Güiza option to replace Eto'o

Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that Barcelona could be interested in Fenerbahçe forward and Spanish international Daniel 'Dani' Güiza (28).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has reportedly asked one of his players at the Confederations Cup about Güiza. It is believed that Guardiola wanted to know more about the human qualities of the player and if he could fit in the Barcelona squad.

Güiza, who signed with Fenerbahçe last summer on a four-year deal (read more here), would want to leave this summer because of his bad relationship with the Turkish club and the recent dismissal of Fenerbahçe manager Luis Aragonés.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that following the player's performance in South Africa, Zenit St. Petersburg and Manchester City have made bids of 14 million euro° and 12 million euro°respectively. Spanish clubs Valencia and Atlético Madrid are also thought to be interested.

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Guiza disregards new Barcelona rumours

Barcelona has first option on Guiza
Guiza hopes for Barcelona move to come true

Guiza disregards new Barcelona rumours

Asked about the rumours linking him with several European clubs and talking about a renewed interest of Barcelona (read more here), Fenerbahçe forward and Spanish international Daniel 'Dani' Güiza (28) has said in an interview with Turkish television channel Haber Türk that he doesn't plan to leave:

"I'm not interested in the press rumours. I am very happy here. As I said before, I have a contract for four years and I plan to stay here at least for that period. At this moment I'm not at all thinking about leaving.

Before I joined Fenerbahçe I had offers from other clubs but Fenerbahçe pushed the most and I'm happy and honoured to have come here. After I gave my word to Fenerbahçe, I received an offer from Barcelona but I rejected it and signed here.

So I can promise you that the answer when new bids will come in, will also be 'no'. The situation of Aragonés won't have an influence on this. I signed here before he did and at that time I didn't know he would also come to Istanbul as the new Fenerbahçe coach."

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Case closed: Guiza
Guiza hopes for Barcelona move to come true

Case closed: Guiza

Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) will not play for Barcelona as of next season, like had been rumoured over the last months (read more here).

Fenerbahçe has announced on its official website that the player will move to Turkey this summer: "Fenerbahce signs Spanish striker Daniel Gonzalez Güiza, just days after Luis Aragonés took over as coach of the Fenerbahce side. Güiza is going to come to Istanbul on Monday to sign the official four-year contract."

The transfer has been officially confirmed by Mallorca. Fenerbahçe is believed to have paid the buyout clause of 15 million euro° (plus vat).

Güiza's agent and girlfriend Nuria Bermúdez showed some disappointment about the past months of negotiations in an interview with Spanish news site El Confidencial: "Several Spanish clubs have circled around us, they told us not to sign yet, to wait some more... But we couldn't keep on waiting, we wanted something on paper. It's a shame that in his own country they don't want the European Silver Shoe. They use to pay millions for foreign players but nothing for compatriots."

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Barcelona taking part in reopened Guiza race
Case closed: Lahm
Case closed: Pjanic

Barcelona taking part in reopened Guiza race

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the race for the transfer of Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) could be reopened because Turkish club Fenerbahçe, which has a pre-agreement with the player (read more here), has problems finding the funds to pay the 15 million euro° buyout fee.

Mallorca president Vicenç Grande has in the last days been receiving phone calls from several clubs that are willing to pay the fee immediately. Barcelona is said to be amongst the candidates.

Despite closing an earlier deal with Fenerbahçe, Nuria Bermúdez, the wife and one of the agents of Güiza, would now be again looking at the offers that the Spanish striker received from other clubs.

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Looking for a new Larsson

Guiza's blaugrana dream won't come true

Guiza's blaugrana dream won't come true

Spanish newspaper El Mundo claims that Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) had set his mind on moving to Barcelona this summer. His dream was to return to the club where he couldn't force his break through a few years ago and take this second chance.

But with Barcelona focusing on Arsenal forward Adebayor, a transfer didn't seem very likely, forcing Güiza to take other offers into consideration. The newspaper claims that the striker has signed a pre-agreement with Turkish club Fenerbahçe and that he underwent a medical in Munich last week.

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Guiza off the list

Eto'o could be Fenerbahçe star transfer

Barcelona has first option on Guiza

Guiza off the list

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) is no longer amongst the candidates to join Barcelona this summer (read more here).

The Barcelona technical staff would have deleted the name of Güiza, who could be on his way to Fenerbahçe, of the centre forward list and is now focusing on other options, the main one being Arsenal striker Adebayor.

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Guiza hopes for Barcelona move to come true

Guiza hopes for Barcelona move to come true

Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) said at a press conference that he is very much open to the possibility:

"Of course I would like to play there. It's a big club, every player would like that. I wouldn't really consider it a revenge after my short stay with Barcelona B. I hope it will come true. But if not, I'll play at another club who is willing to pay me. Let's wait and see what will happen. "

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Guiza considered to be a good buy

Looking for a new Larsson

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, although this is not a priority, Barcelona is searching the market for an experienced and cheap back-up goalscorer, a new Larsson so to say.

The first option would be Inter Milan forward Julio Ricardo Cruz (33), who has been followed by the Barcelona technical staff for years and could leave the Italian champions after the appointment of José Mourinho as new Inter manager.

AC Milan forward Filippo Inzaghi (34) would be the second name on the list, with Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30) and Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) also being possible candidates to fill that role.

pep's opinion:
last year i said they should bring in a veteran goalscorer as back-up for eto'o. back then i had three names: cruz, inzaghi and klose. with a new guy (or eto'o) + henry + bojan, I don't really think this is a priority anymore.

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How things stand: Centre forward
Trezeguet is still an option
Barcelona has first option on Guiza

Barcelona has first option on Guiza

Asked about the rumours linking the player with Barcelona, Félix Moneo, the agent of Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27), has said in an interview with Spanish local radio station IB3 Ràdio that Barcelona is the priority of the player:

"Dani Güiza has informed me that he would like to return to Barcelona. Of course a lot of things should be talked about, but this kind of means that Barcelona has the first option to reach an agreement. Apart from the financial issue, the most important thing for Dani is the football project and the city where he's going to live. I think Barcelona is one of the clubs with whom we most easily could find a deal."

The agent thinks money won't be the problem for the interested clubs: "Right now, Dani Güiza is the cheapest scoring striker on the market. He has a buyout fee of 15 million euro°, that's right. But who else can say he has scored 27 goals in the Liga, none from a penalty, playing for a team like Mallorca?" Moneo added that he lately has received offers from Turkey and from many European clubs and that he and the player would like to sort things out in the next two or three weeks.

Güiza meanwhile said to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that he now wants to focus on the European Championship: "I have told my agents that they should not disturb my preparation for the tournament. If there's something important, they should tell me. If not, they shouldn't be talking the whole time about the subject. The most important thing right now is the national team."

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Guiza considered to be a good buy
Guiza willing to return to Barcelona
First talks with Guiza

Guiza considered to be a good buy

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) is a serious option for Barcelona. He would be brought in together with another first-choice centre forward like Adebayor or Drogba.

With 27 goals scored in the Liga this season and a buyout fee of 15 million euro° (read more here), it is believed that Güiza, who played half a season for Barcelona B in 2003, could be a very good buy. Barcelona could even offer a player in exchange to reduce that price.

Güiza would be willing to return to Barcelona (read more here) and has given absolute priority to the club. He wants to play for the trophies and will accept any concrete and formal offer that he will receive from Barcelona.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca, who says that Arsenal is also interested in the striker, claims that Barcelona could move this week. The new technical staff counts on the player and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has asked the entourage of the player not to make any decision before they receive an offer from Barcelona (read more here).

Asked about the new rumours linking him with Barcelona, Güiza, who confirmed that he has a buyout clause of 15 million euro, said to journalists that it would be something great: "I still don't know where I will play next season. Although I have three years left on my current contract and I'm fairly happy in Mallorca, I hope to play at a top club. It would be fantastic to return to Barcelona. Every player would like to join such a big club."

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Guiza agent learning Barcelona hymn

Guiza willing to return to Barcelona

Guiza agent confirms Barcelona interest

Guiza willing to return to Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27) said in an interview with Spanish football weekly paper Don Balón that he's open for a transfer: "There have been rumours but we'll see wat will happen. I have always been very motivated playing against Barcelona but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be able to wear their shirt."

Having played half a season at Barcelona B, Liga top goalscorer Güiza still thinks he didn't get a fair chance back then (read more here) but now sees it as apart of the learning process he had to go through: "It wasn't a good time. They didn't really give me enough opportunties for them to see if I was up for it or not. But today I'm happy I played there. Maybe I wasn't able to grab my chance either. Thanks to god, I found the right way later on."

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Guiza agent learning Barcelona hymn

How things stand: Centre forward

Guiza agent confirms Barcelona interest

How things stand: Centre forward

(at the end of the season, Barça Transfer Zone looks forward to the coming transfer summer making an analysis for each position, in part 8 we look at the centre forward)

2007-2008

Due to the injury of Samuel Eto'o (27), who kept him away from playing until December, Thierry Henry (30) initially took the place in the centre. Since Henry had to move regularly to the left cause of the troubles Ronaldinho was facing, Bojan (17) got his chance up front.

Out

Bojan will certainly stay and will probably sign a renewal this summer (read more here). At this moment it looks like Henry will also stay, although he has been linked with a return to the Premier League (Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa), with a move to the Major League Soccer (Seattle, New York) and with clubs like Inter Milan and Fenerbahçe.

Since he declared one month ago that he would leave Barcelona if the team does not win a trophy next season (read more here), Samuel Eto'o is in the middle of a transfer storm. Tottenham would have been pushing hard for the striker but it seems for now difficult he'll end up with the club, both for economic and sports reasons. Clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Fenerbahçe, Chelsea and Arsenal could also be following the Cameroonian.

In

Karim Benzema (Lyon - 20) is the dream candidate but will not leave Lyon in the summer. Since Guardiola was named as manager, there are rumours about him wanting to bring in a strong, tall striker, with Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal - 24) apparently being the back-up for Benzema.

Other names that were mentioned include Adriano (São Paulo/Inter - 26), Jozy Altidore (New York - 18), Amauri (Palermo - 27), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham - 27), Diego Milito (Zaragoza - 28), Didier Drogba (Chelsea - 30), Dani Güiza (Mallorca -27), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax - 24), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter - 26), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke - 26), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla - 27), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors - 26) and David Trezeguet (Juventus - 30).

Read all How things stand contributions here or read the contribution about:

Goal keeper - Right back defender - Central defenders - Left back defender - Defensive midfielder - Attacking midfielders - Wing attackers - Centre forward

Guiza agent learning Barcelona hymn

Asked about the future of her husband, Nuria Bermúdez (picture), the wife and agent of Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27), suggested in an interview with Spanish news site El Confidencial that Güiza could end up in Barcelona: "I might have to learn the hymn of Barça in Catalan."

With a buyout fee of 15 million euro° (read more here), the Liga top goal scorer will most probably leave Mallorca in the summer. And although she's a true madridista, Bermúdez, who is a Spanish celebrity, doesn't mind that Güiza could sign for Barcelona: "Blaugrana or not, he stays my partner. The future of my children depends upon what he will do."

In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Bermúdez said that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has met with Félix Moneo, the other agent of Güiza: "Barcelona is one of the two Spanish clubs who are most interested. Félix Moneo has met a couple of times with Txiki Begiristain and we're now waiting for them to put their proposal on paper. If we have received all offers, we will decide."

Madrid sports tabloid Marca meanwhile claims that Félix Moneo has received a phone call of Barcelona sports director Txiki Beguiristain to ask for more time. Barcelona is still interested in the player but will not take any transfer decisions before current manager Frank Rijkaard has left.

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First talks with Guiza

Guiza agent confirms Barcelona interest

Guiza opens Barcelona door

Guiza opens Barcelona door

Asked about the rumours linking him with a transfer to Barcelona (read more here), Mallorca forward Dani Güiza (27) has said in an interview with Madrid sports tabloid Marca that he doesn't have any hard feeling towards Barcelona anymore (read more here) and that he would certainly consider an offer: "To play for Barcelona would be somthing impressive for me. A dream."

Güiza, who is a fan of Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o since the time they spend together in Mallorca, also has an excellent relationship with Real Sociedad manager Juan Manuel Lillo, who is one of the candidates to assist future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola as of next season (read more here) and who coached Güiza when the latter played for Real Murcia.

Asked about the rumours linking Güiza with Italian club Naples, player's agent Ernesto Bronzetti, who described the player as "Inzaghi with more power and more technique", has said in an interview with Italian local radio station Radio Marte that Barcelona is at this moment the main candidate and that Naples probably cannot pay the salary he's asking: "Güiza is now earning one million euro a year. I know his agent well and she has told me that he wants a pay rise to 3 million euro. That would be very difficult for Naples."

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Guiza agent confirms Barcelona interest

First talks with Guiza

Who will assist Guardiola?

Guiza agent confirms Barcelona interest

Nuria Bermúdez, the wife and one of the agents (together with Félix Moneo) of Mallorca forward Dani Güiza (27), has confirmed in an interview with Italian football site Tutto Mercato Web that Barcelona is one of the clubs that is following the Spanish international (read more here): "I think it will be difficult for Daniel to stay in Mallorca, since also a big club like Barcelona has now shown interest."

At this moment Güiza wants to focus on finishing the season with Mallorca before taking a look at the offers that are also coming in from countries like Italy, England or Russia: "There has not yet been an official contact between Mallorca and interested clubs, no formal offer has been made. In a few weeks time, my husband and I will evaluate the different possibilities together with my business partner."

Dani Güiza played before for Barcelona B on loan from Recreativo Huelva. In the first half of 2003, he scored 5 goals in 15 matches in a team with current Barcelona players Víctor Váldés, Albert Jorquera, Oleguer Presas and Andrés Iniesta, who came close to the promotion to the Spanish Second Division. Güiza, a declared madridista, nevertheless has always said that Barcelona didn't treat him well by not giving him a real chance.

Read more:
First talks with Guiza

First talks with Guiza

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona has held the first contacts with Mallorca forward Dani Güiza (27). Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has met recently with former nude model Nuria Bermúdez, the wife and one of the agents (together with Félix Moneo) of Güiza, to know more about the contract situation of the player and his plans for next season.

The Spanish international seems to have a buyout clause of 15 million euro° and feels he's ready to set another step in his career. Güiza, who already scored 21 goals this season, is now concentrating on the last games of the season with Mallorca and on trying to get into the Spanish squad for Euro 2008. He plans to wait and see how the negotiations between Mallorca and the interested clubs will develop before he makes a decision on leaving or staying.

Barcelona did not yet make a formal offer but it's expected that the club will try to start negotiations with Mallorca soon. Although Valencia is also interested and is willing to throw forward Nikola Zigic in the deal, Barcelona would have taken the lead. Mallorca president Vicente Grande will try to keep Güiza by offering the player a contract renewal and by raising the buyout clause to 24 million euro°.

Dani Güiza played before for Barcelona B on loan from Recreativo Huelva. In the first half of 2003, he scored 5 goals in 15 matches in a team with current Barcelona players Víctor Váldés, Albert Jorquera, Oleguer Presas and Andrés Iniesta, who came close to the promotion to the Spanish Second Division. Güiza, a declared madridista, nevertheless has always said that Barcelona didn't treat him well by not giving him a real chance.

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