Barça's kit for the 2007/8 season was presented this afternoon at Camp Nou. The main difference in the shirts is the style of the club badge which this year will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Camp Nou. The blue of the second strip is supposed to represent the blue of the Barcelona sea, though I have to say on my many visits to the beach in Barcelona I have never seen the sea this colour. The goalkeeper's jersey will also adopt the typical stripes of the team's shirt.

So, what do you think about the badge? Do you like the new light blue colour? Are you comfortable with the Unicef publicity? Will you rush out to buy a new shirt, or do you feel that clubs are exploiting their fans by introducing a new shirt every year?

Send your comments here.

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A private jet carrying French star Thierry Henry arrived at El Prat airport just before 9pm this evening. Henry, who looked a bit like a schoolboy in his tie and grey cardigan, was met by vice-president Ferran Soriano and first team delegate Carles Naval. They immediately whisked Henry away to Camp Nou where he is now in talks with club president Joan Laporta. Henry will be officially presented as a Barça player tomorrow.

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Yaya Touré arrived in Barcelona today to agree the final details of his contract. Touré is expected to sign for four seasons and he will earn approximately €1.8M per season. Barça are believed to have agreed a price of €10M with Monaco. Thierry Henry is also expected to arrive in the city this afternoon.

Touré(13/5/1983) has played 17 times for the Ivory Coast, scoring 3 goals. He will probably play defensive midfield where his strength and ball-winning qualities are most needed. Uli Stielike, the Ivory Coast coach calls him "a rock." His main weakness is probably his lack of pace, but after Edmilson and Motta this season, he'll seem pretty quick. With the arrival and reported photo appearance of Henry later today, Touré's presentation has been set for Tuesday.

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Twenty years ago today Lionel Andrés Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina. Few players arrive so far in such a short period of time. Even after suffering important injuries in the last two seasons Messi has become a first team regular for both Barça and Argentina, and a big favourite with fans around the world. Many people have compared him to Maradona, if you don't know why have another look at this:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rElfMwe0Evo

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This evening at 7pm Winterthur Barcelona take on Real Madrid at the Palau Blaugrana in the fourth match of the ACB final. Madrid are winning 2-1 so Barça need a win today to take the final to the deciding fifth match. Do not expect a report here if Madrid win.

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While it is still not confirmed by the club, the story has been run from every website you care to look at: from El Pais to the BBC to El Mundo Deportivo, everyone is running the story that Barça have agreed terms with Arsenal for the purchase of Thierry Henry for twenty-four million euros. The Frenchman will earn €6M a year plus bonuses.

Henry will certainly stir things up at Camp Nou especially for the attacking trio of Leo Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho Gaucho. Personally, I can't see any of them sitting on the bench. It recalls the signing of Romario in the times before the Bosman Rule, when Barça already had three established foreign players in Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman. I remember well that they did not like being left out. It even led to the fal...

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Thierry Henry will play as a blaugrana for the next four years, according to latest reports. Barça have still not confirmed the numerous reports but it seems the clubs have agreed on a fee of around €24m. More to come... 

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I was coming back from Barceloneta this afternoon and the taxi-driver told me a pretty worrying story. The other day his wife was out shopping and she only sees Eidur Gudjohnsen in Iceland (the supermarket not his native land). Apparently Guddy was arm-in-arm with a real stunner, and the driver's wife reckoned it might have been Mrs Zambrotta. So anyway, according to Señora Taxi-Driver, Guddy was whispering in Mrs Zambrotta's ear over by the frozen seafood and apparently he was saying that he wasn't going anywhere next season, he didn't care if he didn't get a game if he had the chance to come home to her.

The taxi-driver reckoned it probably was Mrs Z cos he'd heard stories about her before.

I reckon Zambrotta is going to be seriously pissed off if he finds out.

I hope he doesn't read this blog.

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The worst fears were confirmed this lunchtime when it was announced Carles Puyol will be on the sidelines for "a minimum of three months". Puyol successfully underwent surgery on a knee ligament last night but will now almost certainly miss the start of the league on Aug 26. He is also doubtful for the start of the Champions League.

Jose Edmilson also had knee surgery yesterday and could be out for anything up to 6 months. This will undoubtably put a hold on any possible transfer and Barça will now try to offload the Brazilian in the January transfer window.

The loss of Puyol for the start of the season is a massive blow to Frank Rijkaard's plans. The possible transfer of Rafa Marquez will now be put on hold. Barça will have to look to sign a central defender soon, the most likely candidate seems to be Roma's Cristian Chivu.

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Carles Puyol may well miss Barça's pre-season due to a ligament injury in his left knee which he picked up in yesterday's friendly with Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. Puyol will be operated on this evening by Dr. Ramon Cugat at the Asepeyo Clinic in San Cugat.

Let's all hope he's back in time for the start of the season. I don't suppose he'll take long to recover: remember, he's as strong as an ox.

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