Riera confirms Barcelona interest

Asked about the rumours linking him earlier this summer with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Liverpool left winger and Spanish international Albert Riera (27) has confirmed in an interview with Madrid sports tabloid As that Barcelona was interested:

"I will not deny that there was something going on. It's true that they were interested in me. But I play at Liverpool, which is a European top club. One day I nevertheless would like to return to the Liga, when the time is right.

I don't want to think about the rumours that I didn't start two league games because I studied an offer of Barcelona. Benítez is an extraordinary coach who defends what is his. I know he counts on me because he has told me that."

Read more:
Barcelona monitoring situation of Riera
Guardiola wanted to replace Henry this summer
Barcelona interested in Liverpool winger Riera

Guardiola wanted to replace Henry this summer

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona wanted to replace Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) during the past summer transfer window.

Because Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have had enough of the clash of the egos of Henry and Eto'o, he reportedly asked the club to look for a new left winger.

Although it was Eto'o who took all the hits from the press and Henry came out of it fairly undamaged because of his good relationship with the media and the entourage of the club, Guardiola would have wanted to get rid of both players.

Barcelona would therefore have been discretely sounding out the market over the last months and contacted among others left wingers like Riera, Robben, Robinho, Mata and Silva. But although those players would have agreed to join Barcelona, it was not possible to close a deal with their clubs. If Barcelona would find a new left winger next year, Henry will probably leave the club at the end of this season.

Read more:
Robben confirms Barcelona interest
Henry wants to play in the US one day
Barcelona keeping an eye on Robinho

Pacheco: "When I was a kid, I supported Madrid"

Liverpool reserves forward and former Barcelona youth player Dani Pacheco (18) gave an interview to his club's official website. Some excerpts.



What's it like being recognised?
It feels good when you are with your family or friends or girlfriend. People always say, 'When are you going to be in the first team?' I say, 'I don't know, I don't know - ask Rafa!' It has happened more since this pre-season.

Which stadium would you love to play in?
I'd like to play at Anfield in the Premier League or Champions League, but apart from that it's the Bernabeu. When I was a kid I supported Real Madrid. I think it's the best stadium in Spain and maybe one of the best in the world. I lived so far away in Malaga and Barcelona so I never went to games but I've been a few times now.

Which team's results do you look out for?
Malaga, because it's my home, and Real Madrid. I think they will probably win La Liga this season. They have signed most of the best players! Maybe they haven't signed defensive players but they will be okay!

Career high so far?
The best thing has been signing for Liverpool and since then the two pre-seasons I have spent with the first team - especially the one just gone. Playing with all the star names and going to Singapore and Bangkok with all those fanatical people. I knew it would be good but I didn't expect there to be so many fans.

Career low?
Thankfully I haven't had many. Maybe when I left home at 12 years old to play for Barcelona. But since then I've never been injured and everything has got better, better, better. Touch wood.

Area to improve on?
Everything! I am only 18 years old. The main things though are my strength and my work with the defenders. I also need to make easier passes.

Your main attributes?
Playing between the lines, trying to get the ball all the time, getting assists and tryng to score goals.

read the original and complete interview here


Read more:
Youth: Pacheco explains Liverpool move
Mascherano disappointed about failed transfer
Barcelona monitoring situation of Riera

No last-minute transfers planned

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reclaims that, without surprises, Barcelona won't sign another player during the summer transfer window that closes today.

Since Barcelona hasn't been able to sign Guardiola's first choices Robinho and Mascherano for the left wing and the defensive midfield positions, the B plan would be to count on the youth players and the club won't try to improvise some last-minute transfer.

Read more:
Chygrynskiy will probably be the last transfer
Guardiola dismisses Robinho and closes squad
Mascherano disappointed about failed transfer

Barcelona monitoring situation of Riera

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona is monitoring the situation of Liverpool left winger and Spanish international Albert Riera (27) after the player was left out of the Liverpool squad last weekend (read more here).

Barcelona would have been made aware that Riera could be available before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. If Liverpool are willing to listen to offers, Riera might want to leave the English Premier league to return to Spain. Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are also said to be interested in the winger.

Read more:
Mascherano disappointed about failed transfer
Barcelona interested in Liverpool winger Riera
Reina keeps Barcelona door open

Barcelona interested in Liverpool winger Riera

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is interested in Liverpool left winger and Spanish international Albert Riera (27).

Riera would be the last name that has been added to the list of targets for the last weeks of the summer transfer window.

Read more:
Mascherano disappointed about failed transfer
Valencia holds on to Mata

Mascherano disappointed about failed transfer

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has confirmed at a press conference that the player is disappointed that the deal didn't went through:

"Javier has a very good friend in the national team and that is Messi. Messi was on to him every day and that is not easy, but Javier knows what we think of him and he will be okay.

I talked with Javier, his agent and Barça. It is normal they see him as such a good player, and an option for them. We told Javier he was so important for us and we wanted to keep him. We were not talking about any price. He was a bit disappointed as it was a fantastic opportunity with a big club. But he is happy here, and as a player and a person you can trust him 100 per cent."

Read more:
Mascherano won't join Barcelona this summer
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona

Mascherano won't join Barcelona this summer

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has said at a press conference that the player will definitely stay:

"Javier knows he is staying. He has accepted his future is here and that he is going to be a key player for us once more. Mascherano is now fully focused on us and what we might achieve together this season, I can guarantee that 100 per cent. We've spoken about his situation before and we spoke again. Before, it was difficult and he could see Xabi Alonso was on his way.

Now he has seen Alonso go and so he knows he must stay. He knows he is staying and is clear about that in his own mind, and he is ready to show a lead to the rest of the players. He realises he is a very, very important player for us. He is a key player, he knows he has to be an example and he is ready. There has been a significant improvement in his game over the past ten days. He has been a lot more focused, and we are seeing the real Javier Mascherano again."

Read more:
Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Mata: Two out of three
Txiki on Cesc, Mascherano and Chygrynskiy
Mascherano is in Barcelona

Ex-Barça: Luis Garcia to Racing Santander

Spanish club Racing Santander has yesterday officially announced the transfer of former Barcelona winger Luis García (31).

The Spanish player, whose contract with Atlético Madrid expired this summer, will sign a two-year contract with the Spanish first division club after the meidcal tests.

Luis García came through the Barcelona youth ranks. After having played with Barcelona B for two years, he went out on loan to Valladolid, Toledo, Tenerife and again Valladolid, before being sold to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2002. One year later, Barcelona used the buy back option and signed Luis García for the first team. After one year at the club, the Catalan left winger left for Liverpool.

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Ex-Barça: Motta to Inter Milan
Ex-Barça: Ezquerro leaves Osasuna
Ex-Barça: Saviola to Benfica

Txiki on Cesc, Mascherano and Chygrynskiy

Speaking to the club's official media, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain commented on some names that have been linked with a move to Barcelona.


Cesc
"It depends on what you are willing to spend. If we will invest a lot of money, he could come. But we don't know how big the investment should be since we didn't yet ask Arsenal about him. If the asking price would be exaggerated, we won't try to sign him."

Mascherano
"I don't like to exclude any of the players we like and that we believe can improve our squad."

Chygrynskiy
"He is a very good option, but at the right price. We have made an attempt and we will continue to try, but only if we consider the price to be reasonable, otherwise we won't do it."

Youth players
"We have the fortune that our youth policy is working so well. Muniesa, Fontás, Jonathan... They are all having a great pre-season. They are once again showing how extraordinary the youth structure is. Besides, it is easier for homegrown players to adapt to the way of playing than it is for those who come from elsewhere. We should take advantage of that. I think they are more than likely to play a role."

Read more:
Intensified talks with Cesc could lead to bid
Laporta on Cesc, Messi and Ibrahimovic
Chygrynskiy only option as centre-back

Transfer Mascherano has become very unlikely

Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that the transfer of Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) has become very unlikely.

Despite the wish of the player to join Barcelona, his entourage would be very pessimistic after the transfer of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and doesn't think there are a lot of chances for the deal to go through.

They are nevertheless still hoping for a final move by Barcelona that could change everything, although it is believed that only a record bid could re-open the negotiations with the English club. Mascherano would meanwhile already have accepted the fact that he will have to stay at Liverpool.

Read more:
Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Mata: Two out of three
Looking forward to the last transfer window month
Mascherano wants to join Barcelona

Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Mata: Two out of three

Catalan sports paper Sport that Barcelona has decided to sign two more players during the current transfer window.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehí and Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste would have held a meeting yesterday morning in the Four Seasons hotel in Seattle to discuss the further transfer negotiations.

Three names would have been on table: Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25), Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) and Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) .

With Shakhtar having been eliminated in the Champions League yesterday, Chygrynskiy seems at this moment the most likely transfer, although Barcelona would only want to pay a maximum of 15 million euro. Mascherano would still be an option. Barcelona officials reportedly think there's still a chance to sign the Argentinian despite the current asking price of 50 million euro. Regarding Mata, Barcelona is waiting for the outcome of the renewal talks planned between the player and his club tomorrow.

Read more:
Mata could buy his freedom
Price Chygrynskiy could drop to 10 million
Mascherano is in Barcelona

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

Benitez insists on keeping Mascherano

Asked about whether Liverpool midfielder and Argentinian international Javier Mascherano (25) was a part of his plans for the upcoming season, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez replied in an interview after Liverpool's loss to Espanyol last night simply,

"Yes."

Catalan paper Sport reports that Barcelona would still have been interested in Mascherano after manager Pep Guardiola allegedly called Rafael Benitez from the United States on Thursday to inquire again about the player. However Benitez again set the price of Mascherano at 50 million euro, an amount would have considered impossible by Barcelona.

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Poll result: Next priority signing
Mascherano is in Barcelona
Mascherano or Cesc

Mascherano is in Barcelona

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) could meet with Barcelona officials today.

Mascherano has arrived today in Barcelona, where Liverpool will play tomorrow a pre-season friendly against Espanyol.

With the option of Shakhtar centre-back Chygrynskiy being almost rejected because of the player's participation in a Champions League qualifier, Barcelona would now again be focusing on signing a midfielder. Mascherano and Arsenal player Cesc would be the main objectives. Liverpool would nevertheless be asking 50 million euro° for the Argentinian while Barcelona wouldn't want to pay more than 30 million euro°.

Last month, Mascherano's agent Walter Tamer would have met in Barcelona with Begiristain in the same hotel where the player will stay tonight (read more here). The paper claims that Barcelona has already reached a principal agreement with Mascherano for a five-year contract worth 5 million euro a season.

It would be possible that Mascherano meets today or tomorrow with Barcelona representatives, although this option has become less likely because Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raül Sanllehí have travelled with the Barcelona squad to the United States.

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Mascherano or Cesc
The report of Txiki: Mascherano priority
Mascherano wants to join Barcelona

Mascherano or Cesc

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is determined to sign a midfielder during the summer transfer window.

Strengthen the midfield positions would be one of the priorities of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, although the profile of the player the club is looking for is not yet clear and the club doubts between a player with more defensive or more offensive qualities.

The two main candidates would still be Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) and Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22).

While Mascherano would be a natural substitute for Yaya Touré if the Ivorian midfielder leaves for the Africa Cup next January, Cesc would offer the coach the chance to move Iniesta to the left wing. In that last case, Márquez or Piqué could be used as defensive midfielders.

Read more:
Mascherano wants to join Barcelona
Looking for a cheap defensive midfielder
Ribery or Cesc

Mascherano wants to join Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's brother and players' agent Sebastián Mascherano has repeated in an interview with Catalan radio station COM Ràdio that the midfielder wants to join Barcelona:

"Javier wants to join Barça because it would be the best for him and his family, so he hopes the deal can go through. One of the reasons is that he wants to play alongside Messi. I'm sure that Messi and Javier have talked about this. Leo is one of those who have most insisted so that Javier could play at Barça.

I don't know what could happen but at this moment it looks like he will continue at Liverpool. If Barça really makes a good financial offer, I nevertheless think that Javier could in the end leave Liverpool. But if that interesting bid doesn't come, they probably won't let him go. Let's hope it will be possible. Negotiations can go really quick these days and you change clubs in one day."

Read more:
Mascherano is next transfer target
Pique could be an option in midfield
Mascherano agent invites Barcelona to bid

Yuste admits he admires Mascherano

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste has said in an interview with British television channel Sky Sports that he personally like the player:

"I can confirm that Javier Mascherano is a fantastic player that personally I like a lot. But we have not listed him. We have a lot of players who want to come to Barcelona. Mascherano is a fantastic player, of course, but he is today at Liverpool and he's playing very well. The future we cannot predict. We are just here today attending the match. He's a nice player - yes."

Read more:
Mascherano is next transfer target
Mascherano agent invites Barcelona to bid
Barcelona to move again for Mascherano

Mascherano is next transfer target

Catalan sports papers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona will next week start moving to sign a midfielder.

Both papers report that Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) is still on top of the wish list (read more here). It seems at this moment nevertheless very unlikely that Liverpool will be willing to sell the player or that Barcelona has the financial means for the transfer.

Sport claims that, in case Mascherano isn't bought and no alternative can be found, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would accept to postpone a midfield signing until the January transfer window.

Guardiola is meanwhile quoted as saying in an interview with British television channel Sky Sports that signing the Argentinian is unlikely: "Of course we know Mascherano, he's a huge player. But he's also at a huge team, with a great manager in Benitez. And if he wants to keep Mascherano, then it is a problem."

Read more:
Mascherano agent invites Barcelona to bid
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Poulsen alternative for Mascherano

Mascherano agent invites Barcelona to bid

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Walter Tamer invited Barcelona to make a bid in an interview with Argentinian news site Infobae:

"The only truth is that Barcelona didn't yet make any concrete offer. It looks like it was all just speculation so far. I don't think money could be the problem. Until there's no concrete offer, there won't be any progress because Liverpool, that doesn't seem willing to sell, is not given the chance to say what they ask for the player.

Barcelona would be the easiest deal to set up given the fact that Javier wants to go to Spain. He is tired of life in England, mainly because of the situation of his wife, who has never been given a permanent visa, which makes travelling a real problem. Messi has made publicly clear that he wants Mascherano to join him, he can't do more than that. Now it looks like he will be the only Argentinian in Barcelona, since Milito is staying in Argentina because of his injury."

Read more:
Barcelona to move again for Mascherano
Poulsen alternative for Mascherano