Barcelona News Thread

[Pat Murphy]

Barcelona Make Garay Interest Known

Barcelona are set to join the race to sign Ezequiel Garay from Racing Santander in the summer after a meeting between the two clubs last weekend.

The Argentinian central defender is in demand and was the subject of a bid from Olympique Lyonnais this month that was rejected by the Cantabrian club.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid have also all been linked to Garay and are said to weighing up making a move at the end of the current campaign.

Sport have now stated that Barça are keen to register their interest and the club's technical secretary met with the Racing president, Francisco Pernía, during the Blaugrana's game against Athletic Bilbao.

The duo are reported to have mentioned Garay during their chat in San Mamés and it is believed that a figure of €15m could be enough to seal the move.

Racing coach Marcelino has said in the past that he knows that the defender will be leaving in June as the club require the funds and that put several major sides on alert.

At just 21, Garay has become one of the best prospects playing in the Spanish league and his eye for goal as well as his ability at the back has attracted admirers.

Barcelona would be one of the player's preferred destinations as he wants to remain in Spain at least until he has been granted a European passport.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Barcelona Make Garay Interest Known

I'd love Garay at Barca. Thuram's contract will run out at the end of the season but while Barca have Puyol, Marquez and Milito at CB they won't really need Garay.

[Pat Murphy]

Barcelona Eye Alves, Lahm & Sagnol For Milan-Bound Zambrotta

Barcelona have accepted that Gianluca Zambrotta will join AC Milan in the summer and have lined up Daniel Alves, Will Sagnol, Philipp Lahm or Jonas Gutierrez as his replacement.

Italian star Zambrotta has taken up the position on the right-hand side of defence since signing for Barca from Juventus in the summer of 2006.

The 30-year-old is virtually certain to return to his home country at the end of the season as he and his wife are homesick. The media is unanimous in agreeing that his destination will be AC Milan.

Barcelona have begun preparations for his departure and, according to El Mundo Deportivo, have drawn up a shortlist of four possible replacements.

Top of the list is Sevilla star Daniel Alves. The Brazilian is arguably the best right-back in the world along with Inter man Douglas Maicon, however he will come at a huge price as Sevilla President Jose Maria del Nido is a notoriously hard bairgainer.

Two other options are German-based pair Willy Sagnol and Philipp Lahm, both of Bayern Munich.

Sagnol had a huge fallout with the Bavarians before Christmas, and although things have been patched up slightly since then, he is being tipped to move on in the summer.

Lahm has long been admired by Barcelona, and reports in the German press before Christmas speculated at a possible swoop by the Catalans.

The final name on Barca’s shortlist is Real Mallorca man Jonas Gutierrez and comes as something of a surprise.

The 24-year-old Argentine is a winger by nature, however the Barca technical staff believe he can be converted into a wing-back.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Barcelona Eye Alves, Lahm & Sagnol For Milan-Bound Zambrotta


Zambrotta will almost definately leave in the summer so Barca are lining up replacements. Personally I'd chose Lahm as I think Alves will be near to £24m, Lahm I'm hopeful of a deal around £10m. Jonas will not be the choice because he plays on the wing


Goal.com - Barcelona - Lazio And Wolfsburg Fail In Oleguer Bid

Also Lazio and Wolfsburg were rejected when they approached Barca to get Oleguer. I've heard Lazio are having some big problems but it must be serious when you want to get Oleguer to help you out.

[Pat Murphy]

Spanish Press: Barcelona Reject Drogba

Didier Drogba may have said that he sees his future as being in Barcelona or Milan, but Spanish sports daily Marca claims that he is not wanted by the blaugrana...

Marca claims that Didier Drogba's recent declarations about wishing to play for Barcelona will not come to fruition.

The Spanish sports daily posits that Barcelona will not be making a bid for the Chelsea forward due to their current strike options.

Currently, the blaugrana have three players capable of playing a centre-forward role: Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry, and Bojan Krkic.

Although Henry has more often been used on the left wing this season, he apparently still remains part of Rijkaard's plans for a more central role, and the club sees a similar issue developing for Bojan.

Above all, though, the blaugrana hierarchy have confidence that Bojan will grow to become a key player at the club, and see little need to replace him with an aging Drogba.

Finally, Chelsea would apparently look for at least 7 million euros for the Ivorian ace, which, for a player not guaranteed a starting berth, may be too much for president Joan laporta to stomach.

Alternatively, Marca states that the possible arrival of Jose Mourinho as coach could tip the balance in Drogba's favour...

Goal.com

Goal.com - Chelsea - Spanish Press: Barcelona Reject Drogba

Good news, we don't need Drogba.

[Pat Murphy]

Poulsen: I Know Nothing About Barça Move

Christian Poulsen has denied that he has had any contact with Barcelona despite speculation that he is weighing up a move to Camp Nou in the summer.

The Danish international midfielder is reported to be on the Blaugrana's target list for next season but has dismissed stories that contact has already been made.

Barça's technical secretary, Txiki Begiristain, is said ot be a big fan of Poulsen's and is prepared to meet the Andlucian club's asking price.

"I do not know anything about interest from Barça," he insisted.

"All I know is what I have seen in the press, but nobody has said anything to me.

"For now I am happy with Sevilla and I want to repeat that I have a contract until 2009.

"I am not thinking about other teams."

Poulsen felt that his current side should have beaten Frank Rijkaard's team on Saturday after dominating a game that they only earned a point from.

"We have just played very well against Barça and I thought we could have beaten them, but in the end we have had to settle for a draw," he added.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Spain - Poulsen: I Know Nothing About Barça Move

[lionel]

poulsen is a good player even excellent but I don't want him in barcelona. not the type of players I like.
it wouldn't be a problem finding someone better.

[skeeta]

I don't put much creedence in the Mourinho to Barca story. It sounds very much like a plant from Jose's people. That said, if they keep leaking four goals to the likes of Atleti and go out of Europe, all bets are off.


Mourinho at Barca could be the premise for a horror/reality show on Real Madrid TV.

[Pennywise]

Why didn't Rijkaard rest Messi against Celtic - a match you had already won? Now he's out in a month because of an injure in that match.

[bandini]

Alves to sign with Barca

The Brazilian full-back has made his intention to leave the Andalucian club clear a year after being refused a lucrative transfer to join Chelsea and has taken the first step out of Sevilla, according to Sport.

While Alves may have agreed to a switch to Camp Nou, however, he is not free to just walk away from Sevilla and will be reliant on Barça negotiating a fee.

Last summer both Chelsea and Real Madrid were reported to have made huge offers for his services, but president José Maria del Nido turned both clubs down.

It was Del Nido's refusal to even discuss a transfer 12 months ago tat has caused Alves to make the first move this time around as he did not understand how José Antonio Reyes, Julio Baptista and Sergio Ramos could leave, but not him.

Sevilla asked Chelsea for between €35 and €40m, yet when an offer of €36m was received the club still said no and that led to a public spat between Alves and the president.

Barça had made ensuring that the player wanted to join them a priority and this agreement will bolster confidence that next season can bring a new look to the side.

Alves is rumoured to be the first of four big-name signings that the Blaugrana are set to approach as they are ready to splash €100m on new players.

This move will also open the door for Gianluca Zambrotta to move to Milan.

source: Goal.com - English football - football gossip - football transfers - football scores

[Pat Murphy]

Hleb Back On Barcelona's Agenda

Barcelona are preparing to step up their interest in signing unsung Arsenal midfielder Aliaksandr Hleb in the summer, but will have to ward off competition from Inter.

The Blaugrana have been interested in the Belarusian playmaker and are reported to be ready to make official contact with the Gunners to discover his asking price. But they will not be alone as Inter are also said to be tracking the former Stuttgart player and would certainly make a move if Barça were to approach.

Arséne Wenger has ruled out any transfer in public, but if Barcelona receive a huge financial boost from the sale of Ronaldinho then they could be prepared to test the Gunners' boss will with an above-value offer for Hleb. Another key could be Thierry Henry, who Barça may well ask to try and help in negotiations with the player himself.

Hleb can play on either the left of the right side of midfield has risen to prominence and one many more admirers this term after forging an impressive partnership in the Gunners' midfield with Cesc Fàbregas.

After hearing about Barça's interest before Christmas, Hleb's agent reportedly stated that his client would have not interest in moving clubs, but as rumours persisted, the player himself was forced to come and state that he was "very happy and proud to play for Arsenal".

Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Hleb Back On Barcelona's Agenda

Hleb linked again. He's being linked for the Ronaldinho position I think as Barca seem to not want a no.10 but a winger who plays more direct. David Silva would be my favourite for the position, could form a mouth watering partnership with Messi, is still only 22 and can also play CM.

[Pat Murphy]

El Ajax quiere llevarse a Oleguer | SPORT | Barça

Ajax want Oleguer. Please please take him.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Pat Murphy

El Ajax quiere llevarse a Oleguer | SPORT | Barça

Ajax want Oleguer. Please please take him.

How much would you ask for him, any ideas ?

[Pat Murphy]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

How much would you ask for him, any ideas ?

If it was me I'd give a few million for someone to take him

Barca will probably ask for 3m euros, great if we can get it.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Pat Murphy

If it was me I'd give a few million for someone to take him

Barca will probably ask for 3m euros, great if we can get it.

That's a rip off
But the fact that he is a Barça player will most likely inflate his price to something close to 3m € yeah

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Philipp Lahm is on his way to Barcelona. AS says the Germany international has agreed terms on a four-year contract with Barca af