Ex-Barça: Txiki Begiristain takes up role at Manchester City
Former Barcelona player (1988-95) and sporting director (2003-10) Txiki Begiristain has been appointed as the sporting director of Manchester City.
Picture of the day: Homegrown talent
Ten of the starting eleven from the previous La Liga game against Getafe CF had graduated from the La Masia academy. Adriano was the only player who wasn’t from the academy.
Quote of the day: Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker): “60th goal of this calendar year for Messi. Not even the messy kit can distract him”
The Ex-Barcelona player and currently a football pundit in England tweets his thoughts on Leo Messi’s performance and the away kit.
Puyol out four to six weeks
Club captain Carles Puyol was injured in the game against Getafe CF and further medical test have confirmed that he will be sidelined for six weeks.
Barça to receive 2.2 million euros from UEFA
FC Barcelona will receive 2.2 million euros from UEFA for the participation of its players in the European Championships held earlier this year in Poland and Ukraine.
Happy birthday, Éric Abidal!
Éric Abidal, who has been with the club for five seasons, turns 33 today. Here’s wishing him a very Happy Birthday!
Barça could wear a Senyera away kit next season
Barcelona based sports newspaper Sport have claimed that FC Barcelona could, in the next season, wear an away kit whose colors will be based on the Catalan flag or the Senyera.
Ex-Barça: Javier Saviola joins Málaga
Former FC Barcelona striker Javier Saviola (31), who was with the club from 2001 to 2007, has joined Málaga from Portuguese club SL Benfica.
OFFICIAL: Ibrahim Afellay to Schalke 04 on loan
German club Schalke 04 has announced the signing of FC Barcelona attacker Ibrahim Afellay (26) on loan for one season.
The puppet master: Andrés Iniesta
Nike, having launched the new CTR360 Maestri III boot, have come up with a new film featuring Andrés Iniesta, starring as a puppet master on the pitch. The FC Barcelona midfielder expertly pulls the strings dominating the midfield and dictating the pace of the game as a tiny figure on a miniature football pitch theatre set.
Watch the video and know more details after the jump! Continue reading »
The Highlights: FC Barcelona 0-1 UC Sampdoria
FC Barcelona played Sampdoria last night in the Joan Gamper trophy. Watch the goal and highlights after the jump.
Quote of the Day: Tito Vilanova
“I’m also very happy that Abidal can be here with us. [Addressing Abidal] If you feel strong and if you have the desire to come back, I’ll wait for however long it takes, your struggle is our source of strength.”
- FC Barcelona’s manager Tito Vilanova, speaking at the team’s presentation before the Joan Gamper Trophy match.
Image: Miguel Ruiz – FCB
Picture of the day: Alex Song presented at the Camp Nou
Alexandre Song (24), who completed his transfer from Arsenal yesterday, was presented at the Camp Nou before the start of the Joan Gamper Trophy game against Sampdoria.
Image: Miguel Ruiz – FCB
Alex Song passes medical and signs contract
Alexandre Song (24), who arrived from Arsenal, passed his medical this morning and has signed his contract that runs for five seasons.
Picture: Alex Song in front of the Barça offices
Alexandre Song (24) is in Barcelona to complete his move from Arsenal and can be seen posing for the media in front of the club offices.
Image courtesy of Àlex Caparrós – FCB.
Japanese children visit FC Barcelona Museum
Japanese children affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011 visited the FC Barcelona Museum on Saturday.
Ex-Barça: Simão Sabrosa joins Espanyol
Ex-Barcelona player Simão Sabrosa (32), who was with the Catalan club from 1999 to 2001, has moved to Espanyol from Turkish club Beşiktaş.
OFFICIAL: FC Barcelona agree deal for Alex Song
FC Barcelona has agreed a deal with Arsenal FC for the transfer of Alexandre Song to the Camp Nou.
Quote of the day: Shinji Kagawa
“Iniesta came over to me and asked to exchange our jerseys. He is a player I have been admiring and looking up to. When exchanging shirts, I acted like a fan and couldn’t express how happy I was! That moment, I swore to be a player like Iniesta.”
- Shinji Kagawa (23) of Manchester United speaks about Andrés Iniesta (28) and what took place after the game between Manchester United and FC Barcelona in Gothenburg.
Image: Independent
Eleven players with International duties
International friendlies are scheduled this midweek before the start of the new La Liga season, and 11 Barça players will be fulfilling their national team duties.
Documentary: FC Barcelona Confidential
On 15 June, 2003 a group of thirty-something professionals, led by a young lawyer, Joan Laporta, took over one of the biggest football clubs in the world. Their starting point could not have been worse. The club was technically bankrupt with €150 million worth of debts. The team had been humiliated on the pitch. For four seasons they had won nothing.
With unprecedented, exclusive access to the inner workings of a major European club, this documentary observes the story of Laporta and his team’s first year in power. Watch the documentary after the jump.
The Goals: Dinamo Bucharest 0-2 FC Barcelona
Watch the goals from last night’s game vs. Dinamo Bucharest after the jump!
Cesc: “Tito has a lot to offer”
Cesc Fàbregas (25) knows about first team coach Tito Vilanova from his days in the youth squads and has a lot of appreciation for him. Drawing on this experience, Cesc assured yesterday that Tito’s extensive football knowledge will be a huge help in guiding the first team this season. “Tito Vilanova is a coach with a lot of personality, more than people think. He’ll have a lot to offer and we have to help him. He’ll help because he knows so much about football and we will help by making sacrifices and having the right attitude. If we help each other, we’ll have a great year.”
Photo of the day: Andy García visits Barça in Bucharest
Andy García, a famous Cuban-born actor, is staying in the same Bucharest hotel as FC Barcelona’s first team. He met with the squad last night at dinner at the hotel ahead of tonight’s friendly against Dinamo Bucarest.
Image: Miguel Ruiz/fcbarcelona.cat
Rob Jansen: “Leaving Barcelona not an option for Afellay”
Rob Jansesn, the agent of Dutch player Ibrahim Afellay (26) agent has said that the Dutch midfielder will not be leaving Barcelona this summer.
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