Video: Maxwell presentation parts 1-3

Hleb presented

Belarusian attacker Alexander Hleb (27), who signed a four-year contract with Barcelona (read more here), has yesterday evening been officially presented as new player of Barcelona, in the presence of his agent Maurizio Gaudino and his fromer Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry.

At a press conference, Hleb showed his happiness about the transfer: "Being in Barcelona is a dream. I'm very hapy that it's reality now. I want to give everything for this club. I came here to win trophies, that's my absolute priority now. I think I can play on a lot of positions, like I have done over the last seasons at Arsenal. The coach can put me where he likes, I wouldn't even mind to play as goalkeeper."

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola confirmed that he can use the player on several positions: "I think the player has the right profile for Barcelona: a lot of quality, a lot of technique, smart and with good movements. It's a player who knows how to play football, who understands the game. Since the first meeting with the technical department, I have always made clear he's a priority signing. He'll surprise a lot of people.

Hleb uses his both legs well and he can play on four or five positions: on both wings, as attacking midfielder and even as second striker. He's not a traditional winger, but that doesn't worry me much, I'm very calm. For a coach it's a good thing that you can count on two or three polyvalent players, like Hleb or Iniesta. They offer you a lot of tactical possibilities. I think Hleb can bring verticality to the team, but above all versatility. He'll generate a lot of team play."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain underlined that the club has been following Hleb for years: "It's a very polyvalent player, he'll help us to have a very complete midfield and will cause more competition in the squad. Since I arrived at Barcelona, we have been monitoring him and we already had good scouting reports from the time he played at Stuttgart.

With this transfer we lost some of the stress in and around the club, the squad is starting to get complete. We're still looking around, but with more calm now. If we sign another player it will be an attacking one. Everything is going well, the group can now start to work."


Read the complete Alexander Hleb transfer story from the first rumours until the official presentation

Look back at the presentations of Keita, Cáceres, Alves and Piqué










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Pique presented

Catalan central defender Gerard Piqué (21), who signed a four-year contract in May (read more here), has today been officially presented as new player of Barcelona. At a press conference Piqué showed his absolute satisfaction with the transfer: "I'm returning home to realize my dream: playing with Barcelona. It's an honour to be able to say that I am a Barcelona player. The desire to play for this club is something I don't have with any other club. When you leave, there's a risk you won't be able to return, but I always kep the door open and the opportunity has come. From the first contacts, my clear wish has been to come back. I've always been a culé and this is a dream come true. I would like to retire here.

I nevertheless don't regret my years in Manchester. I have learned a lot and I can only say positive things about the club and about manager Alex Ferguson. Now it will be an honour to have Pep Guardiola, who has given so many moments of joy to the Barcelona fans, as a coach. I will try to learn from him. To be able to play again with players like Milito, who I know from my time on loan in Zaragoza, and Messi, who I know from my time here, will allow me to adapt a little quicker to the team. I have a great relationship with both and the two learned me a lot.

I don't want to prove anything so I'm coming here without any pressure but with a lot of motivation and ambition. I want to help the club winning trophies. This club means a lot to me and I think that with the new coach and the transfers that they are doing, we will be able to stop the bad times."


Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola said that he was pleased with the arrival of the central defender: "We are convinced that we have done a great transfer. Piqué is a player with excellent physical abilities, a quality player with a good long ball, who above all that knows the club inside out. The reports of my assistent Tito Vilanova, who has been Piqué's coach some years ago, were decisive in our decision to take the player into consideration. His years in Manchester have confirmed the expectations the club had when he was part of the youth academy. But a player can always get better and we will try to make sure he'll keep on growing here. I also plan to use Piqué more as central defender than as defensive midfielder."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain stressed the fact that the player really wanted to return to Barcelona: "Gerard Piqué has shown the clear will to come back and he has done everything that was possible to achieve that. When he left, we kept on following him closely and we always received good scouting reports about him. For a player to return the circumstances have to be right and this time they were. We also have to thank Manchester that they have listened to the player and that they didn't play it hard, despite the fact that they had better offers for him."

Read the complete Gerard Piqué transfer story from the first rumours to the official presentation

Look back at the presentations of Keita, Cáceres and Alves

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/galeries/futbol/temporada08-09/07/fitxatges_i_sortides/pique_acte/galeria.html

Alves presented

Brazilian right back defender Dani Alves (25) has today been officially presented as new player of Barcelona. At a press conference Alves showed his happiness about the transfer: "I'm very happy and honoured to be here and to arrive at the best club in the world. I chose Barcelona above other options because it's a great club and our interests are the same. In your life you need to have a clear idea about where and with who you want to be.

I come here to enjoy football and to reach my objectives. I will adapt to what the coach and the circumstances will ask from me. I will give everything to make everybody happy although I don't feel any special pressure. The club wants to return to be what they were two years ago and they count on me to realize that. Although it's gonna be difficult, I will work hard to achieve that goal. I want to win the trophies I didn't yet won. I have four years to do that, but the sooner, the better."

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola looked forward to the right wing connection between Alves and Messi: "I hope the two players will connect well and that they will form the best right wing in the world. But they have to think about the group, with 11 individuals you don't get anywhere. We'll try to play with Messi closer to the box, he can play everywhere but his movements have the be compensated by the others."

Like Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain insisted that Barcelona hasn't paid too much for Alves: "We have paid the right market price. Two years ago we bought Zambrotta, who asked us to leave this summer, so we had to look for another player. I think now we have the best player on his position, because of his attacking way of playing, his quality and his effectiveness. He also has a good personality and he wants to be part of a group. And on the pitch he always takes his responsability. I also want to thank the player for the effort he has done to join Barcelona because he had better proposals."

Read the complete Dani Alves transfer story from the first rumours to the official presentation

Look back at the presentations of Keita and Cáceres









http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/galeries/futbol/temporada08-09/07/fitxatges_i_sortides/acte_de_presentacio/galeria.html
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/galeries/futbol/temporada08-09/07/fitxatges_i_sortides/presentacio_alves/galeria.html

Caceres presented

Martín Cáceres (21), who signed a four-year contract earlier this month (read more here), has today been officially presented as new player of Barcelona. At a press conference Cáceres showed his satisfaction with the transfer: "I'm very proud to play for a club like Barcelona, that represents so much. I'm arriving with all the motivation in the world, looking forward to spend time with players like Puyol and Milito and willing to give everyting for this shirt.

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola was pleased with the transfer of the Uruguayan defender: "His youth, his excellent physical abilities and his velocity will help us a lot. What I like the most about this player is that he clearly has the south-american caracter. When we watched him so many times and transfered him in the end, that's just because we're convinced that he will add something to the team. He can play on different positions. His speed will allow us to play with the defensive line higher up the pitch. It's not easy to find that kind of player."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain added that Cáceres has an excellent mentality, made clear he can play as centre or left back defender and said that Barcelona has been following the player since he arrived in Spain: "We have been watching him since he arrived at Villareal. We liked him and we have monitored him very closely over the past season."

It's not yet decided which number Cáceres will wear. The list will be drawn up later on this summer.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Martín Cáceres

Opinions on Caceres

Caceres' first interview

Read the whole Cáceres transfer story from the first rumours to the official presentation

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/galeries/futbol/temporada07-08/06/fitxatges_i_sortides/presentacio_caceres/galeria.html

Keita presented

Seydou Keita, who signed a four-year contract last month (read more here), has today been officially presented as new player of Barcelona. At a press conference Keita showed his happiness about the transfer: "I'm very happy to join the club that I consider to be the greatest club in the world. It was my dream as a little boy to come to Barcelona and I'm very happy that dream has come true. I will defend the colours of Barcelona with a lot of pride. This is an important step in my career."

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola showed his satisfaction at the press conference: "I am more than satisfied with the transfer, he's a player with different qualities compared to our other midfielders which gives me more options. I'm convinced that he will help us to be a competitive team. I hope he'll feel comfortable at the club soon. I plan to use him at the left, although he also can play as defensive midfielder. I hope we can bring out all of his talent. He has impressive physical abilities. He has a powerful long shot, is good with the head and will bring a lot of depth to the team."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain explained that Barcelona had been following Keita for some years: "When he played for Lens, Touré and Keita were the best players in France. At that time, the team needed more a player like Touré but back then we already thought Keita could we a Barcelona player. He's a very complete player, very dynamic, who will give more balance to the team."

It's not yet decided which number Keita will wear. The list will be drawn up later on this summer.

Read more:

OFFICIAL: Seydou Keita

Keita's first interview

Read the whole Seydou Keita transfer story from the first rumours to the official presentation

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/galeries/futbol/temporada07-08/06/fitxatges_i_sortides/keita_presentacio/galeria.html

Luis Enrique presented as Barcelona B coach

Former Barcelona player Luis Enrique (38) has today been officially presented as the new coach of Barcelona B, that will be renamed Barcelona Atlètic next season. At a press conference Luis Enrique, who will be assisted by Joan Barberá, said that he feels ready for the job:

"I'm coming home. Here I retired as a player, here I will start as a coach. I'm very motivated. Since I'm starting, of course I don't have any experience but I spent a lot of time in dressing-rooms together with great players. I can guarantee hard work and total dedication. I choose for a culture of attacking football based upon possession of the ball. Depending on the circumstances we will play 4-3-3 or 3-4-3.

I thank the president and the other people who have put their trust in me. I congratulate the players and my predecessor for the promotion, I'll try to do the same next year. I also had an offer from the Spanish football association but here I will be able to enjoy football every day as a coach."

Read more:
Luis Enrique to coach Barcelona B
Guardiola's staff
Mourinho's eleven

Guardiola presented

Josep Guardiola has today been officially presented as the new Barcelona manager. At a press conference Guardiola said that he feels ready for the job:

"First I want to thank the people who have put their trust in me, not only now but already last year. I understand that there can exist doubts about me and about the experience I have. I don't have experience because I'm 37 years old. And I know I'm also here because of my history as a Barcelona player. But I think the doubts will diminish in a couple of months cause I'm convinced of my capacities. When Txiki made me the offer, I felt that I was prepared. I feel strong and up for the job, otherwise I wouldn't sit here since I have too much respect for this club.

I'm not here to ask for time or to give me hundred days. I know how things are at the club. We have to be strong from the first day. I could promise trophies but I think that would be a mistake. I'm convinced that the people will be very proud of us. My goal is to bring the idea I have inside to the locker-room for the players to make it their own. I'm convinced everything will be all right. I'm not afraid or unsecure. I'm very motivated. It will be difficult but satisfying. It will be a hard journey but I will resist."


Read more:
Guardiola signs two-year deal
Giovani presented in Tottenham
Edmilson presented in Villareal

Giovani presented in Tottenham

Former Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) passed a medical and signed his contract with English Premier League club Tottenham earlier this week.

In an interview with the club's official website, Giovani says to be excited about his move to England: "It is a dream for me to come to a big club like Spurs. I've come here to further explore my qualities and give my all for my new team. As a young player I have come to a club where I feel there are many opportunities for me.

I have been made to feel very welcome since arriving at Spurs and everyone has been very friendly. This is clearly a big club with a lot of ambition, and I can see it growing in the future. It is great to see Spurs fans wearing the shirt on the streets of London. I came here because of the passion of the fans as well as the size of the club, and I'm very much looking forward to playing in England."

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos is looking forward to working with the player: "If Giovani progresses as we hope he will be a terrific player. This is a young player with a lot of potential, whom I have watched for some time and I am delighted he has joined the squad. For us it is an exciting signing because he has excellent quality, he operates well in different positions and, above all, is technically excellent."

And Tottenham sports director Damien Comolli is convinced the club has made a great transfer: "Giovani possesses a great combination of physical power and explosivity, along with fine technical skills. He is someone who can create and score goals. He is young but not without experience and will be a great asset for the Club. The fact we have a Spanish speaking coaching staff will help him adapt, settle quickly and I believe he has the skills to be successful in England."

Read more:

OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham

Edmilson presented in Villareal

Deal on Giovani

Edmilson presented in Villareal

Former Barcelona defensive midfielder José Edmílson (31) has today been presented as new player of Spanish Liga club Villareal (read more here).

At a press conference Edmílson said that he's still ambitious: "I'm very motivated for this new challenge in my professional life. People might think that a 31-year old just wants to relax but I come here to help the team to grow and to win trophies. I like to play with pressure of havin to win a trophy. I hope I can play at a good level here and be able to return that way to the Brazilian national selection."

Edmílson added that he rejected an offer from AC Milan last year because he had problems with his knee and he didn't like the idea of joing a club while being injured.

Read more:

Official: Edmilson to Villareal

Edmilson close to Villareal

Edmilson on his way to Villareal