Barcelona planning six transfers

Catalan newspaper Avui claims that Barcelona wants to sign six players during the coming transfer wiondow.


Goal. Third goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30), whose contract expires in 2010, is seriously considering to leave this summer. If this happens, it's not yet sure how he will be replaced: either a new goalkeeper will be signed or Guardiola will count more on one of the Barcelona goalkeeepers, Oier Olazábal (19) or Rubén Miño (20).

Defense. Bayer Leverkusen central defender Henrique (22) will return from loan while central defender Martín Cáceres (22) could leave on loan for one season. It's not clear when central defender Gabriel Milito will have fully recovered from his knee injury.

Barcelona is looking at the option of signing a back-up for right back defender Daniel Alves and will certainly sign a left back to replace Sylvinho, whose contract expires and won't be renewed. Barcelona Juvenil A central defender Marc Muniesa (17), who can also act as left back, will start the pre-season with the first team and could stay afterwards.

Midfield. Attackers Eidur Gudjohnsen (30), whose contract expires in 2010, and Alexander Hleb (28) could be sold or included in a transfer deal. If one or both of them leave, a new midfielder will be signed, while Barcelona attacking midfielder Thiago (18) also has a chance of being promoted.

Attack. Barcelona will certainly buy a player for the left wing, with Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry (26) being the main candidate. Valencia forward Juan Manuel Mata (21 - picture) would be another option. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola wants to sign a centre forward. Three names would be on the list: Atlético Madrid forward Diego Forlán (29), Valencia forward David Villa (28) and Lyon forward Karim Benzema (21).

Read more:
Guardiola wants larger squad and new players
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market

Will Henrique return from loan?

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that a decision on the future of Bayer Leverkusen central defender and Barcelona loan out Henrique (22) will be made tomorrow.

Henrique's agents, the brothers Naor and Marcos Malaquias, will travel on Wednesday from Brazil to Barcelona, where they will meet with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain.

It is thought that Barcelona could propose the agents that Henrique would leave on loan for another season. During the meeting, a possible transfer of Palmeiras forward Keirrison (20) might also be discussed (read more here).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo nevertheless claims that Barcelona's technical staff is close to deciding that Henrique will join the squad in the summer. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola watched several games of the Brazilian and received positive scouting reports. He would be on the verge of giving the green light.

Catalan newspaper Avui claims that Henrique will certainly return and that this could mean that Barcelona player Cáceres will leave on loan in the summer. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Henrique could be the central defender Barcelona wants to add to the team this summer, while Madrid sports tabloid Marca says that it's likely the Brazilian will return.

Read more:
Henrique will return from Bayer Leverkusen
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer
Henrique will start next pre-season in Barcelona

Marquez hopes to renew this year

Asked about the renewal of his contract that expires in 2010 (read more here), Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (30) has said in an interview with Catalan newspaper Avui that he hopes that a deal will be found this year:

"I want to stay at Barça as long as possible. I'm very happy at the club and the city and I hope that the renewal talks will be reopened when the club wants that. There's a time for everything, I'm not in a hurry at all.

I trust that what I've done until now will give me the chance to stay here longer. I'm happy with what I've done: very few foreign players have been at the club for that long. The best thing for everyone would be that I renew this year.

I've always had offers to leave, but my wish to stay has always been stronger. If I would have seen that someone here didn't agree with me staying or when I would have noticed that I don't have the necessary level anymore to play here, I would have left already, but I didn't feel that. I've always wanted to stay last summer but it's true that I had to recover my best level and the arrival of Guardiola has given me a lot more confidence."

Read more:
Barcelona wants to renew Marquez until 2012
Marquez: "Sometimes I get mad and lose control"
Barcelona plans at least four summer transfers

A goalkeeper, a left back and a striker

Catalan newspaper Avui claims that Barcelona plans few changes during the summer transfer window (read more here).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would already have met several times to discuss possible transfers and Barcelona would focus on buying three players: a goalkeeper, a left back defender and a centre forward.

Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés will stay the number one next season although Barcelona would like to sign a new goalkeeper who could put some more pressure on Valdés. Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) could be the main target. Barcelona goalkeepers José Manuel Pinto (33) and Albert Jorquera (30) could both leave if a good offer comes in.

With the contract of Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (35) expiring at the end of this season (read more here), Barcelona wants to sign a solid back up for Abidal. For the centre forward position, everything will depend on what will happen with Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o (28).

If Eto’o leaves the first name on the list is Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27). Chelsea forward and Ivory Coasqt international Didier Drogba (31) and Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovich (27) could be other options.

A left wing attacker wouldn’t be a priority for the club anymore, although it’s not excluded that depending on the situation of the players, Barcelona could go after Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international David Silva (23) or Atlético Madrid attacker and Argentinian international Sergio Agüero (20).

Read more:
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer
Villa first option to replace Eto'o
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market

Iniesta: "I feel best in midfield"

Barcelona player Andrés Iniesta gave an interview to Catalan newspaper Avui.





How are you feeling now. Your ten days off with an injury don't seem to have made you lose the rhythm.
No, I almost didn't stop training and I kept the same level of physical fitness. I feel very good.

You're doing some specific training after your two muscle injuries?
I'm strengthening the zone where I had problems, but injuries are part of football. I've always be very careful although it's true that you're becoming more interested and cautious when you had injuries.

When you were injured for two months in November and December, the team didn't feel your absence. Last time, they did. You think that the opponents are getting to know the team better and your role as a decisive player becomes more important?
We didn't win a few games. And when you don't win and someone is not there, people always talk about those players who are missing. But it's true that those ten days seemed longer than the two months I was out before, because I saw that things didn't turn out well for the team. When everybody is there, the team is always stronger.

Against Mallorca you played up front, against Athletic in midfield, where you feel better.
Because that's my natural position. I can play on other positions, but everyone is specialized in one position and I feel best in midfield. I know that position inside out, I have the automatisms. I can do my thing at other positions too, although it's not that easy for me, even when it might seem it is (laughs).

The fact that you have played on the left wing, almost by accident, has made you progress?
It made me more complete. Some think it's better to play at one position, but I think I get better as a player. Playing itself is the main thing. The confidence that I get after having regularly played over the last 2-3 years is what makes me better every day.

Where will this end?
I hope this year will have a spectacular end for the team. But what motivates me more every year is that I feel better. I'm growing. I will get better.

Can you give an example of something you can get better at?
I can get better at everyting. Football isn't mathematics, you always have to improvise, shoot better, get more often in the box, score more.

You've experienced a change in the squad?
The most important thing is the respect of your teammates. I still feel the same, but over the years you gain more experience, the teammates are looking at you in a different way, they respect you a lot more. It's like that in normal life and it's like that in the dressingroom.

People said that you and Xavi cannot play together in midfield. Was that a mistake from the start or your progress proved them wrong?
There are so many people and so many ways to look at the game that it's difficult to say which one is the correct way. I think we always have been able to play better and I think that now nobody can question that anymore. There are always those kinds of myths, like the one saying that small players cannot play together. I think it's more about personal preferences than really about the game.

Guardiola said on Saturday that you're an example as you don't have piercings or paint your hair. You feel out of place between the stars?
No. I see football as a game and a spectacle, from what happens on the pitch to what happens in the stands. But when I leave my role as football player behind, I'm like everyone else. Everyone is who he is and does with his life what he wants.

You have a tattoo?
No, but it's true that the dressingroom is full of them.

There's a tattoo artist in the Gràcia neighbourhood who, people say, gives you special powers.
If I need that one day, I might go there but at this moment I'm fine just like this.


This was the second and last part of this interview. You can read the first part here:
Iniesta: "We have returned to the basics"

Read more:
Real Madrid sports director wants Iniesta
Iniesta: "Each player must be a leader"
The man who changed Henry's luck

How about the new stadium?

One year ago, the remodelling project of the Camp Nou was officially presented.

Meanwhile, there has been a lot of criticism from socios and people living in the neighbourhood.

In an interview with Catalans newspaper Avui, Barcelona president Joan Laporta talked about how things stand today.




How about the remodelling of the Camp Nou?
The development of the club's assests is one of our objectives and the remodelling of the Camp Nou is the most visible project in that perspective. We're going through this very though process, it will ask time, also because we have to integrate our project in the whole restructuing of the Les Corts zone. At least, I want to have the project prepared when I will leave in 2010, the permission to start buildng should be there. I really think the project of Foster is excellent and it will make our stadium a landmark and an icon of the city.

The counter proposal of the city council doesn't prevent the project of being financially attainable?
We had proposed a more ambitious project, which was our duty, but we're looking at their proposal with the will to include the modifications and to go on with the project. We think FC Barcelona can play an role in the evolution of this city. I want to stress that we're not asking for any special treatment but to be treated just like other city development projects. And I think it shows.

There are socios who think that the Foster project will be a financial disaster for the club.
I have always said that this project won't cost the socio one euro.

But you will sell the zone of the Miniestadi to finance the stadium, isn't that empoverishing the club?
Until now we have made the club richer. We have more square metres of land, that also have more value, than before. We for example bought the Viladecans grounds, but we're also transforming what we have to make it more valuable. With the new project, we're in no way reducing the assets of the club and we're surely raising the value.

See a video of the Foster project here