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

Jeffren wants to stay

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) with a loan move to newly promoted Spanish first division club Tenerife (read more here), Effren Suárez has said in an interview with Tenerife local radio station Radio Club Tenerife that the player prefers to stay at Barcelona's first team:

"He wishes to stay with the Barcelona squad even though he could have few playing minutes.

In case he he has to leave, he prefers to go to a Spanish first division club. Yesterday, I talked with Txiki Begiristain. He told me that they have received offers from three or four clubs but Tenerife wasn't one of them. It would be a nice option though, because it would be like returning home. You should always discuss things first but we're not excluding anything. Two years ago, Tenerife also asked to sign him on loan, but Barcelona rejected the offer back then."

Read more:
Future of Jeffren to be resolved in coming days
Real Sociedad and Racing giving up on Jeffren

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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Pedro prefers to stay despite several loan offers

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that newly promoted Spanish first division club Tenerife is still interested Barcelona wing attacker Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma (22) (read more here).

Tenerife sports director Santiago Llorente would be willing to wait until the end of the summer transfer window to try to sign Pedro on loan.

Asked about the rumours, Pedro confirmed the interest of Tenerife and other clubs in an interview with the tabloid: "They asked Barcelona about a loan and I'm proud about that. It's an honour. Other clubs have also shown interest in a loan. I would nevertheless prefer to stay here, although in football you never know what can happen.

Next season, I want to be useful and play a bigger role. I would like to be more important and help the team to repeat last season, which is difficult but not impossible. We have a long season ahead of us, with a lot of competitions and a lot of games. I know it will be difficult to play but I want to try it, although the final decision will mainly depend on the coach. We've not yet had a long talk but he had already said some things. The most likely thing is that I will stay with Barcelona."

Read more:
Pedro not excluding loan exit
Official players' pictures (part 2)
Osasuna wants Pedro on loan

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

Jeffren could be promoted this summer

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) could be promoted to the first team this summer.

Like he did last year, the Venezuela-born player would start the pre-season with the first team on Monday and will travel with the squad to England and the United States.

If Barcelona doesn't sign a left winger this summer, Jeffren could in the end stay with the group for the rest of the season. In the other case, the winger could leave for another club. Deportivo La Coruña and Tenerife, among other clubs, would already have shown interest in Jeffren, whose contract with Barcelona expires next year.

Read more:
Celtic and Spanish clubs interested in Jeffren
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players
Barça B: Celtic target Jeffren can leave

Ex-Barça: Pizzi to Santiago Morning

Former Barcelona forward and Spanish international Juan Antonio Pizzi (41), has been officially appointed as manager of Chilean first division club Santiago Morning.

The Argentine-born manager, who had been away from coaching since he left Peruvian club Universidad San Martín in 2006, signed a two-year deal with the Chilean team.

Juan Antonio Pizzi joined Barcelona in 1996, arriving from Tenerife. After two seasons, he left for Argentinian club River Plate. With Barcelona, he won one Spanish league in 1998, one Spanish cup in 1997, one Spanish Super Cup in 1996, one European Cup Winner's Cup in 1997 and one European Super Cup in 1997.

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Ex-Barça: Stoichkov to Mamelodi Sundowns

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

Celtic and Spanish clubs interested in Jeffren

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that several clubs are interested in signing Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) on loan or permanently this summer.

Celtic Glasgow, Zaragoza, Málaga and several other Spanish first division clubs would have shown interest in Jeffren. Celtic is said to have asked for him during a recent meeting with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain. As things stand now, Jeffren would start the pre-season with the first team and a decision on his future will then be made later this summer depending on the transfer activity.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Deportivo la Coruña is also interested in Jeffren and that Barcelona has offered to include the Venezuela born player in a deal on Deportivo left back defender Filipe (read more here).

Jeffren meanwhile said in an interview with Tenerife local radio station Radio El Día that returning to Spanish second division club Tenerife, that is close to promoting to the Liga, in a one-year loan deal is an option for him, but that it will depend on the plans of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola.

Read more:
Barça B: Celtic target Jeffren can leave
B players happy with first team chance
First offer for Deportivo left back Filipe

Jorquera wants to continue next season

Asked about his situation at the club, Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera has said in an interview with Madrid sports tabloid Marca that he wants to stay at Barcelona next season:

"The truth is that I didn't yet think about leaving Barça. I have the feeling that I can play here and that the people still don't really know me as a player.

Of course I wish to play every weekend but I still believe I can do that here. I hope to start the next season in the same condition as the others and not recovering like this season. In the life of a football player there's a moment for everything and right now I'm only thinking about Barça.

Tenerife? I've heard that there was something published in the local press but I don't know anything about it. Tenerife is historically a big club and if the circumstances were right, of course I wouldn't mind playing there. Going abroad? If that would be a possibility, it's certainly something I would consider.

Sporting Gijón? The loan deal basically didn't go through in January because Barcelona didn't want to let me go. The club preferred that I continued and said that the squad needed me. Valencia? Those were only rumours. Valencia didn't directly contact me. I don't know if they talked with the club, but they didn't with me."

Read more:
Valencia interested in Jorquera
Pinto only goalkeeper who will certainly stay
Barcelona holds on to Jorquera

Pedro unaware of next season's future

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Spanish second division club Tenerife if they promote (read more here), Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (22) has said in an interview with Tenerife local newspaper La Opinión de Tenerife that he doesn't yet know where he will play next season:

"I'm from Tenerife, so of course I wish that they promote. But I don't know anything about my future. Barcelona is having a magnificent season and it's true there are a lot of players being linked with other clubs.

I guess that's a sign that we're doing a good job and in my case I can only say that it would be an honour if they're interested in me. So it's a good sign but nothing more.

It’s too early to talk about next season. We're now all focused on what we have left in the three competitions. I think the normal thing will happen: when the season ends, we'll talk and we'll see what the outcome of that will be. I know where I am and how difficult it is to find a place in this team. For me it's an honour to be able to play together with the best players in the world. I just need to work and to be patient. If I keep on working, the chances will come."

Read more:
Pedro could leave on loan
Pedro: "If the coach needs me, I will be ready"
Pedro loan could get Barcelona Celta talent Joselu


Watch a video of Pedro here:

Pedro could leave on loan

Spanish football site Join Futbol claims that Barcelona wing attacker and Spanish youth international Pedro (22) could leave on loan in the summer.

Spanish second division club Tenerife would be one of the interested clubs but because Barcelona prefers to let Pedro go to a first division club, this only seems an option if Tenerife, currently second-placed, promotes this season.

First division clubs Málaga and Recreativo Huelva would also be interested in Pedro, who has played several games with Barcelona B over the last months. Both club would have contacted Barcelona and the agency of the player who joined Barcelona’s youth academy in 2004.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Pedro has received several offers from other clubs. Barcelona would already have tried a couple of times to renew his contract that expires in 2010 but a deal couldn’t be found because Barcelona’s offer was considered to be far too low.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona has to pay Pedro’s former club San Isidro an additional transfer fee of 300 000 euro° if the Spanish winger takes part in ten official games with Barcelona’s first team, with his presence only counting if he plays at least 45 minutes (read more here).

Read more:
Pedro: "I want to work hard so I can stay"
Barça B: Valencia, Sevilla and Villareal want Jeffren
Pedro loan could get Barcelona Celta talent Joselu

News of the day - Tuesday

(This post will be updated throughout the day.)


While Guardiola doesn't want to sign any new players, Txiki thinks the squad is short to be on top in all three competitions (Sport)
read more

Due to the good performances during the pre-season, there's less need to sign another player, Guardiola will in the end decide if there will be a new transfer or not (El Mundo Deportivo)
read more

Arshavin is still the main candidate for the left wing position certainly now Tottenham seems to have pulled out of the race (Sport)
read more

Arshavin and Capel are the two names on the list, Arshavin is the first option but if Zenit doesn't move the transfer of the Russian won't go through (El Mundo Deportivo)
read more

Barcelona is considering to pay the 16 million euro buyout clause for Capel and could put the money on the table in the coming days (Marca)
read more

Sevilla is aware that Capel could leave the club in the coming days given the low buyout fee of 15 million euro and the low salary, a renewal hasn't been possible earlier this summer because Capel doesn't accept a new and much higher buyout clause (As)

The Neves option would be on the rise although there are questions about the player's character and private life, the Brazilian would cost around 12 million euro (Sport)
read more

Eto'o has asked Barcelona to lower his 150 million euro buyout fee because he wants to be able to leave easier if there would be a new conflict situation, Barcelona has accepted although it's not known what the new buyout fee is (El Mundo Deportivo)
read more

The Barcelona board wants to offer Xavi a contract renewal and extension and plans to start the negotiations next month (Catalunya Ràdio)
read more

Barcelona has told Jeffren he won't be able to stay with the first team and that he can choose between returning to Barcelona Atlètic or leaving on loan for one season, although several English and Spanish first division clubs, like Villareal and Getafe, are interested in the player, Barcelona has advised the player to leave for a Segunda División club like Zaragoza, Herculés or Tenerife (Equipo)
read more

Barça B: Valencia, Sevilla and Villareal want Jeffren

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Valencia and Villareal are interested in signing Barcelona Atlètic winger and Spanish youth international Jeffren Suárez (20).

The Valencia technical staff would like the Venezualan-born player a lot and it is suggested that this could play a role in a possible transfer of Valencia left winger David Silva to Barcelona.

Aragón regional sports paper Equipo claims that Jeffren is high on the wish list of second division team Zaragoza, that hopes to get the player on loan.

Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique would want Jeffren to stay with his team but Barcelona thinks it's a better option to let the player leave on loan to a Spanish first or second division club.

Valencia regional sports paper Super Deporte meanwhile claims that Primera División teams Sevilla and Getafe, second division teams Levante, Tenerife and Hércules and some English clubs are also following Jeffren, who has scored twice during the pre-season he's doing with th first team this summer.

Jeffren's brother would have done a trial with Villareal which was seen as an attempt to attract the winger. Jeffren, his father and his agency would nevertheless prefer to stay linked with Barcelona and leave on a loan deal.

A source from the player's entourage is quoted as saying that Jeffren is not planning to stay with Barcelona's second team this season: "The goal is to play in the Primera División, but if that's not possible we would consider the Spanish second division if there's a good project. He'll certainly not return to play with Barcelona Atlètic in the third division.

Now we're waiting to talk with Barcelona. After that we'll look at all the options that are on the table and make a decision. At this moment the door is open for offers to come in from interested clubs."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that it will be Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique who will decide what will happen with Jeffren. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola won't promote the player to the first team and Zaragoza has made a formal loan offer.

Read more:

Barça B: Celtic wants Jeffren on loan

Barça B: Pedro thinks promotion is difficult

Barça B: Promotion or exit for Jeffren

Ex-Barça: Meho Kodro dismissed by Bosnia

The Bosnian football association has dismissed former Barcelona forward Meho Kodro (41) as Bosnian national team coach last weekend.

The Bosnian manager, who was appointed in January of this year, refused to take charge of the team for a friendly game against Iran scheduled for this week because he hadn't been asked for his approval of the match.

Mehmed "Meho" Kodro arrived in Barcelona from Real Sociedad in the summer of 1995. Due to injuries and worries related to the war in his home country he didn't perform at the level that was expected. After one season he left for Tenerife.

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Read all Ex-Barça stories here