Sylvinho agent confirms Manchester City contacts

Asked about the rumours linking former Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (35) with a move to Manchester City (read more here), the player's agent Hans Lamberz has confirmed in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that there have been contacts with the English club but that a decision has not yet been made:

"There was contact with Manchester City a while ago and that has been renewed recently. Sylvinho is a free agent and he is in no rush to sign anywhere as he can join a club outside the transfer window.

Manchester City is obviously an interesting option with the talent there and Mark Hughes as manager. We are waiting for a decision from the directors of Manchester City and Sylvinho also has a decision to make."

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Sylvinho signs contract with Manchester City
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Eboue honoured by Barcelona rumours

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Arsenal right back defender and Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboué (26) has said in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that he feels honoured:

"It is an honour to be linked with the best team in Europe, that means I am valued by people. I have lost my Arsenal place, and, while the papers talked about Fiorentina, nothing happened. So I don't know about Barcelona, let's wait and see."

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Eboue tops right back target list

Former youth player Merida unaware of future

Asked about his situation, Arsenal attacking midfielder and former Barcelona youth player Fran Mérida (19) has said in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that it's unsure if he again will leave on loan and that he will soon be holding talks with his club:

"I don't know anything about my future right now. I am just training with the first team and I had the chance to play the Emirates Cup. In the next days we will see what is going on. It is fantastic, I have just got back to London last Friday and I did not expect it at all. It is good news and I really enjoyed it.

I think a success would be to push up in the first team, get some more chances and progress. That is all I can do and I will try my best. All the time I have been here I have really enjoyed it because of the kind of football we play and the dressing room, the people around, everyone is nice, so all the time I have been here I have enjoyed it."

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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."

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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."

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Poulsen alternative for Mascherano

Gudjohnsen open to return to England

Asked about the rumous linking Barcelona attacker and Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen (30) with a return to the English Premier League (read more here), the player's agent and father Arnor Gudjohnsen has admitted in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that the player is likely to leave Barcelona this summer:

"It is a real possibility that Eidur could leave Barcelona this summer. Barcelona have not told Eidur yet, but I have seen the reports that he could go. There is interest from a number of clubs in Eidur and I expect serious discussions with clubs next week. Eidur would be open to a move back to England as he knows everything in England and it would seriously appeal to him."

In an interview with British sports site Sport, Arnor Gudjohnsen repeated that the Icelandic attacker is open to a return to England: "It looks as though he will leave Barcelona, but to where? I don't know at the moment. To be honest there is nothing concrete, hopefully I will have some news by Monday. West Ham? At the moment, I don't know if the two clubs have already spoken but I think he is open to a move back to England."

Read more:
West Ham to move for Gudjohnsen
Gudjohnsen told to look for new team
Gudjohnsen still didn't make a decision on future

Hleb does not want to leave

Although Barcelona sports papers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona wants to sell Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) this summer, representatives of the player have said this week that Hleb wants to continue next season.

Asked about the transfer rumours, Hleb's agent Uli Ferber said in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that the player is not thinking of leaving: "Even though he is not playing regularly he is not thinking about changing teams. He wants to stay at Barcelona and fight for his place."

Oliver Mintzlaff, a collaborator of Ferber, had earlier said the same in an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport: "Hleb isn't satisfied with the chances he has got... He wanted to play more, but he's convinced that he can prove to Guardiola that he's a quality player. With Barça, he has found a club where he can win trophies and his only option is to continue. Despite that, I can confirm that several very important English and German club have asked for him."

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Aston Villa is interested in bringing Hleb back to the English Premier League. Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is believed to be interested in buying Hleb as a striker or wide midfielder, while Barcelona would be prepared to let the player go for a transfer fee of around 11,5 million euro°.

Ferber nevertheless denied the interest to Sky Sports: "We don't know anything about any requests from Aston Villa." And El Mundo Deportivo claims that Bayern Munich is no longer interested in Hleb after Louis van Gaal was appointed as the new coach of the German club.

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta tried to include Hleb in a deal on Inter Milan striker Ibrahimovic (read more here). Olympique Lyon sports director Bernard Lacombe meanwhile confirmed in an interview with his club's official television channel that the French club is following Hleb: "Hleb is a good player, we'll see what we can do."

Read more:
Lyon interested in Hleb
Hleb will leave if asked by Barcelona
Possible pre-agreement between Hleb and Bayern

Vidic on top of Barcelona's target list

British sports site Sky Sports claims that Manchester United central defender and Serbian international Nemanja Vidic (27) is on top of Barcelona's transfer target list (reaad more here).

Barcelona would have identified the centre back position as an area of weakness and would like to sign a left-sided centre-half who in the future can grow into playing next to Gerard Pique.

It's unclear if Manchester United would be willing to sell but Barcelona could move for the Serbian defender after the Champions League final next week. With Vidic's wife apparently unsettled in England, Barcelona is hoping to tempt the defender to Spain.

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Barcelona preparing bid for left back Evra

The Perfect Penalty

source: Sky Sports
date: 13 March 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





The components of the perfect penalty have been pinpointed once and for all by Liverpool John Moores University using Sky+HD technology.

Footage captured by high definition cameras, now installed at the back of football nets, have enabled Director of Sport & Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University, Professor Tim Cable, to study last season's UEFA Champions League and this season's Premier League penalties, to pinpoint the optimum technique for taking winning spot-kicks.

A penalty strike following these guidelines - requiring extreme accuracy and speed - is, according to Professor Cable, a 'high-risk strategy' but 'virtually unstoppable' by a goalkeeper. With dedicated practice, it would ensure a 100% scoring rate.

Professor Cable said: "Technological advancement is bringing new levels of insight into the nuances of sport. Because high-definition footage is so much more detailed and clearer than standard transmissions, every move of a player taking a penalty can be scrutinised. Many factors make up a 'perfect penalty' but we believe we've finally nailed the key elements."

Professor Cable's perfect penalty tips are as follows:

Perfect Penalty

* The ball needs to cross the goal line at exactly 0.5m below crossbar and 0.5m inside the post.
* The ball needs to be kicked at a speed greater than 65mph.
* This requires a run up of 5/6 steps.
* The striker needs to commence his run up from the edge of 18 yard line with an angle of approach of 20-30 degrees to the ball.

80% success rate

Professor Cable offers further insight into what makes a good penalty. For an 80% success rate, strikers should bear in mind the following:

* The ball needs to cross the goal-line approximately 0.7m inside either goal post and at ground, or just above ground level.
* This is more of a "placement" type penalty rather than powerful, and needs to reach a speed of between 45-55mph.
* The penalty taker routinely approaches this with five steps, although the angle of approach to the ball may be greater, reaching up to 45¢ª.
* "Body Deception" - this requires a player to approach the ball as if to hit into one corner but direct it into the other and to place his support (non-kicking foot) slightly further forward (by a couple of inches) than when placing ball into left corner. A perfect example of this was Carlos Tevez's penalty during this season's Wigan vs Manchester United game - it is almost impossible to tell where the penalty is going until ball contact.
* To turn this penalty into an unstoppable one, optimum deception (i.e. almost at ball contact, like Tevez) is required.

The worst penalty

* Hit, either at speed or slower crossing the line greater than 0.8m inside either post (i.e. middle of goal). This dramatically increases risk by goalkeeper - potentially even if dived wrong way.
* Any penalty hit straight is more likely to fail and suggests lack of practice and confidence in ability of player.
* Player should avoid any shuffle or stop to run up as this reduces contact velocity and ball speed and may not only deceive goalkeeper but provoke confusion in penalty taker.

To avoid taking worst penalty

i) Practice accuracy
ii) Practice deception
iii) Improve impact velocity and therefore ball speed
iv) Practice with team mate causing distraction
v) Practice in all weather conditions particularly in the wet
vi) Penalty takers should have predetermined mind set on where shot is going before commencing run up and should execute this
vii) Ensure stability of support leg (i.e. non-kicking leg) at ball contact in wet conditions
viii) For perfect results aim top left, top right
ix) Practice, practice, practice

read the full and original article here


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Future of Bojan will be looked at in the summer

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18) with a summer loan move to a team like Blackburn, Tottenham, Almería or Deportivo (read more here), the player's agent Zoran Vekic has said in an interview with British sports site Setanta that Bojan is not looking for an exit:

"No, there is nothing. Now it is not possible. In 15 days there are possible talks with Barcelona but now it is not possible to speak to another club. Bojan is very happy in Barcelona and it is not possible now to change club. So no, he would not want to go to England."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain meanwhile confirmed in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that the club has been sounded out on Bojan and will look at the striker's situation at the end of the season: "We have received calls asking about the situation of Bojan but it is still not decided. The opinion of Guardiola is the key."

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Silva is second choice for left wing

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international David Silva (23) is the alternative option for Barcelona in case the transfer of Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (26) wouldn't go through (read more here).

Asked about the rumours linking Silva to several European top clubs among which Barcelona, the player's agent José Segui has confirmed in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that a number of clubs have enquired about the player: "At this time it is normal there are many stories in the papers about transfers, but the decision depends on Valencia. It is certain that some clubs have asked about the boy, but he has a deal with Valencia and he is happy in the city."

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Barcelona confirms offers for Bojan

British sports site Sky Sports claims that Barcelona has confirmed that other teams have made contact with the club about Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18).

Despite supposed reports in Spain that Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola would be happy to let Bojan leave on loan next season, a Barcelona official insisted that nothing has yet been decided over striker's future.

Asked about Bojan being linked with several clubs, among which Tottenham, Villarreal, Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax, a club source told the site: "Bojan Krkic is a player who has a deal with Barcelona and is very much part of the squad. Nobody has decided anything about his future. Some clubs have asked about Bojan, but until the end of the season we will not even visit this subject."

The player's father meanwhile also insisted that his son wanted to continue to try and make his mark in Catalunya and is quoted by the Sky Sports as saying that he's onfident about Bojan's future at Barcelona: "We are calm because I am convinced my son will get his chance and will triumph."

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Youth: Liverpool prepares offer for Deulofeu

British sports site Sky Sports claims that Liverpool are planning a move for Barcelona Cadete A wing attacker and Spanish youth international Gerard Deulofeu (14).

Liverpool scout Paco de Gracia would have recommended the Catalan player to Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez (read more here).

The English Premier League club wants to hold off other interested clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, and Liverpool would therefore now be ready to firm up their interest in Deulofeu by making an offer for his services.

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Watch this video of Deulofeu:

Alves: "I joined the perfect club at the perfect time"

Barcelona player Dani Alves gave an interview to British television channel Sky Sports.





What else can we say about this Barcelona side? It has been an extraordinary season!
I think that the spirit in the side has been reinvigorated. There is a great sense of ambition amongst the players because it has been a few years now since we won anything. When a club as big as Barcelona goes through a prolonged spell without winning a trophy it is difficult. Now we must hope that ambition can be translated into success.

The last time I saw you there was a huge offer on the table from Chelsea. You have ended up at Barcelona... Would you consider yourself lucky?
Yes, I was lucky because I feel like I joined the perfect club at the perfect time. I feel like the way I play and my work ethic fits in perfectly here so when I found out about the offer from Barcelona I didn’t want to think about anything else other than coming to play here.

It was a difficult start for you. It seemed that you were a little bit lost, but now everybody is saying that you are back to your best…
Starting at a new club is always difficult, but I think that when you join a club as big as Barcelona there is always such a great level of expectation and pressure, it makes it even trickier. It usually takes a while to adapt but my teammates have supported me and it has been quite a quick process, every day I feel more at home here.

Talk to us about Messi: How you link up with him? How you work on and off the pitch? What kind of person is he?
Well we always joke amongst ourselves about how instinctive football is. There is not a specific training drill that can prepare us for what we are going to do on the pitch. We understand the way each other plays and are able to link up well on the pitch and add something to the team; which is the most important thing.

You have mentioned a new spirit amongst the players that has been like a breath of fresh air. Does that apply to off the field as well? Do you go out together? Do you go for meals together as a squad or even in groups?
Whenever our schedule allows, we try and get together. Of course away from the club we have different friendships but what I learnt from Joaquin Caparros is that when we get together we have to be like a big family. The atmosphere in the dressing room is fantastically positive, we are enjoying ourselves and that is what football is all about. It really is a pleasure to be part of this group.

You obviously have a Brazilian soul but when it comes to your work ethic you are Germanic in your efficiency compared to other Brazilians. Would you agree?
I think I have managed to combine those two sides of my character. My Brazilian energy and passion combined with the serious work ethic that I have picked up here in Europe. It is here that I have developed as a professional. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to bring those elements together. I have always said that we are fortunate to have football as our profession. To be able to do what you love and feel; the support of the fans is a privilege that I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy and that many people would love to be able to experience. Every day I try and show that football is a passion for me and as such one must live it that way.

How much has your upbringing led to that attitude towards what you do?
Yes, I think that when you go through tough times, it helps you to appreciate and value things in the right way. It makes you appreciate all of the opportunities that you get and perhaps, if you have not experienced tough times, you do not appreciate things as much. But I think that I have been very lucky to get through the difficult times and now I am here making many dreams come true. It was worth suffering the tough time to get to this point.

What is Pep Guardiola like as a person? What is he like with you?
The truth is that he is just another one of us. His way of life and the intensity with which he lives the games, combined with his intelligence, is formidable. We consider him to be like another member of the squad, he is still physically fit and can still play a bit. His style is quite similar to mine in terms of intensity, but he has such vast experience to draw upon that he lives football in a different way. He was always the kind of player that organized things on the pitch and that looked at football in a different way. I think that he is the perfect coach for Barcelona. His intelligence combined with the level at which he immerses himself in each game have contributed to our success thus far.

And what is he like before a game? How does he work with you? What kind of training methods does he have?
I think that sometimes you have to keep some of the training methods secret. Guardiola is a very thorough coach who spends a lot of time studying matches and our opponents. The truth is, he is training us in the right way and we are on the right path.

There is such a big points gap now between you and second place that sometimes, as a team, you can be your own worst enemy. We saw in the game against Osasuna that if you relax anybody can catch you…
It is true that in football, on any given day, any team can beat you. It is for this reason that it is crucial to always play with a high level of intensity, irrespective of the team that you are playing against. As the coach has made clear in his interviews, we do not look at it as first against last. Osasuna was a difficult game at a ground where Barcelona have not won may games. It is the kind of ground where it feels as if the crowd is on top of you. The reason we came through it was that we kept our cool and did not panic when things got tough. We knew what we had to do. We kept our shape and managed to turn things around. We proved on that occasion that this Barcelona is still a great team even when times are tough.

Can Barcelona win everything this season?
I think that when you are still in with a shout in all competitions then it has to be a possibility. What is not positive is to drive yourself crazy obsessing about winning everything. If you do that you could end up not winning anything. We must stay concentrated and focus on each rival as they come. You have to change your mindset for each competition. When the end of the season is close, we will be able to focus on our final objectives, but for the moment we must keep our feet on the ground, stay humble and appreciate the fact that, if we continue to work like this, we are on the right path.

read the full and original interview here


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Toure repeats wish of staying a long time

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal and Manchester City during the winter transfer window (read more here), Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) has repeated in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that he plans to stay in Barcelona for many more years:

"I love Barcelona. It is the best club in the world. I have been linked with a move to the Premier League but, to be honest, this is the best club. I want to finish my career here and show everyone that this club means a lot to me. One day, if the club does not want me then I will think about going. But if they want to keep me I will stay for life."

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Blackburn Rovers interested in Gudjohnsen

British tabloid The Sun claims that Blackburn Rovers is interested in Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (30).

Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce, who worked with Gudjohnsen at Bolton Wanderers in the 1999-2000 season and who already tried to sign Gudjohnsen when he was Newcastle manager in the 2007-2008 season, is determined not to sell striker Santa Cruz until he has found a replacement and would therefore be checking on Gudjohnsen.

With the Icelandic striker not being guaranteed first-team football at Barcelona, Blackburn hopes to have a chance to sign the player. Gudjohnsen, whose current contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2010, could be available for 2 million euro°.

Asked about the rumour, the player's father and agent Arnor Gudjohnsen said in an interview with British sports site Setanta that Gudjohnsen will certainly not leave Barcelona in January: "No there is nothing, he is not going anywhere, 100 percent. Guardiola said at the start of the summer that he wants to keep him for the whole season so he is at least staying until the summer.

In the summer he has one year left on his contract, then we will see what happens but I think he would like to play his contract out in Barcelona. There has always been interest from different clubs, but you know, nothing that he has even looked at or thought about. I have to be honest with you, I have not heard from Blackburn. There is nothing going on."

In an interview with British sports site Sky Sports, Arnor Gudjohnsen repeated the same message: "There been no contact with Blackburn Rovers regarding Eidur. Eidur is happy at Barcelona and is concentrating on helping them win silverware this season. There is always interest in Eidur, but I have not heard from Blackburn. I don't think anything will happen in January as Eidur wants to stay and Barcelona want to keep him."

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Barcelona denies Manchester City bid for Toure

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) with a move to English Premier League club Manchester City (read more here), a Barcelona spokesman has denied in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports that an approach has already been made:

"We have not received any formal offers for Yaya Toure."

British tabloid The Daily Mail meanwhile claims that a transfer during this winter transfer window is not an option and that Manchester City will have to wait until the summer before making a move to sign Touré.

Read more:
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Toure denies exit rumours
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No offers for Eto'o so far

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (27) with a move to Manchester City or Inter Milan (read more here), the player's agent Josep Maria Mesalles is quoted by British sports site Sky Sports as saying that no offer have been made to the player yet, although he expects that the rumours will continue:

"It is normal that big clubs are interested in Samuel. But now he is very focused in Barcelona and the success of the team."

A Barcelona source is meanwhile quoted as insisting that, despite the reports, the club has received no bids for Eto'o: "We can only study actual offers but it is practically impossible that Samuel will exit the club at the moment."

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Rijkaard won't return to the bench this season

Asked about the rumours linking former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard with several clubs, his agent Perry Overeem is quoted by British sports site Sky Sports as saying that Rijkaard has decided not to take on a new job until at least next summer:

"The decision is clear. Frank will not return to management this season. Next season? It is possible. But the decision will depend on what is on offer at the end of May."

Over the last weeks, the Dutch manager has been linked to clubs like Newcastle, CSKA Moscow and Sunderland.

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Barça B: Celtic target Jeffren can leave

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Celtic Glasgow (read more here), Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker and Spanish youth international Jeffren Suárez (20) confirmed the Scottish interest in an interview with British sports site Sky Sports and said that he would be delighted to join Celtic:

"I have some chances to play for Celtic and it would be an excellent destination. I have spoken with Marc Crosas and he told me that there is an excellent atmosphere at the club in all aspects."

Jeffren's father and agent said that Barcelona would be willing to let the player go: "We have spoken with Barcelona and with Guardiola and they accept he can leave. We expect more to happen in the next few weeks."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is holding renewal talks with Jeffren, whose contract expires in the summer of 2010. The Venezuelan-Spanish player has a buyout clause of 15 million euro° but could leave for free at the end of this season if he's not promoted to the first team.

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