Valdes: "Ibra will begin an era at Barca"

Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) spoke at a press conference and described the positive impact of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the squad:

"Ibrahimovic is a forward that gives us many positive things, such as aerial play and holding the ball while facing the goal. He's a different player than Samuel Eto'o but with the same objective: goals. I think that he will begin an era at Barca. He had a good debut in the Gamper match and now the teammates must help him in making his adaptation a complete one."

Valdes also spoke about the challenges the team is facing for the upcoming season:

"This season, we are supposed to defend many things. We need to defend the titles that we already won and try to win the rest. It's a big challenge and a good pressure. It's not impossible to repeat what we achieved the past season. It's very difficult to do it but that's why we work hard every day. By doing that, you have the ability to equal or improve the results from the previous season."

Read more:
Valdes becomes a father
Valdes: I demand the most from myself

Valdes becomes a father

Barcelona's official website announced that Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés didn't take part in yesterday's training session after he became father for the first time.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that the baby was born at the Dexeus private hospital in Barcelona, that mother and child are doing well and that the baby weighs around three kilograms.


Valdés had confirmed the pregnancy of his girlfriend - model Yolanda Cardona - three months ago in an interview with Spanish newspaper El País and said that they had already chosen a name for the baby:

"Yes, I will become a father in August, of a son that will be named Dylan. Because of the meaning: son of the sea. We were looking for a name that is not Spanish and that refers to the sea, because that's one of my passions."

Six Barcelona nominees for UEFA Club Awards

UEFA has announced the nominees for the UEFA Club Football Awards to be presented during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw on Thursday 27 August.

The voting procedure gives the coaches of the 16 teams that reached the knockout phase of the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League the possibility to cast their votes for each position as well as to nominate the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 2009 of their choice.

Based on the voting results, the list of nominees is as follows:


UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year
Petr Čech (Chelsea FC)
Víctor Valdés (FC Barcelona)
Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United FC)

UEFA Club Defender of the Year
Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona)
John Terry (Chelsea FC)
Nemanja Vidić (Manchester United FC)

UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC)
Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona)
Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona)

UEFA Club Forward of the Year
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC)

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

Exit Valdes was an option

Asked about the renewal negotiations of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) earlier this summer (read more here), Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué has said in an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport that he has been scouting substitutes:

"There was a chance he would leave because both he and the club were defending their interestes, something they are entitled to do.

We were working on making an analysis of the market so we would be ready in case Víctor wouldn't continue and we would need to find someone to replace him. That's our job. Fortunately, the club and Víctor reached and agreement and that was great news for me, because I think he's one of the three best goalkeepers in the world."

Read more:
Barcelona starts negotiations with Asenjo
Valdes: I demand the most from myself
Barcelona could keep the same three goalkeepers

Valdes: I demand the most from myself

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes (27) spoke for the first time in a press conference after officially signing his contract renewal earlier this month (read more here):

"They won’t be demanding more because of my new contract. I’m the one who demands the most. At Barça they demand the very best."

Valdes also echoed comments made by teammate Andres Iniesta on Tuesday (read more here) with regards to complacency: "We have gone through some unrepeatable times and going back to all that is a thrill. But we must not make the mistake of over-relaxing. We have the experience of 2006, when the year after we didn’t win anything. We have to change our habits to make sure the team keeps working enthusiastically."

read more from the press conference here

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Valdes renews until 2014
Official players pictures' (part 1)

Official players' pictures (part 1)

Víctor Valdés

José Manuel Pinto

Albert Jorquera

Rafael Márquez

Henrique

Martín Cáceres

Eric Abidal

Maxwell

Yaya Touré

Pique reveals dressing-room secrets

In the run-up to the Champions league final, Barcelona player Gerard Piqué discussed his team-mates in an interview with British tabloid The Daily Mail.





Víctor Valdés
He's unbelievable when one-on-one with a player. The fact he's not in Spain's team is strange because he is one of the best five goalkeepers in the world. I like him because he doesn't moan when I am DJ in the dressing room. He also plays the piano.

Carles Puyol
Despite playing centre-back, I think he is best at right-back. He is like a barnacle or limpet that you find on rocks on the beach. You have to keep scratching away but still get little out of it! He is the captain, a good friend but an animal who is relentless on the pitch. If I was playing chess, he would be my rook. A tower of strength.

Gerard Piqué
What can I say? Scandalously good-looking (see my picture, above right). Talented on and off the pitch. There's nothing better than me, but maybe I could do with a little more confidence!

Sylvinho
The daddy of the team. A real good guy. He is always concerned for the welfare of the side and asks questions all the time when we are travelling, making sure we are ok. Not played enough in key games but very reliable.

Xavi
Best example of how good Barcelona's academy can be. He loves the ball more than anything else in the world. It is almost impossible to take the ball off him in training and if anyone does you normally get an ovation from the rest of the team.

Sergi Busquets
He is the rookie of the season. He was a striker and Pep changed him into a defensive midfielder. We call him Superman. You can kick him as much as you like but he won't feel it. He will be a reference point in world football in a few years' time.

Andrés Iniesta
Best midfielder in the world. You can study his hips as he is moving towards you but he will bluff you with his body. If Andres scored more goals he would be the biggest act in the world. Bigger than any singer! As a person, soft as a loaf of bread.

Lionel Messi
No 1 in the world. You can't fight against him, you will lose because he is quicker and more athletic than you. Not superstitious, but always wears his Argentina flag shinpads. I grew up with him here at Barcelona and he hasn't disappointed me.

Samuel Eto'o
We asked the coach and the chairman at the start of the season to make sure that we kept him. He had to stay, there's no other striker like him. He was having a bad time but proved to everyone that he is a top professional. He is fanatical about cars and watches.

Thierry Henry
He looks very cocky, but on a daily basis he has shown strong humility — despite being the best footballer in Arsenal's history. He kisses a tattoo on his wrist every time he scores and I have told him he is in danger of wearing out his skin, he has scored so many.

Yaya Touré
He always leaves everyone open-mouthed with his show of strength. Quiet in the dressing room but very friendly and never complains. He doesn't care whether he plays defensive midfield or centre-back, and we all feel comfortable whichever position he plays. Has some unusual dance moves, though.

Seydou Keita
The lungs of the team. He can run from deep and score, he is good in the air and cares a lot defensively. He doesn't know the meaning of the word 'no'. He says 'yes' to requests from the gaffer and ends up paying five times for it.

Eidur Gudjohnsen
The Viking or The Gargoyle. He has a special humour for the dressing room. He is always funny and cheery. Unbelievable first touch and is probably the best in the team with his back to goal. Speaks very good English and likes a party.

Bojan
It doesn't matter how many minutes he plays, because he always gets a chance. Don't give him half a metre because he will take you to the cleaners. His body is like a snake, he can change direction quickly and can slip past easily. He is a kid in the dressing room but I am trying to make him become a man!

read the full article including Piqué's comments on his former Manchester United team-mates here


Read more:
The merging paths of Pique and Busquets
Pique: "Classical music makes me fall asleep"

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

OFFICIAL: Valdes renews until 2014

Barcelona has today officially announced that Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (26) has signed around 12 pma contract renewal that will link him to the club until 2014. The buyout clause of the player has been raised from 100 to 150 million euro°.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta, the player's representatives José Manuel Valdés and Ginés Carvajal, Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste and Barcelona economic vice-president Joan Boix assisted the signature of the player.

All media agree that Valdés will earn a year salary of 5 million euro plus a possible 2 million euro in incentives. Víctor Valdés, whose current contract expired in the summer of 2010, joined Barcelona's youth ranks in 1995 (after a short stay in 1992), and made his debut with the first team in the 2002-2003 season.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Toure renews until 2012
OFFICIAL: Busquets renews until 2013
OFFICIAL: Xavi renews until 2014

Valdes to sign renewal tomorrow

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) will sign his contract renewal tomorrow.

Valdés will come to the Camp Nou offices on Tuesday, accompanied by his father José Valdés and his agent Ginés Carvajal, to sign a new deal that will link him to Barcelona until 2014.

Read more:
Valdes will renew until 2014 or 2015
Laporta comments on the transfer market
Club loyalty made Valdes accept renewal offer

Laporta comments on the transfer market

Barcelona president Joan Laporta commented on the transfer events in an interview with Catalan radio station iCatfm.



Eto'o
*I think that Eto'o would like to stay and I would like that too.* But he has an out-of-this-world offer from Manchester City which would make him the best paid player in the world. He starts to understand that it's a crazy offer. He wants to stay but it's very difficult to reject an offer like that.

Villa
It's Txiki who has to decide if Villa would replace him. If Eto'o leaves we'll have to sign a new striker, although I also think they could perfectly play together*, certainly because it will be a long season*.

Keirrison
We're on the verge of finalizing the transfer. Could he be part of the Villa deal? He'll do the pre-season with us and then it's Pep Guardiola who decides which players will stay.

Mascherano
He's a close friend of Messi, we'll see what happens. It's a player I like a lot and I don't think it's a problem that we already have similar players like Touré and Keita, who are also going to take part in the Africa Cup.

Ribéry
He knows that we like him a lot but Bayern doesn't want to sell. Madrid is also interested, like we are, but we have great respect for Bayern and if they don't sell, we accept that. They know that we like him so if they change their minds, they know we want to talk *although we won't take part in a bid race*.

Filipe
If Deportivo president Lendoiro talks about 20 million euro, that price is out of the market. No discussion there. Txiki made a very wise and decent offer *so if Lendoiro doesn't change his position, we won't do any further efforts*.

Bojan
He won't leave on loan.

Valdés
His renewal is not yet signed but everything is going well.

Club loyalty made Valdes accept renewal offer

Víctor Valdés:
In the end, my "barcelonismo" has made me re-consider the situation.
At no other club, I would feel as good as here.

(click the cartoon to enlarge)

source:
golsud.com

see more cartoons here

Valdes will renew until 2014 or 2015

All media yesterday claimed that Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) will renew his contract, that expires in the summer of 2010.

Barcelona would have raised their last offer and a deal would have been found on a year salary of around 7 million euro gross. Spanish news agency EFE claims that this is more than the double of his current wage.

The duration of the new contract is not yet clear. This morning, most media claimed that the new contract was until 2014. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo and Spanish news site El Confidencial claimed that it was until 2015. Catalan sport paper Sport first claimed that Barcelona had offered the goalkeeper to sign until 2016 but that the goalkeeper in the end decided to sgn until 2014. Later today, they changed that to 2015.

Sport claimed that the negotiations were picked up yesterday morning with a meeting between Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of foorball Raúl Sanllehí and the player's father José Manuel Valdés. Later, the player's agent Ginés Carvajal joined in and a final agreement would have been reached late last night.

El Mundo Deportivo on the other hand claims that the deal was agreed on during telephone talks between Txiki and Carvajal. The paper claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta could have talked with Valdés and that this would have made a new opening in the talks. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Carvajal informed Begiristain with a short phone call that they dropped their previous demands.

Sport claimed that the deal would be made public this morning, Madrid sports tabloid Marca that it would happen today, but so far no official announcement has been published. Barcelona president Joan Laporta nevertheless told journalists today that things look good: "I can only say that I have been assured by the people who are dealing with this that we're on the good way. So I think we'll find a solution that is satisfactory for all."

Read more:
Valdes renewal negotiations broken off
Barcelona starts negotiations with Asenjo
Agent Frey dismisses Barcelona interest

Deal with Valdes on renewal

Ginés Carvajal, the agent of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés has told in an interview with Catalan radio statio RAC 1 yesterday that there's a deal on the renewal on the contract of the player:

"There's a deal and the contract will be signed any day soon. I did never thought of the negotiations as being broken, that sure was not our intention. I didn't talk with Laporta and I think Valdés didn't either. We've always talked about wanting to reach an agreement and that's what has happened."

(more later)

Valdes renewal negotiations broken off

All Spanish and Catalan media claim that the negotiations on the renewal of the contract of have been broken off after a new meeting between the club and the player's agent Ginés Carvajal this morning.

The player, whose current contract expires in 2010, could now leave this summer while Barcelona might start searching the market in order to sign a new goalkeeper.

After days of negotiations between the club and the player's representatives, the parties have not been able to find a deal and the gap between the positions was too wide. While Barcelona offered the player to renew for four more years, until 2014, and earn a year salary of 6 to 7 million euro gross, the player's representative asked for 9 million euro, as much as players like Xavi and only behind Barcelona player Lionel Messi.

Read more:
Barcelona not willing to accept Valdes demands
Manchester United following renewal talks Valdes
Valdes wins his second Zamora trophy

Manchester United following renewal talks Valdes

British tabloid News of the World claims that Manchester United is again keeping an eye on Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) because of the difficult renewal negotiations with Barcelona (read more here).

The English champions reportedly monitored Valdés all season but expected his contract to be settled after his performances in the Champions League. United had therefore turned their attentions to Villarreal goalkeeper Diego López but could now refocus on the Catalan goalkeeper whose current contract expires at the end of next season.

Read more:
Manchester United wants to sign Valdes
Barcelona not willing to accept Valdes demands
Valdes wins his second Zamora trophy

Barcelona not willing to accept Valdes demands

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste and Barcelona director of football Raúl Sanllehí met yesterday with the representatives of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27), his father José Valdés and player's agent Ginés Carvajal.

After a first positive meeting last week on the renewal of the player, whose contract expires in 2010, it was generally believed that a deal could be closed but after 45 minutes in the Camp Nou offices things seem to have gotten only more complicated.

Asked about the meeting, Carvajal told journalists that a deal isn't anywhery close at this moment: "We've made an offer but we're still far away. It's complicated. The atmosphere during the meeting was correct but it won't be easy. I respect the interests of the club but Víctor never asked for a pay rise before. Now the time of the renewal is there and we can ask something.

We understand that what they offer is what they consider to be right, but the duration nor the salary is coming close to what Víctor Valdés is asking. He cannot be compared to Casillas but at this moment he's Barcelona's goalkeeper, he has won three trophies this year and he was again the goalkeeper who received the least goals in the Liga.

We're not disappointed, we're only defending the interests of the player. Víctor wishes to continue but life doesn't end at Barça. And he's not out yet, he has another year on his contract. We're not having concrete offers from other clubs but it's time to make a decision. We're 11 June, so there's time left but we want to have an answer soon so this doesn't turn into a soap opera."

Asked about the renewal negotiations with Valdés, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that Valdés will have to lower his demands: "I cannot imagine Valdés wearing another shirt. I know how the meeting went and I can only hope the player perfectly knows the offer made by his agent. If he knows about it, I would like him to reconsider it. We have to be patient to see if we can reach an agreement although their demands have surprised us a lot."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Valdés, whose salary reportedly hasn't been raised since he signed his previous contract in 2005, wants to earn as much as the group of players who are having the highest salaries behind Messi. Although Barcelona raised their first offer, they made clear that it's impossible to meet the demands of the player.

Next week there could be a new meeting but Barcelona hopes that the entourage of the player changes its position in the meantime. It's also possible that Barcelona tries to talk personally with Valdés or that Barcelona president Laporta personally takes charge of the negotiations like he did during the renewal negotiations with Xavi last year.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the two parties didn't schedule a new meeting but that talks are planned to go on by phone. Both the club and the player's entourage would think that some time should pass to let things cool off.

Read more:
Valdes wins his second Zamora trophy
Toure rejects first renewal offer
Agent Valdes putting pressure on renewal talks

Valdes wins his second Zamora trophy

Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) has won for the second time the Zamora trophy, the award for the Liga goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio.

With an average of 0,89 goals per game, Valdés wins the trophy for the second time, four years after his first win in the 2004-2005 season with an average of 0,71.

Despite a record number of 30 goals, Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (28) didn't win the Pichichi trophy for the top goalscorer of the Spanish league. Like in the 2004-2005 season, Eto'o finishes second behind Diego Forlán. Eto'o won the trophy three years ago having then scored 26 times. With 23 goals, Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi (21) finishes fourth in the final ranking.


Pichichi
32 Forlán (Atlético Madrid)
30 Eto'o (Barcelona)
28 Villa (Valencia)
23 Messi (Barcelona)
22 Higuaín (Real Madrid)

Zamora
0,89 Víctor Valdés (Barcelona)
1,00 Palop (Sevilla)
1,22 Aranzubía (Deportivo)
1,24 Toño (Racing Santander)
1,27 Kameni (Espanyol)

Renewal of Valdes until 2014 close

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the renewal of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) is close.

Barcelona has offered Valdés, whose current contract expires at the end of next season, a new deal until 2014 and the previous economic differences between the parties would almost be solved (read more here).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo nevertheless claims that Barcelona didn't yet talk with Ginés Carvajal, the new agent of the Catalan goalkeeper. Although it's likely that Valdés will continue at the club, a renewal deal wouldn't seem to be an easy thing.

Asked about the renewal of Valdés, Carvajal said in an interview with Spanish television channel TVE that he expects an agreement will be reached: "The renewal of Víctor will be very easy. I don't think there will be any problem since both Victór Valdés and Barcelona want him to continue. Víctor has been the first goalkeeper of Barcelona for seven or eight years now, so I think he has proven his qualities. His performances are at the same level as those of Casillas."

Read more:
Manchester United wants to sign Valdes
The malfunctioning goalkeepers
Valdes wants to retire at Barcelona