Blog Viva El Barca

Manchester United To Offer Barcelona €29m For Samuel Eto’o

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:33:27 -0500

The Barca striker's future could be about to be resolved, with the British press reporting that the Red Devils are poised with an offer.

Gill Clark

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a deal for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o as they prepare to bid €29 million for the Cameroon international.

The News of the World claims that the English champions will offer Eto’o a four-year deal, worth £150,000 a week, in order to secure their man.

Neighbours Manchester City had looked favourites to sign the 28-year-old, but Mark Hughes’ side bowed out of the race on Friday, leaving the path clear for United.

The report goes on to say that Eto’o has already informed Barcelona president Joan Laporta that he will leave the Catalan outfit this summer, with Old Trafford now appearing to be his most likely destination.

The player’s agent, Jose Maria Masalles, also insisted that money was not the striker’s main motivation and that the prospect of claiming silverware was more attractive.

“At 28 he wants to join a club which will give him another chance of winning trophies,” he said.

“It can't be just about money. It has to be about the sporting project.”

Having watched Eto’o seemingly stall in his negotiations with both Barca and Man City, Sir Alex Ferguson's men have made it clear that this is their sole offer and that a swift answer is needed if the deal is to go ahead.

Gill Clark, Goal.com

Forlan Has No Barcelona Offer

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:31:49 -0500

Atletico de Madrid need not be worried about Diego Forlan as Barcelona have not made any approach for him...

Lucas Brown

Diego Forlan's agent has dismissed speculation that he or the player have talked to Barcelona and stated that nobody had made contact about a move to Camp Nou.

Daniel Bolotnicoff was reacting to reports that suggested the Blaugrana had held direct negotiations about a move and that it had infuriated Atletico.

But the Uruguayan star's representative rejected all talk of having spoken to Barça and reiterated that Forlan is happy with Atletico de Madrid and is looking forward to the new season.

"Barcelona have at no time made contact with us," he was quoted as saying by AS. "Laporta has made no movement for Forlan.

"It is not strange to me that Laporta says he likes Forlan as we have known that for a long time, but the reality is that there has been no offer and we are calm.

"In football you cannot predict what will happen, but neither myself nor Diego want to talk about something that has not happened.

"He is happy at Atletico and is thinking only about two main challenges for next season which are to progress in the Champions League and help Uruguay qualify for the World Cup Finals."

Diego Forlan celebrates with striking partner Sergio Aguero for Atletico against Deportivo

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Barcelona Enter Decisive Week In David Villa, Samuel Eto’o Operation

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:29:40 -0500

he Catalans have it all to do in the transfer market just seven days before the squad begin preparations for the new campaign.

Kooi Soon Leong

Despite starting their squad rebuilding plans well before the 2008-09 season even concluded, Barcelona have made little progress six weeks into the summer transfer market.

The key issue for the club has been their hunt for a top class striker, which has now been whittled down to David Villa, and their search to find a buyer for one of their own, Samuel Eto’o.

And with just one week left until the start of pre-season training (July 20), El Mundo Deportivo believes that the Blaugrana will enter a make-or-break week to complete some of their key transfers.

The paper quoted Barca's vice-president, Rafael Yuste, saying, “Everything is under control. We are doing things with a more tranquillity now.”

But El Mundo is not entirely convinced, even though they outlined a clearer picture of what needs to be done now.

It was reported that Villa will return from his holidays and head straight to his Valencia bosses to demand an exit, after Barcelona made an offer of around €40-50 million to Los Che last week, with the possible inclusion of a player-exchange deal involving Keirrison, who could be announced as a new signing this Tuesday.

The Catalans are also supposedly reviving talks with Manchester City for the sale of Eto’o. The deal had gone cold after Citizens manager Mark Hughes grew weary of the drawn-out saga and decided instead to focus on other targets.

But with their English club's city rivals, Manchester United, now ready to enter the picture, Barca are hoping that the Cameroonian striker’s departure will be confirmed soon as Joan Laporta looks to offload the player for a sizeable fee before his contract runs out next year.

In addition, ‘El Tricampeon’ are still nowhere near finalising an agreement for left-back Filipe Luis or midfielder Javier Mascherano, two vital positions that coach Pep Guardiola desperately wants to strengthen. He is also hoping to bring in another central defender, although that role can be filled by Henrique, who has returned from his loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen.

Samuel Eto'o (PA)

KS Leong, Goal.com

Barca's marketing chief Jaume Ferrer: Best Moment In Barcelona’s History But We Won’t Spend €80m On One Player

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:27:33 -0500

The Blaugrana’s marketing chief has revealed that the club are in good economic health but will not exceed their transfer cap…

Kooi Soon Leong

Many critics had questioned Barcelona’s financial power despite an outorageously successful season, after it was reported that they only had €35 million to spend in the summer transfer window.

But the vice-president of the club’s media and marketing department, Jaume Ferrer, has revealed that the Blaugrana are in fact going through the best period in their history and that they are by no means being economically overshadowed by Real Madrid.

“We are doing extraordinarily well,” he said in an interview with Sport.

“We predicted €380m for last season but we ended up with €390m. We were facing a crisis back in December, but as of February, things started to change and the success of our first team has helped bring in a lot of money from our gate receipts.

“We are going through the best moment of our history. We have a lot of offers to play friendly matches all around the world but it is impossible to accept every one of them.

“Numerous companies of high prestige are also contacting us because they want to be associated with us. We have great assets and sufficient income to retain the confidence of the banks.”

When asked if the club would dish out €80m to sign a single player, Ferrer replied, “We can invest any amount of money we want.

“However, this is not our model. We prefer to focus on our efforts and hard work on a daily basis. Our strategy is to invest €35m per season on new signings, but that does not include what we make from selling players.”

Ferrer then went on to deflect pressure away from ‘El Tricampeon’, dismissing comparisons to Johan Cruyff’s 'Dream Team' while putting all the expectations of success on Real Madrid.

He said, “I enjoyed watching the Dream Team a lot. But the greatness of Pep Guardiola’s team this season has been the number of games people have been left gobsmacked by their football. They have shown their unmistakable quality and superiority.

“As for Madrid, with all the new purchases they have made, all the pressure will be on them. They’ve made Great signings and astronomical investments, so in theory, they are the ones who have to win everything.”

Barcelona - Champions League Final

KS Leong, Goal.com

Barcelona Are The Team To Beat - Real Madrid Coach Pellegrini

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:25:26 -0500

Barcelona's treble win last term is the benchmark that Real Madrid must aim for...

Lucas Brown

Manuel Pellegrini recognises that Real Madrid must overhaul Barcelona if they are to return to the top of the Spanish game and claims that the club demands success.

The Chilean coach has enjoyed his first training sessions of pre-season after taking charge at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer and summed up what he expects from the season ahead.

Arch rivals Barcelona swept the board last term and sparked a major spending spree at Madrid that means that they must challenge for all three trophies this term.

"Barcelona proved to have a great team by winning three titles. They have a permanent philosophy and quality men," Pellegrini told reporters.

"We will try to be better than Barcelona and the rest of the teams. You can't afford to disregard any side because there are always several strong contenders for the title.

"There will also be a great challenge for us in Europe."

Pellegrini has had time to acclimatise to his new surroundings and is beginning to realise the enormity of the task that he has taken on.

"I think everything is difficult at Real Madrid because the club demands you win everything and play well at the same time," he continued.

"I consider it my duty to thrill fans with beautiful football. We have to build he squad first and then achieve a style to which every player can adapt to."

Training began on Friday and continued over the weekend, but rather than the cross country hikes some coaches like, Pellegrini is taking things easier.

"It won't be very physical. We've been working on re-adapting our men to a working routine and this will gradually change," he added.

"The unity between the coaching staff and the players is important. I think our friendlies will be very useful too."

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini gives instructions to his players during pre-season

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Bojan Wants To Be Part Of Barcelona History

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:24:03 -0500

The youngster has declared that he hopes to stay at Camp Nou for many years...

Mira Luis

Bojan Krkic broke into Barcelona's senior squad in the 2007-08 season at the age of 16, but found playing time very limited last term.

The 18-year-old prodigy has been linked with a new challenge next season, with a loan spell mooted by the media as a possibility.

But Bojan has now made it clear that he is not thinking about anything other than playing for Pep Guardiola's team.

"Each time a season starts I count the ones I have been part of Barcelona, and every time I am more happy and more satisfied to be at the club," he told fcbarcelona.cat.

"The fact that this is my tenth season at the club is a pride for me, I have spent magical moments, I have learnt a lot as a footballer and as a player.

"This has been my second home and because of that I owe it a lot and I hope I will be here for ten more years."

Bojan added that he hopes he can emulate the success of other players who have come from Barcelona's youth academy.

"I wish I could go to where Xavi and [Carles] Puyol have gone, where Andres [Iniesta], Leo [Messi] and Victor [Valdes] are going, without forgetting [Albert] Jorquera. Players from this house that have been in the first team, where they have lived many years and are references, a legend in the cule history.

"The truth is that I would be delighted and I plan to fight to the maximum to enter the cule history."

Barcelona's Bojan Krkic celebrates his double against Almeria

Luís Mira, Goal.com

Barcelona Plan Out Schedule For Lionel Messi Ahead Of Rigorous Season

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:22:49 -0500

The Blaugrana will be taking extra measures to ensure ‘El Mesias’ stays fit and fresh throughout the upcoming campaign.

Kooi Soon Leong

Lionel Messi will once again be Barcelona’s leading light for the 2009-10 campaign, and if the club thought the Argentine had a hectic season last term, it could get even worse this time around.

All in all, ‘El Mesias’ made 51 competitive club appearances last campaign, scoring 38 goals and providing 18 assists, while he also played a handful of matches with the Argentine national team, including a gruelling summer trip to Beijing for the Olympic Games.

This season, the Blaugrana will be fighting for six titles in total, which will include a trip to Abu Dhabi in December for the FIFA Club World Cup. And to make sure that the 22-year-old is ready to play another 60-odd games, the club will implement a strict regimen to maintain peak fitness throughout the exhaustive football calendar.

According to Sport, Barca will closely monitor and supervise every expect of Messi’s life, from his diet to his rest period to his training regimes, as well as issue a long list of guidelines to prevent him from suffering physical and mental burn-outs.

It is also believed that he will have his own physiotherapist, Juanjo Brau, with him at all times, whether he’s in Catalunya or Buenos Aires, to keep him in optimal condition and avoid any niggling muscular injuries.

Barca are also somewhat concerned that Messi will become too obsessed with the Argentine national team, first and foremost to help them qualify for the 2010 World Cup and then to push himself to help the team win the tournament next summer.

But the club are confident that Los Albicelestes, and in particular his coach, Diego Maradona, will play their part to look after ‘Little Lionel’. The Blaugrana have already reportedly sent a note of gratitude to Maradona for collaborating with the Catalan side last season and taking an interest in Messi’s well-being.

Lionel Messi tries to escape a challenge from Pablo Orbaiz during the Coppa Del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao

KS Leong, Goal.com

Xavi: David Villa Is Excited To Come To Barcelona

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:25:20 -0500

Barca's midfield genius has revealed that he has spoken to 'El Guaje' about his future... Reports are quickly intensifying that David Villa is all but certain to make the switch to Barcelona some time this summer. Goal.com reported yesterday that a source close to the Blaugrana had revealed that ‘El Guaje’ will leave Valencia for the Camp Nou, and now Xavi has confessed that the Che hot-shot is looking forward with anticipation to a possible move. “Talking to him [after the Confederations Cup], I noticed that he was very excited at the prospect of coming to Barcelona,” the midfielder told Sport. “It is now only a matter of reaching an agreement with Valencia. But despite their social problems and the presidential changes, a lot of different stories have emerged. “I have spoken with Villa again in the past few days and he is calm because he knows that this is a situation that depends on the clubs. It is complicated but I suppose everything will be resolved eventually and I wish him all the best. “If he comes to Barca, it will be a great acquisition for us.” Villa’s arrival would hasten the exit of the unsettled Samuel Eto’o, but on the off-chance that they should end up playing together in Barca colours, Xavi is confident that they can collaborate on the pitch. “I’m sure they will be compatible. Why not? All the great footballers are compatible in any team,” he reasoned. “They are two players who are able to make a difference in a game and they are the best strikers in the world.” Finally, Xavi threw his support behind the troubled Cameroonian, who has been struggling to sort his future out. He said, “We know that he is a great professional and a winner. He contributes a lot to the team on the field and he is a great person in the dressing room. “But this is an issue that must be settled by those in charge such as Txiki [Begiristain], Pep [Guardiola], the president [Joan Laporta] and 'Samu' [Eto'o] himself. Certainly, we would be delighted if he were to stick around.” KS Leong, Goal.com

Report: Barcelona And Real Madrid Set For Bidding War Over Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:23:39 -0500

The two eternal rivals are determined to beat each other to the signing of Cesc... The interest in Cesc Fabregas from Spain shows no sign of abating, with Barcelona and Real Madrid set to engage in a bidding war for the midfielder. Fabregas has long been coveted by the Liga giants, but neither was expected to make a move until next season, with both teams seemingly well stocked for central midfielders. However, according to The Mirror, the two rivals are now determined to beat each other to Fabregas' signature, which could spell bad news for Arsenal. Apparently, after hearing about Madrid's perceived interest, Barca have pushed forward their plans to sign Fabregas, in order to complete the deal this summer. Club president Joan Laporta has made no secret of his desire to bring the Blaugrana youth product back to the Camp Nou, and he would be loath to see the Spanish international end up at the Bernabeu instead. As a consequence, Real are determined to get one over their rivals by signing Fabregas, despite the extravagant amounts of money they have already spent this summer. It is believed that the Gunners would seriously consider a bid of around €46 million. Fabregas has reiterated his commitment to Arsenal in recent weeks, albeit admitting that he wants to return to Spain in the future. Arjun Miglani, Goal.com

Barcelona Reportedly Ready To Confirm Rafael Marquez Contract Extension

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:22:25 -0500

After weeks of wrangling, the Mexican defender is set to be offered an extended stay at the Camp Nou. After recently concluding contract negotiations to extend Victor Valdes’ stay at the Camp Nou, Barcelona are now ready to tie up Rafael Marquez’s future at the club. According to Sport, the Blaugrana will make an official announcement today that the Mexican has agreed to ink a two-year extension to his current term, which finishes in 2010, and will stay on with the Catalan giants until 2012. The sports journal reports that after weeks of negotiations, a verbal deal was finally struck last night and both parties will put pen to paper today. It is believed that neither could previously reach a common ground in terms of the extended contract length, as well as certain performance-based incentives and bonuses. Another piece of good news for the Blaugrana is that the defender, who suffered a crushing knee injury against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final last season, is expected to recover in time for pre-season training and he could even make the trip to London for Barcelona’s participation in the Wembley Cup. The 30-year-old is now widely expected to finish up his European adventure at Barca before returning to Mexico. KS Leong, Goal.com