As transfer speculation begins to heat up it seems there is one player who wishes to keep his name out of the gossip headlines this summer, and that is Barça right-back Dani Alves, who has today exclusively revealed to Sport that he has no intention of leaving the Catalan club this summer.

The Brazilian had been repeatedly linked with big money moves away from Barça, with the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain supposedly preparing bids for the defender, but Alves has quashed any talk of a potential move away from the Camp Nou, with the free-flying full back assuring fans he is staying with the club for the long haul.

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FC Barcelona’s young forward, Cristian Tello, has today been speaking of his desire to remain with the Catalan club despite the fact that many other sides, most notably Atletico Madrid, have made no secret of their desire to add the speedy forward to their ranks.

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Earlier this week I wrote an article detailing the difficulties I face whenever Barça reveal one of their brand spanking new jerseys, my fan instinct telling me to ‘Buy Buy Buy’, my conscience saying otherwise. Fortunately my head has so far triumphed over my blaugrana heart when it comes to our coveted merchandise. But, as I’m sure that previous piece made clear, I am not a man (or a fan, for that matter) who comes to decisions lightly, my life a sleepless haze of inner monologues, always debating the pros and cons of every little issue concerning my beloved club.

Really, it’s almost like I haven’t got a real life to be lived.

With this in mind you can imagine how hard it is for me to actually put my money down on the table and pick out the potential transfer targets I’d like to see arrive at the Camp Nou, the decision taking me all summer, by which time the deals have been done, the contracts all signed, and the new season set to begin. Luckily the club turned down my application to be director of football, otherwise Pep’s fondness for a small squad would have been severely tested – so disturbingly thorough am I in my chase for perfection.

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It seems that preparations for next season are already well under way in the Barça camp. First it was a new manager, then came the transfer window wishlist and now, before the current season has even been set out to dry, comes the revelation of what the team will be wearing next term – that’s to say the new kits have arrived folks!

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Out of the frying pan and into the fire. That’s how it seems as we head home from the frustrations of Stamford Bridge to face possibly the two most important games of our season, beginning of course with El Gran Clasico Numero Seis. On the face of it the team could easily be downhearted and lacking morale after they witnessed all of their good work wasted against the great opportunists of London, but in reality perhaps there could have been no better preparation for what lies ahead.

Well, except for maybe winning 5-0 at Chelsea, with Bayern Munich pulling off a similar scoreline the day before, but bear with me…

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The rules of the road dictate that you should never overtake a bus unless it is safe and timely to do so, and even then you need to be very careful, quick and clever to ensure you avoid any possible accidents. This is a rule Barça would have done well to remember as they took to the pitch against Chelsea last night. For when the bus pulled up in front of us to park for the evening, our ‘mini‘ maestros slowed down so much that getting past became near-on impossible, all of this despite numerous signals from those ‘on the bus’ that it was possible to go in front.

We had chances to move and overtake. We did not take them. Now we’re stuck looking anxiously in our rear-view mirror unsure of the road ahead. It’s going to be a bumpy ride ahead, that’s for sure.

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There are many things that can influence the outcome of a football match; from individual brilliance to the always contentious decisions of a referee, but when it comes to the Champions League there is perhaps no more important factor than the tactics a team employs. Partly due to its taking place over two legs (and an entire continent), and partly due to the heightened importance of the away goal, the Champions League lends itself perfectly to the kind of real tactical battles that football geeks everywhere love to witness.

Where certain players or their positions can sometimes be neglected and overlooked, in Europe every man, as well as every blade of grass, counts, with each manager trying to exploit any possible weakness within the opposition ranks. This is a fact that will become all too obvious when Barça take on an ever-improving yet undoubtedly still vulnerable Chelsea side.

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A few weeks ago I wrote an article detailing the many ways in which I believed Barça’s race for the league title could yet still spring into life, with the prime point being that Madrid’s apparent supremacy in the league was not all it was cracked up to be, and that the team from the capital were almost certain to drop points at some stage. This theory was based not only on a recent spate of shaky performances from the men in white, but also the numerous tough encounters this campaign still held in store for them.

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In the space of only three days the complexion of our entire season has suddenly altered; in some respects for the better, in others – less so. On the positive side Barça looked back to their old best at the weekend, bossing a tough game at the Sanchez Pizjuan and coming away with a valuable three points in the process, a feat Real Madrid failed to emulate against an impressive Malaga side, their league supremacy now cut to eight points.

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Ten points. It hurts just to type it here. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9…TEN! But type it we must for that is the amount of points by which we currently trail arch rivals Real Madrid in the race to be crowned champions of Spain. Ten whole, huge title-grasping points. And although many would say that the team from the capital have had somewhat of a helping hand (or two, or three, or…!?) along the way, we must recognise that this season’s Madrid have been by far the best we’ve seen in a long time. Mourinho has got them well oiled, rigidly set on success and very, very tough to beat; capable of both expansive goal-fests and stilted, ugly 1-0 victories when needed. It would seem the mark of champions is already placed upon them.

Or at least it would be if it were not for one simple little fact – it’s a certain FC Barcelona who are hunting them down. And not just any old Barça but this most brilliant and determined of Barças. This team who believes all silverware is rightfully theirs. This team who have spent the last three seasons re-inventing the game, the wheel, the ball, the pass, and even the sandwich. This team that is so stuffed with superstars you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d be a gang of divas and prima donnas, but, get this, they’re not! This team that has never let us down, and never will. In short – This Barça!

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In a special eight part series, totalBarça will feature each of the FC Barcelona nominees from the 23-man shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or. From November 12th through December 2nd, a different contributor will present a nominee and argue for why he should win this year’s prestigious award before the announcement of the final three contenders on December 5th. Last year’s top three finisher, Xavi, was spotlit by Maria Ines in the last chapter. However, now it is Spencer’s turn  to emphasize defender Gerard Piqué’s stunning attributes.

Ever since Pep Guardiola first took his place as boss on the Barça bench, he has been working to ensure that his side has been constantly changing and evolving, altering not only the way the players work as a unit but also the way in which the game is played across the globe. Whether through the ‘falsity’ of the forwards, the adventuring of the wing-backs or the new found freedom granted to a certain Argentine superstar, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona has pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved on a football field.

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Messi. Genius. Xavi. Brilliant. Iniesta. Masterful. Puyol, Pique. Perfect. Okay, now that that’s out of the way we can focus on something a little different, sorry I mean someone a little different. Well actually not some one, more some three. With the short autumn break now upon us it seems like a good time to take a breath and finally acknowledge the crucial role played so far this season by three of our more unnoticed – but certainly not unvalued – stars.

So here goes. Javier Mascherano. Heroic. Seydou Keita. Crucial. Sergio Busquets. Irreplacable. I guess I could just end the article there and move on. The shortest piece to ever grace totalBarça since we published Jose Mourinho’s two-line poem ‘Por Que?‘ but there are a few other words I’d like to share about this fantastic trio’s wonderful contribution so far this season.

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As the sun rose on Saturday morning it seemed Barça was a club on the verge of crisis – a rather small and bemusing crisis, but a crisis none the less. Two draws in two games had left the team looking fragile and physically over-stretched with many asking questions about our defensive stability. Add to this the good form (and some would say good fortunes) of our friends from Madrid and suddenly it seemed the weight of expectation was sitting a little too heavy on the players’ shoulders.

It is with these first inklings of grey clouds forming that the Osasuna game arrived, bringing with it enough tension and anxiety to put Barça’s famous L’avi in the hospital. Luckily for the grand old man, Barça put on the kind of footballing show at the weekend that left all observers with no doubts – this team is still hungry, and even more importantly (and impressively) still improving.

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Speaking exclusively to Sport the day after his Mexico side beat Chile 1-0 at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat in Barcelona, former Barça favourite Rafael Marquez shared some thoughts about his time spent at the Camp Nou, his relationship with Pep Guardiola, and just what he thinks of this current crop of Barça players.

Below you can find a full translation of the interview. The original can be found here.

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Porto manager, Vitor Pereira, has been speaking ahead of his side’s European Super Cup clash with FC Barcelona this evening, with the new Dragoes coach admitting his side are not favourites to lift the trophy, but the Portguese manager insists his team are not there to merely make up the numbers against the Catalan champions.

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“Two or three years ago there was some interest in me from other clubs but when I look at my personal situation, I realize that Barça is now the only club where one can say: If they were interested again that would be a great choice. But I will not speculate. Now I can not think of FC Barcelona because I am very happy here.“

Seems former Real Madrid winger, Arjen Robben, is very happy with life in the Bundesliga, although the Dutchman could be tempted away by a certain Catalan club.

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“We wanted to understand if there could be a union between the Barcelona style of football and the Italian style. Enrique had a very strong temperament as a player and he still has it in his coaching style. We aim to build a new way of viewing football at Roma, but it is a complex affair and we need to develop it over time.”

AS Roma chief sports executive, Walter Sabatini, explains the not so suprising reasons behind his club’s decision to hire former Barça B coach and legendary player, Luis Enrique, as their new manager.

“I’m very calm, I have nothing to say. The market? If something happens it’s because it has to happen. I’m always optimistic. If a player is on the market it is because a club does not want him, I have no problem with that.”

Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, seems confident of a move to the Camp Nou this summer.

FC Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, has admitted that his attention lies away from the Camp Nou at the moment, with the Argentinian instead focusing his energies on lifting the Copa America in his homeland at the end of July.

Beginning tomorrow, the Copa America will see Messi’s Argentina side ranked as favourites to win the competition, but the young forward says his country are not taking anything for granted when it comes to lifting the trophy, even if it is expected that the Barça man will be the star of the show – something Messi insists is far from his mind.

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UEFA president, Michel Platini, has recently told Madrid’s daily sports paper, Marca, that he cannot understand why Real Madrid have not been more successful in recent years, although the Frenchman did recognise that a certain team from Catalunya have not given Los Merengues much opportunity to collect as many trophies as they would have liked.

Speaking exclusively to Marca, Platini touched on such subjects as UEFA’s reluctance to use video technology, the organization’s commitment to social and cultural causes, and the recent controversies that have engulfed UEFA’s sister organization, FIFA, where accusations of bribery and corruption have been rife of late.

Although the former Juventus star’s words are always intriguing and insightful, we at totalBarça thought we would keep our translation of Platini’s answers to those that directly impact or involve FC Barcelona. As such we must warn readers that there is some discussion of Real Madrid and their rather controversial manager, Jose Mourinho, but we hope our readers understand we print the UEFA president’s words here in good faith and that we are not actually becoming a Real Madrid site. It is just interesting to hear what the UEFA president thinks about the many recent controversies courted by the men from Madrid.

Below is a translation of Platini’s more noteworthy answers. Enjoy.

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“I am a little afraid that if Neymar ends up in Madrid then the same thing will happen like what’s happened to Kaka. Neymar is different, here he is the best player. There, there are many great players together, and I do not know if he would be free enough on the pitch. Neymar is a crack, a player who improvises. You never know what he will do, he is unpredictable. He decides in seconds. And Mourinho is a very tactical coach, who does not want to let the opponent play, to occupy the spaces … I have doubts how that relationship would work between Neymar and Real Madrid. If there is a team that has his image and style then he would have to choose Barcelona. Imagine Neymar and Messi together.“

Santos manager, Muricy Ramalho, does not mince his words about which club he thinks would best suit his player’s precarious talents.

“I don’t know anything about my future. My agent is in contact with Barcelona and other clubs, so he will certainly do what is best for me.”

Palermo play-maker, Javier Pastore, talks up the chances of him making his dream move to join his friend Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou.

Image: AP Photo

The president of Hercules CF, Valentin Botella, has revealed that he expects winger, Kiko Femenia, to join FC Barcelona by the end of this week, with the the club’s president admitting that he is expecting great things from the youngster when he moves to the Camp Nou.

Speaking to ‘Esports COPE‘, the president of the Alicante club said, “I think later this week he will be a Barça player,” adding that he thinks Femenia will be a “triumph” with the Catalan champions whenever the deal is finally concluded.

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Former England defender, Gareth Southgate, has revealed that he hopes to bring some fresh ideas to his new role as head of football development at the English FA, with the former centre-back hoping to capitalise on a similar tactical approach to the game that has recently seen FC Barcelona recognised as one of the greatest and most constructive club’s when it comes to youth football.

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Sporting Gijon defender, Jose Angel, has once again spoken of his desire to see his much rumoured move to FC Barcelona come to fruition some time before the start of next season. Having just lifted the European Under-21 trophy with Spain, Angel is hoping this summer will be memorable for more than one reason alone – with the proposed move to Catalunya still firm in the thoughts of the young left-back.

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FC Barcelona forward and all around club hero, Lionel Messi, has revealed that he has no intention of leaving the Catalan club any time soon, with the Argentina international making his feelings clear that he has no intention of ‘doing a Figo’ and joining Barça’s bitterest rivals, Real Madrid.

Talking to El Pais Colombia, Messi explained that he hopes to stay at Barça for a very long time, with only one destination on his mind when the time comes to leave the Camp Nou. “If I was to leave Barcelona it is only to return to Argentina and probably to retire. I do not think of anywhere else, nor will I go somewhere else. Today I am happy in Barcelona. I’m fine and if I finish up there then I’ll come to Argentina.”

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“Barcelona are not invincible, perhaps in a different game we could have defeated them, but they are the best team in the world right now.“

Manchester United forward and Portuguese international, Nani, expresses a sentiment that many before him have already recognised.

Photo: Getty Images

“Barcelona are the best team in history. They are well above Real Madrid and the fans do not want to admit it.“

Real Madrid midfielder, Fernando Gago, makes the one statement that he knows will ensure him the rapid departure from the Bernabeu that he is seeking this summer.

Photo: Getty Images

Barça goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, has expressed his desire that the Catalan team will be blessed with the presence of many great midfielders next season, including both Thiago Alcantara and summer transfer target, Cesc Fabregas. The goalkeeper revealed that he believes both players are indeed capable of playing alongside each other for the Blaugrana.

Speaking at an event in aid of a multiple sclerosis charity, Valdes said, “Thiago and Cesc are not incompatible. In fact it is quite the opposite. They can both contribute many things to the team.”

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FC Barcelona defender, Gabi Milito, has spoken exclusively to Mundo Deportivo, with the Argentina international revealing that his focus right now is on his international career, and not where his future will lie at club level. Despite numerous rumours linking the experienced centre-back with a move away from the Camp Nou, Gabi refused to be drawn into any discussions about his Barça future, the former Zaragoza player instead choosing to keep his mind on the task at hand – winning the Copa America with his good friends Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano.

You can read a full translation of Milito’s interview below.

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