Oleguer renounced to his part of transfer fee

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that former Barcelona player Oleguer Presas, just like Ronaldinho did before (read more here), has renounced to his right to 15 per cent of the transfer fee his new club Ajax Amsterdam paid for his move to the Netherlands.

Last friday, Oleguer played his first match with Ajax against Championship club Cardiff City (0-0). Oleguer started the game and played for one hour. Two days later, Oleguer played the whole 90 minutes in the 0-1 win against English Premier League team Sunderland.

Read the complete Oleguer transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Oleguer's goodbye letter to Barcelona

When I arrived at the Camp Nou I saw one of my greatest dreams come true. From an early age I dreamed of wearing the Barça shirt; I used to imagine the Camp Nou at full capacity and me playing for the league title, surrounded by magnificent players, and helping win by scoring one, two or three goals. Obviously not everything is possible, but what had only been a dream a few years before, became reality on the 13th of November 2002: to play for Barça and be able to celebrate with everyone involved in Barcelona the teams successes.

I arrived without much fuss, with a desire to learn and give my very best in order for the dream to continue. Aware of my faults and virtues, but above all bearing in mind that what allowed me to play in this team was the desire to do well and the feeling that makes you give your all on the pitch. We all know that there are days when things go well and others not so well but the will to improve and the effort have been inseparable companions along the way. A few years in which I have enjoyed unforgettable experiences, like the title-winning celebrations on the streets of Barcelona and the Camp Nou, or winning the Champion’s League in Paris. But these moments would mean nothing without the little details that go along with them: the signs of joy, the support, and the warmth of the people, the complicity with my team-mates, the jokes, the hugs and above all knowing that each title has been the culmination of a years work, the team and the fans together.

Thank-you to all those who shared these experiences with me, without them it would not have been possible.

I’ve tried to show myself as I am. I’ve tried to act professionally coherent with my ideas. I’ve never enjoyed being the centre of attention for the press but this is not why I refuse to express my feelings. We all have our own and it is good to be able to express them and talk about them freely and respectfully in order to understand others and put ourselves in their skin. I think it is the best way to move towards a tolerant society.

My declarations have often been used to create problems, they have tried to read between the lines with things I haven’t said and misinterpreted others out of context. Throughout these years I have merely expressed my will to improve the society in which we live, still full of injustices, inequality and problems to be solved.

Thank you to all those who made an effort to understand and respect me, whether they agreed with me or not.

I say goodbye therefore with a letter, without making a noise, just as I arrived. I am going to Amsterdam to live a new experience and I hope to enjoy the minutes I haven’t had recently and help my new team to success. I think now is the time to do so and a good opportunity to experience other cultures, other languages, a new club, new team-mates…Definitively, a good way to continue growing in every way.

Therefore, it only remains to say that I will be among the millions of anonymous heads who celebrate my dream teams’ victories together. Thank you for everything.

Oleguer




# #

Oleguer presented in Amsterdam

Former Barcelona defender Oleguer Presas (28) has today been presented as new player of Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam.

At a press conference, Ajax manager Marco van Basten showed his satisfaction with the transfer: "We are very happy with this arrival. Oleguer is an excellent defender with a lot of experience. We see him in the first place as a solid player to strengthen are back line. Because of his experience in the Spanish League and in the Champions League we also hope he can lead our younger players."

Oleguer made clear that it has been an easy choice for him: "The sporting plans of the club and the new manager are very attractive. Besides that, Amsterdam is a great city and I heard good stories from Gabri. Ajax was certainly my best option. I will do what I can to help the team. We should live from game to game and in the end we will hopefully be able to look back on a good season."

Read the complete Oleguer transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Ajax officially confirms Oleguer transfer

Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam has officially announced that they have reached an agreement with Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28).

After the medical tests on Monday, Oleguer will sign a three-year contract with an option for an extra season.

Ajax manager Marco van Basten hopes to have the Catalan defender with the group on Tuesday and showed his satisfaction about the transfer in an interview with the club's official website:

"Sports director Danny Blind called me late last night to inform me that the deal was closed. That is good news since it's no secret that we were looking for a central defender. I'm happy we signed Oleguer. We're all convinced that his qualities suit the team very well. He has a good age, he has experience at a high level and it's a real defender.

It's also a good thing that we don't sign a player at the end of the summer. If everything goes well during the medical tests on Monday, he can travel with the group to England. That's good for him and for us. This will give him the time to get to know his new team-mates and we'll have time to find him a place in the team."

Read the complete Oleguer transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

Deal between Oleguer and Ajax

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Beportivo claims that Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) has yesterday agreed personal terms with Ajax Amsterdam.

Oleguer will sign a three-year contract with the Dutch club with an option for a fourth year. The conditions for that extra year being very favourable for the player, it could be seen as a four-year contract.

Ajax, who reached an agreement with Barcelona on the transfer earlier this week (read more here), will announce the transfer later today. Oleguer will travel this weekend to the Netherlands to undergo the medical tests and to sign the contract.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the negotiations are still ongoing.

Read more:

OFFICIAL: Oleguer to Ajax

Contract renewal for Crosas

Deal between Ajax and Oleguer to follow soon

Deal between Ajax and Oleguer to follow soon

Asked about the negotiations with Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) (read more here), Ajax sports director Danny Blind said in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that Ajax hopes to close the transfer soon:

"A loan deal wasn't an option for Barcelona. We have a deal on the transfer fee with the club, that's step one. We haven't an agreement with the player yet but the prospects for a deal are good.

He is looking forward to play again and would like to do that with us. We have given Oleguer an indication of what he can earn with us. If you buy a player for that kind of fee, you don't sign him for one or two years. Today we pick up the negotiations and we hope he can join the group soon."

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that it won't be a major problem to find a deal because Oleguer wasn't one of the big earners at Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Ajax is now negotiating with Oleguer's legal adviser Sergi Clavera and that the Catalan defender will fly to Amsterdam this evening or at the latest tomorrow morning.

Sport claims that former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has recommended the transfer of Oleguer to current Ajax manager Marco van Basten and Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Oleguer's former team-mates Feyenoord midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ajax midfielder Gabri have done the same.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Oleguer to Ajax
Fake agent links Huntelaar with Barcelona
Deal with Ajax on Oleguer close

OFFICIAL: Oleguer to Ajax

Barcelona has today officially announced the transfer of Barcelona right back and centre back defender Oleguer Presas (28) to Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam, subject to an agreement between the player and Ajax and to the medical tests.

Barcelona and Ajax have reached a pre-agreement which included the payment of a fixed transfer fee of 3 million euro° plus another possible 2,25 million euro° depending on the qualification of Ajax for the Champions League over the next three seasons.

pep's opinion:

good fee. we can discuss a lot about his football qualities but it's a simple fact that from january 2004 to june 2006, when barcelona was the best playing club team the world has so far known this century, oleguer was a regular in the team, playing the most games (together with valdes and puyol) and having therefore an important contribution in the club winning two spanish leagues, two spanish super cups and one champions league. a good player and a good catalan leaves us. thanks and good luck to him. visca el barça.

Read the complete Oleguer transfer story from the first rumours until the official confirmation

B player could take Oleguer's place

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the more than probable exit of Barcelona right and centre back defender Oleguer Presas to Ajax (read more here) could lead to the promotion of a player from Barcelona Atlètic (previously known as Barcelona B) to take his place.

The two players that are mentioned in that perspective, and who are these days both doing the pre-season with the first team, are Barcelona Atlètic right back defender David Córcoles (23) and Barcelona Atlètic polyvalent midfielder Víctor Sánchez (20 - picture), who can also act as right back.

Read more:
Deal with Ajax on Oleguer close
Seven B players will start season with first team
Oleguer wants to leave for Ajax

Deal with Ajax on Oleguer close

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf claims that Barcelona and Ajax Amsterdam are close to reach an agreement on the transfer of Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) (read more here).

There would only remain a minor gap between the Ajax bid and the asking price and both clubs hope to close a deal later today or at the latest tomorrow.

Ajax will then start negotiating with Oleguer on his contract, which could cause some problems since Ajax isn't able to offer the player the same salary he's curently receiving in Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Oleguer is expected to fly to Scotland with the rest of the group today. If a final deal is reached, the Catalan defender will travel to Amsterdam to be presented as new Ajax player.

Read more:
Oleguer wants to leave for Ajax

Henrique will be loaned out to Leverkusen

Talks with Ajax on Henrique and Oleguer

Oleguer wants to leave for Ajax

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam is negotiating the transfer of Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28). Ajax general director Henri van der Aat and Ajax sports director Danny Blind travelled to Barcelona on Friday trying to finalize the deal.

Blind, who has given up the hope to bring Henrique to Amsterdam (read more here), confirmed the trip in an interview with football site Goal: "I was in Barcelona and now we have to see how things will turn out. Barcelona wants to keep Oleguer but the player wants to leave. He sure has no problems to play in the Dutch league."

New Ajax manager Marco Van Basten also confirmed the interest for Oleguer yesterday in an interview with Amsterdam local television channel AT5.

Barcelona board member Rafael Yuste admitted in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that there were negotiations going on: "It's true that Ajax has shown interest and that the player knows about that. We have started the negotiations and they will go on next week. I think it would be a good thing, both for the player and the club, if we could reach an agreement."

Dutch football weekly paper Voetbal International claims that Barcelona is asking 5 million euro° for Oleguer, whose contract expires in 2010. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the Barcelona technical staff wants to hold on to the Catalan defender but will respect the wish of the player if he wants to leave. Barcelona would settle for a price between 3 and 4 million euro°.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the negotiations are advanced and that a deal could be closed in the coming days. The transfer price would be 3 million euro° plus another possible 2 million euro° variables.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the negotations already started in December. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has now given his approval and Ajax could officially announce the transfer on Monday or Tuesday.

Read more:
Talks with Ajax on Henrique and Oleguer
How things stand: Central defenders
Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

Talks with Ajax on Henrique and Oleguer

Dutch football site Europe Soccer claims that Barcelona is holding intensive talks with Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam on the transfers of Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) and Palmeiras central defender and Brazilian international Henrique Adriano Buss (21), who is expected to sign a contract with Barcelona in the coming days (read more here).

Henrique would join Ajax on loan while Oleguer could be loaned out or leave on a permanent deal.

Read more:
Ajax wants Oleguer on loan
Ajax confirms Henrique loan deal possible
Ajax wants Gai Assulin on loan

Oleguer is on Panathinaikos list

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) could leave this summer for Greek top club Panathinaikos.

Former Barcelona assistant coach Henk ten Cate could have reached an agreement with the Greek club to become the new Panathinaikos manager as of next season. During the negotiations he would have put the name of Oleguer forward as a possible reinforcement for the team.

Panthinaikos could be preparing a two million euro° bid for Oleguer. The Catalan defender, who has said he prefers to stay at Barcelona (read more here), will be offered an economically very interesting contract.

New Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is counting on the player and wants to keep him in the squad. But if the offer will become more concrete, it will be looked at by the technical staff.

Read more:

Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

Olympiacos holding talks with Ezquerro

Oleguer wants to stay

Oleguer wants to stay

Asked about the rumours saying that he could be one of the players having to leave Barcelona in the summer (read more here), Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) said at a promotional act for a brand of football boots that he couldn't be very concrete on his future at this stage: "The only thing I can say is that my intention always has been to stay with Barcelona."

Read more:

Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

How things stand: Right back defender

Major squad reshuffle coming up

How things stand: Central defenders

(a few weeks before the end of the season, Barça Transfer Zone looks forward to the coming transfer summer making an analysis for each position, in part 3 we look at the central defenders)

2007-2008
Like was expected in the beginning of the season, the central pair Puyol-Milito started the most games until now. Due to injuries, this was nevertheless only the case in 18 games. The other most used pairs were Márquez-Milito (12 starts), Thuram-Milito (11 starts) and Thuram-Puyol (9 starts). Oleguer played only in the beginning of the season a few times as central defender.

Out
With Carles Puyol (30) and Gabriel Milito (27) no doubt going to stay, French international Lilian Thuram (36) will leave Barcelona at the end of the season. Since his contract expires in June and will not be renewed, the player has been given the permission to start talking with other clubs. There have been rumours about Arsenal and Salzburg.

Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29) could probably leave if a good offer comes in and if the club can find someone to replace him. The defender has been linked with Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid and AC Milan. Oleguer Presas (28) has been linked with an Ajax loan deal.

In
With Thuram leaving, Barcelona wants to bring in at least one first class central defender. If Márquez would also go, that would mean a second player should be transferred for that position, although it is not impossible that a new coach could use French left back defender Eric Abidal (28) in the centre.

Barcelona's first choice was apparently Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander - 21). It is believed that a deal with Santander was already found in the beginning of the year but that everything didn't went through in the end because of financial reasons (read more here and here).

At this moment Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo - 26) seems to be the first option and an agreement between all parties could be found in the coming weeks. Gerard Piqué (Manchester United - 21) is another player who probably has been contacted. Blocked in Manchester, the Catalan defender could return to Barcelona in the summer.

Other players that have been mentioned are Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan - 34), Lúcio (Bayern Munich - 29), Federico Fazio (Sevilla - 21), Martín Cáceres (Recreativo - 21), Daniel Jarque (Espanyol - 25) and Samuel Llorca (Elche - 22).



Read all How things stand contributions here or read the contribution about:
Goal keeper - Right back defender - Central defenders - Left back defender - Defensive midfielder - Attacking midfielders - Wing attackers - Centre forward

How things stand: Right back defender

(a few weeks before the end of the season, Barça Transfer Zone looks forward to the coming transfer summer making an analysis for each position, in part 2 we look at the right back defender)

2007-2008
With Belletti joining Chelsea in late August, everything was clear at the start of the season: Gianluca Zambrotta (31) would act as regular with Oleguer Presas (28) as his back-up.

Consecutive injuries of Oleguer caused the return of captain Carles Puyol (30) for more than ten official games to the place where he started his first team career. It even looked for a while like Puyol would become the first-choice right back, with Márquez replacing him in the centre. An injury of the Mexican could have prevented this from happening.

Out
Italian international Zambrotta, whose contract expires in 2010, is almost certainly returning to his home country in the summer. A deal with AC Milan seemed close (read more here and here), but the difficult negotiations on a transfer of Ronaldinho could postpone the final agreement. Milan seems to offer between 5 and 7 million euro° for the player. There have also been rumours about Juventus and Inter Milan.

Being a good team player, Oleguer is probably not very high on the Barcelona exit list. But if the player would like to leave to have more playing time, the club would not prevent that from happening. After being linked with Lazio Roma and Wolfsburg during the January transfer window, a few weeks ago there were claims about Ajax wanting to sign the Catalan defender on loan.

In
With Zambrotta on his way out, one of the main tasks in the coming transfer window is the transfer of a top right back defender. The first choice for this position is undoubtedly Dani Alves (Sevilla - 24). If Sevilla wants to sell this time, the player is not expected to leave for less than 30 or even 35 million euro°.

Second choice is Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich - 24), whose contract with Bayern expires in 2009 and who is not planning to sign a renewal. If Bayern accepts the full back to leave, the transfer price is expected to be between 9 and 15 million euro°. Lahm can also play as left back defender.

Other players that have been mentioned are David Cortés (Getafe - 28), Rafinha (Schalke 04 - 22), Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal - 24), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich - 31) and Maicon (Inter Milan - 26). Central defenders Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo - 26) and Gerard Piqué (Manchester United - 21) and defensive midfielder Stéphane Mbia (Rennes - 21) have also experience on the right back position.


Read all How things stand contributions here in the coming weeks or read the contribution about:
Goal keeper - Right back defender - Central defenders - Left back defender - Defensive midfielder - Attacking midfielders - Wing attackers - Centre forward

The exit lists

With the Champions League elimination the planning of Barcelona's next season has now definitely taken a start. In the club but also in the press. Catalan sports papers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo and Madrid sports tabloid As have published lists of players who will or could leave in the summer transfer window. Some of these stories will be further developed on this blog in the coming days.

Sport
Have to leave: Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Thuram, Edmílson, Deco, Ezquerro, Gudjohnsen
Could leave: Henry, Márquez, Sylvinho

El Mundo Deportivo
Have to leave: Thuram, Edmílson, Ezquerro, Pinto, Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Gudjohnsen
Could leave: Deco, Eto'o, Márquez, Henry, Oleguer, Giovani

As
Have to leave: Ronaldinho, Henry, Zambrotta, Márquez, Gudjohnsen, Deco, Ezquerro, Edmílson, Thuram
Could leave: Sylvinho

Read more:
A look at the coming transfer summer
Who could go?
Major squad reshuffle coming up

Major squad reshuffle coming up

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is planning an important reshuffle of the team in the summer. One third of the current squad (8-9 players) would have to leave and will be replaced by other and more motivated players.

The big names that are on top of the Barcelona wish list are Sevilla right back Daniel Alves (24) and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (20). While Barcelona would already have found a deal with the Brazilian defender (read more here), the two clubs will now have to start negotiating (read more here). Alves has let Sevilla president José María del Nido know that he wants to move to Barcelona. Meanwhile, Barcelona would have made Arsenal a first offer regarding Cesc (read more here).

Besides the four players whose contract expires in June - Brazilian midfielder José Edmilson (31), Brazilian left back Sylvinho Mendes (34), Spanish left winger Santiago Ezquerro (31) and French central defender Lilian Thuram (36) - some other members of the squad, like Catalan defender Oleguer Presas (28) could leave in the summer.

Key players Ronaldinho (28) and Deco (30) seem also on their way out (read more here). And if French forward Thierry Henry (30) would decide that he wants to leave, Barcelona would let him, although some are convinced the player can still offer Barcelona a lot in the future. Henry could have started talks with English club Chelsea (read more here).

Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Dutch top club Ajax Amsterdam is interested in signing Barcelona defender Oleguer Presas (28) on loan.

Ajax would want to bring in several players from European top clubs. Current Dutch national team coach and future Ajax manager Marco van Basten is said to use his contacts in Barcelona and Milan to attract players like Oleguer or Milan's Yoann Gourcuff. Oleguer would have to replace in centre defence Ajax defender John Heitinga, who will leave for Atlético Madrid in the summer.

(read more on the Oleguer transfer story here)

Who could go?

In an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 (read more here), Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain commented on the possible outward transfers in the summer (read more here). In general, he pointed out that the club will never retain players against their will: “The door is open for those who want to leave.”

Begiristain assured the club wants Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho (27) to continue, although he stated that the player should return to his best form. About Portuguese midfielder Deco (30), the sports director was clear: “It’s a very complete player, our most aggressive midfielder, someone who never hides himself on the field. If he keeps performing well and he feels comfortable here, it is clear he will stay.”

The players whose contract expires in June, French central defender Lilian Thuram (36), Brazilian left back Sylvinho Mendes (33), Brazilian defensive midfielder José Edmílson (31) and Spanish left winger Santiago Ezquerro (31) could all renew, but everything will depend on their performances on the pitch. The same goes for Icelandic attacker Eidur Gudjohnsen (29), “who is fighting very hard for his spot in the team”, and Catalan defender Oleguer Presas (28), “who I really wouldn’t want to see leaving”.

Lahm is the first option

Madrid tabloid As claims that one of the Barcelona priorities for the summer is to bring in a right back since both Gianluca Zambrotta (31) and Oleguer Presas (28) would seem to be on their way out. Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm (24) is named as being the top candidate to fill in the right back position as of next season.