FC Barcelona official’s website have today confirmed that the club has released Barca Atletic’s Israeli winger Gai Assulin (19) on a free transfer. The club also revealed that the contracts of Barca Atletic forward Elvis Onyema (23) and central defender Ivan Benitez (22) have been terminated.
Barcelona’s arch rival Real Madrid is reportedly after two of the most promising youngsters currently playing in the Blaugrana‘s B team, Barcelona Atletic. Israeli winger Gai Assulin (19) and defender Marc Bartra (19) have both found themselves on the radar of Madrid, after their current situation in Barcelona has become anything but clear.
The June 30 is a key date that will define the future of five of the gems of Barca’s famed academy, as it is the day their contracts with Barca will end. As of today, it is difficult to know what lies in the future of Jonathan dos Santos, Gai Assulin, Thiago Alcantara, Victor Vazquez and Marc Bartra.
Barça Atlètic prepared themselves for the play-offs for promotion in the best way possible this past Sunday, finishing off their final game of the season with a 1-2 win at Orihuela, thanks to goals from Elvis Onyema (23) and Edu Oriol (22). What follows is a translation of Barcelona’s official report of the match, as well as the final league standings and a brief overview of the league’s play-off format.
With numerous players rested for a host of niggling injuries, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has invited an extra four Barca Atletic players to train with the first team at the Ciutat Esportivo this morning.
Barça Atletic conceded two early goals against Sporting, both scored by their forward Guillem, and despite constantly knocking at the opponent’s net, Luis Enrique’s lads were unable to conjure even a single point.
Barça Atlètic were held to a 1-1 draw against Logroñés, a rival who clearly came looking for a draw, which they achieved with a last minute equaliser, just when it looked as if Luis Enrique’s team would take the points.
Logroñés came looking for a draw, packing their defence and midfield in an attempt to stop their hosts from playing – something they achieved in the first 45 minutes in which Barca made a few chances, but were unable to get on the scoreboard.
Soriano on target again
Barça Atlètic have beaten local rivals Sabadell 2-3 thanks to a goal from Soriano and two from Nolito during the second half. Despite trailing from the first half, the reserves reacted well after the break and fought back for a victory.
The Barça reserves, coached by Luis Enrique, stay in second place in the second division table 9 points behind leaders Sant Andreu, who they beat last week 2-1.
An early setback
Credits: M10
This is a featured post. Please scroll down for all the latest news.
author: Didac Peyret
source: Soccernet
date: 02 February 2010
editing: totalbarca
Arsene Wenger believes that top clubs have to make compromises to ensure they play in their own recognisable style – he believes clubs have no hope of making their mark on history without implementing a clear philosophy on the field. For Wenger, the biggest and best sides have a responsibility to the game and must show others what can be achieved.
Everybody has now seen the success of such a model in place at Barcelona. Bringing together an unlikely mixture of art and efficiency, Barca have shown that it is possible to break away from the cautious tactics that have characterised the modern game to win every trophy available to them in 2009.
Barça Atlètic chalked up another home win on Saturday, thrashing Gava 5-0 with goals from Jose Rueda (22), Elvis Onyema (23), Nolito (23), Jonathan Soriano (24) and Gai Assulin (18).
After going 14 games unbeaten, 12 wins and two draws Barca Atletic lost 1-0 to Mallorca B a fortnight ago and only drew 2-2 with Benidorm in their next game, but they got back to winning ways with a convincing win over Gava at the Mini Estadi on Saturday.
Chances from the off
Luis Enrique’s team were making chances right from the start with Elvis shooting wide on 4 minutes after being set up by Montoya and Gai down the left and two minutes later birthday boy Rueda opened the scoring with a great long range effort.
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Yup. The subject is being brought up yet again. This time it’s your turn to do the debating, state the facts, and argue your points. The question is: Who should be the left-winger for next season?
In this EXCLUSIVE totalBarça article you’ll find:
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- a place to discuss and share your thoughts and ideas about this issue
Only seven players from the senior squad took part in a training game on Wednesday along with players from the reserves and the youth team.
Although Wednesday was a day off for the first team, seven players who feature rather less frequently in the starting line-ups took the chance to get in some extra practice together with youngsters from the reserves and the youth team.
First team players
Barcelona chiefs are in advanced talks with central defender Gerard Pique (22) over a new contract.
Guardiola and eight other players namely Victor Valdes, Yaya Touré, Pedro Rodriguez, Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi, Eric Abidal, Andres Iniesta and Rafa Marquez have already renewed this year and now the ‘operation shield’ (as called in the Spanish media) will continue with the renewals of Piqué and the other homegrown youngsters.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo says Pique is set to sign a new deal that will run until 2015 with his new buyout clause being set to £150 million.
Barca Atletic managed to garner only one point from their trip to Foietes. The reserves went ahead with goals from Benja and Soriano in the first half but Benidorm drew the game with two goals in the second half.
Barca Atletic failed to repeat their away victory of the previous season against Benidorm and had to settle for a draw, despite having entered the break with a comfortable lead (0-2).
Great first half
Catalan sports tabloid Sport reports this morning that Arsenal are set to step up their interest in Barcelona’s 18-year-old attacking midfielder Gai Assulin.
The young Israeli playmaker is out of contract at the end of the 2009/2010 season and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been known to be an admirer of Assulin for some time now.
Assulin has been available to sign a new deal with a foreign club since January 1, 2010 and although the young starlet is keen to stay at the Camp Nou, Arsenal are committed to making the signing.
The youngest ever Israeli international (Assulin made his debut for the national side at 16) has spent much of the season training with the Barcelona first team and although he played his first official match for the first team in the Copa del Rey match against Cultural Leonesa on 28 October 2009, he hasn’t made an appearance in the Spanish Primera Division or the Champions League.
According to Catalan sports paper Sport, FC Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain is currently working on the future of four players whose career path with the first team is still undecided. The said players are Jeffren Suarez (22) who has yet to renew his first team contract – which expires at the end of the season, while Jonathan dos Santos (19), Thiago Alcantara (18) and Gai Assulin (18) are still on Barcelona reserves contract – also expiring in June, and have yet to sign any new contract with the club.
As reported by the paper, as per FIFA regulation, these players are free to negotiate with any clubs six months before their contracts end – that is since from 1 January 2010.
Barcelona Atletic players, Gai Assulin and Victor Vazquez have yesterday returned to the reserves after gaining some valuable experience with the first team. Guardiola had called up four players from Barca Atletic to the first team in January as cover for the absence of Keita and Touré who left for the African Cup of nations and Jeffren who suffered an injury in the friendly match against Sporting Kazma last month.
Thiago Alcantara (18), Jonathan dos Santos (19), Victor Vazquez (22) and Gai Assulin (18) were the four youngsters chosen by Pep Guardiola, and were primarily expected to get minutes in the Copa Del Rey. Yet Barca’s unfortunate elimination from the Copa, the impending return of Keita and the speedy recovery of Jeffren, have all led to Gai and Vazquez early return to the reserves.
In one session of the press conference yesterday, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola touched on the 4 cantera players’ potentials – Barca Atletic’s players that he enlisted as covers for the month of January. His message to them was clear: “Seize the opportunity and make full use of it.”
Despite persistent rumours to the otherwise, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is again reiterating that he is satisfied with the players that he has, and insists he can always summon Barca Atletic’s players to cover for any short-falls in the squad – as is the case during this African Nations Cup tournament period.
“If it was necessary, I probably would have considered signing someone, but for a month, it is not worth it. I am well served, I can’t complain. I have a good squad that can always be supplemented with reserve players. For a month, I prefer to give them a chance, and I know they will do well,” was his answer to a question during a press conference earlier today.
Confident that the cantera players can fill in for absences of Malian Seydou Keita and Ivorian Yaya Toure, Guardiola said Jonathan dos Santos (19) and Thiago Alcantara (18) will remain with the first team throughout the month of January as he has “great faith” in them. The coach is also enlisting the services of Victor Vazquez (22) and Gai Assulin (18), who were invited to train along, but will only be used when he needs them.
UPDATE
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that all the Americas players are now back in Barcelona except for Argentine Lionel Messi, who is given four extra days off by Pep Guardiola, and who still carries a slight discomfort in his right ankle. The last to arrive is Brazilian right-back Dani Alves, and he is expected to join the training session this afternoon, even though all players coming from across the Atlantic are not required to.
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LIGA 1, WEEK 18:
FC Barcelona Atletic managed only to draw their away game against Valencia Mestalla, who currently occupy the last place in the standings. Luis Enrique’s men failed to achieve victory against a team, that fought hard to earn their single point.
The Barcelona players enjoyed a high possession game, while Valencia were confined to defending for large parts of the game, which was played at their home ground. Despite controlling the game, the Barcelona players failed to create any clear chances in the initial stages of the game.
However, this changed gradually as the game went on, and in the 26th minute FC Barcelona open up the scoring. Fontas unleashed a superb shot outside the box, after a great cross from Rueda, which went behind the Valencia keeper.
Barça Atlètic have attained their eighth consecutive victory after beating Terrassa 4-0 with goals from Soriano, Armando and Thiago, as well as a ninth-minute own-goal from Canet.
Barça dominated from the outset, but Terrassa looked strong and prevented Barça from getting near the goalmouth.
Early goal
The first goal came in the ninth minute, when Terrassa player Canet put the ball into his own net after a cross from Jonathan Dos Santos.
A first-half fright
Barça Atlètic have racked up their second victory of the week after beating Lleida away. Nolito snatched the winner in the last minute after Soriano had got the first in the 32nd minute.
Barça Atlètic are going great guns in Second Division B and have beaten Lleida 2-1. The side showed they were up for the game right from the kick off as they put pressure on the home team’s goal and continued their run of excellent results.
Barça show superiority
Note: This game was originally to be played on 15th November 2009 but was later postponed to 2nd December 2009, due to a chronic shortage of players due to injuries and international commitments.
Barca Atlètic chalked up their sixth consecutive win with 2-1 victory over Alicante at the Mini Estadi on Wednesday night, which takes them up into the play-off spots and just 2 points behind first-placed Mallorca B.
Luis Enrique and Joan Barberá’s young team are in top form right now, not having lost since the 7th round of games, when they lost to Sant Andreu, and having won their last six games on the trot.
Barca Atlètic continued their rise in the league, after beating second placed Ontinyent 2-0 thanks to goals from Gai Assulin and Benja Martinez in the second half.
Barca started the game very focused and did not allow Ontinyent to get into their stride. For their part, the visitors pressured high up the pitch trying unsuccessfully to stop Barca’s fast passing game.
First chance
Barça Atlètic won their seventh game of the season at Vila-Joiosa thanks to a goal in injury time. They left it late, having squandered several chances to settle the win earlier on.
Luis Enrique’s side are in the top half of the table with seven wins and 24 points, with a game in hand, after this important win on the road at Vila Joiosa.
First threats
Barça went straight onto the attack from the outset. Playing in a well-structured formation, it was Benja (20) who produced the first threat against the Valencia based side by making a penetrating run through the defence, but his one on one with the goalkeeper saw Nico turn the ball behind for a corner.
Right after the signing of Rafael Marquez’s contract extension next week, FC Barcelona Technical Secretary, Txiki Begiristain is set to work on the contracts of three of Barca Atletic’s main jewels; midfielders Thiago Alcantara (18), Jonathan dos Santos (19) and forward Gai Assulin (18), whose contracts are set to expire on June 30, 2010, reports Catalan sports paper Sport.
Thiago and Jonathan’s contracts have already been prepared for weeks without any major hiccups in the negotiations, and only need to find a suitable date to make them official.
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.
Barça Atlètic, managed by Luis Enrique, have scored a well-deserved 0-2 win over cross-city rivals Espanyol B.
The first half hour belonged pretty much to the home side and Espanyol B had as many as four clear chances to take the lead. And with the Barça players forced back into their own half a well-organised Espanyol defence had little work to do.
First chance, first goal
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