Racing president confirms deal on Henrique loan

Barcelona's official website has announced today that Barcelona central defender Henrique Adriano Buss (22) didn't train today because of a possible transfer.

Speaking to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio, Racing Santander president Francisco Pernía has confirmed that the two clubs have found a deal on a loan:

"For Racing it's important to be able to count on Henrique from now on. The transfer was almost done but after the defeat against Getafe this Sunday, I have contacted Barcelona to close the operation. We now have the papers ready so we can make it concrete.

I want to thank president Laporta and sports director Txiki Begiristain for everything they have done, and especially the player himself who has made the decision to join our club. For Barça it's also important to monitor him more closely and for us it will be great to have him in the squad.

The operation has been closed because it is in the benefit of all parties involved and because Barça wanted Henrique to play in the Spanish league. Then our coach also showed interested in this player so in the end the financial problem was easier to solve. Henrique will travel tomorrow to Santander while the clubs will finish the last details."

Read more:
Henrique loan to Racing to be announced today

Santander contacts Barcelona and Jeffren on loan

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) with a loan move to Racing Santander (read more here), Racing president Francisco Pernía has confirmed in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that there have been contacts:

"We were the first ones to ask Barcelona about his situation and the first ones who contacted him and his entourage. I hope the deal can be closed soon although I'm aware this could depend on the transfers Barcelona will make in the coming weeks."

Read more:
Deal with Racing on transfer Jeffren
Barca Seeks New Homes For Unwanted Players
Jeffren waiting for Barcelona decision on future

Talks with Racing Santander on Henrique loan

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona central defender Henrique Adriano Buss (22) with a loan move to Racing Santander (read more here), Racing president Francisco Pernía has confirmed in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that talks are ongoing:

"Henrique is a player we like a lot and we want him to play with Racing. Now we're negotiating the numbers of the operation. We should be well aware of those so we don't get into trouble during the season."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona thinks that a loan to Racing could be the ideal solution for the coming season. The Spanish club would nevertheless become impatient because the player's agents are postponing a deal.

Read more:
Espanyol interested in Henrique loan
Barca Seeks New Homes For Unwanted Players
Henrique offered to Racing Santander

Xavi: "We will not repeat the errors of the past"

Speaking to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio, Barcelona player Xavi Hernandez commented on the Gamper match and looked ahead to the new season:

"The team played well, we dominated the entire game but the ball did not want to go in. This was a friendly, what is important is Sunday.

We have learned from the negative things we went through in the past. We have many challenges to overcome, we are intelligent and we will not repeat the errors of the past."

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Manchester City: Some Ratings
Maxwell on Camp Nou debut

Cicinho and Grygera also options for right back

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio claims that Barcelona is interested in AS Roma right back defender Cicinho (29 - picture) and Juventus right back defender and Czech international Zdeněk Grygera (29).

Together with Arsenal right back defender and Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboué (26) (read more here), the two players are reportedly on a three-names short list managed by the technical department of the club.

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would now have to decide which of those three players is his first option, after which Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will start negotiations with the player's club.




Read more:
Transfer of Arsenal right back Eboue close
Looking for a right back defender
Brazilian right back Mattioni has been offered

Bojan feels good playing on the wing

Asked about the upcoming season, Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic (18) has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he feels confident at the start of the new year:

"I have been with the team for two years now and I've gone through a lot of things, so I think I'm prepared for everything. I'm capable of playing everywhere.

During my first year with the first team and with the B-team, I've played a lot of games on the wing, so I'm used to it and I feel very comfortable at that position. I think I played well there during the pre-season, so let's hope that the coach saw it and that he gives me a chance on the wing if needed."

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Bojan has been promised more playing time
Guardiola lecturing Bojan

Barça negotiating Microsoft sponsorship deal

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio reports that F.C. Barcelona is negotiating a sponsorship agreement with U.S. based corporation Microsoft. If agreed upon, the deal would be worth 2 million euros.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta, along with Barcelona board members, players, and coaches will later today visit the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Redmond is a city in the vicinity of Seattle, where Barcelona will play the second game of its American tour on Thursday against the Seattle Sounders.

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Barcelona closing sponsorship deals in the US
Henry leaving door open for future MLS move

Xavi expects pressure from Ibrahimovic

Asked about the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barcelona player Xavi has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that Ibrahimovic will have to adapt to Barcelona's way of playing:

"The role of Ibrahimovic will be very similar to that of Eto'o. It's a fact that Samuel had a real fighting spirit and a special character, but I'm sure Ibrahimovic will add other things.

Anyhow, putting pressure is an important thing for this team, because it allows us to play on the opponent's half and Ibrahimovic will have to adapt to that way of playing."

Read more:
Ibrahimovic: "I want to be on the Bernabeu photo"
Ten Things You Should Know About Zlatan

Pedro not excluding loan exit

Asked about his future at the club (read more here), Barcelona wing attacker Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma (21) has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that it's still a possibility that he will leave on loan this summer:

"I work to stay here but you never know. It's still not clear which transfers will be made or which chances I will get. I indeed have received some offers to leave. There are a couple of options, but there's nothing concrete yet. Personally, I would want to stay here for one more year."

Read more:
Osasuna wants Pedro on loan
Official players' pictures (part 2)
Leaving on loan is good option for Pedro

Henrique and Gai on first team debut

Some players who made their debut with Barcelona's first team on Friday spoke after the Tottenham game to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio.


Henrique
I felt comfortable out there, I was calm. I arrived last week and I'm getting to know my team-mates. I'm confident that I will keep on adapting step by step to the way of playing.

Gai (picture)
I'm happy that I'm here because it's really special to spend time with all these players. Before I went on, Guardiola encouraged me. He told me not to be nervous, to play and attack like I always do. I've always tried to make an attacking move, you have to try to grab your chances.

read more post-match reactions here

Barcelona VP: "More signings will follow"

Asked about the activity in the remainder of the transfer season, Barcelona Marketing Vice President Jaume Ferrer confirmed to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that they are working are working hard signing new players:

"The club's technicians are working to make more additions, but at the moment it is not easy.

Everything depends on us reaching agreements with particular clubs and that the prices are suitable to us."


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Ten youth players to start pre-season with first team
Barcelona can spend 30-35 million this summer
Interview with marketing vice-president Ferrer (2)

Barcelona wants to postpone return Eto'o

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio claims that Barcelona wants to postpone the return of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28).

The club would have plans to inform Eto'o in the coming days that he doesn't have to report back for training next Monday, but only on Monday 27 July, when several other players who took part in international games last month will start their pre-season. That way, Barcelona would have more time to find a new club for the striker. *Barcelona has meanwhile officially confirmed this news.*

Read more:
Manchester City drops out of Eto'o race
Laporta commenting on the transfer season

Barcelona could keep the same three goalkeepers

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona could start the new season with the same three goalkeepers as last season.

Barcelona first goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (26) renewed his contract until 2014 yesterday (read more here), Barcelona second goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto (33) wasn't expected to leave and Barcelona third goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) made clear on Monday through his agent that he plans to stay (read more here).

Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué meanwhile confirmed in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) was the main candidate to replace Valdés if the latter wouldn't have renewed his contract that expired next summer (read more here): "Now that everything is over, we can say this. We were interested in Asenjo."

Read more:
Barcelona won't sign a new goalkeeper
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes
Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted

First formal bid for Villa

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio claims that Barcelona has made late last-night a first formal bid for Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27).

After having reached a principal agreement with the player (read more here), Barcelona would now have offered Valencia a transfer fee of 40 million euro° plus the loan of two players: Palmeiras forward Keirrison (20) and Barcelona central defender and Uruguay international Martín Cáceres (22).

The extremely difficult financial situation of Valencia, that for example still wouldn't have paid the salaries for the month of June, would force Valencia to sell at least one player this summer.

Read more:
Meeting with Villa
Laporta comments again on the transfer market
The contract of Villa

Filipe hoping for a quick solution

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he hopes for a quick solution:

"It has been a while that people are talking about a possible transfer to Barcelona and one then hopes that things could be solved soon because I don't know if I will have to stay or leave.

I won't deny that I would like to join a club like Barça, it's just a very uncomfortable situation. I didn't talk with anybody from Depor or Barça, I only know what my agent tells me and what I can read on the internet. My mobile phone is always switched on and I'm waiting to see what happens.

What I now know is what president Lendoiro said, that there was an offer and that he rejected it. I leave everything to my agent. He knows what I want. I have a contract with Depor so I cannot say that I want to play for another team but if this is the moment to leave, Barça would be the ideal club. I hope they can find a deal that is good for both."

Read more:
Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe
Filipe calm about Barcelona rumours
Difficult negotiations with Deportivo on Filipe

Barcelona vice-president confirms Villa interest

Asked about the rumours that Barcelona has made a bid for Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27) (read more here), Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste has confirmed the interest in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio:

"Yes, Villa is one of our main objectives. Thanks to our sporting successes, a lot of players would like to join Barcelona. Talks are ongoing."

Read more:
Barcelona joins race for Villa
1 Ibrahimovic - 2 Forlan - 3 Villa - 4 Benzema

Barcelona considering to sell the pitch

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio claims that Barcelona is considering to sell the pitch of the Camp Nou.

Because of the U2 concerts, the pitch will be replaced this summer (read more here) and the club is now looking at the option of selling the grass of the historical treble to the fans.

If the pitch would be put for sale, the revenues will go to the foundation of FC Barcelona.

Read more:
Second U2 concert at Camp Nou

All parties deny deal on Ibrahimovic

Inter Milan yesterday put out an official statement on its website denying a deal with Barcelona on the transfer of Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27):

"During the transfer window, a headline in a newspaper is enough to transform groundless rumours into truth.

This is what has happened today after the article published in Barcelona newspaper El Mundo Deportivo about a presumed deal between FC Internazionale and the Catalan club. Besides being completely unfounded, the presumed deal seems remote from any logic, even to the eyes of neutral observers. The report is, therefore, groundless."

Asked about the rumours linking Ibrahimovic with an exit, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti nevertheless told the club's official television channel that Inter could sell players this summer if a good bid comes in: "Soon, and with calm, we will reach a solution. We are not forced to sell or buy. We have a strong team, with players who have shown they care about Inter, like Ibrahimovic who in his three years with us has done his duty as a great professional.

So I think we can continue like this unless there are situations where we can close a good deal for the club. With the current economic climate it is obviously necessary to sell as well, but I am not pushing in one direction or another. We will see what happens in the summer transfer market, we will try to create a strong team next year too because our objectives won't change."

The player's agent Mino Raiola commented on the rumours in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero: "There's no deal with any club that's not Inter and we're not allowed to talk with another club. It's normal that presidents of two clubs talk with eachother like happened last week.

Moratti also likes Messi and they're talking about him too. Ibrahimovic hasn't a preference for any team. The club that wants him should talk with Inter first and then they should offer us a sporting and an economic project. The two are important. His fee? I think Ibrahimovic is worth the same as Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo together.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta also denied that there’s a deal in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio. Asked about his future, Ibrahimovic meanwhile unconfirmedly said in an interview with Swedish television channel TV4 that he knows more about his future: “I know where I will play next season, but I keep it for myself. And I’m feeling comfortable with that.”

Read more:
Deal with Inter on Ibrahimovic
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o
Meeting with Inter on Ibrahimovic: A reconstruction

Bojan doesn't want to leave on loan

Asked about the rumours linking him with an exit on loan (read more here), Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18) has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he's not planning to leave:

"I will continue at this club. I've always said that I want to play and to play here will be wonderful. I prefer not to be aware of the rumours because I'm focusing on keeping the confidence and believing in my capacities.

Not having had the chance to play in the Champions League final didn't leave me with a bad feeling, because you cannot feel bad when you win the Champions League when you're 18 years old, but the truth is that I indeed expected to play. But this has been a spectacular season and we're still trying to understand what we have achieved. I will never forget the celebrations and I hope that we can repeat this one day."

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Poll result: Bojan's future

Swine flu could lead to tour in Asia instead of US

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio claims that the outbreak of the swine flu in North America could have an influence of Barcelona's pre-season plans.

Barcelona has two offers on the table to play friendly games: the United Sates or Asia. Until now Barcelona seemed to prefer the American option because of financial reasons. The club would receive two million euro for each game played in the US, which was superior to the amounts offered by Asian organizers.

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall had said after a board meeting last week that the club is planning a tour and that the United States was at that moment the most likely option: "No deal has been signed yet. We're analyzing several options but the most probable thing is that the tour will be in the United States."

Barcelona would have planned to play three friendly games in New York, Seattle and California, but the tour could now be cancelled because of the spreading of the swine flu. The Barcelona executives who are negotiating the tour in the US would have been ordered to stop the talks if the situation gets worse. This would leave Barcelona with Asia as only one option for the tour.

Catalan sports apper Sport claims that Barcelona had already signed a pre-agreement to play a friendly game against Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, the former club of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, between 5 and 10 August and most probably in Tokio. A new offer from the United States seemed to have left this agreement without effect but this could now again change.

Barcelona has also offers to play pre-season matches in China and South Korea. The club would at least try to close deals on two games in Asia (read more here). For each game, Barcelona would receive a fee of at least 2 million euro. This amount could get higher if Barcelona would win the Champions League later this month.

Read more:
Barcelona reconsidering pre-season tour
Chinese youngsters visit Barcelona
Barcelona plans new US tour in 2009