FC Barcelona are doing everything possible to sign Gundogan

According to the German newspaper 'Bild', Dortmund midfielder İlkay Gündoğan has been approached by the Spanish giants.

FC Barcelona are doing everything possible to sign İlkay Gundogan

FC Barcelona have met with Gündoğan's agents (his father and uncle) several times not and are desperate to bring him to Camp Nou.

The club apparently wants to him to replace Xavi Hernandez, who is said to have agreed terms with the American side New York Red Bulls.

Gündoğan has also been linked with other top clubs, mainly Manchester United and Real Madrid, but the midfielder has made it clear that he will make his decision very wisely. He said: ‘I have not made a final decision yet. BVB are the first team I am talking to.

‘I will soon make a well-thought decision. But I am keeping my options open at this point.

‘Borussia Dortmund have not set me an ultimatum. I am just trying to get healthy again and get back to my best form. That’s the main priority for BVB and for myself.’

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Rumours: Xavi to join New York Red Bulls

According to Sky Italia, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández is all set to follow his former teammate Thierry Henry and join  New York Red Bulls after the World Cup 2014. The reports also claim that the negotiations have already started to take place.

Xavi to join New York Red Bulls

Xavi renewed his contract last January which is set to expire only in 2016. The 33-year-old came through the youth ranks at the Catalan club and has made over 600 appearances.

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Official: Bayern Munich sign Thiago Alcantara from FC Barcelona

Thiago Alcantara has left Barcelona to join Bayern Munich for €20 million, potentially rising to €25m. 

Bayern didn't activate the Thiago Alcantara clause. It was a different deal between the two parts: 20m € cash + 5m adds-on.

The deal includes a friendly to the played between the 2 sides.

The 22 year-old Spanish international leaves the Catalan club after two full seasons with the first team, and he will be reunited in Munich with his former Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola.

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Guardiola claims that Messi and Neymar can play together

Pep Guardiola is convinced Lionel Messi and Neymar will combine to devastating effect for Barcelona next season.

The former Santos starlet secured his move to Camp Nou earlier in the summer and, but sections of the media have questioned whether the pair will be a good fit together due to their similar styles of play.

However, the Bayern Munich boss took some time out from verbally jousting with his former club to assert that the pair will have no difficulties playing together next season.

He told Lance: "Barca have always had some of the best players in the world at their disposal, and Neymar and Messi are undoubtedly two of the best at the moment.

"I know Messi very well. He is a fantastic person as well as player. I have met Neymar too and he seems like a good lad and I'm sure they will have no problem playing together."

The 42-year-old then turned his attentions towards next summer's World Cup, and believes his native Spain will go into the competition as favourites to retain their title - despite their 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final a fortnight ago. 

He added: "It seemed perfectly normal to me that Spain lost [to Brazil]. They were physically better than us.

"But I believe that Spain are still favourites going into the World Cup."

Neymar is set to make his competitive debut for the Blaugrana against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

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Marquinhos will stay at Roma, says agent

Marquinhos is likely to stay at Roma this summer, despite reported interest from Barcelona, according to his agent.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stellar first season in the Italian capital and has since been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou.

However, the former Corinthians youngster's representative, Roberto Calenda, has insisted that there have been no talks with any club, with the Giallorossi eager to keep the Brazilian.

"The player has a contract for four season with Roma and he will surely stay," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"There are no negotiations ongoing. It's normal that there are lots of teams interested in him because we're talking about a very talented guy.

"But Roma have not allowed us to talk to anyone."

Calenda also slammed the level of press intrusion into his player's private life after he was pictured in a Rome restaurant.

"Marquinhos was sent home this morning because he had a fever. I went to visit him and we went to the restaurant in front of his house because he had nothing to eat at home.

"Roma know everything, but unfortunately there are people who take pictures without knowing things and you cannot have a private life."

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Guardiola wants Thiago at Bayern

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted he has asked sporting director Matthias Sammer and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to sign Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

The Spain international initially seemed destined to move to Manchester United, but a number of recent reports suggest Bayern are now leading the race to sign the 22-year-old.

Guardiola has now confirmed die Roten are keen to lure the playmaker to the Allianz Arena, although he was unable to give any clarity on the status of the Bavarians' interest.

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Everton sign Barcelona forward Deulofeu on loan

Everton have completed the signing of Barcelona forward Gerard Deulofeu on a season-long loan deal.

The 19-year-old attacker, who was a part of Spain's squad for the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, scored 18 times in 33 matches for the Catalan club's 'B' team last season.

"Gerard is a real diamond of Spanish football and a boy with incredible footballing talent and I am delighted that he has chosen to take the next step of his career with Everton," Everton boss Roberto Martinez told the club's official website.

Deulofeu made one appearance in La Liga last season, coming off the bench against Mallorca, and also featured in Champions League group stage ties against Spartak Moscow and Benfica.

However, the Masia academy product's game time at Camp Nou was expected to be limited next season following Barcelona's capture of Brazilian superstar Neymar.

The Blaugrana loanee is Everton's fourth signing of the summer transfer window, with the Toffees having already secured permanent deals for ex-Wigan trio Arouna Kone, Joel Robles and Antolin Alcaraz.

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Santos left with €9m from Neymar fee

Leaked minutes show commission and third-party ownership dramatically reduced amount the Brazilian club profited from the sale of their superstar to Barcelona

Santos were paid just over €9 million by Barcelona for the purchase of Neymar earlier this summer, according to documents which emerged on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old, who starred in Brazil's successful Confederations Cup campaign in June, joined the Catalans for €57m in one of the most high-profile transfers of 2013. The total outlay has been confirmed by Barcelona.

However, Radio Globo reporters were leaked minutes from a Santos board meeting which shed new light on the detail of the agreement.

According to the documents, Barca paid €17.1m for the full ownership of Neymar, though just €9.35m went to the Brasileirao club with two companies that owned part of his registration - Teisa Group and DIS - splitting the other 45 per cent.

The report also claims the remaining €40m was paid in commission to other parties, including Neymar's father, as the Camp Nou club fought off competition from rivals such as Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Santos may receive more financial profit from the move eventually through arranged friendlies that the two sides agreed to, with the first on August 2 in Spain, and potential objectives for the forward to achieve which were included in the contract.

The documents also show that Neymar’s father wanted his son to depart Brazil ahead of the World Cup because he did not want him to become a "hero or villain" at next summer's tournament in the South American country.

The attacker, who has scored an impressive 24 goals in 39 Selecao appearances, will meet up with his new Barca team mates next week.

Source : Goal

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Adriano claims that Thiago Silva wants to be at Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva wants to join Barcelona, according to his friend and compatriot Adriano.

The Brazil international, 28, is widely considered one of the finest centre-backs in European football and has been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou this summer from Parc des Princes.

The current Barca utility man believes that his compatriot is keen to join the Catalans but appears stuck at PSG due to only having joined last season.

"He told me if he could come to Barcelona would be a dream," Adriano told RAC1. "He has always wanted to wear the Barca shirt, we are friends and I talk a lot with him. His arrival would be very good news if Barca signed him.

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David Villa signed by Atletico Madrid

The Liga club look set to beat Tottenham to the signing of the Spain international having reached an agreement with the Catalan giants for a fee that could rise to £4.4 million

Barcelona have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid over the transfer of forward David Villa.

The Spain international will move to the Vicente Calderon, subject to the agreement of personal terms and passing of a medical, in a deal worth an estimated £4.4 million, with £2.6m being paid if Villa remains an Atletico player during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns. 

The Catalan giants will also retain 50% from any future transfer involving the former Valencia striker.

Tottenham had emerged as the front runners to sign the 31-year-old attacker, with Goal exclusively revealing last month that Villa had given the green light over a move to White Hart Lane.

Atletico appear to have gazumped Spurs and won the race for his signature, however, as they search for a replacement for Radamel Falcao, who sealed a big-money move to Monaco back in May.
The Madrid club, who finished third in La Liga last season, had been in the hunt for Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo although Manchester City now appear favourites to sign the 27-year-old Spaniard, with top target Edinson Cavani expected to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Villa joined Barca in 2010 from fellow La Liga side Valencia and has scored 48 goals in 119 appearances across all competitions.

Source : Goal

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AS Monaco have announced the signing of former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal.

The experienced defender has signed a one-year deal with the option of a second following his release from Barcelona earlier this summer

Monaco have secured the services of Eric Abidal on a free transfer, according to the club's official website.


The left-back, who was released by Barcelona this summer, has signed a one-year deal at the Ligue 1 side with an option for one additional season.

The 33-year-old started his professional career at Monaco, but left the club for Lille in the summer of 2002. He also wore the Olympique Lyonnais jersey before joining Barcelona in 2007.

Abidal won four La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey and two Champions Leagues during his six years at Barcelona, but spent the majority of last season on the sidelines due to health problems.

The defender was diagnosed with a liver tumour in March 2011 and underwent a transplant last April which kept him out of action for nearly a year.

He was keen to continue his career at Barcelona, but the Catalans eventually opted not to offer him a new deal.

Clubs such as Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain had also shown an interest in signing Abidal.

Source : Goal

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Bojan Krikic joins Ajax on loan

Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic will spend the next season on loan at Dutch club Ajax, the Primera Division club have confirmed.

Bojan, 22, spent two consecutive years on loan in Italy with Roma and AC Milan but he struggled for game time at San Siro and managed only three league goals.

A statement published on Barcelona’s Webiste (www.fcbarcelona.com) read: “FC Barcelona and Ajax Amsterdam have reached agreement for the loan of Bojan Krkic to the Dutch club for the 2013-14 season.

“The Catalan striker – who will be 23 this August, will play under ex-Barca man Frank de Boer, who led Ajax to the Dutch title last season to guarantee a place in next year’s Champions League.”

Bojan made his first-team debut for Barcelona under another Dutchman, Frank Rijkaard, in 2007 and scored 26 league goals in four seasons before heading to Rome to reunite with former Barcelona youth team manager Luis Enrique, who coached AS Roma for a single campaign.

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Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcântara is set to be unveiled as a Manchester United player. [Source: Sport]

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Barcelona have rejected a bid by Tottenham for David Villa (31). Atletico Madrid are interested in signing him.

André Villas-Boas is looking to add some goals and want’s a prolific striker to compliment his midfield. Reports are suggesting he has already been sanctioned by chairman Daniel Levy to bring goalscorer to White Hart Lane.

Reports emerging from Spain this evening suggest Tottenham’s have had a first bid for Villa rejected by Barcelona. Villa has been a long-term target for Spurs and this summer could be the perfect timing after the arrival of Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Barcelona would be looking at a fee of around £10m for the 31-year-old.

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Monchengladbach deny Marc-Andre Ter Stegen rumours

Borussia Monchengladbach have rubbished reports suggesting that Barcelona have lodged a bid for Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

The 21-year-old is considered to be one of European football's most promising goalkeepers.

His development has been noted by clubs in Germany and across the continent, with Barca among those to have cast an admiring eye in his direction.

The Catalan giants are in the market for a long-term replacement for Victor Valdes, who has decided against extending his contract at Camp Nou, but Monchengladbach are adamant that they have fielded no requests from Spain.

Director of football Max Eberl told Fohlen-Hautnah: "He's here. Any further comment about it would be too much.

"If the Spaniards like to invent these stories, it's another thing.

"Neither the player nor Borussia Monchengladbach know anything about any interest, a deal or an agreement. We're building something up here, and I think he likes being a part of it."

On reports that Ter Stegen has a release clause in his contract, Eberl added: "His agent said this six times before to newspapers (that there is no clause).

"Now I say it for the seventh time - and I don't want to be asked about it again."

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