Euro 2008: Portugal-Turkey (group A)

The European Championship starts today with two matches in group A. For the whole schedule look here.

On this first day, Barcelona midfielder Deco (30) will play with Portugal against Turkey. Deco is expected to start the game. You can comment the match (and the performance of Deco) here.

pep's opinion:

deserved 2-0 win for portugal. deco played as most advanced man in a midfield with controling midfielder petit and with moutinho, who was very active both in attack (gave the assist for the second goal) as in defense. although he really looks fragile. deco, who greeted former barcelona goal keeper rustu just before the beginning of the match, started the game well but disappeared quite soon, not being able to pick up the playmaking role due to unnecesary ball losses and bad passes. he was replaced at the end of the match by meira. this wasn't a performance which will have a positive influence on his transfer fee.

Read everything about Barcelona in the Euro 2008 here

Deal with Trezeguet

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona officials have met with Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30) in Monaco, where they offered the French striker a four-year contract, worth 5,5 million euro a year (read more here).

Although Trezeguet said earlier this week in an interview with Italian television channel Sky Italia that he hoped to end his career with Juventus, he would be considering the offer.

And a statement by Antonio Caliendo, the agent of Trezeguet, in an interview with the Italian paper yesterday seems to suggest that the player has accepted the offer: "Barcelona should now make the next move. If they can find a deal, it won't be the player who will cause problems." Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Trezeguet has asked Juventus to let him go.

With Juventus declaring that the player was untouchable when the first rumours appeared (read more here), this seemed to change this week when Juventus owner John Elkann said to journalists: "Will Trezeguet leave Juventus? You need to ask Barcelona."

Barcelona would be willing to pay a transfer fee between 20 and 25 million euro° for Trezeguet. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that both clubs are negotiating by phone. Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Juventus has rejected a first offer of 20 million euro°.

Barcelona could offer players to lower the fee. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Juventus would be interested in Rafael Márquez. El Mundo Deportivo claims that Juventus officials have asked Barcelona to make a contact with Josep Maria Mesalles, the agent of Samuel Eto'o, to hear first hand from the Cameroonian if he would be willing to join Juventus.

Read more:

Trezeguet serious option to replace Eto'o

Trezeguet is still an option
Barcelona wants Trezeguet

Pirlo rejects Barcelona offer

Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), AC Milan midfielder and Italian international Andrea Pirlo (29) said in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA that he hasn't considered leaving Milan despite having received several offers:

"Personally I have not talked to anyone, but my agent Tinti has received offers from Spain and England. Of course this makes you feel good, but I've decided to stay with Milan. At this level one million more or less doesn't make the difference, it's more about the challenges and how you feel inside. Here in Milan I have everything I want and there is a new and exciting project."

Read more:

Barcelona interested in Pirlo

Mystery Milan player close to joining Barcelona

Milan announces Zambrotta transfer

Marquez offered to Atlético Madrid

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Jorge Mendes, the agent of Barcelona cental defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29), has offered the player to Atlético Madrid (read more here).

Márquez' current year salary of 5 million euro could be a major problem, although Mendes would have suggested that the player would accept a lower salary.

While Barcelona last year blocked a transfer of the player to Atlético, they would now be willing to cooperate. The contract of Márquez expires in 2010.

Read more:
Atletico Madrid confirms Marquez interest
Guardiola wants to keep Marquez
Marquez wants to stay

Cortes feels ready for Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Getafe right back defender David Cortés (28) has said in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that he hasn't yet been contacted by Barcelona: "But of course I'm willing to negotiate, they can call me 24 hours a day. It would be great but there's often a big gap between those kind of rumours and the reality."

The Spanish right back added that he thinks that he has the qualities to make the step: "I feel ready to play in whatever team in the world. Although when such a big team is following you, you start to wonder about that, since you're not used to the level."

Read more:
Cortes back-up for Alves
How things stand: Right back defender
Getafe right back looked at

Deal on Alves

It's not yet official but everything indicates that Barcelona and Sevilla have closed a deal Sevilla right back defender and Brazilian international Daniel 'Dani' Alves (25).

After Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain travelled to Sevilla on Thursday, they returned with a principal agreement on the transfer (read more here). Yesterday the negotiations went further by phone, Barcelona economic vice president Ferran Soriano joined the talks and a deal was found. The only point to resolve is the way the transfer fee should be paid.

Most papers claim the transfer fee is 29,5 million euro°, plus 6 million euro° variables in the next four years: 750 000 euro each time Barcelona can qualify for the Champions League and 1 million euro when Barcelona wins the Champions League, the Spanish league or the Spanish cup.

Both main Barcelona sports papers claim that the transfer of Mallorca player Fernando Navarro will not be included in the deal. Both main Madrid sports tabloids claim that Barcelona has added their 30 per cent of the Navarro transfer fee to the rest (read more here).

José Rodríguez 'Rodri' Baster, the agent of Alves, said in an interview with Spanish news agency Europa Press that the transfer is now only a matter of time. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Alves resigned to part of his salary to make the deal possible.

It is expected that the transfer could be officially announced on Monday. Alves will then probably presented in two weeks.

Read more:
Principal agreement on Alves

Final offer for Alves
How things stand: Right back defender

Case closed: Pjanic

Metz attacking midfielder Miralem Pjanic (18) will not play for Barcelona as of next season, like had been rumoured over the last months (read more here).

French champions Olympique Lyon announced yesterday a five-year deal with the player. Lyon pays a transfer fee of 7,5 million euro° (+ 1,25 million euro variables).

Read more:

Barcelona offer for Bosnian youngster Pjanic

Youth: Douglas Costa de Souza (Gremio)

Case closed: Mourinho

OFFICIAL: Sylvinho renewal

Barcelona has officially announced that Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho Mendes (34) has signed a one-year renewal.

In an interview with the official club media Sylvinho gave a first reaction to his renewal: "The club feels I made an important contribution and they are happy with me. Personally, I am very pleased. I was working well and things just needed to be discussed and formalised. On a personal level, I am highly satisfied. Barcelona is a demanding club and any player that wants to stay here has to put their heart into it and I have always wanted to carry on playing here, doing things well and winning titles."

Sylvinho joined Barcelona in the summer of 2004, arriving from Celta Vigo.

Read the whole Sylvinho renewal story from the first rumours to the signature

Deal with Mancini

Roma sports paper Il Romanista claims that Barcelona and AS Roma winger Amantino Mancini (27) have already closed a deal.

Gilmar Veloz, the agent of the player, would have reached an agreement on the personal terms of the contract, by which the Brazilian would earn 4 million euro plus incentives a year. Two months ago, around Easter, Mancini would already have visited Barcelona and he liked the city a lot.

With the contract of Mancini expiring next year and the plauer refusing to renew it, Roma is willing to sell him this summer. Italian player's agent Ernesto Bronzetti would act as go-between and was in Roma yesterday to discuss the transfer. A deal between the two clubs could be closed for a fee of little over 10 million euro°.

Asked about the rumours linking the club with Mancini, Barcelona economic vice preisdent Ferran Soriano is quoted by the paper as not denying the interest in Mancini: "I'm not saying that we are not interested in Mancini, I can only say that we haven't talked with the player, noor with Roma."

Read more:

Mancini alternative for Alves

Aquilani is touchable

Silva not at any price

Euro 2008: The Barcelona players

Tomorrow starts the European championship in Austria and Switzerland. This blog will especially follow the performances of the eight players who have at this moment a contract with Barcelona:

Deco, Portugal
Lilian Thuram, France
Thierry Henry, France
Eric Abidal, France
Gianluca Zambrotta, Italy
Carles Puyol, Spain
Xavi, Spain
Andres Iniesta, Spain


Besides these eight players, another eleven former Barcelona players are participating in the Euro 2008:

Simão Sabrosa, Portugal
Ricardo Quaresma, Portugal
Rüştü Reçber, Turkey
Robert Enke, Germany
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Netherlands
Cesc Fàbregas, Spain
José Reina, Spain
Fernando Navarro, Spain
Dani Güiza, Spain
Sergio García, Spain
Henrik Larsson, Sweden


Read more about Barcelona in the Euro 2008 here

Caceres signs his contract

After passing the medical test yesterday afternoon and this morning (with the doctor commenting: "He’s like a child. He hasn’t got any damage to his tendons or muscles and no scars."), new Barcelona central defender Martín Cáceres (21) officially signed today his four-year contract.


In the margin all papers now seem to agree how the 16,5 million euro° transfer fee will be divided (read more here): 9 million goes to Villareal, 1 million to Recreativo Huelva and the rest goes to Defensor Sporting Montevideo and agent Daniel Fonseca, with the later receiving the major part.

Read the whole Cáceres transfer story from the first rumours to the signature

Transfer summer 2008: Overview

IN

Seydou Keita
former club: sevilla
age: 28
country: mali

official announcement: monday 26 may
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 14 million euro
note: barcelona pays the buyout fee which means paying an extra 16 per cent vat (2,2 million euro)

Gerard Piqué
former club: manchester united
age: 21
country: catalunya, spain

official announcement: tuesday 27 may
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 5 million euro (+ 2 million euro variables)

José Manuel Pinto
former club: celta vigo
age: 32
country: spain

official announcement: friday 30 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the contract can be cancelled by both parties after one year, pinto played for barcelona on loan since january, when barcelona paid celta 500 000 euro

Martín Cáceres
former club: villareal (on loan to recreativo huelva)
age: 21
country: uruguay

official announcement: wednesday 4 june
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 16,5 million euro


OUT

José Edmílson
new club: villareal
age: 31
country: brazil

barcelona player since: 2004
barcelona contract until: 2008

official announcement: friday 23 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the contract of the player expired

Giovani dos Santos
new club: tottenham
age: 19
country: mexico

barcelona player since: 2002
barcelona contract until: 2009 (?)

official announcement: friday 6th june
contract duration: 5 years
transfer fee: 6 million euro (+ 5 million euro depending on the player’s appearances during his five years of contract)
note: when the player is transferred barcelona receives 20% of the fee during the first two years or 10% after that

OFFICIAL: Giovani to Tottenham

Barcelona has announced the transfer of Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) to Tottenham.

The statement on the official website reads: "FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur FC have come to an agreement for the transfer of Giovani Dos Santos to the English club.

The Mexican will sign for the club managed by Juande Ramos until June 30, 2013 for a fee 6 million euros plus another 5 million depending on the player’s appearances for the London club during his five year’s of contract. FC Barcelona also maintain 20% of the financial rights to any possible transfer of the player during his first two years of contract and 10% on any transfer from his new club, Tottenham Hotspur FC."

Tottenham has confirmed the transfer: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of Giovani dos Santos to the Club, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms."

Giovani dos Santos joined the Barcelona youth academy in 2002. He was promoted to the first team last summer.

pep's opinion:
the fee is low for a player of his talent, but if it's true that his contract was expiring next year and he was unwilling to sign a renewal (and that the variables only depend upon his appearances), then you should just take it.

i think his first season was very decent given the circumstances (team wasn't good, crowd didn't like him, he was injured the whole time), so i would have liked him to stay with us. he had the potential to add something to this team. he was treated badly by a part of the fans, something that could have made him decide to leave, but his entourage played a decisive role in that by sending out unclear signals about his future from the beginning.

just a sad story. nevertheless good luck to giovani. go and spread the fame of our youth academy...

Read the whole Giovani dos Santos transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Opinions on Caceres

A lot of people have said their word on new Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (21) over the last days. I've picked out two.

Asked about the transfer, Manolo Zambrano, the manager of Recreativo Huelva where Cáceres played this year on loan, said on Tuesday in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that Barcelona could have done 'the deal of the century': "In a year we'll all think that fee is ridiculous for a player like him. If everything goes like it should, Barcelona has a central defender for years and years."

Zambrano describes the technical and human qualities of the player: "In the 14 years that I've been a professional player, I never saw someone with so many qualities in all aspects of the game, nor did I ever see a player with that kind of motivation, willingness to work and natural intelligence. Besides all that, it's really a normal guy and the ultimate proof of that is his partner, who doesn't have anything to do with the show girls of other players."

Barcelona analyst and former Barcelona player Òscar Garcia described Cáceres as follows in Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo: "He's Uruguayan and shows that by his aggressiveness, competitiveness and winning spirit. Having a good technique, hiss main quality is his defensive strength. He's good in the air, is quite fast for a centre back, has a great positioning. And he's young, which leads to think he can develop into an excellent central defender."

pep's opinion:
although I didn't see both of them play a lot (not to say: almost never, not to say: i might have see them play but didn't notice them anyway), my sixth sense tells me beter things about caceres than about garay. i like central defenders who are versatile and hard and (positively) agressive, which caceres seems to be. but i mainly like the fact that everyone describes him as being fast. for a dominant team like barcelona against whom everyone plays the counter attack, it's incredible that we haven't had for so long a really fast central defender. alves will bring more speed at the back too, by the way.

for some reason, i think marquez-caceres sounds like the perfect duo. together they seem to have everything what is needed at the centre back. and maybe guardiola is just thinking the same and that's why he's holding on to marquez despite good offers coming in... and for the future pique-caceres sounds pretty good too. but where would all that leave puyol? and milito?! and oleguer???!!!

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Martín Cáceres
Why did Barcelona miss out on Garay?
Guardiola wants to keep Marquez

Barcelona interested in Pirlo

Italian television channel Sky Italia claims that Barcelona is interested in AC Milan midfielder and Italian international Andrea Pirlo (29). Guardiola would have asked for the player.

Pirlo is unsettled in Milan since new arrival Mathieu Flamini appeared to have signed a super contract and some of his team-mates got an important contract improvement.

Read more:
Mystery Milan player close to joining Barcelona
Milan announces Zambrotta transfer
Deco could swap places with Lampard or Gattuso

Principal agreement on Alves

Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain travelled to Sevilla yesterday.

During a six-hour meeting with Sevilla president José María del Nido and Sevilla sports director Monchi, both clubs would have reached a principal agreement on the transfer of Sevilla right back defender and Brazilian international Daniel 'Dani' Alves (25).

Barcelona president Joan Laporta returns today from the United States and could finalize the deal.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona will pay 32 million euro°, plus a possible 3 million euro variables in the next five years. The transfer to Sevilla of Mallorca left back defender Fernando Navarro, whose transfer rights are still owned for 30% by Barcelona, should be included in the deal, which could postpone the signature of the Alves deal.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims the transfer price is 32 million euro, plus 2 million euro variables, plus the 30% of the Navarro transfer fee.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona will pay 29 million euro, plus 3 million euro of the Navarro transfer, plus another 3 million euro variabales. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the transfer price is around 32 million euro.

Read more:
Final offer for Alves

Newcastle and West Ham have Gudjohnsen on list

British tabloid The Sun claims that English Premier League clubs Newcastle and West Ham are interested in Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (29). The player can leave Barcelona this summer and would like to return to England.

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley already tried to sign Gudjohnsen last year. Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan would want the Icelander to replace striker Obafemi Martins. The tabloid claims that Gudjohnsen would cost around 5 million euro°.

Asked about the rumours linking the player with a return to the Premier League, Arnor Gudjohnsen, the father and agent of the player, confirmed the English interest to British sports website BBC Sport and said that Gudjohnsen is considering his future: "One Premier League club has shown a lot of interest in Eidur. He would certainly be interested in a move back to England, but he is not going to rush into making a decision. Eidur and his family are settled in Barcelona and he has two years left on his contract, but his chances were limited last season."

Read more:
Portsmouth and Newcastle in race for Gudjohnsen
Gudjohnsen's price tag
Gudjohnsen top target for Bundesliga newcomer

Final offer for Alves

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has put their final offer for Sevilla right back defender and Brazilian international Daniel 'Dani' Alves (25) on the table.

After a bid of 30 million euro° was rejected, Barcelona has made a last offer of 32 million euro°, plus some variables depending on the performances of the player and the team over the coming years.

Mallorca left back defender and former Barcelona player Fernando Navarro (25), on who Barcelona still has some transfer rights, could also be included in the deal (read more here).

Asked about the rumours linking the player with Barcelona and the declarations of the player saying he wants to leave (read more here), Sevilla president José María del Nido (picture) meanwhile told the official club radio station that Alves could leave this summer:

"He has a contract but Daniel has again put himself on the market and Barcelona is actively interested in him. Of course it's every time more difficult to keep him with us and the fact that we won't play Champions League next season means we have changed our transfer policy. We will do what's best for Sevila. I still won't say how much Daniel is worth, you just should look at what has been paid for other right back defenders in the past. But all clubs should have in mind that with article 17 of the Fifa transfer regulations which enables players to leave for a reduced fee, we all have a sword of Damocles hanging above our head."

José Rodríguez 'Rodri' Baster, the agent of Alves, urged Del Nido in an interview with Madrid sport tabloid As to be more flexible: "I understand that he wants to receive as much money as possible, but when the club will make such a huge profit, I would not understand that a deal would fail because of 2 million euro. If this goes on, the interested clubs could get tired and cancel everything, like happened last year with Chelsea. Dani doesn't deserve this. The most important player in the history of Sevilla should be able to leave through the front door."

Read more:
New offensive for Alves
How things stand: Right back defender
Official talks on Alves to start tomorrow

Boca president reveals contact with Palacio

Asked about the rumours linking the player with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), Boca Juniors president Pedro Pompilio said in an interview with Argentinian newspaper La Nación that there have been contacts between Barcelona and Boca Juniors forward and Argentinian international Rodrigo Palacio (26):

"His agent and his father told me that Barcelona has contacted the player. It's common that interested clubs first contact a player to know if he's willing to join them and how much he wants to earn. Thereafter they make a bid to his club.

Until now, we didn't receive an offer for him, so we didn't yet put a price on Palacio. But we all know that he's an irreplacable player and that he's unique on the international market. Boca will respect his decision, but if we sell him, it will be for a very high fee."

Read more:

Deal on Argentinian international Palacio close

Palacio fears Barcelona media pressure

Deal with Coloccini

Giovani confirms Tottenham transfer

In an interview with a Mexican television station during the half-time of the international friendly game between Mexico and Argentina, Barcelona right wing attacker and Mexican international Giovani dos Santos (19) would have confirmed that he's leaving Barcelona this summer stating: "Next season I will play for Tottenham."

Giovani added that the presence of Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has been crucial in his decision (read more here).

Read more:

Giovani's transfer fee in free fall

Deal on Giovani

Favourite Tottenham might have landed Giovani

Guardiola signs two-year deal

Barcelona has announced the signing of a two-year contract by new manager Josep Guardiola and his assistant Tito Vilanova (read more here).

The statement on the official website reads: "On Thursday midday, Josep Guardiola put pen to paper as the new first team head coach for the next two seasons. At the same time, Tito Vilanova signed his contract to join the first team coaching staff."

When leaving the club's offices, Guardiola, who wants to stay focused on Barcelona B for the next days, said to journalists that he was satisfied: "I cannot deny that I'm very happy, although I know the responsibility is immense. Today we have just formalized what we had agreed upon before. In 10 or 12 days we will reply to all your questions."

In an interview with the official club media, Guardiola showed his surprise about the way his career as coach is developing: "Everything has been going very fast. Not so long ago I decided to start coaching and in a blink I've now signed a contract as Barcelona manager."



Read more:
Deal with Guardiola
Guardiola's staff
Guardiola yet to sign his contract

Transfer summer 2008: Overview

IN

Seydou Keita
former club: sevilla
age: 28
country: mali

official announcement: monday 26 may
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 14 million euro
note: barcelona pays the buyout fee which means paying an extra 16 per cent vat (2,2 million euro)

Gerard Piqué
former club: manchester united
age: 21
country: catalunya, spain

official announcement: tuesday 27 may
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 5 million euro (+ 2 million euro variables)

José Manuel Pinto
former club: celta vigo
age: 32
country: spain

official announcement: friday 30 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the contract can be cancelled by both parties after one year, pinto played for barcelona on loan since january, when barcelona paid celta 500 000 euro

Martín Cáceres
former club: villareal (on loan to recreativo huelva)
age: 21
country: uruguay

official announcement: wednesday 4 june
contract duration: 4 years
transfer fee: 16,5 million euro


OUT

José Edmílson
new club: villareal
age: 31
country: brazil

barcelona player since: 2004
barcelona contract until: 2008

official announcement: friday 23 may
contract duration: 2 years
transfer fee: 0 euro
note: the contract of the player expired

Sergio Garcia is not a priority

Both main Catalan sports papers claim that former Espanyol Barcelona player 'Mágico' Díaz, the agent of Zaragoza forward and Spanish international Sergio García (24), met yesterday in Barcelona with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain (read more here).

Díaz was informed that Sergio García is considered to be an interesting player, but that he's not a priority and certainly not when Zaragoza holds on to the 18 million euro° buyout clause.

Because José Ramón Alexanko, the head of the Barcelona youth academy, assisted the meeting, it is believed that the main topic during the meeting were the possible transfers of youth players. Díaz represents several players of Barcelona B and other youth categories.

Read more:
Barcelona could pay Sergio Garcia buyout fee
Sergio Garcia close to a return
Could Barcelona pick up a Zaragoza player?

Sylvinho waiting to sign his renewal

Asked about the situation of the player, Hans Lamberz, the agent of Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho Mendes (34), said in an interview with Italian football site Tutto Mercato Web that the player is waiting to put his signature:

"We have been talking about a one-year renewal, a solution that satisfied all parties. But every agreement should be put on paper and be signed and the signature seems to take a lot of time. The player is about to leave for Brazil and wants to have a final response soon. If that's not the case, the player will be on the market since we have enough requests for him."

With AS Roma there were contacts in the beginning of this year (read more here), but the agents denied any recent talks to include Sylvinho in a deal on Roma winger Amantino Mancini (read more here).

There have been contacts with other clubs, but none of them convinced the player so far: "We had an offer from an English club, one from a French club, which he refused because of the language problem, one from a German club, which he said no to although it was a financially interesting offer. And two offers from Italian club, but although Sylvinho is not amongst the best paid Barcelona players, his contract is not within the reach of Italian clubs, or at least of those who have contacted us. There is also an offer by a Spanish club, but when you have played in Barcelona it is difficult to switch to another Liga team."

Barcelona remains at this moment the first option of the Brazilian left back defender: "Sylvinho is being appreciated by everyone in the club: from his team-mates, over the technical staff to the directors. For him, Barcelona is a family. So he wants to stay and his future is totally in the hands of the club now. But if the renewal is not being signed, we will have to start to look around."

pep's opinion:
if caceres can also play as left back, maybe all this waiting means sylvinho won't continue in the end. but whatever it is: like in the crosas case, again very poor behaviour from the people responsible for dealing with this matters.

Read more:
Barcelona wants to renew Sylvinho

Sylvinho ready to accept renewal offer

How things stand: Left back defender

Negotiations with Sporting on Moutinho

Portuguese tabloid Correio da Manhã claims that Barcelona is holding talks with Sporting on the transfer of Sporting midfielder and Portuguese international João Moutinho (21), who is seen as a possible successor of Barcelona midfielder Deco (read more here). With the negotiations being well-advanced, the deal could be closed in the next days.

Barcelona offers 20 million euro° plus central defender Gerard Piqué (21) on loan for two years. Sporting is at the moment holding on to the buyout fee of 25 million euro°, but could accept to lower that to 23 million euro if Piqué would join them on loan.

Read more:

Moutinho other candidate to replace Deco

Ex-Barça: Fabio Rochemback

Deco announces his exit

Euro 2008: Spain-United States (friendly)

In preparation of the Euro 2008, the Spanish national team played yesterday an international friendly game against the United States. Spain won the match with 1-0.

Puyol and Xavi played the whole match. Iniesta has been ill this week and was rested. Xavi scored the only goal of the match.

Read more about Barcelona in the Euro 2008 here

OFFICIAL: Martín Cáceres

Barcelona has announced the signing of Villareal central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (21). Barcelona pays a transfer fee of 16,5 million euro°. The defender will play for Barcelona until 2012 and has a buyout fee of 50 million euro°.

The statement on the official website reads: "FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of José Martín Cáceres. The transfer fee has been set at €16.5 million.The defender will sign a four-year contract with the Blaugrana and will have a buy-out clause of €50 million inserted in to the deal."

The "principal agreement" was confirmed on the Villareal website. Cáceres will fly today to Barcelona to undergo the medical tests and to sign his contract. He will be presented tomorrow.

Read the whole Cáceres transfer story from the first rumours to the signature

Barcelona monitors Ronaldo events

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that both the current Barcelona board as former Barcelona sports vice president Sandro Rosell, a probable candiate in the possibly upcoming presidential elecions, are closely following the events surrounding Manchester United winger and Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo (23).

Both parties want to be prepared just in case Manchester United would declare the Portuguese transferable and put him on the market.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims, like this blog reported yesterday, that Cristiano Ronaldo would be the big election promise of Rosell if elections would be held this year (read more here).

Rosell believes that he has solid arguments to convince the Manchester United player, who dreams about moving to the Primera División one day, to reject the Madrid offer and to join Barcelona instead. The former Barcelona board member could already have made the first steps to make a transfer to Barcelona possible.

Read The Cristiano Ronaldo theory

Bruno Alves wants to prove himself

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Porto central defender and Portuguese international Bruno Alves (26) has said to jounalists that the European championship will be a chance to prove himself at the highest level:

"I have to use this Euro to show what I can because I know there are a lot of clubs that are following me. It's an honour that Barcelona is amongst them."

Read more:
Porto's Lucho Gonzalez to replace Deco
Bruno Alves new name on central defender list
How things stand: Central defenders

New shirts for Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Deco

Catalan sports paper Sport thinks that Chelsea (or AC Milan or Inter Milan), AC Milan (or Manchester City) and Inter Milan (or Manchester City) could be the new clubs of Barcelona players Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Deco. Barcelona could receive around 80 million euro° for the three players.

Mourinho's eleven

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo has today a report on how Barcelona would have looked like if new Inter Milan managerJosé Mourinho would have taken over.

During a meeting with Barcelona officials earlier this year (read more here), Mourinho asked for the total control over the technical organization, the medical staff and the transfers. The Portuguese didn't think many transfers were needed and wanted to focus on changing structural things like the preparation.

Former Barcelona player and probabe future Barcelona B manager Luis Enrique (38) would have been his assistant. Both would already had met to discuss the project (read more here).

Mourinho counted on Messi and Eto'o, wanted to have a talk with Deco and Ronaldinho and would have tried to sell Henry. He didn't like Abidal, Touré, Giovani and Pinto and knew little on Bojan.

Mourinho agreed with the transfer of Alves and would have brought in a decent back-up for Valdés, a left back defender and a left winger. From his former club Chelsea, he wouldn't have tried to bring Drogba, but was interested in Carvalho, Lampard and Essien. Keita was the alternative for Essien.

This could have been the Barcelona XI under Mourinho:

Valdés

Alves - Puyol - Milito - Maicon

Essien (or Deco) - Iniesta - Lampard

Messi - Eto'o - Ribéry

Read more:

Next season's eleven

Next season's squad

Meeting with Mourinho

Caceres transfer to be announced today

Today is the day that Villareal central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (21) will be announced as new Barcelona player. At least, that's what everybody says. Again.

The negotiations went on all day yesterday and it seems the deal is closed and that only some administrative issues should be finalized. Cáceres will sign a four-year contract and earn 2 million euro° plus incentives a year.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims the fee is 16 million euro° (10 for Villareal and 6 for Fonseca), Madrid sports tabloid As claims the fee is 17 million euro° (10 for Villareal and 7 for Defensor and Recreativo) and Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims the fee is 16,5 million° euro (10 for Villareal and the rest undefined).

Catalan sports paper Sport gives the most detailed and consistent explanation about the partition of the 16,5 million euro transfer fee°: 10 million goes to Villareal and 6,5 million goes to the Daniel Fonseca, the agent of the player who ownes half of the rights of Cáceres through Defensor Sporting de Montevideo, the former club of the player.

With a buyout fee of 20 million euro° and Villareal holding on to its share of 10 million euro°, it was Fonseca who accepted a lower part of the fee due to the pressure of the player and because Villareal would get full property of the player by next summer.

Besides all that, Recreativo Huelva, the club where Cáceres played on loan this season, would also receive a little one million euro of the money Villareal will get from Barcelona.

Read more:
Deal on Caceres
Villareal rejects offer for Caceres
How things stand: Central defenders

Mancini alternative for Alves

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will meet today or tomorrow with AS Roma sports director Daniele Pradé to discuss a transfer of Roma winger Amantino Mancini (27).

The polyvalent player would now be the main alternative in case Sevilla doesn't want to let go their right back defender Dani Alves. Mancini's agent, Gilmar Veloz, will arrive in Italy shortly to listen to all offers for the player

With the contract of Mancini expiring next year, Roma is willing to talk about a transfer. Barcelona is preparing an 8 million euro° bid for the Brazilian, while Roma is asking 15 million euro°. Although Roma prefers Abidal (read more here), they cannot pay his 4 million euro year salary and Barcelona is now considering to offer Brazilian left back defender Sylvinho Mendes in return to reduce the transfer fee.

pep's opinion:
if sylvinho hasn't yet signed a renewal, barcelona cannot really "offer him in a return" since his contract expires at the end of this month

Read more:
New offensive for Alves
Roma wants to swap Mancini for Abidal
Sylvinho ready to accept renewal offer

Euro 2008: France-Colombia (friendly)

In preparation of the Euro 2008, the French national team played yesterday an international friendly game against Colombia. France won the match with 1-0.

Thuram, Abidal and Henry all three started the game. Henry was replaced after 75 minutes, the other two completed the 90 minutes.

A fault on Henry, who played his 100th official match for France, lead to the winning penalty. Henry got booked.

Read more about Barcelona in the Euro 2008 here

The Cristiano Ronaldo theory

There's a rumour/conspiracy theory/urban legend about Manchester United winger and Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo (23) running through Barcelona these days. Because it's a really nice one, I don't want to hold it from you.

One.
Ronaldo is using the interest of Real Madrid to pressure Manchester United manager Ferguson, hoping Sir Alex will in the end just throw him out. When Manchester agrees with an exit, Ronaldo would nevertheless not go to Madrid. But to Barcelona.

Two.
Ronaldo would have agreed with sports supplier Nike that he would join Barcelona to replace there Ronaldinho as the star of a team that is officially sponsored by Nike.

Three.
The man behind the whole strategy would be former Barcelona sports vice president and former Nike executive Sandro Rosell. Rosell thinks that the vote of no confidence against the Barcelona board will succeed, which would mean there will be presidential elections in a few months time. Rosell will most probably take part in the presidential race and would start as the favourite candidate. The transfers of Ronaldo and of Portuguese national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari would be the secret weapon of Rosell in those elections.

Read more:
Barcelona keeping an eye on Cristiano Ronaldo
How things stand: Wing attackers
OFFICIAL: Gerard Piqué

Barça B: Franco Fasciana (UA Maracaibo)

Unión Atlética Maracaibo defensive midfielder and Venezuelan youth international Franco Fasciana (18) has said in an interview with Venezuelan radio station Radio Deporte that he will join Barcelona B next season: "A dream comes true. I didn't expect it. I knew that they were following me but I didn't think everything would go that fast. I think this is my big opportunity. I'm aware it will be difficult to get to the first team, but I will give everything to achieve that."

Barcelona scouted Fasciana, whose grandfather was a Venezuelan international, when he played the South American U-17 championship in March last year. The two parties kept in touch and with his current contract having expired on the 31st of May, Fasciana can now leave his club for free.

The Venezuelan midfielder, who made this year his debut with the first team of Maracaibo when he only was 17 years old, will travel next month to Spain. Fasciana signed a semi-professional contract for two years.

The deal was closed by Pablo Martínez, one of the agents of Fasciana. His other agent, Juan Mata, declared that Barcelona was not the only interested club: "Several Spanish teams wanted him, but we think that Barcelona is the right place for him to keep on developing."

Read more:
Which B players will Guardiola take with him?
Youth: Douglas Costa de Souza (Gremio)
Luis Enrique to coach Barcelona B

Crosas goes French / Round-up

In January of this year, Barcelona and Olympique Lyon signed a loan deal on midfielder Marc Crosas (20). The Catalan player had a small part in Lyon winning the double this season.

In the French ligue, Crosas started three games and came from the bench four times. In the French cup, he started two games.

Crosas was not allowed to participate in the Champions League with Lyon since he played with Barcelona (half an hour against Stuttgart) in the group stage.

A decision on the future of Crosas has not yet been taken (read more here).

Read everything on the performances of Marc Crosas in Lyon here

Trezeguet serious option to replace Eto'o

Italian newspaper La Stampa claims that future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has put Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30) on top of his transfer wish list and thinks theFrenchman is the best suited candidate to replace Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o.

Antonio Caliendo, the agent of Trezeguet, told the paper that everything is possible but that juventus doesn't have plans to let the striker go: "The offer will have to be very high to convince Juventus to give up a centre forward of his level." The paper claims Trezeguet would cost between 25 and 30 million euro°.

Read more:

Trezeguet is still an option

Barcelona wants Trezeguet

How things stand: Centre forward