Jeffren promoted to first team

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) has been promoted to the first team.

Sources close to the player reportedly told the paper that Jeffren would have talked with the coaching staff on Wednesday.

The player was reportedly told that he will stay with the first team this season. If he doesn't have enough playing minutes during the first half of the season or if the club signs a left winger in January.

Speaking at a press conference, Real Sociedad coach Martín Lasarte confirmed on Thursday that his club had received the official confirmation from Barcelona that Jeffren won't leave on loan this summer: "What we expected has now been confirmed by his club: Jeffren will stay there. I think that with this decision, we close are incoming transfers."

Read more:
Jeffren has personal deal with Racing Santander
Poll result: Who should stay?
Real Sociedad still waiting for Jeffren answer

Poll result: Who should stay?

This is the final result of this blog's Which of the following players should certainly stay with the first team this season? poll:


53% Jeffren
21% Gudjohnsen
16% Henrique
10% None of the three



Read more:
Real Sociedad still waiting for Jeffren answer
Gudjohnsen does not want to leave
Talks with Racing on Henrique loan continue

Real Sociedad still waiting for Jeffren answer

Basque regional newspaper El Diario Vasco claims that Spanish second division club Real Sociedad is still waiting to get a final answer by Barcelona on the possible loan of Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21).

Real Sociedad sports director Loren would be in daily contact with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristian. While Begiristain would want Jeffren to join Real Sociedad on loan, the player and his father would prefer the offer of Spanish first division club Racing Santander, although Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola will make the decision on a possible exit.

Cantabria regional newspaper El Diario Montañés meanwhile claims that, despite a personal four-year deal with the player, Racing Santander has for now given up on Jeffren after Guardiola reportedly decided that the winger will at least stay with Barcelona until January. When the winter transfer window opens, Racing would again contact Barcelona.

Read more:
Real Sociedad and Racing giving up on Jeffren
Jeffren will stay at least until January
Jeffren has personal deal with Racing Santander

Marquez and Iniesta travel to Monaco

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola announced earlier today a list of 24 players for the European super cup game against Shakhtar Donetsk Friday evening at 8:45 pm.

The list:
Valdés, Pinto
Alves, Henrique, Puyol, Piqué, Márquez, Fontàs, Muniesa, Abidal, Maxwell
Touré, Keita, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Busquets, Iniesta, Jonathan
Messi, Ibrahimovic, Bojan, Henry, Pedro, Jeffren

Milito, Iniesta and Márquez are recovering from injuries, although the last two will travel to Monaco. Four Barcelona Atlètic players make the list although six players will still have to be excluded from the final list on Friday. The team will fly tomorrow morning to Monaco.

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

Jeffren will stay at least until January

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) will not leave the club this summer.

Despite the interest of Spanish first division club Racing Santander (read more here), the coaching staff would have decided that Jeffren will stay with Barcelona at least until the month of January.

Read more:
Santander contacts Barcelona and Jeffren on loan
Barca seeks new homes for unwanted players
Jeffren waiting for Barcelona decision on future

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

24 players included in Athletic list

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola announced earlier today a list of 24 players for the super cup game against Athletic Bilbao tomorrow evening at 10 pm.

The list:
Valdés, Pinto, Jorquera, Oier
Alves, Henrique, Puyol, Piqué, Fontàs, Muniesa, Abidal, Maxwell
Touré, Keita, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Busquets, Jonathan
Messi, Ibrahimovic, Bojan, Henry, Pedro, Jeffren

Milito, Iniesta and Márquez are recovering from injuries. Five Barcelona Atlètic players make the list although six players will still have to be excluded from the final list tomorrow. Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Oier has yesterday and today been training with the first team.

Barcelona had an early training session this morning at 9 am and will have a last training at 11:30 am tomorrow.

Jeffren waiting for Barcelona decision on future

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) with a move to Spanish second division club Real Sociedad (read more here), the players father and agent Efrén Suárez has said in an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that everything will depend on the decision of Barcelona:

"There is a chance he could join Real Sociedad on loan although everything will depend on Barcelona. If they see he could have playing minutes, they will keep Jeffren. If they sign another winger, then they will want him to leave on loan. But at this moment we're waiting for their decision.

Real has a very interesting project for sure, I've seen them play. Jeffren also likes it, but of course he prefers to play in the first division. If a first division club shows interest, we have to analyze that offer. We nevertheless don't want to exclude any option. My son has a lot of offers at this moment, although things aren't moving now."

Read more:
Decision on future Jeffren made on Tuesday
Barca Seeks New Homes For Unwanted Players
Deal with Racing on transfer Jeffren

Barca Seeks New Homes For Unwanted Players

Sport reports that FC Barcelona would like to loan out players that do not fit into coach Pep Guardiola's plans, specifically defender Henrique and winger Jeffren Suarez.

On paper, Henrique looks a player who could find a role on Barcelona's bench, having played regularly and successfully at while on loan at Bayer Leverkusen last year.

However, he has not been able to meet Guardiola's expectations during the preseason and has been surpassed on the depth chart by cantera products Marc Muniesa and Andreu Fontes.

As such, the coach would like the Henrique to go out on loan to a Spanish club in order that the team can follow his progress closely. Sport claims that both Zaragoza and Racing have expressed interest.

The situation with Jeffren Suarez is more murky. While the young winger would likely not make the Barca roster based on his performance, the coaches are bound by a lack of viable options. As such, Guardiola must rely more on Pedro and, to a lesser extent, Jeffren. If Barca is able to let him leave on loan, Racing and Real Sociedad would be likely destinations.

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

Henry included in Athletic list

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola announced earlier today a list of 19 players for the super cup game against Athletic Bilbao tomorrow evening at 10:00 pm.

The list:
Valdés, Pinto,
Alves, Maxwell, Abidal, Puyol, Piqué, Fontàs, Muniesa,
Touré, Keita, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Busquets, Jonathan
Bojan, Pedro, Jeffren, Henry

Milito, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Márquez and Messi are recovering from injuries. Henrique and Jorquera are left out of the squad, while four Barcelona Atlètic players make the list.

The team will travel tomorrow to Bilbao, leaving the Camp Nou at 11 am.

Deal with Racing on transfer Jeffren

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona and Racing Santander have reached an agreement on the transfer of Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21).

Racing could sign Jeffren this summer for a price the club can freely choose, with Barcelona having the right to buy the player back for the double of the transfer fee later.

The agreement will nevertheless only become effective if Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola decides not to count on Jeffren, whose contract expires in 2010, for the coming season. The winger, who would accept to join Racing if he won't be promoted to Barcelona's first team, would be close to staying although the Super Cup game against Athletic on Sunday could be a last and decisive test.

Read more:
Racing president contacts Laporta on Jeffren
Jeffren wants to stay

Jeffren wants to stay

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) with a loan move to newly promoted Spanish first division club Tenerife (read more here), Effren Suárez has said in an interview with Tenerife local radio station Radio Club Tenerife that the player prefers to stay at Barcelona's first team:

"He wishes to stay with the Barcelona squad even though he could have few playing minutes.

In case he he has to leave, he prefers to go to a Spanish first division club. Yesterday, I talked with Txiki Begiristain. He told me that they have received offers from three or four clubs but Tenerife wasn't one of them. It would be a nice option though, because it would be like returning home. You should always discuss things first but we're not excluding anything. Two years ago, Tenerife also asked to sign him on loan, but Barcelona rejected the offer back then."

Read more:
Future of Jeffren to be resolved in coming days
Real Sociedad and Racing giving up on Jeffren

Future of Jeffren to be resolved in coming days

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 said at a press conference that Barcelona will make a decision in the coming days:

"We are in contact with Barcelona and we have agreed a date on which we will know the final decision. We will find out more about the future of Jeffren on 9 or 10 August, when they have decided what will happen. It's a very interesting player although it seems some other clubs think the same."

Read more:
Jeffren still unaware of future
Barcelona's wage structure
Racing president contacts Laporta on Jeffren

Jeffren still unaware of future

Asked about the rumours linking him with a loan move to Racing Santander (read more here), Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) has told journalists after the Seattle friendly that he hasn't been in contact with the Spanish first division club:

"No one of Santander has contacted me, I don't know anything about it. I'm only thinking about this tour. My future is now in the hands of Guardiola.

I try to give my best when I play so I could have a chance of staying with the first team. So far, this is like a dream very few players are able to live. Being here in the United States with the first team of Barcelona, being able to play and even score goals. One cannot ask for more."

Read more:
Jeffren will be promoted to the first team
Real Sociedad and Racing giving up on Jeffren

Real Sociedad and Racing giving up on Jeffren

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Real Scoiedad has almost given up the idea of signing Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) on loan this summer.

Because it is believed that Jeffren will be promoted to Barcelona's first team (read more here), the Spanish second division club would now start to look at other options.

Cantabria regional newspaper El Diario Montañés meanwhile also claims that a loan of Jeffren to Racing Santander is getting unlikely because of the player's good performances during the pre-season. The final decision would nevertheless only be made by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola after Barcelona has returned from the United States.

Read more:
Racing president contacts Laporta on Jeffren
The new faces
Jeffren will be promoted to the first team

Barcelona's wage structure

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona's wage scale has six levels:



GROUP A
Messi

GROUP B
Henry
Ibrahimovic

GROUP C
Alves
Xavi
Iniesta
Puyol

GROUP D
Valdés
Touré
Márquez
Keita

GROUP E
Bojan
Piqué
Jorquera
Pinto
Busquets

GROUP F
Pedro
Víctor Sánchez
Muniesa
Jeffren

Jeffren will be promoted to the first team

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren Suárez (21) will be promoted to the first team this summer.

Barcelona's coaching staff would have made the decision and the Venezuela born player will be part of Barcelona's first team squad next season.

Santander football site El Racinguista claims on the other hand that there's little chance that Jeffren will get many chances next season and that the player himself would prefer to join Spanish first division club Racing Santander on loan (read more here).

Read more:
Jeffren could be promoted this summer
The Wembley Ramble, Back to the future.
Racing Santander wants Jeffren on loan

Looking forward to the last transfer window month

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo looks ahead to the last month of the summer transfer window.


Central defender
With the transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) having become unlikely because of the player's participation in a Champions league qualifying game, Barcelona could decide not to sign another centre-back and to count on Henrique and youth players Muniesa or Fontàs.

Midfielder
Signing another midfielder seems at this moment the priority of the club, with Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) and Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22) on top of the list. A player with a back-up profile like Poulsen is not an option.

Left winger
With a transfer of main target Franck Ribéry not being possible, a transfer of a left winger is not a priority because the alternatives don't convince. Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) could be an option if he cannot reach a renewal agreement with Valencia this summer. Other rumoured options like Di María, Robinho or Arshavin seem far off at this moment. Homegrown players Pedro, Jeffren or Gai are expected to get their chances.

Read more:
Transfer of Chygrynskiy becomes unlikely
Mascherano or Cesc
Mata will use Barcelona offer to get pay rise