Case closed: Ben Arfa

Olympique Lyon left winger and French international Hatem Ben Arfa (21) will not play for Barcelona as of next season, like had been rumoured over the last months (read more here).

After difficult negotiations, Ben Arfa joined Olympique Marseille last night. Lyon receives a transfer fee of 12 million euro° (plus 1 million euro if Marseille qualifies for the Champions League in August plus 20 per cent of the added value if the player is transferred).

Read more:

Ben Arfa could be left wing back-up

Case closed: Garay

Case closed: Modric

Eusebio candidate for Salamanca job

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that former Barcelona assistant coach Eusebio Sácristan (44), who left the club earlier this summer together with manager Frank Rijkaard (read more here), is one of the candidates to become the next manager of Segunda División team Salamanca.

Eusebio would want to make his debut as head coach and during a meeting on Monday he explained his project to Salamanca officials. The fact that it would be his first experience as head coach and doubts on his authority to manage a dressing room make Salamaca postpone a decision.

Read more:

Eusebio has offer from Almeria

Guardiola has his team in place

Who will assist Guardiola?

Last details of Henrique transfer being resolved

Asked about the rumours linking Palmeiras central defender and Brazilian international Henrique Adriano Buss (21), who is close to joining Barcelona with a loan deal (read more here), Henrique's agent Marcos Malaquias said to Brazilian sports paper Lance that he hasn't heard about that possibility so far:

"I haven't yet been informed on a possible loan. But I will meet on Wednesday with Barcelona officials to resolve all outstanding issues. In any case we will do whatever is best for the player."

In an interview with Brazilian sports site Globo Esporte, Malaquias said that on Monday he was contacted by the Ajax Amsterdam board who considered a last minute attempt to sign the player: "I thanked Ajax for the renewed interest, but explained to them that we have already signed a contract with Barcelona. There are just some minor burocratic details left for Henrique to be presented in Spain."

Catalan sports paper Sport says that Henrique could arrive in Barcelona next Monday. The paper claims that Guardiola will first watch the player during the first weeks of the pre-season and then decide if he has his place with the squad or if he will be loaned out. Dutch clubAjax would in that case be the first option (read more here).

Sevilla sports paper Estadio Deportivo meanwhile claims that Betis Sevilla could be another option. Barcelona would be looking for a partner in the Primera División where young players like Henrique could gain some experience with European football and with the Spanish league and Betis could be that club.

Read more:

Henrique confirms transfer to Barcelona

Brazilian defender Alex Silva high on list

Henrique transfer is one fax away

European top clubs sounding out Xavi

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that the interest of European top clubs in Barcelona midfielder and Spanish international Xavi Hernández (28) has been reopened because of the player's excellent performance at the European championships last month, where Xavi was voted best player of the tournament.

Several clubs from the English and Italian leagues, especially Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milan (read more here), would have contacted the player's entourage to know more about the situation of the Catalan midfielder at Barcelona. Despite financially tempting proposals offered by intermediaries, the player has a clear intention to stay at Barcelona.

The contract of Xavi, including a buyout fee of 150 million euro°, expires in 2010 and one of the priorities of the Barcelona board in the coming months will be the renewal and extension of that contract.

Read more:

Inter interested in Xavi

Chelsea closing in on Xavi

Berbatov if Adebayor situation remains unclear

Tears for Alves

Alves:

I'm happy to be here, but I couldn't hold my tears thinking about having to leave Sevilla

Laporta:

I perfectly understand that. When I think about Sevilla, I also start to cry like a child...

Especially when I think about how much we have paid them for you

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