Barça sign Pinto - Official

[Pat Murphy]

Barça Mooting Cañizares Move After Jorquera Blow

Barcelona could make a move for Santiago Cañizares after Albert Jorquera suffered a knee injury on Saturday evening that may keep him out for the rest of the season.

The back-up goalkeeper broke his knee ligaments playing for Catalunya in their friendly encounter with the Basque Country in San Mamés.

Víctor Valdés has been almost ever-present this season in the league, but will now have no experienced cover if he suffers a knock or suspension.

In the 13th minute of the 1-1 draw in Bilbao, Jorquera suffered the terrible blow and was stretchered off where tests confirmed the bad news that he could be out for six months.

Barça were mooting the possibility of adding a goalkeeper to their ranks before the injury, but now the plan will be pushed into action.

Bringing a player in on loan looks to be the most realistic possibility and they could even move for Valencia outcast Santiago Cañizares.

The 38-year-old is at the centre of a storm after being told by coach Ronald Koeman that he is no longer required at Mestalla and that Timo Hildebrand will be the number one.

While Valencia president, Juan Soler, denies that, the Dutch trainer reiterated his stance at the first training session that the keeper, along with David Albelda and Miguel Ángel Angulo, is not part of his plans.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Barça Mooting Cañizares Move After Jorquera Blow


Jorquera is out for 6 months now so we have the option of getting Canizares on a free for the rest of the season or allowing our young talent Oier Olazabal take the no.2 slot.

[lionel]

I prefer olazabal tbh. canizares??

[Pat Murphy]

The next game is Alcoyano in the Copa. Jorquera is out for 6 months and Valdes is also injured. Which leaves Ruben and Olazabal for the GK spot. We'll maybe see how either does against Alcoyano to see where we stand.

[Pat Murphy]

Barça Have Four Names To Replace Jorquera

Barcelona's search for a goalkeeper in the winter transfer window to replace the injured Albert Jorquera is taking shape with at least four new names being added to the list.

The Blaugrana have been forced to look for a back-up for Víctor Valdés after losing Jorquera for at least six months with a knee ligament sustained in Catalunya's game last weekend.

Technical director Txiki Begiristain was considering off-loading the custodian before the injury, but has now rewarded him with the promise of a new two-year deal.

In the meantime, the squad needs an experienced replacement to compete with Valdés for the number one spot while young Oier Olazábal continues to grow.

According to AS, there are currently four names on the Catalan club's list and a decision will be made quickly.

Mariano Barbosa is the first player under consideration as his move to Recreativo in the summer has failed to see him earn a regular place in Víctor Muñoz's side.

The 23-year-old Argentinian played 21 times for Villarreal in two seasons after moving from Banfield in 2005 and he has an Italian passport, which is important to Barça.

Uruguayan keeper Fabián Carini is option number two as he has played just once for Real Murcia since joining them from Inter at the start of the season.

At 28, he has made 61 appearances for his country, but has only 114 first team games at club to his name in 11 seasons.

Spells with Juventus, Standard Liège, Inter, Cagliari and now Murcia have given him vast experience and he is accustomed to playing second fiddle to a club's number one.

Villarreal's Diego López is third on AS's list, but he could prove to be the most expensive of the lot as the Yellow Submarine paid around €6m for him in the summer.

After rising through the youth team ranks at Real Madrid, López moved to El Madrigal hoping for a regular first-team place, but has been kept out by the form of Sebastián Viera.

If he were to move, then that would leave Villarreal having to look for an experienced keeper themselves, so Barça would have a struggle to prise him away.

The last player to be mentioned is Sander Westerveld, who would provide vast experience and would jump at the chance to have one final swansong at a club like Barcelona.

Frank Rijkaard is familiar with his compatriot's ability and at 33, the former Liverpool, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Portsmouth, Everton and Almería custodian still has several seasons left in him.

After being released by Almería in the summer, Westerveld joined Sparta Rotterdam on a short-term contract and has been playing after first-choice Haral Wapenarr picked up an injury.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Barça Have Four Names To Replace Jorquera


All 6 month loans I think.

[Robinho4Ever]

Amelia to Sign for Barcelona ??

Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia is just days away from signing for Barcelona, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

The 25-year-old is widely regarded as the second-best Italian shot-stopper in Serie A behind the incomparable Gianluigi Buffon.



Amelia is desperate to quit relegation strugglers Livorno and sign for a top club, however none of the big Italian teams are interested at present.



The ‘Gazzetta’ claims that Barcelona will submit an offer of €6.5m for Amelia, as a replacement for Albert Jorquera who has picked up a serious injury and will be out for six months.



Amelia will then challenge Victor Valdes for the number one spot at the Camp Nou.

Goal.com: Goal.com - Barcelona - Amelia Set To Sign For Barcelona - Report

Well, this one is promising, and he's probably better than Valdes. It'll be a good signing ...

[Pat Murphy]

Well Txiki said that they have faith in Valdes as no.1 and want an experienced goalkeeper for 6 months with Barca then either having Jorquera or Oier Olazabal as no.2.

Amelia seems unlikely to me. He's too good to be a sub and Barca say they don't want another no.1.

El Barça ha preparado la selección para la portería | SPORT | Barça

Sport are linking Barca with Westerveld, Arnau, Pinto, Esteban and Marco Amelia as their 5 keeper shop list.

[D-Kin]

Frey???

[Pat Murphy]

Txiki e Ingla, en Lisboa para negociar por Nuno | SPORT | Barça

Sport claim that Txiki and the VP Marc Ingla are travelling to Porto to finalise a deal in which Porto's second keeper Nuno will join Barca for the next 6 months.

[Oliver_Kahn]

... Can't see this happening. Why would you want Nuno ? I don't understand.

He is:
1. 34 years old
2. Failed miserably at Deportivo
3. He was never a very good GK
4. He can't play in the CL, he has played for Porto this season

Also, you should be signing a replacement for Valdez, not an even worse GK.

I also don't understand why Porto would send you Nuno, we would then lose our #2, which makes no sense.

[Pat Murphy]

Sounds farfetched to me as well but the Barca bosses have said that they want an old experienced keeper for 6 months to replace Jorquera, not to replace Valdes. After those 6 months Barca will promote Oier Olazabal to no.2 if Jorquera doesn't extend.

Sport say they want Nuno for those reasons, plus he can speak Spanish, has La Liga experience.

Whoever we bring in as goalkeeper we're going to end up with some dodgy keeper for 6 months who is as crap as he is old.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Indeed Nuno fits the bill (pretty poor requirements no?), but the fact that he can't play in the CL for you is the main reason why I think it's BS

[Pat Murphy]

Kahn was right, no Nuno, but Pinto is much much better.

Basic terms settled for Pinto loan

RC Celta de Vigo and FC Barcelona have agreed the basic terms for the loan of goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto to the Catalan club until the end of the season.

The definitive agreement is pending a medical that the player will take tomorrow, and on the player signing the contract.

The deal will cost 500,000 euros and ties José Manuel Pinto to the club for the rest of the season, with the option to buy before May 31. If FC Barcelona decide to keep the player on a permanent basis, there will be no additional transfer fee.

José Manuel Pinto will arrive in Barcelona tonight and will be available for photographs outside the club offices this evening at 22.45. The goalkeeper will spend Friday taking a series of medical tests and will be presented late in the afternoon in the club press rooms.

fcbarcelona.com

FCBarcelona.cat



I'm very pleased with the signing of Pinto, he's an excellent keeper. He actually won the Zamora (best keeper award) 2 years ago with Celta.

Pinto has passed his medical and now is a Barca player, the pony tailed keeper is here until the end of the season and maybe longer as we have the option to sign him for free.

[Blaugrana]

Wow i'm surprised with this signing, excellent choice. Far better than most other names suggested and i don't think he asks for a great salary either. I'm very pleased

[lionel]

very good.

[Pat Murphy]

Pinto signs officially and gets the number 13.