Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain met on Thursday morning with Arturo Canales, the agent of Atlético Madrid forward and Argentinian international Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (21).
The paper says that the meeting could mean that Agüero cannot be excluded from the list of possible transfer targets of Barcelona for both the centre forward as the left wing position (read more here). Canales, who is the representative in Spain of sports marketing agency IMG, is also the agent of Barcelona defender Piqué and could become the new agent of Barcelona striker Bojan.
Read more:
Verbal agreements on Aguero transfer
Aguero hints at Barcelona move
Barcelona has first option on Aguero
With ten trophies won by the four most important sections of the club, the past 2008-2009 season was the most succesful season in the history of FC Barcelona.
Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain presented the board on Thursday a report about the current transfer market. The club would want to sign three or four players this summer (read more here).
Barcelona thinks the forward line is the line with the most quality in the current squad but that things can always be improved.
Wings
Barcelona would like to sign a player for the left wing. The asking price for Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry (26) would have gone overnight from 40 to 70 million euro° (read more here). Because the club thinks that this fee is above the market price, the negotiations have been put on hold.
Manchester City left winger Robinho (25), who is not feeling comfortable at his club, could only come on loan because he's too expensive (read more here). Valencia left wing attacker Juan Manuel Mata (21) and Aston Villa winger Ashley Young (23) would be the alternative options (read more here and here).
Centre forward
Barcelona would have valued Eto'o at 60 million euro° and hopes that Manchester United or Chelsea will bid for him. A swap with Inter Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) is still not being excluded (read more here).
Atlético Madrid forward Diego Forlán (30) would fit the profile put forward by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola but his age reportedly makes Barcelona doubt about paying his 36 million euro° buyout clause (read more here). Barcelona would believe that Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27) will force his exit after the Confederations Cup and that in that case he will join Barcelona or Real Madrid (read more here).
Read more:
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority
Barcelona close to signing Robinho on loan
Manchester United confident of signing Eto'o
Víctor Valdés:
(click the cartoon to enlarge)
source:
golsud.com
see more cartoons here
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is still looking to sign a goalkeeper this summer.
Real Valladolid goalkeeper Asenjo has confirmed he will join Atlético Madrid and isn't an option anymore. Mallorca goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moyà (25) would now be the only remaning candidate (read more here).
After the deal on the renewal of Barcelona goalkeeper Valdés, a transfer of Moyà nevertheless isn't a priority anymore for Barcelona. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain still wouldn't have contacted Mallorca or Manuel García Quilón, the agent of the player. If Moyà doesn't join Barcelona, Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Rubén Miño (20) will be promoted to the first team, although he would in that case keep on playing with the B team.
Moyà, whose contract expires in 2011, has a buyout clause of 12 million euro° but Mallorca needs to sell players and would be ready to lower that. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Mallorca is willing to negotiate with interested clubs if a bid of 6 million euro° comes in.
El Mundo Deportivo nevertheless claims that Valencia would at this moment be leading the race for the goalkeeper. Mallorca regional news site Mallorca Confidencial claims that Moyà won't join Barcelona because Valdés in the end seems to renew his contract and Barcelona would only have wanted him in case Valdés left.
Read more:
Barcelona in pole for Mallorca goalkeeper Moya
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes
Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted
Asked about the contract renewal of Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) (read more here), the player's agent Dimitri Seluk has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that a deal is now very close:
"I have received the offer of Barça and it's coming quite close to what we want. Next week it can be a done deal. I've come to Barcelona to finalize the operation. I've talked with Txiki Begiristain and we're very close to an agreement. I hope it will be signed soon. I have the feeling there won't be any more problems."
Read more:
Deadline for Toure renewal next week
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
Manchester United wants to sign Toure
This is the result of this blog's Real Madrid is reportedly putting their Dutch players for sale. Which one would you like to see at Barcelona? poll:
1. None 30%
2. Robben 23%
3. Sneijder 21%
4. Huntelaar 8%
5. Van Nistelrooij 7%
6. Van der Vaart 7%
7. Drenthe 3%
Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain presented the board on Thursday a report about the current transfer market. The club would want to sign three or four players this summer (read more here).
Defense
There would be a personal deal with Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) but the negotiations with Deportivo are still ongoing (read more here). Shakhtar Donetsk right back defender Darijo Srna (27) wouldn't be an option anymore since Barcelona cannot pay his current salary (read more here).
The situation of Porto central defender Bruno Alves (27) is being monitored but the club is not yet moving for him (read more here). Shakhtar Donetsk central defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) would cost 15 million euro° and seems at this moment the most likely candidate for the centre-back position (read more here).
Midfield
Barcelona's main priority is to sign a defensive midfielder, so the team can count on six first class midfielders and can deal with the absences of Barcelona players Touré and Keita at the beginning of next year due to the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) is the first name on the list (read more here). The player wants to come but it will be difficult to find a deal with Liverpool.
Read more:
The report of Txiki (1) : Three or four transfers
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
Barcelona considering bid for Shakhtar defenders
Asked about the rumours linking him with Barcelona (read more here), Porto goalkeeper Helton (31) let his press office send a statement to Brazilian sports site Globo Esporte saying that he is unaware of things:
"I am in Brazil to take care of some business matters and I will return to Europe this week to be with my family and to enjoy the holidays. I already said that I'm happy in Portugal and if I would have to leave, that will be decided by myself, my wife, my agent Nelson Almeido and in the first place by the board of Porto."
Read more:
Barcelona sounded out Porto goalkeeper Helton
Talks in Portugal on Bruno Alves
Valdes will renew until 2014 or 2015
Spanish second division team Sevilla Atlético, the second team of first division club Sevilla, played last weekend their 41th league game of the season, drewing 0-0 with Celta Vigo.
Former Barcelona Atlètic player Marc Valiente (21) played the first half of the game.
Because Barcelona has the right to buy Valiente back at the end of this season (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the central defender during the season.
Sunday 31 August - League game 1: Albacete-Sevilla Atlético 2-1
Injured. Valiente has pubis problems.
Sunday 7 September - League game 2: Sevilla Atlético-Salamanca 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.
Sunday 14 September - League game 3: Córdoba-Sevilla Atlético 1-1
Injured. Valiente has an ankle injury.
Sunday 21 September - League game 4: Sevilla Atlético-Rayo Vallecano 0-0
Substitute. Valiente plays the second half. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 28 September - League game 5: Levante-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 5 October - League game 6: Sevilla Atlético-Real Sociedad 1-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.
Saturday 11 October - League game 7: Las Palmas-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 18 October - League game 8: Sevilla Atlético-Zaragoza 0-4
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.
Sunday 26 October - League game 9: Murcia-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 2 November - League game 10: Sevilla Atlético-Hércules 1-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.
Sunday 9 November - League game 11: Alavés-Sevilla Atlético 2-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is excluded in the 87th minute (2-2). Central defender. Red card.
Sunday 2 November - League game 12: Sevilla Atlético-Elche 0-2
Suspended. Due to red card.
Saturday 22 November - League game 13: Sevilla Atlético-Xerez 1-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender. Yellow card.
Saturday 29 November - League game 14: Girona-Sevilla Atlético 1-0
Injured. Valiente has an injury.
Sunday 7 December - League game 15: Sevilla Atlético-Castellón 1-0
Injured. Valiente has an injury.
Sunday 14 December - League game 16: Gimnástic-Sevilla Atlético 3-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 21 December - League game 17: Sevilla Atlético-Eibar 0-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 4 January - League game 18: Tenerife-Sevilla Atlético 2-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is replaced in the 65th minute. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 10 January - League game 19: Sevilla Atlético-Huesca 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 17 January - League game 20: Celta Vigo-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 25 January - League game 21: Sevilla Atlético-Alicante 2-3
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.
Saturday 31 January - League game 22: Sevilla Atlético-Albacete 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 8 February - League game 23: Salamanca-Sevilla Atlético 6-0
Bench.
Saturday 14 February - League game 24: Sevilla Atlético-Córdoba 0-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 21 February - League game 25: Rayo Vallecano-Sevilla Atlético 1-0
Injured. Valiente has an ankle injury.
Sunday 1 March - League game 26: Sevilla Atlético-Levante 1-2
Injured. Valiente has an ankle injury.
Sunday 8 March - League game 27: Real Sociedad-Sevilla Atlético 1-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.
Saturday 14 March - League game 28: Sevilla Atlético-Las Palmas 2-2
Substitute. Valiente replaces Cabral in the 56th minute (1-2). Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 21 March - League game 29: Zaragoza-Sevilla Atlético 4-0
Substitute. Valiente replaces José Carlos in the 52nd minute (2-0). Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 28 March - League game 30: Sevilla Atlético-Murcia 3-3
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.
Sunday 5 April - League game 31: Hércules-Sevilla Atlético 8-0
Suspended. Due to yellow cards.
Saturday 11 April - League game 32: Sevilla Atlético-Alavés 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is replaced in the 68th minute. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.
Saturday 18 April - League game 33: Elche-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 25 April - League game 34: Xerez-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and and is replaced in the 71st minute (2-0). Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 3 May - League game 35: Sevilla Atlético-Girona 2-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 10 May - League game 36: Castellón-Sevilla Atlético 3-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 17 May - League game 37: Sevilla Atlético-Nástic 1-3
Substitute. Valiente replaces Cabral in the 80th minute (1-3). Defensive midfielder.
Sunday 24 May - League game 38: Eibar-Sevilla Atlético 2-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 30 May - League game 39: Sevilla Atlético-Tenerife 0-4
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is replaced in the 70th minute (0-4). Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.
Sunday 7 June - League game 40: Huesca-Sevilla Atlético 3-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.
Saturday 13 June - League game 41: Sevilla Atlético-Celta Vigo 0-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and and is replaced in the 46th minute. Defensive midfielder.
Table
1. Tenerife 81
2. Xerez 81
3. Zaragoza 80
4. Hércules 75
5. Rayo 69
6. R. Sociedad 64
7. Levante 63
8. Castellón 62
9. Salamanca 60
10. Gimnástic 57
11. Elche 53
12. Murcia 52
13. Huesca 50
14. Córdoba 50
15. Girona 49
16. Albacete 48
17. Celta 47
18. Las Palmas 46
19. Alavés 43
20. Alicante 34
21. Eibar 32
22. Sevilla Atlético 18
The top three are promoted to the Primera División. The bottom four are relegated to the Spanish third division.
British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona is ready to make a 30 million euro° bid for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young (23) (read more here).
Barcelona's technical has reportedly been following the English player during the past season and would now prepare a concrete offer. Barcelona might try to include Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) in the deal.
A Spanish source is quoted by the tabloid as saying: "Young has been impressive all last year with Villa and at times with England. He finished the season well and he is a player that Guardiola likes.
He has been following him for a while and we hope that he will want to come to a club as big as Barca and move to Spain. There has been no contact yet but the club are firming up their plans at the moment."
Read more:
Ashley Young another option for the left wing
Hleb does not want to leave
this post was published exactly one year ago:
Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona and Arsenal have closed a deal on the transfer of Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24).
With Barcelona initially offering 25 million euro and Arsenal asking 30 million, the transfer fee would in the end be 27 million euro°. Arsenal has asked Barcelona not to make the deal public until the club has found a substitute for Adebayor.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the negotiations with Arsenal are still ongoing with the highest discretion. Adebayor wants to join Barcelona and the pressure of the player on the English Premier League club could be decisive.
Adebayor would be the absolute favourite of new Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola. Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov and Stuttgart forward Mario Gómez would be the alternatives in case the transfer of Adebayor wouldn't go through.
Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona, Adebayor didn't want to enter the issue in a telephone reaction to Catalan sports paper Sport, who claims Barcelona has made a final offer of 29 million euro: "I don't want to pronounce on anything regarding FC Barcelona. Maybe this could be needed later on, but for now it's not. It's better to wait."
Read more 20 June 2008 news:
Deal with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian
Difficult fee negotiations on Hernanes
Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain presented the board on Thursday a report about the current transfer market.
The club reportedly wants to sign three or four players but is at this moment waiting for the market to cool off or for the money Madrid paid for Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo to start moving. Txiki nevertheless wants to have finalized the squad before Barcelona plays the Spanish Super cup mid-August.
The Basque sports director also informed the board case-by-case about the negotiations. Later today, we'll go through the report.
Read more:
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market
Barcelona planning six transfers
Guardiola wants larger squad and new players
During a meeting earlier today, Valencia officials have informed José Luis Tamargo, the agent of Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27), that the player is not for sale.
Tamargo made the news public through a statement: "Valencia, first through vice-president Javier Gómez and later through president Manuel Llorente, informed me that David Villa is nor for sale. Before, they had said they had to sell him and we've received offers from the four best clubs in the world. Like you all know, we have negotiated with three of them and now the club changes its stand. This is a sad and uncomfortable situation, it's not good for anyone."
Valencia president Manuel Llorente later confirmed the new turn-around at a press conference: "We've taken this decision after having analyzed during some days the pro's and the contra's of a transfer. Villa is the best striker in Europe and we are lucky to have him with us in Valencia. We're gonna fight for him to stay with us. When I took up the presidency ten days ago, some talks were ongoing. I had doubts on a transfer from the start.
It's true that I've talked on Sunday with Barcelona president Joan Laporta after the negotiations with Madrid were cancelled the day before. But with Barcelona we didn't talk about fees. We just told them that we wanted some days to think about everything and now we have taken this decision. I cannot assure 100 per cent that Villa will start the season with us because you never know if a scandalously scandalous offer comes in."
Read more:
Barcelona president makes new bid for Villa
Valencia rejects offers for Mata
All media yesterday claimed that Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) will renew his contract, that expires in the summer of 2010.
Barcelona would have raised their last offer and a deal would have been found on a year salary of around 7 million euro gross. Spanish news agency EFE claims that this is more than the double of his current wage.
The duration of the new contract is not yet clear. This morning, most media claimed that the new contract was until 2014. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo and Spanish news site El Confidencial claimed that it was until 2015. Catalan sport paper Sport first claimed that Barcelona had offered the goalkeeper to sign until 2016 but that the goalkeeper in the end decided to sgn until 2014. Later today, they changed that to 2015.
Sport claimed that the negotiations were picked up yesterday morning with a meeting between Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of foorball Raúl Sanllehí and the player's father José Manuel Valdés. Later, the player's agent Ginés Carvajal joined in and a final agreement would have been reached late last night.
El Mundo Deportivo on the other hand claims that the deal was agreed on during telephone talks between Txiki and Carvajal. The paper claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta could have talked with Valdés and that this would have made a new opening in the talks. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Carvajal informed Begiristain with a short phone call that they dropped their previous demands.
Sport claimed that the deal would be made public this morning, Madrid sports tabloid Marca that it would happen today, but so far no official announcement has been published. Barcelona president Joan Laporta nevertheless told journalists today that things look good: "I can only say that I have been assured by the people who are dealing with this that we're on the good way. So I think we'll find a solution that is satisfactory for all."
Read more:
Valdes renewal negotiations broken off
Barcelona starts negotiations with Asenjo
Agent Frey dismisses Barcelona interest
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain yesterday informed the board of the club about the transfer events.
Regarding the left back position, CSKA Moscow left winger and Russian international Yuri Zhirkov (25) would be the first option, while Deportivo left back defender Filipe Luis (23) is the alternative.
Read more:
Zhirkov: "Barça is my first option"
Liverpool and Juventus interested in Abidal
Negotiations on left back Filipe put on hold
Spanish news agency EFE reports that Barcelona's board will propose to the next General Assembly to change the club's by laws.
The board wants to enable the socios to take part in the presidential elections by voting through the internet. If adopted, the internet vote will already be implented for nect year's elections.
Another proposal is to change the duration of a presidential term to a period of six years, with one possible re-election (read more here).
The current duration of four years had to be adapted to the new Catalan legislation about sports clubs and associations that says that presidential terms should be between six and eight years. Barcelona unsuccesfully tried to negotiate an exception with the Catalan government.
Read more:
Presidential term could be extended to six years
Algerian sports paper Le Buteur claims that Sif Eddine Cherifi "Sisso", a five-year old Algerian football player, will travel to Barcelona for tests next month.
Sisso, who would be monitored by several European clubs, will be at Barcelona's youth academy from 12 to 27 July, after which the club will decide if he can stay. The player will be accompanied by his father. In August, he will do a training course with French club Olympique Marseille.
Read more:
Liverpool signs Barcelona youth coach
Video of the day: Youth academy
Youth: Barcelona following Napoli talent Marciano
Spain u-21 lost 0-2 to England u-21 yesterday. Barcelona player Bojan started the game and was replaced by Capel after one hour of play. After two games, Spain is close to being eliminated from the tournament. They now must beat Finland on Monday and hope England defeat Germany.
Portuguese sports paper Record claims that a representative of Barcelona was in Porto yesterday to hold talks on the transfer of Porto central defender and Portuguese international Bruno Alves (27).
Bruno Alves, who was on holiday in the Algarve region in the south of Portugal, would have decided to return to the city of Porto, in the north of the country, where he is expected to arrive today.
Porto would be organizing a bid race for the defender who will certainly leave the club this summer. The club reportedly received several offers but is waiting for a bid of at least 25 million euro° to close the deal. Barcelona would be leading the race while Chelsea is also said to be seriously interested.
Read more:
Txiki met with agent Bruno Alves
Bruno Alves reveals transfer to Barcelona
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market
Catalan sports papers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain met yesterday with Italian intermediary Ernesto Bronzetti, the representative of AC Milan for the Spanish market, to discuss the transfer summer so far.
Sport claims that AC Milan is interested in Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) and that Bronzetti has sounded out Barcelona on the situation of the Cameroonian striker.
British tabloid The Daily Mirror meanwhile claims that Manchester City confirmed yesterday that they have held preliminary talks over a deal to bring Eto'o to Manchester. The English club would offer Eto'o a year salary of 8 million euro and officials from City have reportedly been in Spain for talks. The club would be confident they will be able to sign the player for 29 million euro°.
Read more:
Eto'o could have deal with Milan for 2010
Manchester City makes Eto'o a new offer
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o
this post was published exactly on year ago:
Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla confirmed earlier this week in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that Barcelona had met with new Inter Milan manager José Mourinho at the request of the Portuguese: "We've always worked with the Guardiola option, but we know that the Barcelona bench is one of the most desirables ones. Mourinho was interested in explaining us his project for the club and we listened."
In a statement to Portuguese news agency Lusa, Mourinho now denies that he was the one who had been asking for the meeting: "I don't want to lose my time with things I'm not interested in, and now I'm only interested in Inter, but mister Ingla lies because it was he and mister Begiristain who asked for a meeting in Lisbon, about which I don't want to give any comment. Barcelona should try to reach its own fortune, like I'm doing for Inter and myself, but I will not allow that a certain Ingla will injure my honour."
Barcelona reacted with an announcement on the official website reading: "FC Barcelona regrets the comments made by José Mourinho contained in today’s Portuguese press in which he discredits the club’s vice president for sport, Marc Ingla, and insists that a meeting in Lisbon to discuss his sporting deals was called by initiative of the club.
Mourinho has claimed that Marc Ingla lied in a radio interview last Tuesday, when he said it was the Portuguese manager who had offered himself as a candidate to coach the club’s football first team.
FC Barcelona wish to make it clear that at no time did Marc Ingla make such a statement, as can be proved by a literal transcript of the interview. The Barça vice president of sport confirmed the meeting, but made it clear that the first option for the position was Josep Guardiola. As for the meeting with José Mourinho, Ingla textually replied that “when two parties speak, it is very hard to say what percentage of interest each one has.”
Therefore, FC Barcelona wish to make it clear that the meeting between the vice president for sport and director of football, Txiki Beguiristain, with José Mourinho, was called at a time when two issues coincided: the need to make provisions for the club’s sporting solutions and the indirect signals received by some club officials that Mourinho would be interested to return to Barcelona.
FC Barcelona is profoundly sorry to hear these statements, which disprove themselves, and considers the matter closed."
Read more 19 June 2008 news:
Alex Silva unaware of Barcelona interest
Deco and Marquez represented by superagent
Mutu renewal talks monitored
Tickets for the pre-season friendly Barcelona will play against Chivas Guadalajara on 8 August at 8 pm (local time) will be available from Monday 22 June at 10 am.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona won't sign a right back defender this summer.
The club would prefer to spend on a central defender and Puyol will again act as back-up for Alves next season. This would be the reason why Barcelona pulled back from signing Almería right back defender Bruno Saltor (28).
Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain met three times with Raúl Verdú, the agent of Bruno. The Catalan right back would next week travel to Valencia to sign his contract.
Read more:
Right back Bruno Saltor could be first transfer
Barcelona wants Cesc and four other players
Madrid sports tabloid Marca unconfirmedly claims that Getafe is interested in Barcelona forward and Spanish youth internacional Bojan Krkic (18).
Getafe manager Michel reportedly asked his club to move for the Catalan striker and try to sign him on loan.
Read more:
Bojan will not leave on loan
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is interested in Aston Villa winger Ashley Young (23).
Because the transfer of Ribéry seems to have become unlikely, Young is reportedly one of the reserve options Barcelona was able to kept secret until now. Aston Villa could be asking 30 million euro° for the player.
Read more:
Manchester City denies Robinho exit
Chelsea offers Malouda to Barcelona
Valencia rejects offers for Mata
Watch a video of Young here:
Asked about the contract renewal of Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) (read more here), the player's agent Dmitri Seluk has repeated in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that the coming week is decisive:
"Barça is optimistic about resolving this case and I think we're on the verge of being able to sign a deal. But it's clear that next week is the deadline: then a new deal wil be signed or not signed. There are a lot of clubs interested in Touré but none of them interests us... He can in fact only play for eight teams, three in Italy, three in England and two in Spain."
Read more:
Agent Toure sets deadline for renewal
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
Manchester United wants to sign Toure
Huelva local newspaper Huelva Información claims that Barcelona Atlètic right back defender David Córcoles (24), whose contract with Barcelona expires this ummer, is close to signing for Spanish second division club Recreativo Huelva.
The deal would almost be finalized and is expected to be officially announced in the coming days. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the player's agent José Tarraga confirmed yesterday that a pre-agreement has been reached.
Read more:
Barça B - Official: Xavi Torres to Malaga
Barça B - Official: Abraham to Cadiz
Barça B - Official: Maric and Joni will leave
Ginés Carvajal, the agent of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés has told in an interview with Catalan radio statio RAC 1 yesterday that there's a deal on the renewal on the contract of the player:
"There's a deal and the contract will be signed any day soon. I did never thought of the negotiations as being broken, that sure was not our intention. I didn't talk with Laporta and I think Valdés didn't either. We've always talked about wanting to reach an agreement and that's what has happened."
(more later)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was earlier this week for a few days in Israel, where he attended the wedding of a daughter of player's agent Pini Zahavi. Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon were also present.
Catalan sports papers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport both claim that Barcelona is waiting for the return of Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro from a trip to Mexico to pick up the talks on a transfer of Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23).
Sport claims that Barcelona is offering 10 million euro°, while Deportivo asks 12 or 13 million euro plus one player on loan. El Mundo Deportivo claims that a deal could be found for a fee between 10 and 12 million euro and that Barcelona has already reached a personal agreement with Filipe. Juan Figger, one of the player's representatives would already be in Spain to follow the events.
Asked about the rumours linking Filipe to Barcelona, the player's agent José Carlos Lages said in an interview with Spanish football site Fútbolmercado that he isn't in contact with any club: "They are rumours spread in the press but no club has contacted me. My player is happy to see all those big clubs being interested in him but there's nothing concrete.
Barça didn't make an offer. I only know that Depor received an offer of 6 million euro but I cannot yet reveal from which club it was. Filipe is now earning a very decent salary but if they give him a rise, he would be willing to move to one of the mentioned clubs. Everything depends on the conditions."
Read more:
Deal on transfer left back Filipe close
Liverpool and Juventus interested in Abidal
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players
British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Manchester City was last night coming closer to sign Barcelona attacker and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) (read more here).
The English club would pay Barcelona a transfer fee of around 35 million euro°, while Eto'o would get a year salary of 11,7 million euro net for four years. Barcelona sources reportedly told the tabloid that the deal is almost complete.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo nevertheless claims that Eto'o has rejected a 10 million euro a year offer by Manchester City because he wants to take part in the Champions League next season. Inter Milan and Manchester United would still be interested in the Cameroonian striker.
Read more:
Agent Eto'o repeats wish to continue
Goals Eto'o 2008-2009
Eto'o scares off clubs with wage demands
Asked about the rumours linking Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29) to Barcelona (read more here), Fiorentina sports director Pantaleo Corvino said in an interview with Italian television channel Sky that the club didn't hear anything:
"Barcelona didn't ask for Frey and our intention is anyhow to keep him."
Read more:
Agent Frey dismisses Barcelona interest
Fiorentina interested in Marquez
Montolivo dismisses Barcelona rumours
Asked about the rumours linking Olympique Lyon attacker Ederson (23) with several European top clubs, the player's agent Antonio Caliendo has said in an interview with Italian television channel Sky that Barcelona has been following the Brazilian:
"It's not a new thing that Inter Milan is interested in Ederson, they were already watching him three years ago. Now he's 23 and he had agood first year with Lyon. He has also been followed by Milan and Barcelona."
Caliendo repeated today that Barcelona has shown interest in the player in an interview with Italian football site Calciomercato: "At this moment there's nothing new but he remains a target for several clubs. Inter knows him inside out but Barcelona is also monitoring him. The asking price? Lyon has paid a lot for the player, so I think they will request at least 20 million euro°."
Read more:
Lyon interested in Hleb
Barcelona planning six transfers
Talks with Lyon on Gudjohnsen transfer
Watch a video of Ederson here:
Florentino:
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With a 1-0 win over Iraq, Spain qualified yesterday for the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. Barcelona players Piqué and Xavi started the game. Xavi was replaced by Busquets ten minutes before the end. Puyol stayed on the bench.
Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Shakhtar Donetsk central defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) didn't want to enter the issue in an interview with Ukrainian newspaper Korrespondent:
"I don't want to comment on speculation. I'm at Shakhtar and this team is growing. I cannot say that this club isn’t good enough for me. We won the Uefa Cup! And we have higher ambitions. I don't say that we must win the Champions League but we want to do better than last season."
Catalan sports paper Sport meanwhile claims that Chygrynskiy is Barcelona's main defensive transfer target and that the club would be willing to make a bid of 15 million euro° for the Ukrainian centre-back (read more here).
Read more:
Barcelona considering bid for Shakhtar defenders
Txiki met with agent Bruno Alves
Barcelona considering bid for Shakhtar defenders
this post was published exactly one year ago:
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24) is the Guardiola's first option to replace Samuel Eto'o as next season's centre forward (read more here).
Brazilian sports site Globo Esporte claims that Barcelona is interested in Porto goalkeeper Helton (31).
Sources close to the Brazilian player would have told the site that agents linked with Barcelona have sounded out Helton about a transfer at the end of last season.
*Asked about the rumours, the player's uncle and agent Marival Gomes said in an interview with Portuguese radio station Antena 1 that he doesn't know anything about it: "We have no information about that at all. You are informing me right now. For us, it is a surprise. To be founded, the news should come from Porto president Pinto da Costa.
It's not important which clubs are interested in Helton. We have great respect and admiration for Porto and the president. Although it's nice to hear, the best news is still that Helton has become champions with Porto for the third time and he's not thinking about leaving. Unless when there would be a proposal that is good for both him and the club." *
Read more:
Barcelona starts negotiations with Asenjo
Txiki met with agent Bruno Alves
Valdes renewal negotiations broken off
Spanish first division club Málaga officially announced yesterday the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic defensive midfielder and captain Xavi Torres (22).
The Catalan midfielder, whose contract with Barcelona Atlètic probably expired this summer, will sign a four-year contract with Málaga. After undergoing medical, he will be officially presented next Wednesday.
Xavi Torres joined Barcelona B in the summer of 2007 arriving from Villarreal, who had bought their former youth player back from Spanish third division club Alicante, and played this season with the first team in the league games against Mallorca and Osasuna.
The spanish midfielder commented on the transfer in an interview with Málaga's official media: "It's a privilege to be part of a club like this this one, who had a great season last year. I cannot wait to start the season. Everybody has told me that Malaga is a city where I will feel very comfortable.
I try to give my best every game and add my part to the team. I'm a hard-working midfielder and I've learnt that the ball has to move quick. I like to run, to attack, to play hard and I'm good with the head. I'm delighted and very motivated to break through this year.
What I've learnt from Guardiola has been incredible. I was six years at Villarreal, then I went to Alicante and later to Barça for two years at the request of Guardiola. Nobody will take away from me what I've lived this year, sharing moments with the best players in the world. Pep is like a father to me and a example as a player, although these days the example is Yaya Touré."
Read more:
Barça B - Official: Abraham to Cadiz
Barça B: Xavi Torres will join Malaga
Barça B - Official: Maric and Joni will leave
Spanish television channel La Sexta claims that Barcelona made Valencia a bid of 50 million euro° plus the loan of Barcelona players Bojan (18) and Cáceres (21).
But this bid reportedly wasn't only for Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27), but also for Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Manuel Mata (21). Valencia would have rejected the offer.
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has picked up the option of signing Mata for the left wing and could already have made a bid of 20 million euro° for the Spaniard.
Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Barcelona has contacted both Valencia and the player's entourage but that Valncei made clear that Mata is not for sale. Valencia would meanwhile have reached yesterday a pre-agreement with the player's father and agent about a contract renewaL
Read more:
Barcelona keeping an eye on Mata
Barcelona planning six transfers
Guardiola wants Villa
Following a report in German sports weekly paper Sport Bild, German club Bayern Munich yesterday put out a statement on its official website repeating that Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (26) is not for sale.
The official statement reads as follows: "In the Wednesday edition of 'Sport BILD' (June 17, 2009) there's a report on the cover and on pages 10/11 on a decision by the supervisory board of FC Bayern Munich AG that player Franck Ribéry could leave the club for the right transfer fee and that he won't be forced to stay. This is a hoax and does not reflect the truth.
For this reason, the board of the FC Bayern Munich AG correct things as follows:
1. There was and is no decision of the supervisory board of FC Bayern Munich AG on a sale of player Franck Ribéry.
2. The transfer (sale) of a player has to happen in accordance with the rules of the board of FC Bayern Munich AG and doesn't need to be approved by the supervisory board.
3. The board of FC Bayern Munich AG has unanimously decided that player Franck Ribéry is not for sale.
We ask to take note of this and not take part in the further spreading of false reports about this matter."
Read more:
Barcelona bid for Ribery
Poll result: Ibrahimovic or Ribery
Rummenigge: "We want Ribery to stay"
The board of the Spanish football league has announced that the Liga will start in the last weekend of August. Because Barcelona plays the European Super cup on Friday 28 August, they will start the competition on Monday 31 August.
The league will already end on 16 May, which forces the league to have mid-week games in September, March, April and May. Because of the World cup for clubs, Barcelona's fifteenth league game will not be played on 20 December but on Wednesday 2 December.
Catalan sports paper Sport reports that former Real Madrid presidential candidate Juan Palacios claims that he had a deal with Barcelona attacker and Spanish international Andrés Iniesta (25) to join Real Madrid if he would win the elections of 2006.
Palacios lost from former Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón with around 250 votes but could have been declared the winner if the votes by postal mail would have been counted.
Read more:
Transfer history: Cristian Karembeu (Sampdoria)
Next Madrid president keeps pushing for Iniesta
Transfer history: Xavi was close to Milan
British tabloid The Sun claims that Barcelona is one of the European top clubs that are interested in Huracán attacking midfielder Javier Pastore.
Manchester United would be leading the race for the Argentinian player, with AC Milan also following him.
Read more:
Barcelona following Argentinian striker De Federico
Barcelona following two Argentinian talents
Barcelona scouted Argentinian talent Salvio
Watch a video of Javier Pastore here:
Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that Barcelona officials met representatives of Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) yesterday.
The meeting took place in the Rey Juan Carlos I hotel in Barcelona and lasted from 5 to 7 pm. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raül Sanllehi, the player's agents Walter Tamer and Federico Vitali as well as an intermediary took part.
Mascherano is willing to join Barcelona and a deal between the player and the club will not be an obstacle. Barcelona could now use the wish of the Argetinian to put pressure on Liverpool, who nevertheless doesn't seem to have plans to let him go.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Liverpool could be asking 30 million euro° for Mascherano, while Barcelona would only be ready to pay 20 million euro°. *British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona will have to make a bid of 53 million euro° or include Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) in the deal.*
Read more:
Agent Mascherano in Barcelona for transfer talks
Barcelona looking at possible substitutes for Valdes
Barcelona contacts Liverpool on Benayoun
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