Henrique, Fontas and Rueda on first team debut

Some players who made their debut with Barcelona's first team yesterday, commented after the Tottenham game to Barcelona's official website.



Henrique
I was a bit nervous at the start, but I gained more confidence and I was able to calm down. There was some anxiety with my first few touches, but I will continue working.

The team has done well and we played the ball around well. For me it is easier to come out from the back with the ball. There is not a lot of difference to how Bayer Leverkusen played and I will work on my game.

Andreu Fontàs (picture)
The feeling is a good one. Playing in a stadium like that with a team like Barça... It was great. When you go out on to the pitch you forget about your nerves. We are happy with the way we played and it was a shame to concede a late goal, but a lot B team players appeared. It is great to play with so many good players.

José Manuel Rueda
It was a comfortable game. We all played 45 minutes each and I enjoyed that. It was a tough game, but we played well and we enjoyed playing in such a stadium and with the players we have.

read more post-match reactions here

Jorquera willing to listen to offers

Asked about his future, Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) is quoted by Spanish news agency EFE as saying that he doesn't exclude an exit this summer:

"I have a contract for one more year here and I'm only thinking about Barça. I will nevertheless listen to offers from other clubs, but only when I have the permission of the club."

Read more:
Jorquera wants to stay next season
Official players' pictures (part 1)
Xerez interested in Barcelona goalkeeper Jorquera

Barça B - Transfer summer 2009: Overview

IN

Edu Oriol
former club: sant andreu (3)
age: 22

official announcement: wednesday 17 june
contract duration: 2 years

Luque
former club: villarreal c (4)
age: 18

official announcement: thursday 16 july
contract duration: 2 years

Armando
former club: cartagena (3>2)
age: 24

official announcement: friday 17 july
contract duration: 2 years

Iván
former club: las palmas b (3)
age: 21

official announcement: wednesday 22 july
contract duration: 1 year



OUT

Abraham González
new club: cádiz (3>2)
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2007

Joni
new club: Sporting Gijón (1) (back from loan)
age: 22
barcelona player since: 2008

Goran Maric
new club: ...
age: 25
barcelona player since: 2008 (also between 1999 and 2001)

Xavi Torres
new club: málaga (1)
age: 22
barcelona player since: 2007

Héctor Verdés
new club: ...
age: 25
barcelona player since: 2008

David Córcoles
new club: recreativo huelva (1>2)
age: 24
barcelona player since: 2007

Sergio Urbano
new club: ...
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2006 (last season on loan at Sabadell and Reus)

Alberto Botía
new club: Sporting Gijón (1) (on loan)
age: 20
barcelona player since: 2003

Rayo
new club: ...
age: 23
barcelona player since: 2008

Dani Toribio
new club: malaga b (4)
age: 20
barcelona player since: 2006 (last season on loan at Terrassa)

Antonio Longás
new club: cartagena (3>2)
age: 24
barcelona player since: 2008

Mata will use Barcelona offer to get pay rise

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) will use the personal offer he received from Barcelona to try to get a pay rise.

The father and agent of Mata will meet next week with Valencia officials to discuss a renewal of the player's contract, that was signed when he arrived as youth player two years ago and which makes him earn a salary of 500 000 euro a year.

Despite the promise of Valencia to upgrade the contract and several meetings over the last month, the player and the club haven't been able to find a deal and Valencia would even want to postpone the talks until next summer. The club has reportedly asked the agent to show them the offers other clubs would have made so they can make a better assessment of the situation. It is now believed that the personal offer made by Barcelona will be put on the table during a new meeting next week.

Read more:
Barcelona preparing new move for Mata
Mata lays future in the hands of Valencia
Agent Mata confirms Barcelona interest

[2008] Drogba, Adebayor or Berbatov

this post was published exactly one year ago:


Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona isn't hurrying while looking for a new centre forward. The main reason is that Barcelona isn't willing to pay the amounts of money that could be involved.

While the club is still doubting on whether or not to start pushing hard for a 30 year old player like Drogba who has been injured during last season and whose club isn't willing to let the player go, Barcelona isn't even thinking about paying the transfer fee Arsenal is asking for Adebayor.

And even with Tottenham dropping the price to prevent the player from leaving for Manchester United (read more here), the transfer fee for Berbatov still seems too much.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that this weekend could be decisive for the transfer of Drogba since the ten-days period in which he would make a decision about his future are coming to an end (read more here). The player would prefer to join Barcelona this summer.

British tabloid The Sun meanwhile claimed this week that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is not happy with the massive wage demands of Adebayor and with the attitude of his advisors. That would be the reason why Barcelona will not pay the 47 million euro° asking price for the Togolese striker.

Asked by journalists about the rumours linking Drogba and Adebayor with a summer move to Barcelona, Guardiola today refused to rule out making offers for both players: "Barcelona are always interested in good players. Those players are interesting but so are many others in Europe."

Read more 25 July 2008 news:
New bid for Trezeguet coming up
Silva could be back on the market
Where could Eto'o play next season?