Barcelona interested in Roma defender Juan

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero claims that Barcelona is interested in AS Roma central defender and Brazilian international Juan (30).

Juan was on the verge of signing a contract extension with Roma until 2013 and could be using the Barcelona interest to get a better deal.

The Brazilian's current contract with the Italian club expires in 2011, although a clause allows the central defender to leave Roma at the end of the current season for a transfer fee of around 7 million euro°.

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport has unconfirmedly also claimed that Barcelona is closely following Juan and would be willing to push hard for the Brazilian defender. With other clubs also trying to sign Mexès, Roma would prefer to keep the French central defender if one of the two has to leave.

Read more:
Roma's Juan alternative for Caceres
Looking for a central defender
Barcelona asked for now Roma player Menez

Sponsorship deal with Arab telecom company

Barcelona has yesterday announced that the club has signed a commercial agreement and sponsorship deal with United Arab Emirates based telecommunications company Etisalat (read more here).

Etisalat, currently operating in 17 countries across Asia and Africa, becomes a new so-called Premium Sponsor of the club in a deal that is according to Barcelona president Joan Laporta "the most important agreement ever signed by FC Barcelona on an international level".

The agreement has initially been signed for the next four years, until 2013, and can after that first period be renewed annually. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the deal is worth 12 million euro for the first four years.

Apart from the commercial commitments of the agreement between FC Barcelona and Etisalat, the pair will work together to increase the feeling of solidarity and corporate social responsibility within the zones of influences of the communications company.

Read more:
Barcelona third richest club in the world

Madrid starts preparations for title celebrations

Boluda:
Gallardón? Boluda here. Yes. You can start preparing the Cibeles. We'll soon celebrate the double.

Barkeeper:
They're still at ten points and they already act as if they're just about to catch us.

Customer:
When they play, they're terrible. But when they sell smoke, that club is number one.

(click the cartoon to enlarge)

source:
golsud.com
cayecaturas.com

see more cartoons here

Bruno Alves reveals transfer to Barcelona

Portuguese weekly paper Focus claims that Barcelona has sealed the transfer of Porto central defender and Portuguese international Bruno Alves (27).

The Portuguese central defender would join Barcelona on a five-year deal, with Porto receiving a transfer fee of 20 million euro° (read more here).

The paper reveals an sms that Alves would have sent by mistake to an unknown person instead of to a friend and in which the player confirms the transfer.

The message reads: "With a lot of sadness I will leave Porto at the end of the season. I was yesterday [4 February] at the club with my agent and the deal is good for both parties. I signed with Barcelona for five years. I'm very happy but I'll keep Porto in my heart."

Portuguese sports paper O Jogo, that says that a rumour about the sms was running through the media for the last days, reports that Porto denies a deal and claims that the legal department of the club has filed a criminal complaint against strangers for the fake use of the names of Porto players.

Read more:
Father Bruno Alves confirms Barcelona interest
Barcelona prepares offer for Bruno Alves
Interest in Chelsea defender Mancienne

[2008] Alonso summer target

this post was published one year ago:


British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona will make a bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) next summer. Also because of injuries, Alonso has less playing time this season and since Liverpool has similar players in the squad, they would be willing to let him go. Barcelona would prepare an offer of 13,2 million euro for the Spanish international.


Read more 19 February 2008 news:
No spending limits
Cruijff on Mourinho, Blanc and Valverde