Wenger pointing at Barcelona players

Speaking at a press conference about a diving accident involving Arsenal player Eduardo during the Arsenal-Celtic game, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger earlier this week tried to pull Barcelona players Messi and Pedro into the debate:

"Uefa have made the case of Eduardo. If you watch the Super Cup on Friday then they will have to charge Lionel Messi for headbutting or they will lose credibility. They have opened something there that over the weekend I'll find you 50 situations where they can intervene, or if they don't Eduardo will be singled out for being a wrong victim.

I do not want Messi to be punished but if they go for Eduardo then people will demand it. Pedro, also of Barcelona, dived as well in the Super Cup and so I don't think there's any logic to Eduardo's case. We have clear proof that from behind he was touched on his right leg.

There is no common sense. I believe it was a more emotional decision really because if Uefa had said before the season starts, 'Listen, let's get together and no matter what happens in Uefa games, if we suspect someone of diving he will be punished' then you could say, ok, we've always been told they will do that. But suddenly, out from nowhere because it was an emotional situation in Scotland, we have this situation and have to live with that."

Read more:
Cesc could arrive in June... or December
Wenger: "When I see Barcelona, to me it is art"

Pedro: "The national team? Why not?"

Barcelona player Pedro gave an interview to Tenerife local newspaper La Opinión de Tenerife.





Tell us about your new contract. What does it mean to be a professional Barça player now?
First of all, it's a dream come true. It means being a full part of the first team, so it's not possible to play with the B team anymore. It's another chance and I hope to take it. It's a new opportunity to learn even more.

Who told you the news?
The coach publicly said that he wanted me to stay and then my representatives started negotiating with the club.

And then you had to sign the contract. What did Laporta tell you?
He congratulated me and said he was proud of my work, especially because I was another youth player that became a part of the first team.

The contract proves you right in a way. You have always said you thought you had a place in this team and now you're there...
Yes, I have always said that. I had this mindset for quite a long time and look where it has gotten me, I have reached my goal. But things don't stop here. You have to continue.

Where is your limit? Is playing with the national team a realistic desire?
The national team? Why not? It is very difficult, there is a lot of competition and the coach seems to have a more or less fixed squad but I always want more.

You are very modest but at the same time very ambitious.
Of course, you have to be ambitious and long for more if you want to keep on making progress.

You have never had it easy, but will it be easier this season now that Barcelona didn't buy a winger?
No. I have always said that I am relaxed about that because I am used to competition. And not just some competition, but competition from the best players in the world. In that cases you have to look to the future with optimism, believe in your qualities and be aware that the coach also believes in you. I don't see competition as something negative. It's good for the team and in my opinion also good for the individual player.


Read more:
Ten Things You Should Know About Pedro
OFFICIAL: Pedro renews until 2014
Pedro: "If the coach needs me, I will be ready"

OFFICIAL: Pedro renews until 2014

Barcelona has today officially announced that Barcelona winger Pedro (22) has signed around 12 pm a contract renewal that will link him to the club until 2014.

This is the first professional contract for Pedro, who wil have a buyout clause of 75 million euros. Pedro joined Barcelona in the summer of 2004, arriving from Spanish fifth division club San Isidro.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Valdes renews until 2014
OFFICIAL: Toure renews until 2012

Pedro talks about Messi and the treble

Speaking to Catalan radio station COM Ràdio, Barcelona player Pedro (22) spoke of teammate Lionel Messi and the possibility of winning the treble again this season:

"Messi is the best player in the world, becoming like him is something impossible. No one else can do what he does, he's at a very high level. The truth is that all the players who came out of the cantera of Barcelona and have reached a high level because of their hard work and desire, and this is why I am confident I can make it.

The coming season will be very difficult because repeating the treble would take a lot. But I think we have an excellent team that will continue with a lot of desire and ambition. This is why we can repeat the treble. We have to go step by step, match by match, and we can get there again if we continue playing at this level."

Read More:
Pedro confirms renewal talks
Ten Things You Should Know About Pedro

Pedro confirms renewal talks

Asked about the renewal of his contract that expires at the end of this season (read more here), Barcelona player Pedro (22) has confirmed in an interview with Catalan radio station COM Ràdio that talks are ongoing:

"My agent is talking with the club. I hope that everything will be solved soon because I'm very happy here and I would like to continue for many more years.

I hope to have more minutes this season. I know it will be difficult because there's a lot of competition, but I'm working, I'm calm and I hope to have more chances and grab them when I do. I need to keep on working to keep on getting better.

Guardiola has taught me a lot of things. Not only about the game, but also about how to position myself on the pitch. I have learned a lot from him. I appreciate him a lot, not only as a coach but also as a person. I think he's a brilliant coach - he has proven it - and I hope he will continue for many more years."

Read more:
Ten Things You Should Know About Pedro
Pedro to sign new contract in few days

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

Pedro to sign new contract in few days

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona winger and Spanish U21 international Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma (22) will sign a new contract with Barcelona in the next few days. Sport claims that the initial draft of the contract would have already reached the player for review and a deal could be struck as early as Thursday.

Pedro would previously have been on the same reserve team contract he signed in 2004, with incentives for appearances with the first team. However, Pep Guardiola would now count on Pedro as a full first team squad member and Pedro would no longer play any part in Luis Enrique's B team squad.

The meetings between the player's representation and Barcelona would have been initiated a few weeks ago and neither side would have foreseen any problems with a new deal.

Read more:
Barcelona's wage structure
Pedro won't leave on loan this season
Pedro prefers to stay despite several loan offers

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

Pedro won't leave on loan this season

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that
Barcelona wing attacker Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma (22) will stay with the club this season.

The Spanish winger won't leave on loan like had been rumoured earlier this summer (read more here) and will in the coming days be awarded a new shirt number between 1 and 25, numbers that are reserved for first team players.

Read more:
Pedro prefers to stay despite several loan offers
Official players' pictures (part 2)
Osasuna wants Pedro 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

Pedro prefers to stay despite several loan offers

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that newly promoted Spanish first division club Tenerife is still interested Barcelona wing attacker Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma (22) (read more here).

Tenerife sports director Santiago Llorente would be willing to wait until the end of the summer transfer window to try to sign Pedro on loan.

Asked about the rumours, Pedro confirmed the interest of Tenerife and other clubs in an interview with the tabloid: "They asked Barcelona about a loan and I'm proud about that. It's an honour. Other clubs have also shown interest in a loan. I would nevertheless prefer to stay here, although in football you never know what can happen.

Next season, I want to be useful and play a bigger role. I would like to be more important and help the team to repeat last season, which is difficult but not impossible. We have a long season ahead of us, with a lot of competitions and a lot of games. I know it will be difficult to play but I want to try it, although the final decision will mainly depend on the coach. We've not yet had a long talk but he had already said some things. The most likely thing is that I will stay with Barcelona."

Read more:
Pedro not excluding loan exit
Official players' pictures (part 2)
Osasuna wants Pedro on loan

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

Official players' pictures (part 2)

Seydou Keita

Víctor Sánchez

Eidur Gudjohnsen

Aliaksandr Hleb

Pedro

Lionel Messi

Thierry Henry

Bojan

Deportivo rejects bid for Filipe

Deportivo La Coruña president Augusto César Lendoiro has said at a press conference that his club has rejected an 8 million euro° bid by Barcelona for Deportivo left back defender Filipe Luis (23):

"There's no deal. I've informed the agent of the player and an intermediary that if the player would decide to leave for another team, this issue should be solved immediately. We don't want to let him go because it's difficult to find a substitute on the market."

Lendoiro had yesterday evening a dinner with the player's agent José Carlos Lages, who had arrived earlier that day from São Paulo, to discuss the situation of the Brazilian left back defender.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Lendoiro told Lages that he's only willing to let Filipe go for the buyout clause of 20 million euro°. The agent will now reportedly inform Barcelona about the meeting and the two clubs are expected to directly talk with each other from now on. Barcelona would want to offer 10 million euro° plus a player.

A Coruña local newspaper La Opinión A Coruña, that says that intermediary Juan Figer also took part in the meeting, claims that Deportivo wants to hold on to the player and that he will only leave for the buyout clause or a fee close to that. Atlético Madrid, Olympique Lyon and Juventus would also be interested.

Madrid sports paper As claims that Lages made clear that Filipe prefers to join Barcelona. While Deportivo would be willing to drop to 15 million euro°, Barcelona would have offered 10 million euro°. A deal could be found around 12-13 million euro°. Deportivo would have offered to include Barcelona players Pedro (21) or Víctor Sánchez (21) but Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would count on the players, especially on Pedro, for next season.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that it's Figer, one of the two agents of Filipe, who is most involved in the talks since Deportivo still has to pay him 700 000 euro from Filipe's transfer. Barcelona would have offered 8 million euro°, while Deportivo has asked for 10 million euro° plus the loan of one player. Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona has put a limit of 9 million euro°.

Read more:
Filipe could sign five-year deal on Monday
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe

Deportivo asking too much for left back Filipe

Asked about the rumours linking Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) with Barcelona, the player's agent Jose Carlos Lages has said in an interview with Galicia regional newspaper El Ideal Gallego that Deportivo is at this moment asking too much for the Brazilian:

"Our wish is that the player can leave if Barcelona offers 10 million euro°, because I think that's a good fee for the transfer. The club already informed us that they want to sell him, but for a price that is not in accordance with the current market. They are asking too much."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro will return from Mexico later today and that the negotiations could be picked up tomorrow (read more here). Deportivo is at this moment asking 15 million euro°, while Barcelona is offering 8 million euro°. Also because they have the support of the player, Barcelona is confident to close a deal. A Barcelona youth player, possibly Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21), could be included in the final agreement.

Read more:
Deal on transfer left back Filipe close
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority
Zhirkov first on left back list, Filipe back-up

Leaving on loan is good option for Pedro

Asked about his situation at the club, Barcelona wing attacker Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma (21) has said in an interview with Tenerife local radio station Radio El Día that he wouldn't mind leaving on loan next season:

"I know that it's very difficult to play at Barça and I know I wil have few opportunities. I wouldn't have any problem if I would have to leave. A loan is an option and it might be a good thing for me.

My first season with the first team has been a dream. The truth is that it's impressive to go out on the pitch of the Camp Nou, especially the day you make your debut. Later, with the help of the team-mates, you forget all that and you only try to enjoy it."

Read more:
Osasuna wants Pedro on loan
Pedro unaware of next season's future
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players

Barcelona president makes new bid for Villa

Several media claim that, while last weekend Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain had been negotiating with Valencia vice-president Javier Gómez, Barcelona president Joan Laporta yesterday contacted Valencia president Manuel Llorente to make a new offer for Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, while Valencia is asking 45 million euro°, Barcelona made a bid of 40 million euro° plus the loan of one player who is not Barcelona player Bojan Krkic (18). Barcelona players Martín Cáceres (21), Alexander Hleb (28), Eidur Gudjohnsen (30) or Pedro (21) could be included in the deal. The paper claims that this would be the final bid of Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has offered 40 million euro° plus Cáceres, while Valencia would be asking a transfer price of 42 million euro° and still tries to include the loan of Bojan. Barcelona would offer Villa a year salary of 5,5 million euro net.

Valencia regional Superdeporte claims that Valencia isn't interested in Cáceres and that they want more cash or another player on loan. The key element could be the loan of Bojan. Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias claims that Valencia plans to organize a bid race between all interested clubs, including English Premier League teams Chelsea and Manchester United.

Read more:
Negotiations with Valencia on Villa ongoing
Barcelona planning six transfers
Barcelona joins race for Villa

Osasuna wants Pedro on loan

Navarra regional newspaper Diario de Noticias claims that Osasuna is interested in Barcelona wing attacker Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma (21).

Osasuna would already have contacted Barcelona to ask for Pedro and although Barcelona didn't reject the request, a transfer will depend on what will happen later this summer.

The Spanish first division club would like to sign Pedro on loan and wants to include in the deal a buy option at the end of the season as well as a future buy back option for Barcelona.

Barcelona manager Josep Gardiola would think a loan could be a good option for the further development of Pedro but the decision will only be made if the coach knows what will happen in cases like those of Hleb and Ribéry.

Read more:
Pedro unaware of next season's future
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players
Pedro could leave on loan

First offer for Deportivo left back Filipe

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has made a first offer for Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luís (23).

Barcelona would have offered a transfer fee of 5 million euro° plus a loan without buy option of two of the following three players: Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21), Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffrén (21) and Barcelona Atlètic midfielder Abraham (23).

Deportivo signed Filipe, whose contract expires in 2013, last summer for 2,2 million euro and would now be asking a transfer fee of 15 million euro° (read more here) for the Brazilian defender who also has an Italian passport.

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona, Filipe said in an interview with Spanish newspaper Público that he's trying not to think about it: "The whole season, I've been talking with a psychologist about the possibility of joining another team and what I try to do is not thinking about it.

If clubs are interested, they first will have to talk with the president and later with me. I don't know if they've already talked with my agent. I already said that I don't even want to think about that. I have four years left on my contract and, as things stand now, I will fulfil that.

There are things to take into account when you join another team. Adapting to a new city, a different club, that's a big change in one's life… It can be complicated. It could be that the club needs money and that they decide to sell me. But they can sell a lot of players because we had a great season. If I will stay here for four more years, that's fine by me."

Read more:
First contact with Deportivo on left back Filipe
Liverpool and Juventus interested in Abidal
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players

Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Deportivo La Coruña is interested to sign several Barcelona players on a loan or a permanent deal.

Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro would have asked about the situation of Barcelona forward Pedro (21), Barcelona Atlètic defensive midfielder Xavi Torres (22) and Barcelona Atlètic midfielder Abraham (23) during Saturday's official dinner before the league game.

The three players, who also have attracted the interest of several other first division teams, could be included in the deal on Deportivo left back defender Filipe (read more here). The clubs are expected to meet again in the coming days to try to reach an agreement.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo also adds the names of Barcelona polyvalent defender and midfielder Víctor Sánchez (21) and Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Jeffren (21 - picture) to the list of possible candidates to join Deportivo on loan or permanently this summer.

Read more:
Deportivo interested in Pedro and Victor Sanchez
B players happy with first team chance
First contact with Deportivo on left back Filipe