Deportivo de La Coruña

[Pat Murphy]

City/Province: Coruña, Galicia
Stadium: Estadio Riazor
Capacity: 34,771
Club Founded: 1906
Manager: Miguel Ángel Lotina
Nickname: Depor, Super Depor



Squad:

Goalkeepers
1. Dudu Aouate
13. Munúa
-- Manu

Defenders
2. Manuel Pablo
5. Coloccini
18. Alberto Lopo
19. Barragán
25. Filipe
-- Alcántara
-- López Rodríguez
-- Alex
-- Aythami

Midfielders
6. De Guzmán
8. Sergio
16. Juan Rodríguez
17. Andrés Guardado
21. Valerón
24. Verdú
41. Iago

Strikers
3. Pablo Álvarez Núñez
7. Bodipo
9. Taborda
11. Riki
12. Adrián
20. Cristian
35. Rubén Rivera Corral
40. Senel
-- Iván Pérez


Players Out:


Players In:

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Deportivo Coruna's Spanish international midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron will undergo surgery on an injured knee for a third time in the hope that he will be able to continue his career as a professional player.

"After nearly 14 months of medical treatment, physiotherapy and recuperation and after twice been given permission to play again it is clear that his left knee is not up to bearing the burden needed to play high-level football," club doctor Cesar Cobian told a news conference on Tuesday.

"As a result we have decided to operate on the knee again."

The 31-year-old midfielder first underwent surgery after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee in January 2006.

Valeron returned to action six months later only to tear the ligament again while playing in a friendly against Benfica.

He was given the all-clear to return to action in January this year, but continued to feel pain in his knee and Cobian said the latest evaluation meant a further operation was inevitable.

"We want him to play football again and so we have put together an expert medical team to try and ensure his knee will regain its stability," he said.

"It is a complex injury because it will be the third time we have had to operate on the knee."

Source: Reuters

[Super Pibe #7]

A real shame hope this surgery works out for him or we could be seeing a great player retiring.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Weekend surgery for Valeron

Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron is scheduled to undergo knee surgery this Saturday.

The gifted schemer is currently battling to save his career after spending virtually the past 14 months on the sidelines.

Valeron recently returned to action after tearing a ligament in January, however, the 31-year-old complained of discomfort.

Depor's doctors decided another operation was best for Valeron and now he will undergo the knife this weekend.

"The club proposed a new operation, which the player accepted," the club said on their official website.

Source: Skysports

[Trim]

Good lucks to him. Hope it goes all well.

[Pat Murphy]

Jorge Andrade and Deportivo are coming to loggerheads over the defender's summer move.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested in Andrade, and reports in the Madrid media earlier this week suggested that Deportivo had already reached a basic agreement with Real.

The deal involved a cash component, but more excitingly for Depor president Caesar Lendoiro, the possibility of landing promising Real Madrid youngsters.

The names of Alvaro Mejia, Ruben De la Red and Roberto Soldado have been doing the rounds, and the Galicians want to sell Andrade to Los Merengues, for obvious reasons.

The player, however, is keen to move to Barcelona, claim Catalan daily Sport.

Barcelona are offering a straight cash deal worth 12 million euros, though there have been suggestions that they could also use Maxi Lopez, who returns from his loan spell at Mallorca, as a sweetener.

Andrade wants to join up with compatriot Deco, who is a very close friend. The fact that his agent is Jorge Mendes - who also represents Marquez and Deco, and has very close links with Barca - is another factor in favour of the Catalans.

That Real Madrid have just signed Metzelder is also on Andrade's mind.

from Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Andrade Wants Barca Move, Depor Eye Madrid Deal


Interesting how this will turn out as this could swing either way. It looks like Barca won't get Milito so the new CB for next season may be Andrade or Chivu, hopefully Andrade.

He was out for 8 months this year but came back with great form and finished as player with best tackling ratio per game in La Liga (Milito second).

It was rumoured a few days ago tho that Real had already planned a medical for him so it looks like Real have the better chance of signing him at the moment.

[lionel]

Andrade is a great CB, one of the best in the world!
I'll be happy to see him at barca, cause we need someone to change the whole face of our defence... though, portuguese players usualy don't find succes in barca .
I do prefer andrade, not chivu(a great CB/WB also!), coz I don't like italian players in la liga, they don't find their place... I mean, look at zambrotta, he looks so unconcentrated...
I dont believe that real will get him.. it's been a moth that every player who a team wants to buy(anywhere in the world), they say they want him also. incredible!

[Pat Murphy]

Andrade Prefers Barça Over Real Madrid

Jorge Andrade has announced that he would prefer to join FC Barcelona in the summer rather than move to the new champions Real Madrid.

The Portuguese international has been linked to a switch to both the Camp Nou and the Bernabéu after it was made clear that he would leave Deportivo at the end of the campaign.

Now Andrade has come forward to express his desire to move to the Blaugrana to join up with his international team-mate Deco.

"I think my style of play is better suited to Barça," he stated.

Andrade also understands that his move will help fund Depor's summer rebuilding plans and is delighted to be able to help the Galician outfit.

"It is a great chance for the club to make some money," the 29-year-old said.

Despite his public statement though, Andrade could be forced into a move to Madrid as Depor president Augusto Lendoiro has a strong relationship with Ramón Calderón.

After beginning his career at Estrela da Amadora, the central defender made his name during a two-year stint at Porto before joining a successful side at Depor.

In recent season, the Riazor club's downturn in fortunes has led to plans having to be laid to rebuild the squad almost from scratch.

from Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Andrade Prefers Barça Over Real Madrid

[lionel]

a smart guy... a good player also.

btw, andrade got a red card in depor's last league match, against espanyol, does that mean that if he comes to barca, he won't be able to play in the first match of the season?

[Pat Murphy]

Yeah I'm pretty sure the ban is carried over. Possible 3 game ban as well.

After the Puyol news Barca need to step up the chase for a new CB.

[lionel]

what a headache... my god!
never mind, we can handle a few games with:
zambrotta/bellleti...thuram/edmilson...oleguer/marquez.....GIO/sylvinho

the defence sucks anyway.

[Pat Murphy]

Belletti, Sylvinho and Eddy might all be out this season but I think Thuram will stay and see out his last year of his contract so if we get no new CB then we'll see Marquez - Thuram in the centre I think.

Puyol will probably be out for 6 league games and 2/3 CL games I think but then even after he's back it might take a few weeks to get up to speed. Puyol is the only player in the Barca squad who comes into train in his days off.

[lionel]

I guess a new CB is essential!
6 league matches without puyol?! let's just give up!( or we get andrade, chivu & samuel^^)

andrade is a must.

[BlackNess]

yeah ... that andrade is not bad he can help during that time !

[Pat Murphy]

Andrade Ready For Depor Exit

Jorge Andrade believes that the time has come for him to leave Deportivo and has reiterated his desire to line up alongside compatriot Deco at FC Barcelona.

The Portugal international defender has been linked to a move to Camp Nou and Real Madrid, as well as receiving offers from other European outfits.

With Depor no longer challenging for honours, Andrade thinks that his transfer fee could help the club and a move would stui both himself and the club.

"I think that now is the opportune moment for everyone if a transfer goes through," he told Diario de Noticias.

"The time for me to leave has arrived."

The 29-year-old would welcome the chance to team up with Deco at Barça and refuted talk that the midfielder could be off-loaded by the Catalan giants this summer.

"I would love to play alongside Deco and find it hard to believe that he could leave," Andrade explained.

Paying tribute to his home for the last five years, Andrade added that wherever he goes he will always have fond memories of his time in A Coruña.

"It would be impossible to find a better city," he concluded.

from Goal.com

Goal.com - Spain - Andrade Ready For Depor Exit

Andrade seems blissfully unaware that Deco could well be on his way out of Barca this summer.

Looks like it's either Andrade or Chivu for 12m Euros. Either one is good for Barca although right at this moment it looks like that Chivu is slightly more likely.