Debate: The transfer summer

The summer transfer period came to an end on Monday at midnight. For Barcelona this is the result of the transfer activity over the past months:

IN
Seydou Keita
Gerard Piqué
José Manuel Pinto
Martín Cáceres
Daniel Alves
Alexander Hleb
Henrique Adriano Buss
Pedro
Víctor Sánchez

OUT
José Edmílson
Giovani dos Santos
Gianluca Zambrotta
Deco
Ronaldinho
Oleguer
Henrique Adriano Buss
Santiago Ezquerro
Lilian Thuram
Marc Crosas

Are you satisfied with the way the technical staff and the board have handled everything? Or are you already looking forward to the January transfer window?

[Valiente] Albacete-Sevilla B

Spanish second division team Sevilla Atlético, the second team of first division club Sevilla, started the new season last Sunday with a 2-1 defeat against Albacete.

Former Barcelona Atlètic player Marc Valiente couldn't play due to problems with his pubic bone.

Because Barcelona has the right to buy Valiente back at the end of this season (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the central defender over the next year.

Sunday 31 August: Albacete-Sevilla Atlético 2-1

Injured. Valiente has pubis problems.

Barça B: Five B players train with first team

Because only five first team players were available today (Alves, Valdés, Pinto, Sylvinho and Víctor Sánchez), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola called five players from Barcelona Atlètic to join the training session:

Víctor Vázquez (21 - first picture, centre right), Córcoles (23 - first picture, centre left), Xavi Torres (21 - first picture, left), Longás (24 - second picture, centre) and Maric (24 - second picture, left)

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Barcelona thought about Eto'o-Robinho swap

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona has this summer been seriously interested in then Real Madrid left winger and Brazilian international Robinho (24) (read more here).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola saw the Brazilian as the ideal player to replace Ronaldinho at the left wing and Barcelona considered offering in exchange Barcelona forward and Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o (27) to Real Madrid.

Because Barcelona president Joan Laporta didn't want to let go Eto'o, a formal swap offer was in the end never made.

Read more:

Robinho agent admits contact with Barcelona

Could Eto'o join Real Madrid?

Barcelona proposes Eto'o-Benzema swap

Barça B: Iago talks about exit

Asked about the transfer of former Barcelona youth player Iago Falqué (18) to Juventus (read more here), people from his entourage told Spanish news agency EFE that sporting issues were the only reason to leave for Italy:

"Iago leaves Barcelona purely because of football reasons. Money has nothing to do with it. He's just looking for an opportunity to play, which wouldn't have been possible in Barcelona. In Italy, he's already training with the first team. In Barcelona this has never been possible."

In an interview with Galicia regional newspaper El Faro de Vigo, Iago already talked last weekend about his move to Italy:

What does this transfer mean to you?
It's a very good change for me. I leave a great club but I join a club that is at least as prestigious as the former one. They are both European top clubs and both of them have their own history. I'm very motivated to start this new cycle in my football career.

It seems strange that Barcelona didn't count on you, even more so after your good performances recently.
Yes, it is. Luis Enrique told me from the start that he had a lot of people for my position. Later he said that he counted on me, but by that time I didn't want to continue anymore. I was already talking with other clubs and my mind had left the club.

The case of Cesc Fàbregas shows that Barcelona often makes a mistake in letting a young player go. You would like to follow his example?
Cesc is a different kind of player and each person is also different. He went to Arsenal, I'm going to Italy. Said all that, it would of course be a dream to be able to follow his example and to repeat what he has done.

It is said that Claudio Ranieri was the main driving force behind your transfer.
I think that's true, his opinion has been important. They came to see me in Ireland last week and they showed that they were really interested. It was the club that offered me the best conditions, both at a sporting level and financially.

The plan is that you'll start playing with their reserve team. You see chances to make your first team debut in a short term?
I think so, yes. Although I'll have to work for it. They don't sign an 18 years old player like me just to play with the reserves. Of course it will depend on my performances. But I think I will get opportunities if I train well and show what I'm worth.

It will be a big move from Barcelona to Turin. How will you deal with that?
I don't think I will have a lot of problems. I have the total support of my family, which is the most important thing in this kind of situations. They will be close to me and help me around.

Read a more extensive interview with Iago later this week

Read more:
Barça B - Official: Iago to Juventus

Barça B: Iago will sign with Juventus tomorrow

Thinking about Eto'o-Trezeguet swap