. Indeed, the sense of Catalan pride at Camp Nou arguably makes it a greater mission for the blaugrana than it is at clubs of comparable size.

In recent seasons, though, youth players have been thin on the ground in the first team. Bojan Krkic and Giovani Dos Santos aside, the number of youngsters coming through has been very low (and the number of Catalans lower.)

Txiki Begiristain, the sporting director, has been criticised for this by some quarters. It is thought that he has allowed some players to leave without first giving them a chance to prove that they could make the grade. There's something to be said for this theory when one looks at the Camp Nou alumni making it big elsewhere, and as recently as this summer the likes of Marc Crosas and Marc Valiente have been shuffled off.

But at the same time, many of their compatriots have begun to carve out roles in the first team, however modest. Much of this must be down to the choice of coach: Pep Guardiola, who bossed many of these hopefuls in the B squad, is now in charge of the first team. He is certainly using this opportunity to give some of his protégés a chance further up.

Yet some fans will ask, exactly who are these players? None of them are as readily recognised as a big-money signing, and some have only a year of Segunda B experience to their names so far. Here we'll look at some of FCB's top young players who are looking to, or who already have made the breakthrough into the senior squad.

Oier Olazábal (Goalkeeper, born 14 September 1989)
At 19 Oier has already appeared for the first team, albeit in the Copa del Rey, and has won a place on the bench on a few occasions due to Albert Jorquera's injury. However, with José Manuel Pinto in the squad, prospects of further appearances seem to be limited - quite a surprise considering that he only arrived at Barça B in 2007 from hometown club Real Union de Irún.

Pedro Rodríguez (Winger/Forward, born 28 July 1987)
Not a Catalan, but certainly a Barcelona product - at least as a senior player. As a sixteen-year-old he played for San Isidro in the Canary Islands section of the Tercera División, but was promptly whisked off to the Barcelona 'Juvenil' setup after being talent-spotted by the blaugrana. Since then he's played on the flanks for the B team, racking up a respectable goal tally but being prized more for his assists than his striking ability. So far he has made five competitive appearances for the first team, but with the front line being extremely crowded with talent he may have to wait for an injury to the likes of Lionel Messi before getting much more of a chance to start.

Sergi Busquets (Central Midfielder, born 16 July 1988)
Prior to this season Sergi's main run-outs with the big boys came in the Copa Catalunya, which, it is fair to say, is not the leading competition for Barcelona. But apparently Busquets has seized his chances to impress because he has come from seemingly nowhere to become a leading youth player at Barcelona. So much has he struck Pep Guardiola as a talent that he even started away to Sporting Gijón in the Liga on Sunday evening. A powerhouse who has bulked up impressively, considering his age, Busquets could well be the most promising player of the current batch.

Víctor Sánchez (Centre-Back, born 8 September 1987)
At just 5'8", Víctor doesn't look like a centre-back, but the ex-CE Europa boy has nonetheless won the confidence of Luis Enrique and Guardiola both. The fact that he can push forward into midfield helps a lot. Pacy and energetic, his ability to play high up the pitch could see him drafted in as an option to play alongside a more imposing stopper against forwards who enjoy running onto through balls - just what FCB need in some games.

Víctor Vázquez (Deep-Lying Forward, born 20 January 1987)
A real local boy, Víctor grew up in L'Hospitalet with the dream of making it big with Barcelona. Having already appeared in the Copa del Rey and on a few Liga match lists, he's only played one first team game so far in the Liga due to injury concerns and great squad competition. Obscurity could await him, but on the other hand his versatility could see him drafted in to fill one of many gaps. He just needs to stay fit to have a chance.

Jeffrén Suárez (Winger, born 20 January 1987)
Born in Venezuela, Jeffrén has been with the blaugrana since he was a young teenager. A key influence in the B team's return to the Segunda B last year, he was rewarded with a key role in Barcelona's pre-season campaign, where he scored not once, but twice. A Liga debut cannot be too far away for this winger, who relishes the chance to cut inside. However, squad competition may be his downfall.

Xavi Torres (Defensive Midfielder, born November 21 1986)
Only recently did the 21-year-old Torres arrive at Camp Nou, having cut his youth teeth with Villarreal. The Alicante-born midfielder can also play at centre-back, although at under six feet tall he is at an aerial disadvantage. The fact that Busquets shares his position means that first team action could be beyond him for the most part, although he could get a chance in the cups.

Gai Assulin (Attacker, born 9 April 1991)
At just 17 years of age, 'Gai' is a full Israel international who has recently won fulsome praise from B team coach Luis Enrique. Like many others he is disadvantaged by the fact that Barcelona's squad remains so top-heavy, but having hit eight goals during the B team's rise to the Segunda B, he is starting to catch the eyes of the senior squad. He's not in the Champions League pool, but expect a league debut towards the end of the season.

Thiago Alcántara (Midfielder, born 11 April 1991)
Like Gai, time is on his side: he's still just 17 years old. One of the more cosmopolitan players in Barça's ranks, the Italy-born midfielder's father is Mazinho, an ex-footballer from Brazil. (In any case, he shares a surname with Pelé.) Thiago was expected to be one of the next big things in the midfield already, and it's a bit of a worry that Busquets has jumped him in the queue, but he still has lots of time to develop.

Barcelona involved in five summer top transfers

Football site Goal has put together a list of the twenty top transfers of the past summer taking into account the form over the last twelve months, the potential, and the transfer fee involved.

With the move of Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg to Real Madrid on top of the list, Barcelona is involved in five of the twenty transfers:



3. Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal to Barcelona)
A very shrewd buy, and what could very well turn out to be a stroke of genius from Barcelona. With Lionel Messi expected to run the show, what they needed was not a Ronaldinho, but a tireless, no-nosense attacking midfielder to offer support from the other flank - without hogging possession or the limelight. And they got him on the cheap too. A true critics' player in that while fans rave about others, he runs away with the technical plaudits.

5. Ronaldinho (Barcelona to Milan)
A gamble? Yes. But given the chance, would you sign one of the all time greats of football for a third of his market price last summer? You bet you would. At 28, he is far from over. Some diet planning and some tough training, and he will give at least three or four good years to the Rossoneri. A gamble nonetheless, or he would definitely have been number one. Number four for the Gaucho.

10. Daniel Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United – these are just some of the clubs that have queued up for him over the last 18 months or so. However, it is Barcelona who land him after some difficult negotiations with Sevilla. Perhaps a touch overpriced at 30 million euros (he would have been number one on this list at 20m), but then again, he is the best attacking full-back this world has seen since Roberto Carlos.

16. Deco (Barcelona to Chelsea)
On the wrong side of 30, a first look suggests that he is past it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a fire that burns in him as we saw during Euro 2008, and he has a lot more to give to football. He is not what Frank Lampard is, as he will never score as many goals. But then, he is also everything Lampard is not. Superb creativity, a great eye for the game, and an ability to run the show that has seen him win the Champions League with two different clubs. Finally, Chelsea have a player who can orchestrate the pleasing football their owner wants. With Ballack and Essien set to play around him, it will be an ominous midfield.

18. Seydou Keita (Sevilla to Barcelona)
At the time of his arrival he was the best signing Barcelona had made this season, particularly in light of the way their soft underbelly was exposed on the road last year. With him partnering Yaya Touré in the middle, it will ensure that the likes of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi do not get bullied, and also get the full license to thrill. 15 million euros worth their value.

A look at the coming season

Football site Goal looked last weekend forward to the coming season.








Season Preview: Barcelona

Arjun Miglani - Goal


2007-08: Where It Ended
The latter months of last season seemed inspired by Murphy’s Law. The phrase, “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong” loomed large over Barcelona’s fortunes, or lack thereof. Having endured the heartbreak of losing the title on the last day the season before, Barça fans were left exasperated as they watched the Frank Rijkaard era crumble before them. They never looked like winning the league, even suffering the unbearable humiliation of a thrashing by champions and bitter rivals Real Madrid at the back end of the season. In Europe, they stuttered their way to a semi-final against eventual winners Manchester United before seeing those dreams vanish as well. Not even the Copa Del Rey could provide any sort of joy, as even Valencia, a club that had turned into a comedy act, managed to see the Catalans off in the semis.

As the season descended into despair, talk of a major overhaul gathered pace. The group that had delivered the double only two years ago would have to be split up. As expected, coach Rijkaard was thanked for his services and asked to move on. Ronaldinho, the poster boy of the era, also had a price tag, a move deemed unthinkable not so long ago. Clearly, the Camp Nou was going to be a hive of activity over the summer.

Summer Activity
The name of Pep Guardiola is synonymous with Barcelona, and so it was no surprise that the appointment of the former captain was met with delight from the Barça faithful. The embodiment of Blaugrana values, Guardiola was seen as the perfect man to impress upon his charges exactly what it means to put on the famous shirt. Of course, his lack of managerial experience could not be ignored, but even his brief career record in this regard is impressive, having secured promotion for the B team in his first season in charge. Having been appointed coach, he wasted no time in beginning to form his own squad, to mark the beginning of a new era.

First, he had to get rid of the deadwood. The most talked about sale, of course, was that of Ronaldinho to Milan. Once the icon of Barca’s revival, he was now seen as the icon of their decline, representing the “all play no work” attitude that had befallen certain members of the squad. Guardiola’s intolerance for players with this mentality was made apparent when he let Deco, another former fan favourite, and Giovanni Dos Santos, a hot prospect, leave due to similar concerns. Players well past their prime such as Zambrotta, Edmilson, Ezquerro and Oleguer were also released, while Thuram retired. Consequently, there was a lot of space for fresh blood.

Guardiola’s summer signings all have a reputation for being hard workers in common, a clear signal of intent regarding the direction he plans to take. There are no superstars, with only Daniel Alves being arguably close to that category, but equally there are no players whose attitude has ever been in question. The back line has undergone considerable re-enforcement, with Alves, Piqué and Cáceres being brought on, as well as Henrique, who has subsequently been sent on loan to Bayer Leverkusen. Despite his flair going forward, Dani Alves is known for his uncompromising approach at the back, an attribute exhibited by Pique and Caceres as well. The signing of Piqué represents an important ideological step as well, with Guardiola clearly being interested only in players that will show pride every time they walk on to the pitch.

In midfield, Seydou Keita and Aliaksandr Hleb were snapped up. The signing of Keita is perhaps the best example of the type of player Guardiola needs in his new vision. Arguably the most under-rated player in the league last season, Keita quickly became a fan favourite at Sevilla due to his seemingly endless pit of energy, as well as his excellent footballing brain. His signing alone ensures a significantly higher amount of determination around the Barca camp this year. Similarly, Hleb is a player known for doing the simple things right and not slacking off. When one remembers Guardiola’s playing days, it is not hard to see why he was attracted to the pair.

The make-up of the front line, however, remains shrouded in mystery. After being odds on to leave for the entire summer, it now appears that Samuel Eto’o has been given yet another chance. While all the noises coming from the management are the usual clichéd responses about a change in attitude from the striker, one can’t help but wonder whether Eto’o’s continued presence is more a result of no other club being able to afford his wages than some sort of epiphany on the part of the Cameroonian. That said, his pre-season has been phenomenal.

Thierry Henry remains at the club, despite his transfer being regarded by all and sundry as a disastrously failed experiment. With names like Arshavin, Van Persie and Palacio still doing the rounds of the rumour mill, Pep’s plan for the forwards is still quite unclear.

Analysis and Prognosis
It appears that Guardiola’s Barca will be characterized less by flair and more by steel. Of course, with players like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi in their ranks, there will be no shortage of party tricks, but the overall impression of the current squad is one that will not let their guard down for a second, a problem all too apparent last season.

The defence has been strengthened considerably, and the tremendous depth in that area should be music to Barca fans’ ears. Injuries played havoc with the back line last season, but in Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Sylvinho, Dani Alves, Caceres and Pique, plus some promising youth players, there should be no such problems. The left side is a slight concern, but then there is a serious dearth of quality left backs in world football as a whole. Indeed, the only worrying sign is the continued presence of the woefully inconsistent Victor Valdes in between the sticks.

It is harder to find a more complete midfield in Europe this season that that which will stride out at the Nou Camp. In Yaya Toure and Keita, there are two of the best spoilers in the game, but two players who also possess a classy touch. Complementing them are Xavi and Iniesta, two clear standouts from Euro 2008, and Hleb, a player very much in their mold. This combination of strength of skill should ensure that Barca win the vast majority of midfield battles over the season.

It seems ridiculous to state that a frontline containing Leo Messi is a source of concern, but the current Barca selection provides more questions than answers. Is Samuel Eto’o really the management’s first choice, and how long will it be before his loses his temperament again? Does Thierry Henry have another quality season left in him, and will he be left to rot on the left wing again? How much responsibility will be thrust on young Bojan’s shoulders? Why is Eidur Gudjohnsen still picking up a salary? Clearly, the current set of forwards does not contain any apparent balance. Having said that, on paper, as little as that might mean, there is still an abundance of talent available. Watch out for young Pedrito as well, a player promoted from the B team who has impressed in pre-season.

As with the start of any new project, it is unrealistic to expect any great immediate success. However, there are enough signs, not least the fact that Barca have won every game under Guardiola so far, to suggest that there will be some joy for the Barca faithful come the end of the season. Europe will probably be a bit too far for a side in transition, but the league is a very realistic possibility. As always with Barca, one must compare them to Real Madrid, and the champions’ squad certainly does not appear to match up to Barca’s at the moment. Ramon Calderon’s relentless and ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo has only served to alienate one of the club’s most exciting players, Robinho, who now looks certain to leave. While other clubs have also strengthened, Barca undoubtedly appears to have the best balance among the Primera. A maiden La Liga title in his first season could well be on the cards for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Oleguer wants to leave for Ajax

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam is negotiating the transfer of Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28). Ajax general director Henri van der Aat and Ajax sports director Danny Blind travelled to Barcelona on Friday trying to finalize the deal.

Blind, who has given up the hope to bring Henrique to Amsterdam (read more here), confirmed the trip in an interview with football site Goal: "I was in Barcelona and now we have to see how things will turn out. Barcelona wants to keep Oleguer but the player wants to leave. He sure has no problems to play in the Dutch league."

New Ajax manager Marco Van Basten also confirmed the interest for Oleguer yesterday in an interview with Amsterdam local television channel AT5.

Barcelona board member Rafael Yuste admitted in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that there were negotiations going on: "It's true that Ajax has shown interest and that the player knows about that. We have started the negotiations and they will go on next week. I think it would be a good thing, both for the player and the club, if we could reach an agreement."

Dutch football weekly paper Voetbal International claims that Barcelona is asking 5 million euro° for Oleguer, whose contract expires in 2010. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the Barcelona technical staff wants to hold on to the Catalan defender but will respect the wish of the player if he wants to leave. Barcelona would settle for a price between 3 and 4 million euro°.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the negotiations are advanced and that a deal could be closed in the coming days. The transfer price would be 3 million euro° plus another possible 2 million euro° variables.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the negotations already started in December. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has now given his approval and Ajax could officially announce the transfer on Monday or Tuesday.

Read more:
Talks with Ajax on Henrique and Oleguer
How things stand: Central defenders
Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

The transfer summer so far

The author isn't always accurate in his statements - I don't think he has seen a lot of Barcelona games over the last year - but nevertheless an interesting view from football site Goal on the Barcelona transfer summer this far:





Barcelona Moving Wisely?

Looking at the background to Barça's summer transfer movements and examining how they're getting on in the market

Joe Barnes - Goal

April 29th 2008: The Barcelona players trudge off the pitch at Old Trafford, a few pausing to thank the away fans for their support, but most keeping their heads low as they head down the tunnel. The team’s performance summed up their entire season. They had dominated possession only to give away a silly goal due to a lapse in concentration at the back. With the opposition sitting deep, Barcelona looked lost and totally out of ideas in the final third and were left, just like at Anfield a year earlier, searching for a goal that was simply not coming.

Two months and close to ninety million Euros later, a new, fresher team awaits pre-season training. With the departure of several members of the old guard (Gianluca Zambrotta to Milan, Deco to Chelsea, Edmilson to Villareal as well as Lilian Thuram and Santiago Ezquerro out on frees) the team has lost of a few of its ageing egos, so many of whom having become increasingly lacklustre over the past two seasons. Still however, there remains an elephant (or two) in the room.

Big Changes
Pep Guardiola made it clear in his first press conference as Barcelona manager that there was no place in his squad for either Samuel Eto’o or Ronaldinho, the two biggest stars of the double winning season. The case for the sale of the latter is obvious: ‘Gordinho’ is evidently un-motivated, un-loved and, if rumours are to be believed, cares more about partying than football.

A few weeks ago, a solution seemed certain with his sale to AC Milan almost confirmed. Now, however, the amateurish way in which his transfer has been handled (the top brass declaring he is not in the club's plans but then demanding in excess of twenty million euros for him) has led to Milan believing that they can now get the two time former World Player of the Year on the cheap. The standoff between the two clubs means it is looking increasingly likely that Ronaldinho may remain at the Camp Nou for another season.

In the case of Eto’o however, there can be no question marks about the player’s work rate, commitment, or even his form. It seems as though the decision to remove Eto’o from the squad is not being made for footballing reasons, with the motives probably being both fiscal and political. Barcelona need the money from the sale of Eto’o in order to purchase more players - that much is obvious. Why the club desire this is another matter entirely as Eto’o ended up being the league’s top scorer in terms of goals/minute ratio (averaging a goal every 94 minutes).

It seems that the current board feel that Eto’o is seen as one of the key members of the squad who has let them down over the past few years, and they are therefore keen to distance themselves from him (though if events over the past few days are anything to go by, it hasn’t helped them much).

The only case that anyone can build up against Eto’o is that he does not lead the line particularly well against burly teams, who sit back against Barcelona, a team like Manchester United for example. This was also evident against most of the British teams Eto’o has played against and if Barcelona want to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League, then perhaps Eto’o should not always lead the line.

However, that is not to say he should be sold. Eto’o has a huge amount to offer the team, provided that he doesn’t get injured for five months at a time. With Eto’o seemingly not interested in a move away from the Camp Nou any time soon, it could transpire that he too could remain in Barcelona for a while yet. One thing is certain: he is not a man to be bullied out of the door.

New Faces
Now to discuss the fresh faces coming through the door of the Camp Nou. With the defence last season being Barcelona’s main barrier to winning games in the league, it is encouraging to see that the powers that be have sought to remedy this area. The team’s most high profile signing as yet this summer has been the acquisition of Daniel Alves from Sevilla for a rumoured thirty million, rising to thirty five million euros. Though many would agree that this is a tad over-priced, Barcelona have received probably the best attacking right back in the world.

Alves offers Barca some much needed width, something that has become a rare commodity at the club since the departure of Ludovic Guily (with Messi, Ronaldinho and Henry always preferring to cut in from their wings onto their stronger foot), and this will allow the team to stretch opposition defenders more. A slight concern is his questionable defensive game, but if he can improve in this area, then he could end up fully justifying his inflated fee.

It was at the centre of defence that the club looked most frail last year and for this reason the club have gone completely over board with the purchase of not one, not two, but three twenty one year old centre backs. Whilst Henrique (who is soon to be bought from Palmeiras for eight million euros) will probably be loaned out to gain experience in Spain, Martin Caceres (twenty million from Villareal) and Gerard Pique (a rumoured six million from Manchester United) will certainly be members of the first team squad for next season, leaving the club with no less than seven players available to play at centre back next season. How Guardiola keeps all these players happy remains to be seen.

Further Up
In midfield Barcelona have strengthened with the purchase of Seydou Keita from Sevilla added to the ‘soon-to-be-confirmed’ transfer of Alex Hleb from Arsenal. Keita adds some much needed dynamism to what was a very static Barcelona midfield. As well as this, against physical sides it means that with the employment of both Toure and Keita in a double midfield pivot, Barcelona will be able to hold their own.

The signing of a utility player such as Hleb seems to underline a common theme in Barcelona’s transfers so far: the acquisition of both flexibility and depth in a squad which was drained of both for much of last season through injury (highlighted by the teams inability to replace Messi – something that Hleb may have been bought to do). This new depth offered in both midfield and defence means that when players are off form or injured then can easily be replaced with ‘like for like’ players.

However, there is a very thin line between having a big squad to provide healthy competition and having a big squad that causes resentment from players who are not picked for long periods. Therefore it is perhaps questionable that Barcelona still have two more players lined up for purchase: a left winger and a new number nine. Whether Hleb (or Iniesta) is employed to fill the huge hole left by Ronaldinho, or whether that job is given to a new natural left winger, for example Valencia’s David Silva or Chelsea’s Florent Malouda remains to be seen.

What does remain certain however is that Barcelona need a target man for those teams who are difficult to break down. Who this will be depends greatly on whether or not Eto’o will be sold, Adebayor and Drogba remain likely candidates if Eto’o goes, but who comes in if Eto’o doesn’t leave is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain, Barcelona need someone other than Gudjonsson to fill that role.

The work done by Barcelona in the transfer market so far has been good, on paper. However a great deal depends on whether these signings gel, and on Guardiola’s as yet unproven ability as a manager. Barcelona certainly have the squad to win both the league and Champions League next season, but whether they can avoid more nights like that of April 29th is still debateable.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=772813

Read other external articles:
Where was Arshavin all those years?
Deco and Marquez represented by superagent
Wenger critical about transfer market changes

Transfer history: Iaquinta (Juventus)

Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta (28) has talked about the past interest of Barcelona to sign him while he was playing for Udinese (read more here). In the end the two clubs couldn't find an agreement. On football site Goal, the Italian international is quoted as saying:

"It was completely true that Barca were interested, but I have no regrets. In the end, even by staying in Udine I managed to get into the Champions League, I won the World Cup and then earned myself a place here at Juventus. Maybe on a personal level it would have been interesting to play abroad. If I ever talk about it again it will be a long time down the road as I am so happy at Juventus and I hope to stay here for a good deal longer."

Vincenzo Iaquinta played for Udinese from 2000 to 2007. In the summer of 2007 he signed for Juventus.

(read more transfer history stories here)

Ronaldinho linked with Inter

Yesterday Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28) was twice linked with Italian top club Inter Milan, without being very clear where the rumours came from and with no confirmation to be found.

First, Catalan sports paper Sport reported that "some Italian media" claimed that Inter was ready to make an offer for the Brazilian international, given the tense relations between Ronaldinho and Barcelona. Inter would already have contacted Barcelona through player's agent Ernesto Bronzetti. Barcelona would have asked for more time saying "This is not the time", suggesting that the negotiations could be launched once the season has ended.

Later, football site Goal reported that "sources in Italy" claimed that Inter president Massimo Moratti and sports supplier Nike are intensifying their efforts to transfer Ronaldinho. In the beginning of next week a meeting between Inter officials, Nike representatives and the agent of the player would be held. Inter would be ready to pay 60 million euro (°) for Ronaldinho, although not wanting to include Brazilian goalkeeper Júlio César (28), estimated at 30 million euro (°°), in the deal, like Barcelona has been asking. Barcelona would also still be interested in Inter central defender Marco Materazzi (34).

Lucio denies Barcelona

Football site Goal reports that Bayern Munich central defender Lúcio (29) told a German press source that it's time to leave Germany and to look for a new challenge. Asked about the rumours linking him to Barcelona (read more here), the Brazilian international denied that there's an agreement and is quoted as saying: "I have heard the talks about Spain, but there's nothing official at this moment."