Youth players take part in training sessions

Over the past two days several youth players have joined the training sessions of the first team.

On Thursday, Barcelona Atlètic players Jonathan, Masip, Nolito, Ilie and Montoya and Juvenil A player Gustavo joined in, this morning the selected ones were Barcelona Atlètic players Luque, Nolito, Ilie and Armando and Juvenil A players Etock, Gustavo, Terrón and Balliu.

Barça B - Transfer summer 2009: Overview

IN

Edu Oriol
former club: sant andreu (3)
age: 22

official announcement: wednesday 17 june
contract duration: 2 years

Luque
former club: villarreal c (4)
age: 18

official announcement: thursday 16 july
contract duration: 2 years

Armando
former club: cartagena (3>2)
age: 24

official announcement: friday 17 july
contract duration: 2 years

Iván
former club: las palmas b (3)
age: 21

official announcement: wednesday 22 july
contract duration: 1 year

Jaume Sobregrau
former club: huesca (2)
age: 22

official announcement: thursday 23 july
contract duration: 1 year [?]

Jonathan Soriano
former club: albacete (2)
age: 23

official announcement: thursday 30 july
contract duration: 1 year

Elvis Onyema
former club: ceuta (3) through bellinzona (swi, 1)
age: 22

official announcement: thursday 13 august
contract duration: 1 year



OUT

Abraham González
new club: cádiz (3>2)
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2007

Joni
new club: Sporting Gijón B (1) (back from loan)
age: 22
barcelona player since: 2008

Goran Maric
new club: Norwich City (eng, 2>3)
age: 25
barcelona player since: 2008 (also between 1999 and 2001)

Xavi Torres
new club: málaga (1)
age: 22
barcelona player since: 2007

Héctor Verdés
new club: ...
age: 25
barcelona player since: 2008

David Córcoles
new club: recreativo huelva (1>2)
age: 24
barcelona player since: 2007

Sergio Urbano
new club: premia (4)
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2006 (last season on loan at Sabadell and Reus)

Alberto Botía
new club: Sporting Gijón (1) (on loan)
age: 20
barcelona player since: 2003

Rayo
new club: Orihuela (3)
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2008

Dani Toribio
new club: malaga b (4)
age: 20
barcelona player since: 2006 (last season on loan at Terrassa)

Antonio Longás
new club: cartagena (3>2)
age: 24
barcelona player since: 2008

José Antonio Solano
new club: ecija (3)
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2008

Barça B - Official: Rayo to Orihuela

Spanish third division club Orihuela has last Tuesday officially announced the transfer of former Barcelona Atlètic winger Rubén Rayos "Rayo" (23).

Rayo joined Barcelona B last year arriving from Spanish second division club Elche.

Barcelona had announced in July that the contract of the Spanish winger, that expired at the end of next season, had been rescinded and that the player was free to negotiate with interested clubs (read more here)

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Maric to Norwich
Barça B - Official: Rayo will leave
Barça B - Official: Solano to Ecija

Barça B - Official: Joni to Sporting B

Spanish third division club Sporting Gijón has on Sunday officially announced that former Barcelona Atlètic central and left back defender Jonathan López "Joni" (22) will play with Sporting B this season.

Joni played last season on loan for Barcelona Atlètic and returned to Sporting this summer.

Because he couldn't convince during the pre-season with the first team and a transfer didn't seem possible, he will in the end join the club's second team, Sporting B, that plays in the Spanish third division.

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Solano to Ecija
Barça B - Official: Maric and Joni will leave
Barça B - Official: Longas to Cartagena

Barça B - Liga 1: Badalona-Barcelona 3-0

Miño

Sobregrau
Iván
Armando (65 Bartra)
Espasandín

Rueda
Oriol Romeu
Luque

Elvis (65 Nolito)
Benja (46 Edu Oriol)
Soriano


16 Iván Mateo 1-0
42 Prats 2-0
63 Iván Mateo 3-0



yellow cards
Bartra
Rueda
Elvis
Edu Oriol

bench
Masip
Ilie

out of match squad
Montoya

with first team
Fontàs
Muniesa
Jonathan
Jeffren

injured/ill
Víctor Vázquez
Gai
Rochina
Thiago
Oier




ratings by Sport
7 Oriol Romeu, Luque,
6 Miño, Sobregrau, Espasandín, Iván, Armando, Elvis, Rueda, Soriano, Benja, Edu Oriol, Nolito
5 Bartra

Which B team player could be promoted?

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that four Barcelona Atlètic players could still be promoted to the first team this season.

They are central defenders Marc Muniesa (17) and Andreu Fontàs (19 - picture) and attacking midfielders Jonathan dos Santos (19) and Thiago Alcántara (18).

Although it first was generally believed that one of the two centre-backs would move up, this could now change because of the transfer of Ukrainian central defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy and the good performances of Jonatan and Thiago over the past weeks.

Read more:
Muniesa and Fontas could be promoted
Jonathan hopes to be promoted to first team
Jeffren promoted to first team

Jeffren has personal deal with Racing Santander

Cantabria regional newspaper El Diario Montañés claims that Racing Santander would have reached a personal agreement with Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21).

Jeffren would join Racing on a four-year contract, while Barcelona would keep the right to buy the player back (read more here).

The deal nevertheless depends on the green light by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, who should agree on letting the player leave this summer. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain reportedly informed Racing president Francisco Pernía on Monday that the final decision hasn't yet been made.

Read more:
Jeffren will stay at least until January
Deal with Racing on transfer Jeffren
Jeffren waiting for Barcelona decision on future

Barça B - Friendly 5: Palamos-Barcelona 0-1

Miño

Sobregrau
Iván Benítez
Bartra
Espasandín

Thiago
Rueda
Luque

Elvis
Benja
Nolito

In the second half the following players also took part:
Masip, Montoya, Armando, Maestre, Ilie, Edu Oriol, Soriano and Planas.


40 Benja 0-1



Palamós plays in the Spanish fourth division, Barcelona Atlétic plays in the Spanish third division.


Previous pre-season friendly games:
Barça B - Friendly 1: Tona-Barcelona 0-2
Barça B - Friendly 2: Barcelona-Reus 2-1
Barça B - Friendly 3: Girona-Barcelona 0-1
Barça B - Friendly 4: Barcelona-Hospitalet 3-1


*

Barça B: Guardiola asked to sign Ivan

Las Palmas regional newspaper La Provincia claims that the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic central defender Iván Alejandro Benítez (21) came after an explicit request by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola.

Asked if he is dreaming about the first team, Iván said in an interview with the paper that he's not thinking about that now: "I will go step by step. If you see the competion... Puyol, Márquez...

For now, I only want to convince Luis Enrique and make my parents feel proud of what I do. But of course I also would like to convince Guardiola and become a part of the best team in the world."

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Ivan Benitez (Las Palmas B)
Barça B - Friendly 4: Barcelona-Hospitalet 3-1

Youth players could be promoted to first team

Asked about his statements after the Gamper game that no youth players would be promoted (read more here), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has clarified his words at a press conference earlier today:

"If we don't sign new players, some of the youth players will stay with us. But it will be different compared to what we did last year with those players.

I didn't yet decide which players might stay. They are indeed inexperienced - because they are young - but they are ready. Iniesta and Xavi were also ready back in the days. We have quality players waiting to come through."

Read more:
Jonathan hopes to be promoted to first team
The Wembley Ramble, Back to the future.
No youth players will be promoted

Barça B: Miki Roque (Liverpool)

Sevilla regional newspaper Estadio Deportivo claims that Barcelona was earlier this summer interested in Liverpool central defender Miki Roqué (21).

Miki Roqué, who played on loan with Spanish third division club Cartagena last season, nevertheless rejected an offer to join Barcelona Atlètic.

Last month, the Catalan defender, whose contract with Liverpool expired this year, signed for Spanish third division club Betis Sevilla B.

Read more:
Barça B: Miki Roque (Liverpool)
Barça B - Official: Ivan Benitez (Las Palmas B)

Barca B: Luis Enrique's hard training sessions

Catalan sports paper Sport described Luis Enrique's pre-season with Barca Athletic. They started their pre-season in El Montanya for eleven days, with two to three training sessions each day.

The players started 7 am. to run around a nearby golfpitch, with only one glass of juice and some few biscuits before they started. The objective was to reduce their amount of calories. Afterwards they ate breakfast followed by a new training, and their last training found place after dinner.

Luis Enrique also commanded his players to climb El Matagalls, which reaches 1696 m above the sea. The primary goal of this challenge was to strengthen the team spirit, and to improve their condition. When the team came back to Barcelona, they have usually had two trainings each day.

Asked about the pre-season, Enrique said: "Our pre-season is not that hard. Some of the players we had last year told me that they run a lot more now at the Primera Division club where some of them play. The training for the pre-season is kind of similar to the one we had last year. We focus on the physical, but also the tactical, and the centre of attention is always the ball."

Read more:
No youth players will be promoted
Barça B - Friendly 4: Barcelona-Hospitalet 3-1
B-team players happy with confidence Guardiola

No youth players will be promoted

Asked about the youth players, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has said at the press conference after the Manchester City game that none of them will be promoted:

"I'm very happy with the performances of all of them. Even playing with Juvenil players we were able to compete with a quality team like Manchester City.

We are lucky to be able to count on a good academy. But all those players will start the season with their respective teams."

Read more:
Jonathan hopes to be promoted to first team
B-team players happy with confidence Guardiola

Barça B - Friendly 4: Barcelona-Hospitalet 3-1

Masip

Dalmau
Sobregrau
Iván
Espasandín

Rueda
Romeu
Luque

Edu Oriol
Benja
Soriano

In the second half the following players also took part:
Oier, Balliu, Sergi Roberto, Terrón, Ilie, Elvis, Maestre and Polaco


30 Romeu 1-0
35 Corominas 1-1
60 Iván 2-1
75 Ilie 3-1


assists
Rueda
.
.


Hospitalet plays in the Spanish fourth division, Barcelona Atlétic plays in the Spanish third division.



Previous pre-season friendly games:
Barça B - Friendly 1: Tona-Barcelona 0-2
Barça B - Friendly 2: Barcelona-Reus 2-1
Barça B - Friendly 3: Girona-Barcelona 0-1

B-team players happy with confidence Guardiola

Barcelona Atletic players Andreu Fontàs and Jonathan dos Santos took part in yesterday's friendly game against Mancheser City and shared their thoughts with the club's official media:

Fontàs
"I'm going step by step. I continue to work and when I get a chance, I try to grab it. We have to be very satisfied because another coach wouldn't even know we exist but Guardiola gives us confidence and opportunities. I'm surprised that I continue to be with the first team but I'm very happy."

Dos Santos
"This is a place where I wanted to play since I was little and this dream has now come true. The confidence Guardiola is giving us is great. He's not putting any pressure on us, he tells us to go out there and show what we can, and luckily things are turning out well. I nevertheless know that I'm a Barcelona Atlètic player and that I can return to the second team at any time."

read more post-match reactions here:
Guardiola - Ibrahimovic

Barça B - Official: Solano to Ecija

Spanish third division club Ecija has yesterday officially announced the transfer of former Barcelona Atlètic central defender José Antonio Solano (23).

Solano, who joined Barcelona Altètic last year arriving from Ecija (read more here), has signed a one-year contract with his former club.

Because of injuries, Solano didn't play an offical game with Barcelona's second team last season. Barcelona had officially announced two weeks ago that the contract of the Spanish player, that expired at the end of next season, had been rescinded and that the player was free to negotiate with interested clubs (read more here).

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Maric to Norwich
Barça B - Official: Solano will leave
Barça B - Official: Longas to Cartagena

Four new B-players called-up for Gamper

Besides Barcelona Atlètic players Muniesa, Fontàs, Jonathan and Jeffren, who have been with the first team since the pre-season started, four other Barcelona Atlètic players have been called-up for this evening's Joan Gamper Trophy game against Manchester City after having trained with the squad yesterday and today:

central defender Marc Bartra (18), right back defender Martín Montoya (18), attacking midfielder Thiago (18) and winger Gai Assulin (18).

Read more:
Barça B: Introducing the promoted players
Jonathan hopes to be promoted to first team

Ten Things You Should Know About Pedro

by Xaviniesta

1 - Barcelona winger Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma ( also known as "Pedrito") was born on July 28, 1987 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. He has an older brother, Kirian Rodríguez, who plays with Bundesliga club FSV Frankfurt.

2 - He played with Club Deportivo San Isidro before joining Barcelona in August 2004 at the age of 17. He quickly developed into a versatile winger - one who is naturally left-footed but can strike the ball equally well with his right. He was a key player for the Barça B team that won promotion under Pep Guardiola, scoring 6 goals in 36 appearances for the team. Watch a video here.

3 - It was Josep Colomer, then director of Fundacion Barcelona, who convinced him to go for trials with Barcelona after watching him play. Pedro would later recall that event: "Those times were very special to me. I had the luck. If not, it would have been very difficult to get out of San Isidro. When he (Colomer) explained the situation to me, I went crazy. I did not think, I agreed to go."

4 - He played his debut game for Barcelona's first team against Real Murcia in 2007. He was training with Barça B (now Barça Atlètic) when then manager Guardiola told him that first team coach Frank Rijkaard needed a substitute for Santi Ezquerro who was ill. Pedro later admitted: "I became very nervous. The first thing I did was call my family. Everyone went a little crazy, especially since I had the chance to debut even if it only for a few minutes."

5 - His brief appearance during the 2009 Champions League final in Rome sparked tumultous celebrations in his hometown. Surprised and elated that Guardiola gave him and not one of his more established players the chance to play, Pedro later said: "It was not something you could imagine, but to have played in the final was, for me, unforgettable. I will never forget the coach's gesture of giving me even a minute to play in the most important match of the season."

6 - Guardiola officially promoted him to the senior team on July 28, 2009 on the occasion of his 22nd Birthday. He scored 3 goals in the team's pre-season matches. Watch the video highlights here here.

7 - Asked which players helped most in his integration to the team, he singled out Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta: "I am deeply grateful because they are the ones that tell you how to behave, how to act, what to do in each moment. Players of La Masia are always pulling the cart, it says much about the philosophy of Barça."

8 - Asked what his normal day would be like, he said: "I get up early, I train at the Ciudad Deportiva, sometimes eat there with the rest of the team, and in the evening I am with my girlfriend who would visit me in Barcelona. The main thing is to always have a quiet life, training and playing matches. My life in Barcelona is football and tranquility prevails over the future."

9 - On how he sees his future as a football player, he said: "My goal is to continue gaining experience, to have more playing time and be there for the team. Let's see what happens. My only promise is to work hard."

10 - His goal against Athletic Bilbao on August 16, 2009 would be his first official goal with the first team. He also assisted Xavi's goal in Barcelona's 2-1 first leg win in the Spanish Super Cup.



Ten Things You Should Know About:
Keirrison
Maxwell
Zlatan

Decision on future Jeffren made on Tuesday

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that Barcelona will make next week the final decision on the future of Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21).

On Tuesday, the club will decide if Jeffren will stay with the first team or if the player will be sold or loaned to Spanish first division club Racing Santander (read more here).

The player's performance in the super cup game against Athletic Bilbao tonight could have a decisive influence.

Speaking at a press conference, Racing Santander president Francisco Pernía meanwhile said that his club is staying in contact with Barcelona: "Our squad is basically complete although we're staying attentive. The talks with Barça are ongoing. I think we are acting in a good way. Time is running of course, but we can wait until the end of the transfer window."

Read more:
Deal with Racing on transfer Jeffren
Jeffren wants to stay
Barcelona's wage structure

Barça B - Friendly 3: Girona-Barcelona 0-1

Miño

Sobregrau
Iván
Bartra
Espasandín

Thiago
Rueda
Luque

Edu Oriol
Rochina
Gai

In the second half the following players also took part:
Oier, Montoya, Romeu, Polaco, Maestre, Nolito, Ilie and Benja.


66 Benja 0-1



assist
Nolito


Girona plays in the Spanish second division, Barcelona Atlétic plays in the Spanish third division.


Previous pre-season friendly games:
Barça B - Friendly 1: Tona-Barcelona 0-2
Barça B - Friendly 2: Barcelona-Reus 2-1