Pique rejected Madrid approach this summer

Speaking to Catalan televsion channel TV3, Barcelona player Gerard Piqué has confirmed that Real Madrid tried to sign him this summer:

"Madrid has been interested for several years now. But that interest was nipped in the bud since the start. Now I just want to focus on Barça and I didn't think at any moment about leaving the club."

Read more:
Pique rejected Madrid offer
Piqué: "I hope to become a symbol"
Pique reveals dressing-room secrets

Renewal Guardiola postponed until next year

Asked about the renewal of the contract of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola (38) (read more here), Barcelona president Joan Laporta has suggested in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that the talks will only start after the season:

"It is something that depends more on Pep than on the club. He has told us that he is feeling very comfortable with the current situation, and the decision will be made next year.

My term ends at the end of the season and Guardiola will at that moment still have a contract. I suppose that he will then find an agreement with the next president of FC Barcelona."

Read more:
First meeting on contract renewal Guardiola
Video of the day: Guardiola
Guardiola will have 'new board' clause in contract

Guardiola: "I want Chygrynskiy"

Asked about the possible transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has explained in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 why he wants to sign the centre-back:

"I want to sign Chygrynkiy. He has some things that you don't easily find in a centre-back but that we need because of the way we play. There are very good central defenders, like all those who came to Barça, but Chygrynskiy has something special. He knows what to do with the ball, and besides that we take into account that he's a very young player.

Read more:
Chygrynskiy on his way
Shakhtar coach opens door for Chygrynskiy

Laporta defends Henrique and Keirrison transfers

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 the transfers of Brazilian players Henrique and Keirrison:

"We're a global club and I don't think anyone can say that we are neglecting the youth academy just because we have signed players like Henrique or Keirrison. Our scouts are looking everywhere for players who could be useful for us in the future.

Henrique was signed after hard work by the technical department. He was last season one of the best defender in the German league and a lot of clubs have asked us to sign him on loan, while half of Europe wanted Keirrison. We sent him out on loan because we think that's the best for him now."

Read more:
Ten things you should know about Keirrison
Barcelona and Racing presidents meet on Henrique
Keirrison: "I think and execute very quickly"

Laporta optimistic about Chygrynskiy transfer

Asked about the renewed rumours linking Shakhtar defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that he thinks a deal will be closed this summer:

"It's a complicated transfer. Chygrynskiy is the favourite player of the owner of the club, Rinat Akhmetov. And besides that, they want to have Ukrainian defenders in their team. They have asked us a lot of money but we are negotiating and I think that in the end we will find an agreement. He's not just a player fancied by the coach, he's necessary to strengthen the squad."

Read more:
Txiki confirms continuation of Chygrynskiy talks
Poll result: Chygrynskiy transfer
Ultimate attempt to sign Chygrynskiy

Dani Alves underwent ear surgery

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona player Dani Alves underwent cosmetic ear surgery during his vacations this summer. The player would have asked the club for permission to come back a few days later because of the operation.

Eto'o: "I've defended the shirt as my life"

Speaking to Catalan radio station TV3, Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'o looked back at his time at Barcelona with gratitude:

"Thanks to my former team-mates and the fans, I have been able to live all those dreams and to defend the Barça shirt as if it was my own live. I arrived at Barça and I met team-mates, but when I left I had friends and another family.

Despite all the talk about the fans not wishing me the best, I take this chance and I say that this is not true: the fans have always showed me their affection, in a different way. I've played five years at the Camp Nou, at Barça, and I'm one of the few players that got boed. Only once, and it wasn't for football reasons.

I felt comfortable in Barcelona. That's why I will keep on living in Catalonia. I think that when I retire, I will be living between Catalonia and Mallorca."

Read more:
Iniesta thinks Eto'o deserves a statue
Thank You Samu - Remembering Eto'o at Barca
Xavi says that Eto'o made deep impression

Keirrison will sign contract tomorrow

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Palmeiras forward Keirrison (20) will sign tomorrow a five-year contract with Barcelona.



(sources: rac 1, sport, tv3, as, el periódico, globo esporte, lance)

Last Thursday, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raúl Sanllehí met with André Cury, a representative of Brazilian player's agency Traffic that owns 80 per cent of the transfer rights of the player, the other 20 per cent being in the possession of Palmeiras. Traffic chairman Júlio Mariz also took part in the meeting.

The negotiations are then said to be well-advanced, a pre-agreement would have been reached. Cury says: "We're optimistic regarding a deal. As we are concerned, we now have a pre-agreement that we hope to finalize on Tuesday." Barcelona would already have had before agreed on an option on the player that expired on 30 June.

On Friday, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain had a lunch with Marcos Malaquias, one of the player's agents Marcos Malaquias in a Barcelona restaurant to negotiate on the player's contract. In the afternoon, Malaquias and Mariz met with Barcelona officials at the club's offices.

Naor Malaquias, the other agent of Keirrison confirmed the talks: "My brother and a Traffic director are in Barcelona to take part in the negotiations. I don't know anything about possible fees yet." Marcos Malaquias said after the meeting that a deal was very close: "There are only a few details missing before it's official."

It was then decided that Keirrison wouldn't train or play anymore with Palmeiras. The Brazilian striker travelled the same day to his home-town Keirrison, where he was getting ready to fly to Barcelona. Palmeiras put out a statement confirming a formal offer by Barcelona, Keirrison did the same (read more here). Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the next day that they're on the verge of finalizing the deal.

Despite having more than four years left on his contract, Keirrison can leave Palmeiras without an extra fee. When he signed his contract earlier this year, a clause was inserted that allowed him to move at any moment to Barcelona, his favourite club since childhood (read more here). Sport claims that Keirrison also insisted that in his contract with Traffic a buyout clause would be included saying that he could leave to Barcelona for 15 million euro°. For other clubs, the buyout clause would be 50 million euro.

Other sources mention other figures regarding the agreed transfer fee: "13 million plus 3 million in incentives" (tv3), "around 14 million euro" (el periódico), "around 15 million euro" (globo esporte), "16 million euro" (lance). Keirrison, who also rejected an offer by Real Madrid in January, will most likely be included, on loan or permanently, in a transfer deal on Villa or (more unlikely) on Forlán or Bruno Alves.

Read more:
Deal on transfer of Keirrison
Keirrison dreams of Barcelona move
Barcelona prepares final offer for Villa

Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe

Deportivo La Coruña president Augusto César Lendoiro has said at a press conference that his club has rejected an 8 million euro° bid by Barcelona for Deportivo left back defender Filipe Luis (23):

"There's no deal. I've informed the agent of the player and an intermediary that if the player would decide to leave for another team, this issue should be solved immediately. We don't want to let him go because it's difficult to find a substitute on the market."

Lendoiro had yesterday evening a dinner with the player's agent José Carlos Lages, who had arrived earlier that day from São Paulo, to discuss the situation of the Brazilian left back defender.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Lendoiro told Lages that he's only willing to let Filipe go for the buyout clause of 20 million euro°. The agent will now reportedly inform Barcelona about the meeting and the two clubs are expected to directly talk with each other from now on. Barcelona would want to offer 10 million euro° plus a player.

A Coruña local newspaper La Opinión A Coruña, that says that intermediary Juan Figer also took part in the meeting, claims that Deportivo wants to hold on to the player and that he will only leave for the buyout clause or a fee close to that. Atlético Madrid, Olympique Lyon and Juventus would also be interested.

Madrid sports paper As claims that Lages made clear that Filipe prefers to join Barcelona. While Deportivo would be willing to drop to 15 million euro°, Barcelona would have offered 10 million euro°. A deal could be found around 12-13 million euro°. Deportivo would have offered to include Barcelona players Pedro (21) or Víctor Sánchez (21) but Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would count on the players, especially on Pedro, for next season.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that it's Figer, one of the two agents of Filipe, who is most involved in the talks since Deportivo still has to pay him 700 000 euro from Filipe's transfer. Barcelona would have offered 8 million euro°, while Deportivo has asked for 10 million euro° plus the loan of one player. Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona has put a limit of 9 million euro°.

Read more:
Filipe could sign five-year deal on Monday
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe

Deal on transfer of Keirrison

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that there's a deal on the transfer of Palmeiras forward Keirrison (20) to Barcelona.

Barcelona would have used the first option they had to buy Keirrison and paid a transfer fee of 13 million euro° plus 3 million euro° incentives. The Brazilian stiker would sign his contract in the coming days.

It's nevertheless not yet clear what the final destination of Keirrison will be since Barceloan is expected to try to include the player in another transfer deal, which means the Brazilian could end up at Valencia (Villa), Atlético Madrid (Forlán) or Porti (Bruno Alves).


(full story tomorrow)


Watch a video of Keirrison:

Paraula de Pep (The Word of Pep)

"Paraula de Pep" (Pep's word) is a short documentary of Guardiola's press conferences during the 2008-2009 season by the Catalan television TV3. It was broadcasted two days before the 2009 Champions League final.

Barcelona close to signing Robinho on loan

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona could close in the coming hours the loan of Manchester City left winger and Brazilian international Robinho (25).

Robinho would sign for one season with an option to buy the Brazilian next summer.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claimed this morning that Barcelona was planning to make a 41 million euro° bid for Robinho and that Manchester City is willing to let the player go because of his bad relationship with Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

Catalan sports paper Sport claimed that Robinho, who doesn't feel comfortable in England, had become Barcelona's main candidate for the left wing position after Bayern Munich repeated that Ribéry is not for sale. Because of the high transfer fee Manchester City would ask for Robinho, Barcelona would be looking at other options, among which a loan deal leaving Barcelona to only pay the player's salary.

Read more:
Robinho now main option for left wing
Rummenigge: "We want Ribery to stay"
Robinho is alternative for Ribery

Barcelona starts negotiations with Asenjo

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona has started negotiations with Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19).

Barcelona would have immediately picked up the talks after the renewal negotiations with Barcelona goalkeeper Valdés broke down today. Catalan sports paper Sport claimed earlier this week that Asenjo was postponing a deal with Atlético Madrid to see how the talks between Barcelona and Valdés would evolve (read more here).

Read more:
Valdes exit would open door for Asenjo
Barcelona looking at possible substitutes for Valdes
Valdes renewal negotiations broken off

Espanyol interested in Sylvinho

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Espanyol Barcelona is interested in Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (35), whose contract expires at the end of this season.

Espanyol would already have sounded out Sylvinho. The fact that the Brazilian defender would like to continue to live in Barcelona could make a deal more likely.

Asked about his future, Sylvinho said to Catalan sports paper Sport that he's calm about what will come: "You cannot know if these are my last days at Barcelona. I want to live in the present and I don't think too much about the future.

Now I'm only thinking about Rome. Then I will take vacations and I sincerely don't know what will happen after that. The truth is that I'm little worried about it. First I want to enjoy my holidays and then we'll see about next season."

During the title celebrations on Saturday, Sylvinho told journalists that Barcelona should now first decide on renewing his contract or not: "I've never denied that I feel at home here, that I'm very happy and that it feels like family. I don't know if this was a goodbye from the fans. I leave the choice in the hands of the club. I' 35 years old and very motivated. They should take the decision and whatever they will decide, I will understand it."

Read more:
Celtic Glasgow is an option for Sylvinho
Barcelona looking for left back in Dutch league
Sylvinho wants to play for two more years

Will Henry play tonight?

Asked about the chances that Barcelona forward Thierry Henry will play tonight, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola said yesterday at a press conference that there are serious doubts about the player's fitness:

"Henry is uncertain for the game... Quite uncertain, very uncertain... We'll see how he feels tomorrow morning."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Henry didn't pass a last test yesterday. He's still feeling pain in his right knee and will almost certainly not be part of the team tonight. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that everything indicates that Henry will start on the bench.

Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that Henry won't play against Chelsea and Catalan television channel TV3 claims that the decision that Henry won't play has already been taken, despite the player wanting to take the risk. All media agree that, if Henry doesn't play, Iniesta will move to the left wing and Keita will play in midfield.

Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova told the club's official media that the decision will be made shortly before the start of the game: "During the day, we will monitor the evolution of his injury and we'll decide later if he plays or not. In the warming-up, we'll test if he's able to play some minutes, the whole game or not at all. The medical staff and the player will have to decide what will happen and inform us."

Bojan wants to stay for many more years

Asked about his situation at the club and the rumours about a loan exit in the summer (read more here), Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18) has said in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that he hopes to be able to continue at the club:

"I would like to continue here for many more years. Now I'm just focused on the team so I don't want to talk about a possible loan.

We're at the decisive stage of the season and I'm only thinking about football. I try to enjoy the moment. It's true that I didn't expect to play this little. I thought I would have more minutes. But Guardiola believes in me.

I nevertheless can assure that I will never join Real Madrid. I'm practically born at Barça. I love this club and because of the rivalry it's unthinkable to go and play for Madrid. I'm happy to receive the support of the Barcelona fans and I want to return that by scoring goals for the club that has given me everything."

Read more:
Bojan wants to continue next season
Arsenal interested in Bojan
Almeria wants Bojan on loan next season

Eto'o wants to continue at Barcelona

Asked about the renewal of his contract that expires at the end of next season (read more here), Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) has said in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that he wants to stay at the club:

"I've talked with Laporta and I told him that, with everything we're playing for now and out of respect for my team-mates, it would be a lack of respect if I would go to his office now to talk about salaries or ask for a pay rise or to talk about the duration of a contract, five or six more years.

When the season ends well, I'm sure Pep will tell me: "Hey, black guy, I'm happy, go and talk with Jan" (Barcelona president Joan Laporta). For me, Barça is my future. If I wasn't happy, I would already have spoken about it with Jan. If it was for him, we would already have sit down and talked. I want to stay at the club and I hope to play many more years here. When I decide to stay and shook Guardiola's hand, that wasn't only for one season. One thing is clear: I will never return to Real Madrid, although I'm grateful for the chance they gave me.

This is my best year of the five years I've been at the club, the year in which I'm enjoying myself the most. Winning any trophy is always difficult but it's already a privilege to be were we are. The two seasons before were very hard, but now there has only been happiness. After having suffered two major injuries, I kept on scoring but it's only now I've started to feel important again."

Read more:
Barcelona offers Eto'o to English clubs
Several clubs preparing bid for Barcelona players
Eto'o repeats his intention of staying

Henry denies exit rumours

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to the English Premier League (read more here), Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) has said in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that he's not thinking about an exit:

"I'm very happy here. I've already said it several times. I like the city, the food and the weather. I have a contract for two more years and I'm feeling good at the club. For me everyting is clear. I don't see myself returning to the English Premier League.

I could achieve great things in England, but I didn't won anything with Barcelona yet and I want to win everything. Every time I put on the Barcelona shirt I feel honoured. I still didn't win the Champions League, but I also want to win the Liga and the Spanish cup.

During the summer, Guardiola came to see me and he explained his project. Everything was clear for me then. It was the best way to show me that he wanted me to stay. Guardiola believed in me and by staying I could pay him back."

British tabloid The Daily Express meanwhile claims that Henry could quit Barcelona to join a Major League Soccer team in the United Stated (read more here).

Read more:
Henry wants transfer rumours to stop
Manchester City plans January bid for Henry
Chelsea manager wants Henry in January

Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Spanish news agency EFE claims that the contract renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) is closer after a new meeting yesterday between Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Josep Mario Orobitg, the agent of the player.

Barcelona would have offered Busquets, whose contract expires at the end of the current season, to renew until the summer of 2014.

While Barcelona officials confirmed to the agency that it was a "very positive" meeting, Orobitg said that a renewal deal could be reached soon: "The positions are coming closer. I think we'll need one more meeting before signing the deal."

In an interview with Catalan television channel TV3, Orobitg added that there's an agreement on the main issues: "Now it's just about some little details. Barcelona wants the player to stay and the player wants to continue."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Busquets has been offered to renew until 2013, while the financial conditions got better. Like his team-mates, the Catalan will now also receive a higher fixed salary with incentives based on his individual performances and the performances of the team.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona unexpectedly invited Orobitg for a new meeting after Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general director of football Raúl Sanllehí worked out a new proposal that was seriously higher than the first offer. The deal could now be closed in the coming days.

Asked about the meeting, Orobitg repeats he is positive about the outcome: "The positions came closer and I think we'll have an agreement very soon. This time I can say that I'm optimistic and that I believe that we can finalize the agreement in one or two weeks. Despite having received several offers, we've always said that Barcelona was our priority. And it has been this way. Both Sergio and his father want to continue at the club and we all hope to sign the renewal as soon as possible."

Read more:
Busquets rejects renewal offer

Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona
Busquets not listening to offers by other clubs

Puyol meets his look-alike

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol was yesterday night the guest of football talkshow "Hat Trick" on Catalan television channel Canal 33 and met there with actor Jordi Ríos, who plays Puyol in "Crackòvia", a new but already very popular humoristic football program that is broadcasted every Monday night by Catalan television channel TV3.


See the trailer of Crackòvia here