Inter Milan has first option on Messi

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Inter Milan has an informal agreement with Barcelona right wing attacker and Argentinian international Lionel Messi (22).

Inter president Massimo Moratti would have closed a verbal deal with the player's father and agent Jorge Messi that they will first negotiate with the Italian club if Messi would have to leave Barcelona in the future for whatever reason, also because the player would prefer to join Inter in that case.


Read more:
Messi and Iniesta until 2016
Messi: "Everything is the merit of Guardiola"
Renewals for Puyol, Marquez, Iniesta and Messi

Vice president Yuste: "I felt sad for Villa"

Barcelona sports vice president Rafael Yuste gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





Which transfer operation was your debut?
The sale of Ronaldinho. That's where I learnt that a football player always ends up playing where he wants to play. For us, the best option was Manchester City, but he wanted to go to Milan and he ended up in Milan.

What do you think of this world of football?
Well... Complicated. It's about persons, so there's a human factor you should be able to manage. And then you have the clubs, coaches, intermediaries, press... It's very complicated.

You had signed Villa?
The boy wanted to come. We went to Madrid to close the operation with Valencia but at the last minute they asked an exaggerated sum of money that was above our budget. I felt sad for Villa that it didn't go through.

So then you went after Ibrahimovic...
He was the dream of Guardiola. And ours, but it always seemed something far, impossible, until we decided to actually try it.

That suddenly crossed your mind...
I've always been very persistent and I think nothing is impossible. I thought there was a possibility if we could convince Eto'o. We had one advantage: we knew that the dream of Ibra was to play at Barça.

And so you went to Milan...
That's where we already had a series of circumstances that helped us. Moratti was in Milan, we could land at the airport that same afternoon when we returned from Ukraine and the president negotiated very well. You can see the result - Ibra seemed impossible but we signed him.

Let's see if the same happens with Ribéry...
No, Bayern doesn't want to sell him. The day they put him on the market, we'll be the first to be informed.

What about Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Cesc...?
We know that the priorities of Pep are a centre-back and a midfielder. We'll make a decision when the moment is there. To uptouch a Picasso is very difficult.

Read more:
Laporta on Cesc, Messi and Ibrahimovic
Assistant coach wants one or two more transfers

Four centre-backs no longer priority list

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona wants to sign a young left centre-back who has at least five good years left and could play alongside Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué.

Several players who had the necessary qualities and with whom Barcelona has already been negotiating in the past, would for a reason of age have been excluded from the list of priority targets, among which AS Roma central defender and Brazilian international Juan (30) and Inter Milan central defender and Romanian international Cristian Chivu (28 - picture).

Villarreal central defender Gonzalo Rodríguez (25) would on the other hand be considered to be too injury-prone, while Liverpool central defender and Danish international Daniel Agger (24), who has also been followed, isn't an option anymore after he recently signed a renewal with the English Premier League club.

Read more:
Barcelona interested in Roma defender Juan
Chivu unlikely but not impossible
Barcelona interested in Liverpool defender Agger

Ten things you should know about Maxwell

by Xaviniesta

1 - Maxwell, whose full name is Scherrer Cabelino Maxwell Andrade (nicknamed "Ali Maxwell"), was born on August 17, 1981 in Cachoeiro de Itapermirim, Brazil. His father is an engineer and former amateur football player while his mother is a former teacher and marathon runner. He is the youngest of 3 children.

2 - He is a left footed product of the Dutch school of football (he joined Ajax at age 19), and can play in any position on the left wing having played at full back, left midfield and as a wide striker.

3 - Maxwell also came from the renowned Cruzeiro youth system which counts among its products former Barcelona players Rivaldo, Luiz Ronaldo, Juliano Belleti and Juan Pablo Sorin, as well as footballers Dida, Alex and Gilberto da Silva.

4 - With Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, he won 2 League Cups, 2 Dutch Cups and 2 Dutch Super Cups. He was named Dutch Footballer of the Year and won the Dutch Golden Shoe for 2003-2004. With Italian club Inter, he won 3 scudetti and 2 Italian Super Cups. His goal against Parma at the San Siro in April 2007 was voted Inter's Goal of the Season. Watch the video here.

5 - He suffered his worst injury on April 21, 2005 during Ajax' Amstel Cup semi-finals against Willem II. Maxwell avoided a tackle by jumping but landed awkwardly twisting his right knee. He tore a cruciate ligament and was out of the team for 8 months. This game would become his last for Ajax as he would be sold to Inter the following year. View a clip of the incident here.

6 - When he was all set to be transferred out of Ajax in 2006, many European clubs expressed interest in his services including Spanish side Barcelona. Maxwell later joined Inter while Barcelona signed Italian left back Gianluca Zambrotta.

7 - Asked who his footballing hero was, Maxwell said: “I always wanted to be Romario. Everything he did on the pitch I would always do at home after.” He later met Romario in Rio de Janeiro and immediately asked for his autograph.

8 - His older brother Gustavo died at age 24 from a car accident in 2002, an event which profoundly affected him. He has a tattoo on his arm in honor his memory. Speaking about his death, Maxwell once said: "The loss of my brother in this life is all relative. For him, I would like to be as strong as possible and to win prizes. That thought gives me strength. He is always with me, that I feel."

9 - Maxwell who is a Baptist admits to being a religious person: " I like going to church. Faith is very important for me. I also read the Bible, that is my favorite book."

10 - His favorite free time activity includes fishing, a hobby he shares with close friend and former Inter team mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.


Read more:
Maxwell: "My biggest hobby is playing football"
Ten Things You Should Know About Zlatan

Youth: Cameroonian youth player joins Inter Milan

Spanish football site Airfutbol claims that Barcelona Juvenil B midfielder Fils Paul Tina Tina (16) will join Inter Milan this summer. The future of the Cameroonian player, who played on loan with Catalan youth club DAMM last season, was unclear at Barcelona.

Tina Tina, who had a serious injury during the 2007-2008 season, joined Barcelona three years ago, arriving from the Samuel Eto'o foundation and will now follow Eto'o to Italy, where the style of football is expected to suit his qualities better.
Read more:
Youth: Wellington Silva (Fluminense)
The Wembley Ramble, Back to the future.
Barcelona will open youth school in Japan

Mallorca could appeal Eto'o transfer valuation

Balearic Islands regional sports site Balear Esports claims that Spanish first division club Mallorca could appeal the valuation given to foremr Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o earlier this week and take the case to the international football association FIFA.

Barcelona and Inter Milan valued the transfer of Eto'o, which was part of the deal on Inter Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic joining Barcelona, at 20 million euro (read more here).

FIFA rules state that five per cent of a transfer fee should go to the clubs where the player has played before he turned 23. In this case, one million euro would be divided among four clubs (Real Madrid, Leganés, Espanyol and Mallorca). Mallorca would get 450 000 euro, which would be less than the club had expected.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Eto'o to Inter Milan
Thank You Samu - Remembering Eto'o at Barca

What is happening with Hleb?

Although Barcelona officially announced on Monday that Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) would move on loan to Inter Milan (with a buy option of 10+2 million euro) as part of the deal on the transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it is still not yet clear where Hleb will play next season.

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that one of the player's agents Maurizio Gaudino travelled to Spain yesterday trying to close a deal. He would nevertheless not have been able to find an agreement with Barcelona on last season's bonuses, nor to convince Hleb to join Inter. Inter would already be looking at other options.

German sports weekly Sport Bild reports that Hleb's agents Uli Ferber and Niki Spilevski travelled to Milan on Monday and Tuesday, but despite the pressure by Barcelona to leave, Hleb would want to stay at the club. Catalan sports papers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo meanwhile both claim that Hleb, who won't travel with the squad to the United States (read more here), could finally end up with his former club Stuttgart.

Read more:
Still no final deal with Hleb on Inter loan
Four youth players will travel to US
Hleb wants to stay at Barcelona

OFFICIAL: Eto'o to Inter Milan

Inter Milan has today officially announced the transfer of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28).

Barcelona has officially confirmed the news indicating that the transfer has been valued at 20 million euro and that the transfer was part of the deal on Inter player Ibrahimovic.

Eto'o, who will tomorrow be offcially presented by Inter, has signed a five-year deal with the Italian champions.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Ibrahimovic

Still no final deal with Hleb on Inter loan

Asked about the loan move of Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) to Inter Milan as part of the transfer of Inter Milan forward Ibrahimovic to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Maurizio Gaudino has said in an interview with Italian football site Calcio Mercato that there's still no final deal with Barcelona:

"Today we won't go to Barcelona. I have just returned to Germany and around 4-4:30 pm, we'll talk by phone with Barcelona officials to reach an agreement with them. With Inter, everything is ok. Do we want an exit bonus of Barça? There are still one or two details left to be resolved, I cannot say more. There's optimism from our side, even though there are no certainties in the world of football. In the evening, there could be important news. "

Read more:
Hleb will join Inter on loan
Official players' pictures (part 2)
Hleb wants to stay at Barcelona

Eto'o arrives in Milan

Samuel Eto'o has this morning arrived at Milan's Linate airport. The player will today undergo the medical tests prior to signing his contract with Italian champions Inter Milan.

"I am very happy to be in Milan. I come here to work hard and to try to win the Champions League with Inter. I already want to congratulate my new team-mates with the first derby win of the season yesterday, which is a good first step."

Ibrahimovic agent says the deal is yet closed

Asked about the transfer of Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) to Barcelona, the player's agent Mino Raiola is quoted by Spanish news agency EFE as saying that the whole operation is still not closed:

"We still have to finalize the negotiations with Barcelona and that certainly won't happen today. But both parties are willing to reach an agreement.

The contract of Ibrahimovic with Barcelona will be quite complicated, but we'll find solutions for that. We're working in a calm climate without any fights.

I don't think we can talk about a swap deal. The president of Barcelona has said several times that they would have tried everything to sign Ibrahimovic even if Eto'o wouldn't have gone to Inter."

Read more:
Only paperwork left for Ibrahimovic transfer

Ibrahimovic will be presented on Monday

Barcelona has officially announced that Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) will be presented as Barcelona player next Monday at 6:30 pm.

Ibrahimovic will arrive in Barcelona on Sunday afternoon to finalize the last details of the transfers. The Swedish striker will on Monday undergo the medical tests. If he passes the tests and the deal is definitely closed, Ibrahimovic will then be presented at the Camp Nou to the press and the fans.

Read more:
Only paperwork left for Ibrahimovic transfer
Ibrahimovic will arrive in Barcelona on Sunday


picture: paco garcía salgado

Hleb will join Inter on loan

FC Barcelona has confirmed on its official website that Barcelona midfielder and Belarusian international Aliaksandr Hleb (28) will join Inter Milan on loan as part of the transfer of Inter Milan striker and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) to Barcelona. This comes despite Hleb being quoted by German paper Sport Bild yesterday stating his intention to stay with Barcelona. (read more here)

Catalan sports paper Sport meanwhile claims that Barcelona will pay for 70% of Hleb's wages while he is on loan, with Inter only responsible for 30%. Sport also claims that Inter Milan would have the option to make the Hleb move permanent next summer for a fee of 10 million euros with 2 million incentives.

Hleb would stay in England until the end of the English tour and return with the club on Sunday Prior to departing for Inter.

Read more:
Ibrahimovic will arrive in Barcelona on Sunday
Official players' pictures (part 2)

Ibrahimovic will arrive in Barcelona on Sunday

Barcelona has officially announced that Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) will arrive on Sunday in Barcelona.

The Swedish striker will undergo the medical tests on Monday, something Inter Milan has given the permission for. Barcelona has at the same time authorized that Barcelona players Samuel Eto'o and Alexander Hleb, who are said to be part of the same deal, will be able to travel to Milan.


Read more:
Only paperwork left for Ibrahimovic transfer
Barcelona officially confirms Zlatan-Eto'o deal close

Only paperwork left for Ibrahimovic transfer

Asked about the transfer of Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27), Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain told the club's official media that all parties are now dealing with the necessary paperwork:

"Now it's about drawing up the documents. We have principal agreements with the player and with Inter and at this moment people are preparing the necessary documents.

The transfer document is still missing, that's why our chief executive and our financial director are in Milan to negotiate with the officials of Inter. The principial deal nevetheless allows us to go through with the medical tests of the players, both the test of Eto'o in Milan and the test of Zlatan here.

At the end, we will then sign the most important documents: the contracts, both the rescinding contracts as the labour contracts. The club is working hard to finalize all this, trying to close the deals as soon as possible so we can present him as soon as possible. It might happen on Monday."

Read more:
Barcelona officially confirms Zlatan-Eto'o deal close
Ibrahimovic on his way to Europe

Hleb wants to stay at Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking him with a loan move to Inter Milan (read more here), Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) has said in an interview with German sports weekly Sport Bild that he wants to stay at Barcelona:

"I have a contract with Barcelona, so I'm preparing myself for next season together with the team. It's my goal to break through and to have success with this club."

The player's agent Uli Ferber added when talking to the magazine that he still didn't hear anything about a possible loan: "Nobody has yet spoken to Alex, to my colleague Niki Spilevski or to me about a possible move of Alex to Inter Milan. So we're at least a little surprised about the latest press reports, that we are not able to confirm."

Mino Raiola, the agent of Inter Milan player Ibrahimovic, meanwhile told journalists in Milan that Hleb is not part of the transfer operation that involves Ibrahimovic and Eto'o, but that the Belarusian player is involved in the transfer of Brazilian left back defender Maxwell from Inter to Barcelona.

Read more:
Hleb didn't yet talk with Inter
Official players' pictures (part 2)
Hleb regrets Barcelona move

Ibrahimovic agent finalizing last details in Milan

Italian sports site Tuttomercatoweb claims that Mino Raiola, the agent of Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27), will be in Milan today to finalize the last details of the striker's transfer to Barcelona.

After Inter and Eto'o reached an agreement, Inter and Ibrahimovic now have to deal with the last contract formalities prior to the official annoucnement of the transfer operation.

Raiola meanwhile said in an interview with Italian televsion channel Sky yesterday that more talks with Barcelona are needed: "I now still have to speak to Barcelona as my main task is to satisfy my client. The whole operation began at the end of lest season. I think that the dinner between Moratti and Laporta has been decisive. Barcelona wanted to sign Ibra, even when Eto'o wouldn't have been part of the deal. I always thought they were two separate negotiations and Laporta has confirmed this."

Read more:
Barcelona officially confirms Zlatan-Eto'o deal close
Ibrahimovic on his way to Europe

Eto'o agent denies exit bonus request

Asked about the transfer of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o to Inter Milan, the player's agent Josep Maria Mesalles has confirmed to journalists at the El Prat airport that the player and Inter have a total deal:

"We've reached an agreement, everything is done. It's a 100 per cent deal with Inter, only depending on the medical tests now. I didn't have any conversation with Barça over the past days. We didn't ask for one euro. Everything said by the press were lies. We don't ask anything from Barça. We just want them to give the player his freedom so he can sign at Inter.

He will be presented in Milan at the beginning of next week. I think it will be on Monday or Tuesday, although Inter returns on Tuesday from the United States and I think that president Moratti comes back from a journey on Wednesday. The player cannot wait to start working with his new team-mates. Eto'o likes everything about his new club. Milan is a great city and Inter is an interesting new project for him. Samu has put everything on bringing a Champions League to Italy.

It's a painful moment but another stage is starting. Samu nevertheless would like to have the chance to say goodbye to the Barcelona fans. He only feel gratitude towards the club. In every family there are fights, but that's normal and both should be able to forget. For Eto'o, the exit has been hard because of what happened the last two years but we should remember the most positive moments."

Read more:
Barcelona officially confirms Zlatan-Eto'o deal close
Eto'o agent confirms Inter deal

Ibrahimovic on his way to Europe

The official website of Inter Milan announces that Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) has left the club's training camp in the United States.

Ibrahimovic has been given the permission by his club to return to Europe because of the transfer operation he's involved in. After saying goodbye to Inter Milan manager José Mourinho and his team-mates, he left the hotel in Boston and will now fly to Sweden.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti meanwhile told his club's official website that the whole transfer operation is not yet concluded: "The deal has almost been completed, so let's wait before we comment. I repeat what I said this morning: I like everyone's interviews, but I prefer to wait until it's official. I don't know when that will be. Hopefully today. When it arrives, it arrives, but it's not as if it's a race against time."

Why the coach isn't commenting on the events? Mourinho clearly made it understood that he didn't think Ibrahimovic could go to another team, but he admires Eto'o so much that he was satisfied and very pleased with this possibility, with this swap. Is Hleb part of the deal? Yes."

Read more:
Zlatan won't sign today
Eto'o agent confirms Inter deal

Eto'o agent confirms Inter deal

Josep Maria Mesalles, the agent of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) has confirmed to journalists after a new meeting that Eto'o and Inter Milan have reached an agreement on a transfer:

"This is it. We have closed a deal between Eto'o and Inter. Eto'o talked to Mourinho yesterday and he's very happy. All the details are arranged. Now we only have one problem left with Barcelona about the bonus, but I'm optimistic about that. Next week this should be solved. Eto'o will arrive in Milan on Monday or Tuesday."

Inter sports director Marco Branca confirmed the deal to the journalists gathered outside the meeting place. Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Eto'o will arrive in Milan on Monday to sign a five-year deal worth 10,5 million euro a year.

Read more:
The reason of Guardiola's "feeling" towards Eto'o
Exit bonus last step for Eto'o transfer