Emotional goodbye of Jorquera

Speaking at a press conference, former Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera said goodbye to the club:

"My time at Barcelona has been a dream. I never thought it would become a reality but I'm taking incredible experiences with me. As a Catalan and a culé, it has been an honour to have worn this shirt for fifteen years.

There have been a lot of great moments. The day of my debut, the titles won, quite a lot... To have won two Champions Leagues and three league titles is something I could never have imagined.

It's clear the squad is devastated by my exit (laughs). With some of my team-mates I have spent a lot of years together in this club. I will miss them and I'm sure they will miss me too. But I won't be far and I'm leaving for professional reasons that they will perfectly understand. The dressing-room is united, more than ever. I'm sure the successes will continue.

I want to take this chance to thank all those who have been by my side during all those years at the club, from the people at the youth academy, coaches, players, officials, to all the people around the squad. All my team-mates who have made all these great years possible.

I also want to thank Girona for having believed in me to be part of their project. There comes a time that you have to make a decision and for sporting reasons, the offer of Girona was the best one for me. The coach has his ideas and he wants to continue with two goalkeepers. I'm starting a new stage in my career and it's an emotional moment. This is my home and it is very difficult to leave. Visca el Barça y visca el Girona!"

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Jorquera to Girona



The whole Barcelona squad, the coaching staff and several club officials assisted today the last press conference of Albert Jorquera, who joined Spanish second division club Girona yesterday. The player got a standing ovation at the end of his speech.

OFFICIAL: Jorquera to Girona

Spanish second division club Girona has yesterday officially announced the transfer of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30).

Barcelona officially confirmed that the contract of the player, that expired next year, had previously been rescinded. Barcelona has nevertheless the right to recall Jorquera during the 2009-2010 season if the club would think that is needed.

Albert Jorquera joined Barcelona's youth academy in November of the year 1994, arriving from local club Vilobí d'Onyar. From 2000 until 2002, the Catalan goalkeeper left the club on loan for Spanish third division clubs, first Ceuta, then Mataró. He made his first team debut in January of 2004.

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OFFICIAL: Victor Sanchez to Xerez
OFFICIAL: Eto'o to Inter Milan

Contract of Jorquera rescinded

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the contract of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) has been rescinded earlier today.

Jorquera wouldn't have taken part in this afternoon's training session but together with his agent, he reportedly met with Barcelona officals at the club's offices to discuss his exit.

Because he won't have playing minutes this season and as a reward for his services to the club, Barcelona would have agreed to let Jorquera leave for free because that way it will be easier for the goalkeeper, whose contract expires next year, to find a new club. Spanish second division club Girona would at this moment be the most interested team.

update: Girona has this evening officially confirmed that they are talking with Jorquera, that the contract of the Catalan goalkeeper with Barcelona has been rescinded and that the negotiations between Jorquera and Girona are well-advanced. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that only the paper work is left and that Jorquera could join Girona in the coming hours.

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Jorquera could leave for free

Jorquera could leave for free

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will soon meet with Arturo Canales, the agent of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30), to discuss the future of the player.

The Catalan goalkeeper can leave this summer and despite several Spanish first and second division clubs, among which Mallorca, Tenerife and Cádiz, having shown interest in Jorquera, his salary of 1 million euros a year would be an obstacle for a transfer.

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Spanish second division club Girona is the last club to have asked for Jorquera, whose contract expires in the summer of 2010.

El Mundo Deportivo claims that in case it wouldn't be possible for Jorquera to leave on a permanent or even a loan deal, Barcelona would be willing to pay the player the rest of his contract and to let him go for free. The whole operation could be agreed upon during an upcoming meeting with Canales, a representative of sports marketing agency IMG.

Read more:
Jorquera doesn't plan to leave
Barcelona's wage structure
Jorquera offered himself to Cadiz

Jorquera doesn't plan to leave

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) doesn't plan to leave Barcelona this summer.

Jorquera, whose contract expires next summer, would only want to leave if he gets an interesting offer but hasn't reached an agreement with one of the interested clubs so far. Several Liga clubs and some foreign clubs would have shown interest.

Barcelona would have given the player the permission to talk with other teams but the club woudn't be planning to rescind the contract of the Catalan goalkeeper. The latter was confirmed by the player's agent Arturo Canales, who met with Jorquera in San Franciso and has denied to the paper that there are talks with the club ongoing about rescinding the player's contract.

Read more:
Barcelona wants Jorquera to leave
Jorquera offered himself to Cadiz

Jorquera offered himself to Cadiz

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) with a move to Spanish second division club Cádiz (read more here), Cádiz sports director Julio Peguero has said in an interview with Cadiz local newspaper Diario de Cádiz that the player has been offered to the club by his agent:

"It's one of the players that has been offered, his agent has called me... But what can I say, it's an option that seems unlikely at this moment. The most logical thing would be that a first division club would sign him. It would be great for Cádiz to be able to count on a Barcelona player. But, like I always say, it's a name that is out there, together with a lot of other names that all have the same chances to arrive here.

Asked about the transfer rumour, the player's agent Arturo Canales has meanwhile said in an interview with Cadiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz that he thinks a transfer of Jorquera to Cádiz seems unlikely at this moment: "Cádiz did not ask us about Jorquera. And I really don't see this happen."

Read more:
Jorquera close to joining Cadiz
Contract Jorquera to be rescinded this week

Jorquera close to joining Cadiz

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) is close to joining Spanish second division club Cádiz.

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have talked with Jorquera at the end of last season to inform him that he wanted to work with only two goalkeepers and that the Catalan had to leave (read more here).

The player's agent Arturo Canales would since that day have listened to offers and would now be working on a deal with Spanish second divison club Cádiz. Jorquera, who reportedly didn't receive any offers from first division clubs, would have decided to accept the offer of Cádiz.

The Catalan goalkeeper would nevertheless only wanting to sign for one year, hoping that he can go to a better club next year, and under the condition that Barcelona rescinds his contract, so he can leave for free. It is believed that Barcelona will put an end to the deal with Jorquera when the team returns from the United States.

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Abraham to Cadiz
Barcelona's wage structure
Salary demands block exit Jorquera

Barcelona's wage structure

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona's wage scale has six levels:



GROUP A
Messi

GROUP B
Henry
Ibrahimovic

GROUP C
Alves
Xavi
Iniesta
Puyol

GROUP D
Valdés
Touré
Márquez
Keita

GROUP E
Bojan
Piqué
Jorquera
Pinto
Busquets

GROUP F
Pedro
Víctor Sánchez
Muniesa
Jeffren

Contract Jorquera to be rescinded this week

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the contract of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30), that expires next year, will be recinded this summer.

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would want to continue with only two goalkeepers and has reportedly asked the club to put an end to the contract of the goalkeeper. Jorquera would leave Barcelona at the end of the US tour.

Jorquera would have been informed at the end of last season that the club wanted him to leave (read more here), but the Catalan player has nevertheless rejected all offers from Spanish first and second division clubs that his agent has been receiving over the past months.

Read more:
Salary demands block exit Jorquera
Barcelona wants Jorquera to leave

Barcelona wants Jorquera to leave

Asked about the situation of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30), Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué has said in an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport that the club still prefers that he would leave this summer:

"We told him last May that our plan was that he wouldn't continue at the club.

We think that the guys from the B team, Miño and Oier, have made great progress and that we can trust them in case it would be necessary. That's why it's the best for everyone to find a solution. It won't be easy. He has one year left and the market looks very difficult this year. But we have time until the end of August to find a solution.

He has had two difficult years because of injuries. He recovered due to his strength of will and we have to recognize that effort. Pinto nevertheless did well in the meantime and Albert became third goalkeeper. He has always behaved professionally. Last December, he indeed had an offer from Sporting, but we thought that the season would be very long and we didn't want to take any risks."

Read more:
Salary demands block exit Jorquera
Barcelona could keep the same three goalkeepers
Xerez interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Jorquera

Salary demands block exit Jorquera

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that an exit of Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) seems difficult this summer.

Several clubs, among which newly promoted Spanish first division club Tenerife (read more here), would already have asked for the Catalan goalkeeper whose contract expires at the end of the coming season, but none of them are able to match the salary Jorquera is currently getting at Barcelona, while the player doesn't seem at this moment willing to drop his wage demands.

Read more:
Jorquera willing to listen to offers
Official players' pictures (part 1)
Xerez interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Jorquera

Jorquera willing to listen to offers

Asked about his future, Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) is quoted by Spanish news agency EFE as saying that he doesn't exclude an exit this summer:

"I have a contract for one more year here and I'm only thinking about Barça. I will nevertheless listen to offers from other clubs, but only when I have the permission of the club."

Read more:
Jorquera wants to stay next season
Official players' pictures (part 1)
Xerez interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Jorquera

Official players' pictures (part 1)

Víctor Valdés

José Manuel Pinto

Albert Jorquera

Rafael Márquez

Henrique

Martín Cáceres

Eric Abidal

Maxwell

Yaya Touré

Xerez interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Jorquera

Jerez de la Frontera local newspaper Diario de Jerez claims that newly promoted Spanish first division club Xerez is interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30).

Xerez would already have sounded out the player on a possible transfer. Jorquera is reportedly willing to move to another club although his high salaray demands are at this moment an obstacle for Xerez.

Read more:
Jorquera wants to stay next season
Barcelona could keep the same three goalkeepers
Jorquera very close to Tenerife

Barcelona could keep the same three goalkeepers

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona could start the new season with the same three goalkeepers as last season.

Barcelona first goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (26) renewed his contract until 2014 yesterday (read more here), Barcelona second goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto (33) wasn't expected to leave and Barcelona third goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) made clear on Monday through his agent that he plans to stay (read more here).

Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué meanwhile confirmed in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) was the main candidate to replace Valdés if the latter wouldn't have renewed his contract that expired next summer (read more here): "Now that everything is over, we can say this. We were interested in Asenjo."

Read more:
Barcelona won't sign a new goalkeeper
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes
Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted

Jorquera wants to stay next season

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) wants to stay at the club next season.

The player's agent Arturo Canales had a meeting at the Camp Nou offices earlier today and would have informed the club that Jorquera doesn't want to leave and wants to compete to be the back-up of Valdés.

Canaletes would have said that Jorquera wants to start the pre-season at Barcelona, despite the fact that several clubs have shown interest in the Catalan goalkeeper. The agent nevertheless wouldn't have excluded that he's willing to look, together with the club, at any interesting offer he receives.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca repeated last weekend that newly promoted first division club Tenerife is interested in the goalkeeper (read more here) and that Jorquera, whose contract expires in the summer of 2010, could decide to leave after having lost the position of second goalkeeper to José Manuel Pinto.

Read more:
Jorquera very close to Tenerife
Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted
Malaga and Betis interested in Jorquera

Jorquera very close to Tenerife

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) is close to joining newly promoted first division club Tenerife (read more here).

Jorquera would have decided that he will leave Barcelona if he gets an offer that will enable him to play in the Liga, while Barcelona reportedly doesn't count on him for next season. Tenerife would see the Catalan goalkeeper as a player with experience at the highest level, who can still perform well for three or four seasons and whose salary is within their budget.

Read more:
Tenerife interested in Jorquera
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes
Malaga and Betis interested in Jorquera

Tenerife interested in Jorquera

Tenerife local radio station Radio Isla claims that Tenerife is interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) (read more here).

In case the newly promoted club would like to add another goalkeeper to the squad, the Catalan goalkeeper would be an option.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Jorquera is on top of the wish list of Tenerife, that has alrteady sounded out the entourage of the palyer but didn't yet contact Barcelona.

Jorquera could be willing to leave Barcelona and join another Spanish first division club, although his salary could be a problem for Tenerife.

Read more:
Malaga and Betis interested in Jorquera
Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes

Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Rubén Miño (20) will be promoted to the first team next season.

Miño would replace Barcelona third goalkeeper Albert Jorquera, who is believed to leave Barcelona during the summer transfer window.



Read more:
Barça B: Season over for goalkeeper Mino
Barcelona planning six transfers
Malaga and Betis interested in Jorquera

Barcelona planning six transfers

Catalan newspaper Avui claims that Barcelona wants to sign six players during the coming transfer wiondow.


Goal. Third goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30), whose contract expires in 2010, is seriously considering to leave this summer. If this happens, it's not yet sure how he will be replaced: either a new goalkeeper will be signed or Guardiola will count more on one of the Barcelona goalkeeepers, Oier Olazábal (19) or Rubén Miño (20).

Defense. Bayer Leverkusen central defender Henrique (22) will return from loan while central defender Martín Cáceres (22) could leave on loan for one season. It's not clear when central defender Gabriel Milito will have fully recovered from his knee injury.

Barcelona is looking at the option of signing a back-up for right back defender Daniel Alves and will certainly sign a left back to replace Sylvinho, whose contract expires and won't be renewed. Barcelona Juvenil A central defender Marc Muniesa (17), who can also act as left back, will start the pre-season with the first team and could stay afterwards.

Midfield. Attackers Eidur Gudjohnsen (30), whose contract expires in 2010, and Alexander Hleb (28) could be sold or included in a transfer deal. If one or both of them leave, a new midfielder will be signed, while Barcelona attacking midfielder Thiago (18) also has a chance of being promoted.

Attack. Barcelona will certainly buy a player for the left wing, with Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry (26) being the main candidate. Valencia forward Juan Manuel Mata (21 - picture) would be another option. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola wants to sign a centre forward. Three names would be on the list: Atlético Madrid forward Diego Forlán (29), Valencia forward David Villa (28) and Lyon forward Karim Benzema (21).

Read more:
Guardiola wants larger squad and new players
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market