FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, today made an official announcement to the media, after the club’s board meeting, confirming the appointment of Xavier Sala i Martín as the new treasurer, taking over that responsibility from Joan Boix, the current Financial vice-president.

Laporta also affirmed the designation of two new vice-presidency – once held by one person, Joan Franquesa, the club’s Institutional and Heritage vice-president, who resigned a week ago – Institutional vice-presidency is now the responsibility of Albert Perrin, while Jaume Ferrer now holds the position of the Heritage vice-president, abolishing the position of the Marketing vice-president, which is now under the responsibility of the Financial vice-president.

Thus, the five vice-presidents of FC Barcelona are as follows:

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Txiki Begiristain told Barcelona’s official website that the Mexican side Atlante FC are the favourites to face Barcelona in the semifinal of the Club World Cup. Barcelona could face either Atlante FC, or the winner of the the first game between Al-Ahli FC and Auckland City FC. When Begiristain was asked about who Barcelona could face, he was confident that it would be Atlante: “The Mexicans are the team we will play in the World Cup.”

Barcelona met a Mexican side back in 2006 in Club World World Cup, the last time they participated in the tournament, in that occasion they beat America 4 – 0. 12th of December is the date when Barcelona will know what team they will meet in the semifinals, and it might be Mexican Atlante. Txiki is happy that they got a chance to watch Atlante play a game before the semifinal: That will “give us a chance to see them live and see how they play.”

In a press conference held in light of the drawing for the Club World Cup in United Arab Emirates, Barcelona’s Brazilian right-back, Maxwell Andrade yesterday said that the team is eager to capture the title that has been elusive for the club, having failed to capture it twice before – 1992, losing to Brazilian club Sao Paulo (2-1) when it was still called Intercontinental Cup and again in 2006, losing to another Brazilian club SC Internacional (1-0).

“It will be historic,” Maxwell said referring to Barcelona’s potentially winning their sixth and last title for the 2008-09 season, the best in the club’s history after winning the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup.

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In an interview with Italian newspaper ‘Corriere dello Sport’ published today, FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta admits to having a good relationship with his Inter Milan counterpart, Massimo Moratti, which also reveals the intricacies of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s signing.

“We met at the house of a mutual friend, the Ambassador of Kuwait in Madrid in 2005. We spent all night talking and a friendship was born there,” said Laporta, adding, “He is a very good businessman but is a gentleman nonetheless. He loves football and knows how to manage a football club. It’s no wonder he won the last four (Italian) championships, and I wish he wins the current one too.”

“Yes, our relationship made things that much easier. I knew that the operation was possible on 16 July, on my flight to Donetsk, to negotiate for Chygrynskiy. I told him I will fly over to Italy (to conclude the swap deal) and asked if we could meet in Milan,” Laporta said, acknowledging that rapport did facilitate the Eto’o-Ibrahimovic swap deal.

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Catalan sports paper Sport today reports that Joan Laporta’s desire to have Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas back into the club could be his toughest undertaking yet. The player is not only attracting interest from Real Madrid but also from one of the presidential contenders, Sandro Rosell. Laporta sees Cesc’s acquisition as a coup in the culmination of his presidency, while preventing the player from being used as a pawn during next year’s presidential election, as was reported in an earlier article.

The Barcelona president has spent months testing the waters for the return of Cesc, who is currently having a great time with Arsenal, scoring 9 goals in 15 matches this season. Laporta is said to be in constant contacts with the player and is still waiting patiently for Arsenal to give its green light to start formal negotiations. Laporta has already confessed that the operation to get Cesc will be the club’s major undertaking and estimated the player to cost no less than 50 million euros.

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Swiss daily newspaper Blick claims that Barcelona and several other European top clubs would be interested in Grasshoppers forward and Swiss youth international Nassim Ben Khalifa (17). Khalifa’s performances in the U-17 World Cup with Switzerland, which reached the finals, have attracted the interest of big European clubs such as Barcelona, Arsenal, AC Milan, Aston Villa and Portsmouth. Khalifa’s current club, Grasshoppers, are reportedly struggling with financial problems and could be persuaded to sell Khalifa in January.

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona’s vice president of sports Rafael Yuste and technical secretary Txiki Begiristain represent FC Barcelona at the funeral of former Barcelona goalkeeper Robert Enke, which will be held on Sunday, November 15th. Hannover Stadium will host the final farewell to Enke from 11 am when it opened its doors for fans to bid him farewell. Below is held on private funeral with authorities, family and friends. Robert Enke made a suicide in 10th of November. The German international, who played for Hannover 96  for the last five seasons, played only four games with FC Barcelona during his career.

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito (29) could return in January and play some Copa Del Rey matches to gain match experience. Milito underwent his first surgery a year and a half ago. The timing for recovery was estimated to be between six and nine months. The Argentinian centre-back had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on April 29th against Manchester United in the Champions League semifinal.

Since then Milito hasn’t played. But after a one and a half year of penance, it seems that Milito slowly begins to see the light. He has joined the group to do some exercises in the recent weeks. Although still not training at the same rate as the rest of his teammates, Milito has tightened his training rhythm. Yesterday he made a series of physical exercises alongside with his recuperator Emili Ricart. The ball is also a part of his daily training routine. Milito’s goal is to return as soon as possible, although there is no official “deadline” of return.

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FIFA had the draw for the Club World Cup yesterday in Abu Dhabi, and Barcelona could face Atlante, Al Ahli or Auckland City. The official draw was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His Excellency Mohammed Khalfan Al-Rumaithi, UAE FA President, told FIFA‘s website that they look forward to welcome the players, staff and supporters:

“We are less than a month away from kick-off and anticipation for the tournament is building significantly. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the players, staff and supporters of all seven clubs, many of whom will be visiting the UAE for the first time. We are confident all of the hard work and preparations over the last 18 months will ensure a memorable tournament for the whole of the UAE to enjoy.”

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THE NUMBER 7 FOR ROBINHO

The other numbers (from 1 to 11) are already assigned

The crack’s arrival at Camp Nou depends on Laporta

Seven good reasons to sign Robinho up

1- An addition to the number of players in such a short squad

2- He can play in the Champions League

3- Barça will be able to play “deeper”

4- Another good dribbler

5- The team will score more often

6- Increasing the level of competition in the team

6- Iniesta will be able to play in his natural position (midfielder)

[Non Barça Related]

Florentino prepares another revolution

The president wants to sack 8 players and sign up 6 in a new galactic investment

Rebellion in the white house, the swad demand solutions to Pellegrini, and fast.

Guti stands by what is said about him and claims clubbing

CESC, THE LAST LAPORTA’S TRANSFER

He’s promised Guardiola (that Cesc will come) and wants to bind him with the club before elections.

Florentino will try to scupper the deal, but the player only wants to go to Barça

ROBINHO WILL COME TRANSFERRED (not loaned)

Yesterday, in Abu Dhabi’s meeting, City clarified that they’re only interested in a transfer.

[Non Barça Related]

Maradona: “I’d take Xavi (to play with the Argentinean team) if I could”

Florentino will sack Guti on January

THIS IS A FEATURED ARTICLE. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST NEWS.

In this Cruyff’s Corner we will observe how Cruyff explains:

Why Barcelona has been criticized.
Barca has to score to win and not demonstrate its beautiful football.
Will Barcelona make it to the next round of the Champions League?
Barcelona’s player’s in majority are too young, with much to learn.
The European Law of taxing and how it affected Cruyff back in the day.
And exactly how old is Cruyff?

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Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo says it has learnt from its source that Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi is currently leading the vote count for France Football’s Ballon d’Or award by a big margin, with the voting period already expiring on Monday.

Contrary to public opinions, one of Messi’s closest challengers for the title is not, it seems through the vote count, Real Madrid’s Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, the current title holder, but rather his teammate, the Brazilian Kaka.

Other Barcelona players included in the list of 30 nominees for the award are suffering a different fate. Yaya Toure, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are splitting the votes among themselves, along with Eto’o, currently with Inter Milan.

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Despite repeated denials from both Barcelona and Manchester City that the convergence of both teams’ delegations in Abu Dhabi are for totally different reasons – City having their winter training break in the Emirates, while Barcelona’s delegation is there for the drawing of the Club World Cup tournament – British based newspaper Guardian reports that unsettled Premiership side’s player, Robinho (25) has instructed his father, Gilvan de Souza, who is also his agent, to do all he can to set up a meeting between the two sides.

It was reported by another British newspaper, Telegraph that the player’s representatives is already in the UAE, staying in the same hotel as the Mancunian team and officials, further flaming the speculations. Barcelona’s technical secretary, Txiki Begiristain, director of football, Raúl Sanllehí, and another director, Albert Perrin, are also reported to be invited to watch City play against the United Arab Emirates national team in a friendly this evening.

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English tabloid The Sun claims that Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, is showing interest in Barcelona Atletic starlet Gai Assulin (18). The young winger made his debut in the Israeli national team 14 days before he turned 176. Chelsea tried to convince him to join them in 2007, but Gai rejected the offer. Gai is reportedly stalling over signing the new deal offered to him at Camp Nou. He is good playing with both feet and can play on both wings. Last season he played 24 games for Barca Atletic and scored nine goals. Tottenham, Manchester United and AC Milan are also following Assulin, according to the Spanish football site futbolmercado.

According to sport.co.uk, Barcelona would be interested in Palermo defender and Danish international Simon Kjaer (20). Kjaer has been linked with several other European top clubs, including Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Liverpool. However, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has denied that other clubs would have been asking for the Danish prospect.

Zamparini told to skysports.com: “Neither Manchester United or other teams have contacted us specifically regarding Kjaer. There are only incorrect movements from his agent who is offering the player the teams most important for a personal profit. If one club wants Kjaer they have to pay at least 12 million euros. But the clause is not valid for January, only for the end of the season. And we are trying to eliminate this clause, discussing with the player, even if – I repeat – there are some problems with his agent.”

A truly magnificent display of beautiful football was shown out there by our young rising stars. Barcelona demonstrated the whole world that its starting eleven are not the only ones that can be successful and play beautiful football, because our young footballers can too. But most importantly we humiliated Real Madrid once again. We showed Real Madrid that we do not have to waste millions on new players. We showed Real Madrid that no matter who we have on the field, we are still capable of playing better than them. We showed Real Madrid what a surplus of forwards and attackers can do to your club. And finally we showed Real Madrid that we are, and still will be better than them.

The match between Cultural Leonesa and Barcelona started out as always. Barcelona went out to attack and go forward. Leonesa played its defense and we could not score. It was then that the team went into halftime and came back on the field with great determination, and longing to finish off their opponents. Whatever Pep might have said to his squad, it worked, because Barcelona went out there and scored five goals in the second half. On the 50th minute, Bojan scored a goal thanks to a cross from Jeffren. Before Leonesa could construct an answer to Bojans goal, he was on the score sheet once again. This time thanks to the hard work of Jonathan Dos Santos. After Puyol gave the Captain’s armband to Iniesta and went out for Messi, Pedro got on the score sheet. And after that, Messi joined the scoring fest by dancing around Leonesa’s defense and scoring an amazing goal. After Messi’s goal, Xavi came in and as soon as he did, he scored a great headed goal, fishing the Leonesa goalkeeper. In short words, it was a Second Half Goal Fury.

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After being heavily linked with EPL duo Robinho and Javier Mascherano, ESPN soccernet reports that Barcelona have insufficient funds to buy any of the two, a fact that makes a loan move for Robinho much more likely. Barcelona’s lack of finances comes after spending this summer 66 million euro’s on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, including Samuel Eto’o. Robinho wants a transfer to Barcelona, who wants to loan him as they cannot afford him, and there are no guarantees of a future move. A source close to the club is supposed to have said that Barcelona have made it clear that they want him on loan:

“Barcelona have made it clear they are talking about a loan deal only and it is hard to believe that will happen. Barcelona were, at one time, very interested in Mascherano, but no longer. At one stage I would have said ‘yes’ that a deal could happen, but now I would have to say ‘no’. I would say that Barcelona do not have the sort of funds to buy either Robinho or Mascherano.”

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According to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, Bordeaux midfielder Yoann Gourcuff (23), who is considered one of France’s the rising stars, has told about his admiration for Barcelona. Gourcuff last year took a step back from AC Milan to Girondins Bordeaux where he has fulfilled more out of his potential. He is one of the star players in Bordeaux, and also a part of French national team, and has been compared with French legend Zinedine Zidane numerous times. He was recently interviewed by a French newspaper Le Telegramme de Brest where he was asked about what his favorite team is:

“In my opinion Barcelona has played the best football for the last 10-15 years. It’s great that they could confirm this by playing this way when they won the Champions League. All of the players should be pleased by playing such football together. It is the best team at the moment.”

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MESSI, BALLON D’OR (Leads early voting)

Blaugrana’s crack leads by a landslide in early vote counts of the famous award

Barça – Madrid will be available to be seen live in the cinema. El Clasico’s referee will be the same as the 2-6 one (Undiano).

Key day for Robinho in Abu Dhabi

Franquesa’s is the 15th resignation in Laporta’s comittee

[Non Barça Related]

Madrid, (is) like a volcano

Florentino saves Pellegrini just to avoid scandal

The coach has credit until el clasico in Camp Nou

Guti wants to leave; he’s told the club and it’s said they are getting in touch with Inter