“Sergio Busquets is a key player for Barça. There are others who get more headlines, but this Barça team have won so many titles thanks in large part to him. Sergio Busquets is the key player for Barça. He always keeps his position and sets up players like Xavi and Iniesta who can go forward knowing that their backs are covered.”

- National side teammate and Tuesday opponent Javi Martínez had these words of praise for Barça midfield genius Sergio Busquets. The two defensive midfielders, though quite different in style, will play important roles over the semi-final series with Bayern Munich. An additional quote is after the jump.

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While AC Milan is intent on holding onto their stellar centre-back Thiago Silva, a new rumour to surface in Spain suggests that the Italian club may be lured not just with money but with ‘Thiago’? Wait, what, you ask? We are talking about Barça midfielder (aka Xavi’s heir apparent) Thiago Alcantara, who is quite liked by Berlusconi’s team. You want proof? Marca quotes Ariedo Braida, managing director of Milan, with “We like Thiago, he’s a great player.” It wouldn’t be called transfer news if it didn’t have a degree of ridiculousness to it, or so it seems.

Meanwhile, Adriano Galliani, the administrative director of AC Milan, made the unfortunate decision of holidaying in Barcelona and instead of getting a much-deserved break was hounded with questions of “Are you here to sell Thiago Silva?” or “Is that Silva there in your luggage?” To which Galliani said via Com Radio,”Thiago Silva is not up for sale, and will stay at Milan next season for certain.” He added, ”It is Sunday, a non-working day, and I have no plans to meet up with the Barcelona people.” That’s a rude thing to say, if you ask us. You can’t be in the Catalan city and not meet people from Barcelona who are “Barcelona people“.

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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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The season’s ended for pretty much all the clubs. Not for Guardiola’s Barcelona, which has a chance to nab trophy no 14 on May 25. But the press has already moved on to more important matters in hand, which means only one thing – TRANSFER RUMOURS. Yes, if it was up to the press every bright star of a rival club could become a Barca player in the upcoming season. So it hardly comes as a surprise that the names of Gareth Bale, Iker Muniain, Robin Van Persie and Javi Martinez are being linked to Barca, given that all have played a vital role in the success of their respective teams this season.

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Spanish sports daily El Mundo Deportivo has speculated today that FC Barcelona may be preparing a bid for Athletic Bilbao midfielder and Spanish international Javi Martinez (21).

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Saturday Nov 21, 2009, 22:00 CET, San Mamés, Bilbao

“Not Again!” Despite the Basque boys protests, Barcelona have once again returned to haunt and torment ‘Los Leones’.

Athletic Bilbao.

The team donning the red and white are one of 3 sides never to be relegated from the Spanish Primera.
Through honest and patient football Bilbao have also claimed themselves 8 La Liga titles, the 4th most in Spain, behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico. For years Athletic Bilbao have been the dark horse in many a title race, their stadium the San Mamés or the ‘Football Cathedral’ as its known has over the years become some what of a fortress for the team with a Cantera policy to only sign players from within the Basque country> This policy has cost them dearly over the years with their last La Liga title coming in 1984 after being denied of silverwear on two occasions by one FC Barcelona.
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