Video of the day: Barcelona players having fun in training
This is a video of the training that took place in September 2009.
Credits: Mayank
Cruyff’s Corner: Barça has not reached their peak
Barça is one step away from winning their second consecutive league title. They only need to beat Valladolid but they shouldn’t count their chickens before they hatch. They need to remain faithful to their style and be slightly more diligent, without straying from their philosophy.
This article is translated from Johan Cruyff’s weekly article in El Periodico. The original can be found here.
Cartoon of the Day: Sport
2009: Football European Champions
2010: Basketball European Champions
2011: Football and Basketball European Champions?
David Villa and Lionel Messi at the Adidas F50 Adizero Launch
Sports giant Adidas caught up with football stars David Villa and Lionel Messi at the new F50 Adizero shoe launch.
Transcription of the open interview and more pictures after the jump!
Original interview and pictures can be found here.
The Front: El Mundo Deportivo (12.05.2010)
SEE YOU SOON!
Villa will be the first signing and Messi opens the doors to him: “He would adapt well.”
El Guaje is clear about it: “Who wouldn’t want to play alongside the world’s best player?”
Elections: Sandro Rosell presented his candidacy.
Xavi: Still has a one-game suspension so Barça goes to the Appeal Committee.
Ibra: The Swede drives a “new” Ferrari.
The Front: Sport (12.05.2010)
“I’d like to play alongside Messi”
The player will negotiate on Monday with Valencia’s president.
Villa gives Barça a wink.
Together in Circuit de Catalunya. Leo showed complicity with the striker and praised him.
The team will have lunch together today to win la Liga.
Iniesta trained with the rest of the team and could play against Valladolid.
Rosell presented candidacy in style. “I want a happy and everyone’s Barça”
The champion has his future tied with Barça (Basketball’s coach).
Javier Clemente: “What Pep did was an unrepeatable thing.”
14 Barça players are called with their selections. Ronaldinho and Benzema are not.
[Non Barça Related]
Pellegrini doesn’t know yet whether he is staying or not.
Toure wants his future resolved before the World Cup
Yaya Toure (26) told the English broadcasting channel Sky Sports that he wants a decision about his future to be made before the World Cup begins this June in South Africa. His agent, Dimitri Seluk, revealed earlier this week that Toure could leave Barcelona this summer for another major club.
Xavi’s yellow card appeal denied
FC Barcelona’s appeal of the yellow card incurred by Spanish international midfielder Xavi Hernandez during last week’s match in Sevilla was officially denied by the Liga Comité de Competición today, according to Catalan publication Sport. The decision means that Xavi’s one game suspension for accumulation of cards remains in place, and that the midfielder will miss the final match of the season against Valladolid in the Camp Nou.
Exclusive: Xavi-Iniesta on Informe Robinson – Part III
TotalBarca is proud to present its readers with an exclusive show called ‘Informe Robinson’. It stars former Liverpool star Micheal Robinson, who is now a part of the Canal+ network.
In this half-hour special, Robinson takes us into Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta’s private lives where they talk about everything under the sun.
A must watch for every culé.
The next installment of the show will be up soon, video after the jump, keep checking back!
Puyol: “I’d take Pedro and Valdes with eyes closed”
Catalan news site Sport reported on the press conference given by FC Barcelona captain and Spanish International defender Carles Puyol (32) following their Tuesday training session.
Guardiola’s name being floated as possible replacement for Mourinho
According to Italian sports paper Corriere dello Sport, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, along with current England coach Fabio Capello, have been suggested as a possible replacement for Jose Mourinho in the event the Portuguese walks out on his Inter Milan coaching job.
Video of the day: Gerard Deulofeu through the ranks – Part 1
Catch a glimpse of one of the hottest young prospects in the world currently plying his trade at La Masia, Gerard Deulofeu Lazaro (16), during his younger days with Alevin A, B and the Infatil B sides of the academy, after the jump!
Medical: (Round-up) Iniesta training at full pace; Maxwell out for three weeks
FC Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who celebrated his 26th birthday today, did so by returning to the Ciutat Esportiva training grounds exercising at full pace along with the rest of the squad after being given his medical all clear.
Quote of the Day: Jorge Valdano, Real Madrid sports director
“Messi is one of the best players at this moment just as Maradona was from another era. Messi has a decade left to demonstrate his capacity and secure his place in the annals of footballing history.
“He is reaching his full potential with Barcelona where he is given the freedom he craves, interacting with his teammates, and receiving and moving balls at a rapid pace. And because of that, he does not have to be concerned about (overcoming) Maradona or any one else (records).
“Pep knows best how to get the best out of him; keep him happy.”
Cartoon of the Day: Sport
“Our aim was that every team of Europe jump through hoops”
“Well, I think we did it”
Juventus willing to up their offer; Cash plus Iaquinta
Italian sports news site TuttoSport – the first to publish Juventus FC’s interest in Zlatan Ibrahimovic – yesterday upped the ante with a story that claimed the Serie A club is so determined in taking the Swedish player back into their fold that they are said to be willing to include seldom-used 30-year-old striker Vincenzo Iaquinta in the deal. He supposedly will be offered on top of the €40 m already mentioned in the earlier report.
FC Barcelona is nearly there
Original article @ guardian.co.uk
Barcelona holds firm to leave Madrid clutching at straws with one game to go
By Sid Lowe
A cold, threatening chill went down their spine just before half past 10 on Saturday night. Suddenly, unexpectedly, fear gripped. Canguelo or cagometro, the heebie-jeebies, the ‘crappingyourselfometer’, the bogeyman … call it what you like, it was back. Captain Paranoia leapt on to their shoulders and, cackling malevolently, whispered into their ears: “you’re going to blow it”. They’d gone from cruising to crisis in a heartbeat – and their hearts were beating harder than ever, smashing through their sternums. In the Sanchez Pizjuan dugout Tito Villanova was gently, contentedly patting Pep Guardiola on the knee: it’s done. Five minutes later, Guardiola was furiously, violently elbowing it into submission. Once, twice, three times. No it’s bloody not.
The Front: El Mundo Deportivo (11.05.2010)
SUNDAY AT 19:00H MORE PARTY
Barça – Valladolid / Málaga – Real Madrid
El Palau Blaugrana bursted with joy during the homage to the Paris heroes.
The basket players will be in Camp Nou to support the football players.
Ricky confirms that he’s staying “to win the title again”.
Valdés and Pedro, in a list of 30 players to play in the Spanish national team.
The Front: Sport (11.05.2010)
IMMINENT SIGNING
Villa comes today to Barcelona.
Advanced negotiations. Barça and Valencia can finalize the signing for 40 million €.
World Cup as a culé. The striker wants to be blaugrana before joining the Spanish national team.
Villa will be today in Barcelona with Messi for a publicity campaign.
Del Bosque has called five goal-keepers. Valdés and Pedro in the first list for the World Cup.
La Liga will be decided on Sunday at 19h.
Basket: The Champions’ big party.
El Palau vibrated with the blaugranas’ second Euroleague.
The return journey was tremendous.
Night party in Paris.
