Seydou Keita is, apart from being the first Malian player in Barça’s history, the sixth African player to sign for the Catalan club. Mendonça, Amunike, Okunowo, Eto'o and Touré all preceded the signing of Keita.
The first African signing came about 67 years after the club was founded. However, it’s only during the last twelve years that African born players have had a real impact on the club.

Mendonça: the first African

In 1966 Jorge Alberto Mendonça passed into the history books by becoming the first African to don the azulgrana shirt. Arriving via Atletico Madrid, the Angolan striker had a great first season but slowly his performances waned, though he did win the Spanish Cup in 67/68.

The two Nigerians

Another 30 years passed before the second African signing arrived in the form of Nigerian Emmanuel Amunike. He signed from Sporting Lisbon and despite playing 33 games and scoring 3 goals in two seasons, his career with Barça was dogged by numerous knee injuries. Nevertheless, he managed to win six trophies with Barça (League 97/98, Cup Winners’ Cup 96/97, European Super Cup 1997, Spanish Cup 96/97 and 97/98 and Spanish Super Cup 1996).

Amunike left his position to another Nigerian, Okunowo, who was signed by Louis van Gaal. The defender won the Dutch manager’s confidence from the start and stayed with the club for two seasons, winning the league title in 98/99.

The arrival of Samuel Eto'o

In 2004 Barça signed the 23-year-old Cameroonian from Mallorca. He was unsettled and had a hunger for scoring goals and quickly became Barça’s African player par excellence. We don’t speak of any other but Samuel Eto’o. Goals, fighting spirit, character, feelings of belonging to Barça are just some of his defining characteristics.

Two Africans in two seasons

Ivorian, solid, committed and a great midfielder - these are some of the traits of Touré Yaya, the fifth African signing in Barça’s history. Touré arrived at Barça to bolster the defensive midfield and,despite not winning any trophies, the Ivorian has proven his tactical prowess and commitment to the club.

Now Seydou Keita has arrived from Seville as Barça’s sixth African signing with a desire to fight and excel at the Catalan club.

 
The ‘azzurri’, with Zambrotta playing the full 90 minutes, won this friendly with a brace from Di Natale and a goal from Camoranesi.
Italy will arrive at the European Championships in good form. The team managed by Roberto Donadoni easily brushed aside Belgium in Florence on Friday. The game was all but decided in the 50th minute with Italy’s third goal. Barça’s Gianluca Zambrotta had a chance to make it four just before the Belgians managed to pull one back in added time.

A Di Natale brace

The ‘azzurri’ were on top from the start and they only took nine minutes to open the scoring. The scorer was Di Natale who latched on to a Pirlo pass. At 1-0 the home side were more than comfortable and managed to widen the gap just before half-time, again through Di Natale.

Italy kill off the game

Things continued in much the same vein in the second half. The friendly was killed off in the 49th minute with Camoranesi making it 3-0. From then on both managers made the most of the situation by making several changes and so the pace of the game slowed. In the dying minutes the Belgian keeper Stijnen saved from Zambrotta while Sock headed a consolation for Belgium in added time.

 
Barça is one of the clubs to have the most players taking part in Euro 2008. There will be eight Barça players in Switzerland and Austria, as there will be from Real Madrid, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.
Of the 368 players in the 16 finalised squads, no fewer than eight are on FC Barcelona’s books.

The eight Barça players

Those players are Henry, Abidal and Thuram, all for France, who were originally in the shortlist of 29 players named by Doménech and have all been named in the eventual 23. Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta will all appear for Luis Aragonés’s Spain, and Deco and Zambrotta will there for Portugal and Italy, respectively.

Real Madrid also taking eight

Madrid also have eight players in the European Championship, namely
Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos for Spain, Metzelder for Germany, Sneijder, Van Nistelrooy and Robben for Holland, Pepe for Portugal and Cannavaro for Italy.

The Germans

Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich can also boast eight players in the finals. Bayern have sent all of Philipp Lahm, Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski for Germany, plus, Luca Toni with Italy and Willy Sagnol and Frank Ribéry with France.

The eight Werder Bremen players are Martin Harnik, with host nation Austria, Clemens Fritz, Per Mertesacker, Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski, with Germany, Markus Rosenberg with Sweden, Ivan Klasnic with Croatia and Hugo Almeida with Portugal.

 
Edmílson has left FC Barcelona to join Villarreal after spending four years at Camp Nou and he took time out to reflect on the highs and lows and what he will take with him from the Catalan outfit.
The Brazilian midfielder spoke to Barça TV and ww.fcbarcelona.cat and looked back over the last few seasons and also looked ahead at the prospects for Barça and the Yellow Submarine.

How does it feel now that your time at Barcelona is over?

"The truth is that I am a bit sad about leaving a great club, I am happy to have won two league titles and the Champions League. I have had four very good years here. The last two have not been good in terms of results, but I think that we can look back on many good things during my time here.

What will you remember most about the club?

"I will keep my friends, my team-mates, the people that I have known in Barcelona and at the club. The best part about being in the club is the people you work with every day, that know if you are injured or not or playing or not."

What do you remember about the Champions League final?

"The main thing I remember is when Belletti scored, I was on the bench and I saw the two kit men hugging and they fell on the floor in the rain."

Was the knee injury the worst point of your time at Barcelona?

"The injury to the knee interrupted my time here and shortened it I think. I always say that we cannot choose these things, things just happen and we have to be strong and do what we can. Personally, a year without playing was very hard. What is important is that the situation made me grow as a person.

Did you know that you did not score an official goal for Barça?

"That is true. It is something I did not expect. In all the years I played, I have always worked for the team doing the defensive work and I think that in spite of not scoring a goal I contributed to the team."

What does Barça mean to you?

"When you see the motto 'mès que un club' it is difficult to describe what it means. It is a feeling of the city and of a nation. I have talked to many fans in the street and they have told me that if the team loses they do not eat or sleep well. At times, it is difficult for a player to understand this and when you come from a smaller club the feeling is very different and you have to adapt to the philosophy. Despite that, my experience with the national team has helped. In Brazil during the World Cup, the people live the football every day."

How have you and your family felt in the city?

"Very well. The truth is that my young daughter was born in Barcelona. We are very pleased to have experienced life her. The people took to us very well. We were here for four years and I even bought a house so that when I retire we can come and live in Barcelona. My wife and my daughters all really like it here."

How would you like to be remembered at Barça?

"I believe that there are the trophies. Apart from the excitement of the fans, when you are in a club you create many memories. In ten years I would like to be able to come back and be remembered for winning two titles and the Champions League. Money cannot buy the feeling of being able to come back after my four years here and people having good memories of my time here."

How do you see your new life with Villarreal?

"It is a fresh challenge. At 32 I have to try to play and to enjoy it as much as possible. Also, I want to return to the Brazilian squad and play in the next World Cup in 2010, but for that I will have to be at a great level this season."

What message do you have for the fans?

"I am grateful for the chance to have played for Barcelona and to have been able to play in Camp Nou. I want to thank al the supporters and ask them to forgive my mistakes."

How do you see the team in the future?

"I hope that they will start winning things again and that everyone remains patient because now a new project is starting. There will be many changes and it needs time to start well."

 
FC Barcelona have confirmed the details of their pre-season trip to the United States that will take place between July 31 and August 6. The FCB US Toure 2008 will include games in Chicago and New York.
The Blaugrana will meet Mexican outfit CD Guadalajara on August 3 and then play MLS side New York Red Bulls three days later. Both teams met Barça during the tour to the States in 2006.

Times and places

The game in Chicago will be played in Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears NFL side and the MLS team, Chicago Fire. The match in New York will take place at Giants Stadium, where both the New York Giants and Jets play in the NFL and the Red Bulls play in the MLS. Both games kick off at 7pm local time, which is 1am CET. The squad will return to Barcelona after the second game.

An new agreement

These two matches form part of the strategic agreement between FC Barcelona and the MLS which was signed on May 15 in New York and that, apart from playing six matches in the next five years in the United States, also guarantees the presence and promotion of the Barça brand throughout the north American market. The Blaugrana are the first European club with such an arrangement.

Crowded houses

The tour that FC Barcelona undertook in 2006 to the United States was a great success. The Blaugrana saw an average of 80,734 fans watch their three games, a figure higher than any other European club that he played over there.

In their first game, in the Los Angeles Memorial Colisuem, against CD Guadalajara, 92,650 were present. The second game, in the Reliant Stadium in Houston, some 70,550 watched Barça play Club América. The third and final match took place in Giants Stadium in New York and 79,002 saw them beat the New York Red Bulls.

 
FC Barcelona have exercised their right to buy José Manuel Pinto from Celta Vigo and informed the Galician club of their decision to make his move to Camp Nou longer on Friday.
The right to buy had to be exercised before May 31 and was agreed upon when the loan deal was signed with Celta on January 17. Barça paid €500,000 for Pinto in the January transfer window.

Two seasons

The player will now sign a two-year contract with FC Barcelona, even though on June 30, 2009 either side can break it.

 
After four season away from Barcelona, Gerard Piqué is back at the club he grew up at. “When the option arose it was the only option I chose because playing in this shirt is unlike playing in any other”.
Gerard Piqué claims to be good in the air and able to play at centre back or in midfield, and feels he has FC Barcelona in his blood. Speaking exclusively to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat he spoke about his aspirations for the future and memories of the past at Barça, in his first major interview since returning to the club he has always held dearly in his heart.

What does it mean to come back to Barça?

“It is a dream I have had since I was small. I have been a member since I was born. I used to go the ground when I was young and played at all youth levels until I was 17, and when I left I knew there was a risk I’d never come back. Returning is a dream come true and playing for Barça is something you can’t describe in words. It’ll be so nice.”

In your case it is a union of work and sentiments...

“That’s important because it isn’t easy to feel the club colours in football these days but I am from Barcelona, I am Catalan and have been a fans since very young and have always felt the colours.”

In your time at Manchester United you have kept in contact with Barcelona...

“Of course you follow things from afar. But you have a new shirt and have to be professional. In the Champions League I wanted Manchester to win because I play for that club, but in the Spanish League I always wanted Barça to win. There was a time when Barça won the League and European Cup, and you follow them like any other fan.”

Had you ever planned to return to Barça?

“You always leave the doors open to a return to Barça, but you can’t choose the moment, you have to take it when it comes. The train only comes by once. When the option came up it was the only one I took and it is like coming back to my family and it is a pleasure to play in this magnificent stadium.”

How have these four years changed you as a footballer? Is it a different Piqué to the one who left 17 years ago?

“Yes, of course I’m different. I am still the same person, but a lot of things have changed personally and professionally. Living alone, going to a foreign country, being in a squad with a different culture, it makes you grow up and learn new things. And there were a lot of stars in the squad, the team has just won the European Cup and playing with them helps you to learn and grow up a lot.”

What does being a European champion mean to you?

“It’s touching the sky. It is a very special feeling, it is the best you can do at club level and doing it so young means a lot for the team, for me, for the fans. It was very special and I hope to repeat that as soon as possible with Barça.”

What have you learned from Alex Ferguson? Is he very different to what you were used to here?

“It’s a different culture. Professionally in Spain I have only been on loan to Zaragoza but you can still make comparisons. There is a distance between Manchester and Zaragoza. Ferguson was more like a father to the players than a manager. In fact, a manager is not the same as a coach, which is what Carlos Queiroz did, he prepared the training sessions. Sir Alex Ferguson is closer, he is about the way you live and feel inside the club.”

You have played with Messi. Are you excited about playing with him again?

“Yes, yes. I remember when we were young and wondering if we could do this professionally. What he does now is what he always did, and it was and will be a pleasure to be with him.”

Will your experience at Zaragoza help?

“Yes, of course. English and Spanish football are different in terms of characteristics and the playing style and you do need to adapt, I know that. I already know a fair bit about what football is like here.”

Have you spoken to Milito?

“Yes. He got injured and we spoke, he’s a great player. We became good friends at Zaragoza, we used to room together and we understood each other, he is a magnificent person. I hope he recovers quickly because he is a basic element of the team.”

Pep Guardiola

“I didn’t know him personally when I was young but he was one of my heroes when my dad brought me to games, he always spoke about him, and what a leader he is. It is important to have a coach like that. There is trust and with him we will win titles and the fans will be proud of us.”

Some of the fans don’t know much about you. How would you define yourself?

“1.90, very tall. I play well up front, I can play at centre back or in midfield, I like to play the ball from the back, that’s what they taught me at Barça.”

Where can you still improve?

“You can always improve whatever your age. At 21 I have experience, but need more. Work with both feet, left and right. There are always tactics and skills to learn. The best players are still learning when they are 35.”

What do you hope to win at the club?

“Of course I am hungry to win, if I'm not at 21... I have won the league and Champions League with Manchester and if I can do that with Barça that would be even better, because it’s my team. It would be great to win the league, the Champions League, everything we possibly can. People always remember you for the things you have won.”

 
In August, and for just the fourth time, FC Barcelona will have to play the Champions League qualification round. On all three previous occasions, it was also a new manager who had to deal with this high pressure situation.
Skonto Riga, Wisla Krakow and Legia Warsaw provided the first official opposition of the 97/98, 01/02 and 02/03 seasons for Louis van Gaal, Carles Rexach and the Dutchman again on his return to the club. Barcelona won all of six of these games.

Van Gaal first

After finishing second in the league under Bobby Robson in 96/97, Barcelona played in the qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time since the new system was established. Led by incoming boss Louis van Gaal, the challenge was Latvian champions Skonto, and the home leg at the Camp Nou turned out to be much harder than had been expected, with a late winner making it 3-2. Barça edged through with a 1-0 win in the away leg.

Rexach second

Carles Rexach also started his spell on the Barça bench with a Champions League qualifier after Rivaldo’s famous overhead kick against Valencia had seen Barça go into the draw on the last day of the season. They went on to meet Wisla Krakow of Poland and won a thrilling first leg 4-3 away. Five of the seven goals came in an amazing quarter of an hour, with the Poles going ahead three times (1-0, 2-1 and 3-2) before Rivaldo completed a hat trick and Kluivert grabbed a winner that was consolidated in a less action-packed second leg by a solitary goal from Luis Enrique.

Van Gaal again

In 2002/03, Barcelona had just welcomed back Louis van Gaal, having finished fourth in the league. It was another Polish side they met, this time Legia Warsaw, who made life hard for the Catalans for much of the game at the Camp Nou, but late Riquelme and Cocu strikes eventually made it 3-0 after Frank de Boer has opened the scoring earlier on. In the second leg it was a penalty from Gaizka Mendieta that saw Barça cruise into the hat for the group stage draw.

 
The Mali international has revealed that playing for Barça has already been one of his dreams. He describes himself as a hard working player and that he is looking forward to pulling on the Barça shirt: “I hope to give everything I’ve got".
The first Mali Player in Barça’s long history, a midfield reinforcement, the first signing of the season or a versatile player – these are just some of the characteristics of Seydou Keita. Keita, who has just been signed from Sevilla, said in an exclusive interview with Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat that he had joined Barça “to help the team get good results”.

You’ve completed your move to FC Barcelona. How do you feel?

I’m very happy. Signing for Barça is a dream come true. FC Barcelona is a big club for any player that wants to go a long way. We’d all like to play one day for Barcelona and I’m very pleased to join this great club and above all I hope to give everything I’ve got to help the team get good results”

Have you spoken to your new coach, Pep Guardiola?

“No, we haven’t had the chance to see each other yet but I’ve been able to talk to ‘Titi’ (Henry) and some other players. He’s starting a new project and I’m also new so I think we’ll get on well and everything will go fine”.

What can Keita bring to Barça?

“Everything. I’m a defensive midfielder and I hope to be able to help win back possession, to add work rate and also in attack, as I’ve done this year with Sevilla”.

It’s said that you’re the complete midfielder. What do you think are your main characteristics?

“Well I’m certainly a defensive midfielder and in that position I like to defend and help out my team-mates. But I’m also lucky enough to score the occasional goal, I’m pretty comfortable on the ball as I’ve played a bit in an attacking midfield role. But the most important thing for me is the desire to win and fight for the team. When there’s desire, everything is possible”.

The Barça style is more attacking and with more possession. Do you think you’ll adapt easily to this?

“I think so because a team like Barça needs to have possession but it also needs to defend well and I think I can help the team a lot in this aspect. I’ve seen Barça play loads of matches. In addition, there’s Touré Yaya, who I know pretty well and who plays in midfield. I hope to give my all and help to defend well. As well as attacking you have to defend well and that’s why there has to be a balance. I hope to adapt rapidly to the system at FC Barcelona.”

You’re the first Mali player in Barça’s history. What do you think about that? Were you sure about signing for Barça?

“I’m very proud. I had other offers but I’ve wanted to come to Barcelona for some time and when I had the chance to join other teams I did everything possible to come here. In addition, Barça wanted me and that helped. It’s a club I’ve always liked”.

You’re a clear example of the blossoming of African football. Many African footballers are succeeding in the best teams in Europe. Could it be said that the future of football is in Africa?

“I hope so! It’s true that there have been African players in the big clubs for the last few years and that shows that African football has progressed a lot. We players have become aware of the qualities that we can bring to our teams. I hope this keeps on because African players always try and give our best in our respective teams”.

What did Barça mean to you when you were at Lens?

“For everybody, Barça is a great club, a team everyone wants to play for. I was lucky enough to come to Spain with Sevilla, which is also a great club, a club that gave me everything and helped me grow. Now I’m in Barcelona and I’m very happy but I’m very grateful to all the Sevilla directors and to the fans, who have always supported me. But in life you have to make choices. I’m sad to leave Sevilla, but at the same time I’m very happy to sign for Barcelona, because it’s an option that you can’t turn down even though you’ve had everything at Sevilla. The truth is I’m very happy to be here because it’s what I’ve always wanted”.

You’re already familiar with the Camp Nou. What do you think about it?

“I’ve played here but against Barça. It’s a very big stadium, with a lot of people, but when I was here it was as an opponent and it was very difficult. This time I’ll be wearing the Barça colours so it’ll be easier”.

 
Great vision, a good touch of the ball, discipline and a profound knowledge of the way Barcelona work are some of the characteristics Albert Benaiges highlights in Gerard Piqué, a player he feels will adapt easily.
Albert Benaiges, coordinator of FC Barcelona’s youth teams told Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat what he feels about the signing of Gerard Piqué, a player he knows very well after watching him rise through the Barça youth ranks.

Technical qualities

The coordinator of FC Barcelona’s youth teams said “he can play with the ball very well at centre back, and has been a quality player since very young. He also has a very fast first touch of the ball, because he reads the game well and is extremely fast for the bulky player he is.”

Dangerous defender

Despite his playing position, Albert Benaiges considers Gerard Piqué to be a man who can put danger on the opposing goal. “His height and bulk mean he is an unstoppable force in the air. As an attacker, he is the kind of player who scores with his head, from corners and from dead ball situations”.

Home-bred player

Albert Benaiges is aware of how much Gerard Piqué already know about the club. “He is a home-bred player. He knows how the squad works here, about the press and the tactics.” The Catalan will be perfect for Barça “because FC Barcelona always play creatively, from the back and he has done that since he was small”.

 
After four seasons at Manchester United and Zaragoza, Gerard Piqué is returning to Barça as a European champion.
Aged just 21 years, Gerard Piqué is already a well-travelled player. The Catalan centre back is on his way back to FC Barcelona, where he played at every youth level, having gained invaluable experience at both Manchester United and Real Zaragoza. His talent and imposing physique suggest he could be one of the most important central defenders of the coming years.

Experience and championships

When he was still just 17, Gerard Piqué began his English adventure by signing for Manchester United. On October 26, 2004, three weeks after he joined them, he made his debut in the Carling Cup against Crewe Alexandra. Under Alex Ferguson he has won one Carling Cup (2005-06), and a Premier League, as well as the Champions League just last week (2007-08).

Back with Milito

In the 2006-07 season, Gerard Piqué was sent on loan to Real Zaragoza, where he played alongside Gabriel Milito. He appeared in 22 league games that season, 18 as a starter, and scored twice. Piqué met Barça four times that year, twice in the league and twice in the Copa del Rey quarter finals.

A Barça past

Before moving away, Piqué played at just about every level of the club’s youth system. He joined the club in 97-98 and played for the Alevín B (rough equivalent to under 12, the youngest age group the club had at the time) and stayed at the club until playing in 2003-04 for Juvenil A (under 18).

 
Gerard Piqué returns to FC Barcelona, where he spent several successful years in his youth (1997/2004). With such strength and distributional skills, he helped the side to several honours.
Gerard Piqué started out in a social tournament at Barça and ended up playing at all levels through to Juvenil A (Under 18), before signing for Manchester United. It was in 1997 that he appeared for the Alevín B (Under 12) side for the first time.

In 1999/2000 he shared a dressing room with several others who would go on to bigger things. Marc Valiente, Víctor Vázquez and Cesc (now at Arsenal) formed, along with Gerard, a quality core to the side coached by Rodolf Borrell.

Top trainer

The Barça coach told www.fcbarcelona.cat that that was “an incredible season. I remember we reached the last game of the season having scored 192 goals; we were beating Granollers 5-0 away at half time, and then I put pressure on them to get three more goals.” They did that and thus scored a fantastic 200 goals in just 30 games.

The Barça Aleví A team also won the Catalan Cup and Borrell remembers how “after five minutes Piqué got injured but I wanted to know nothing of it because he would have been an important loss. He was heading for the bench but I gestured for him to carry on. Although he had pulled a muscle, young Gerard played the whole match with his left foot to avoid making his injury any worse.”

Success with Infantil A

After winning everything with the Infantil B (Under 13) side under Ursicinio López, Piqué crossed paths with Rodolf Borrell again in Infantil A (Under 14). That side possessed a wealth of talented players, and won the league with seven games to spare. In the Catalan Championship against Espanyol, the opposition grabbed an early goal, but Borrell remembers well what happened after. “Piqué took the reigns of the match and led a comeback with an incredible show of character”. The centre back scored a goal and the team went on to beat Espanyol to the title (4-3).

Evolution in cadete and juvenil

In Cadet B (Under 15), in 2001-02, Piqué spent half of the season under Albert Benaiges and the other under Tito Vilanova. This was the year that Messi exploded onto the scene, the team won every competition it was involved in, and Gerard Piqué started showing that he was not just a great centre back. He was played as a defensive midfielder and performed brilliantly.

In his second years at Cadete level, under Àlex García, Barça won the League and the Copa Catalunya, but rather than results, it was the way the team played that really impressed. His final season at the club was 2003-04, when Piqué started in the Juvenil A (Under 18) side coached by Àlex García, but ended up winning the league with the Juvenil B (Under 17) led by Guillermo Hoyos.

Goalscoring defender

From very young, Gerard Piqué was always tall for his age, but it was not just height but also skill that made him stand out from the crowd. One of his coaches spoke of his “great vision of time and space.” He has always had a natural knack of positioning himself properly, but this also refers to the way he plays going forward, where his rate of ten or more goals a season is extraordinary for a defender.

 
Four years after leaving for the Premier League, Gerard Piqué is back at a club he wants to see grow. The young defender is thrilled to be back to help the club.
Moments after signing his contract with FC Barcelona for the next four years, Gerard Piqué spoke to Barça TV and and said his return to club “is a dream come true. It is a dream to return to Barça. When I left I thought it would be very difficult to come back but now the dream has come true”.

Only choice

The Catalan defender insisted that he had always hoped to return here and said it was “my first and only option.” Gerard Piqué added “if there was a chance I had to try and once Barça and Manchester came to an agreement, it was full steam ahead”.

A big move

The second Barça signing of the close season has said this means “a big move” in his career and said he suffered several “nerves” before finally signing the contract, and knowing that he will definitely be pulling on the Barça colours again.

Piqué’s experience

The defender claims he has learned a lot from his time with Manchester United and Zaragoza: “As a player you grow a lot, in a personal and football sense. In the latter aspect you learn a lot from being surrounded by top level players. With Manchester we won the Champions League and that was an unforgettable experience, and an experience I hope I can repeat in a Barça shirt.”

 
FC Barcelona and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Gerard Piqué from the English club to the Catalan club.
The player has signed a contract that will tie him to FC Barcelona until June 30th, 2012 and the ‘buy-out clause’ will be set at 50 million euros.

The player signed the contract at midday today and from 13.15 he was available for media photographs outside the main door of the FC Barcelona offices.

 
Seydou Keita will become the first player from Mali to wear the FC Barcelona shirt. Up until now foreign stars from 40 nationalities have played for the first team.
The signing of Seydou Keita increases the number of nationalities to have passed through Barça’s first team to 41, as the player is the first Malian to sign for the Catalan club. The midfielder will also be the ninth African in the club’s history, following on behind Touré Yaya, the last one to arrive.

Keita is one of the key players in the Mali team as was seen at the most recent African Cup of Nations tournament, although he gave his best performance in an international championship at the under-20s World Cup in 1999 when he was chosen as best player.

England is biggest exporter

England has provided Barça with more players than any other country. 50 English footballers have turned out for the first team and some of them such as Walter Wild and the Witty brothers played key roles in the birth of the club. 49 Englishmen played in the club’s first 26 years (1899-1925). Since then the list has only be added to by Gary Lineker (1986-1989).

Other European countries to have provided large numbers of players are Holland (18 players), France (14) and Germany (14).

The importance of South America

After England the countries that have contributed most players to Barça are in South America. 27 Brazilians and 21 Argentines have played for the club including such legendary figures as Romário and Ronaldinho and Maradona and Messi.

Next comes Uruguay with 13 players, most from the 1950s and 1960s.

 
Seydou Keita arrived this morning at Barcelona’s El Prat airport and made his first comments about his signing for FC Barcelona to Barça TV and .
“I’m very happy because Barça is a big club,” said the Mali international. “My decision is very important because I had offers from lots of clubs, but I’ve liked Barça for a long time.”

Works a lot and says little

One of Keita’s characteristics off the pitch is, according to the player himself, that he doesn’t speak much. “I don’t like talking because I don’t think you should talk too much when you’re not on the pitch,” he explained. “I only want to say that I hope to bring a lot to Barça, as I’ve done at Seville. But I don’t want to say that much because you don’t need to talk a lot in football.”

 
Seydou Keita is Barça’s first signing for the 2008-09 season. The Mali player will reinforce the side’s midfield.
Keita has been signed from Sevilla FC and combines physical strength with technical quality and tactical awareness. He is the first of the reinforcements for Barça’s first team for next season.

8 years in France

Barça’s new player first made his name in European football in the French League. At the start of the 1999-2000 season he signed for Olympique de Marseille where he spent a not very successful year. He then had two years at Lorient where he won the French Cup before moving on to Lens for 5 campaigns between 2002-03 and 2006-07. His last season there was his best as he scored 11 goals in 37 games and was seen as the second best player in the French first division after Florent Malouda.

A year in Seville

Keita already knows a lot about Spanish football as, having been signed from Lens, he played in 31 out of Seville’s 38 League matches last season. He was in the starting XI on 29 occasions and scored 4 goals, demonstrating the quality of his long-range shooting.

With Mali

The new FC Barcelona player has been in Mali’s national team since 2003. He played with “The Eagles” in the African Cup of Nations last January and February when, in spite of being one of the favourites, the side went out in the first round.

 
Seydou Keita has signed his contract with FC Barcelona and is the club’s first signing for the 2008-09 season.
This lunchtime Seydou Keita signed the contract which ties him to FC Barcelona for the next four seasons until 30 June 2012. The player’s buy-out clause is €90 million.

Seville FC, where the player comes from, has announced on its website that Seydou Keita has faxed a letter to the Seville chairman saying that he is exercising his right to cancel his employment contract with the club in advance in accordance with article 13 of Royal Decree 1006/1985.

 
Warm-up time has begun for the eight Barça internationals that will be playing in Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland in June.
There are only two weeks to go before Switzerland and the Czech Republic play the first game in the festival of European international football at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basle. There will be eight Barça players taking part for four teams as they battle for the title held by Greece since the last championships in 2004. The final will be on Sunday 29 June in Vienna.

Spain, the last team to get together

Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta have been called up for this Monday at the Las Rozas Football Complex. Luis Aragonés’s side is to play two friendlies before kicking off its campaign against Russia on 10 June at Innsbruck. On Saturday 31 May the Spaniards will play Peru and on 4 June the United States.

France, three friendlies

France are to play the most friendlies before Euro 2008. Raymond Domenech’s team will take on Ecuador this Tuesday, followed by Paraguay on Saturday and Colombia on Tuesday 3 June at Saint Denis. Henry, Thuram and Éric Abidal are the backbone of Les Bleus.

Italy at Coverciano

Since this Sunday the Italian squad has been working in the Technical Sector at Coverciano. Roberto Donadoni once again can call on Gianluca Zambrotta in defence. Italy will play only a single friendly (this Friday against Belgium in Florence) before they kick off their campaign against Holland on 9 June in Berne.

Portugal, one warm-up match

Finally, Deco has been training with his Portuguese team-mates for a few days now at Viseu 300 kilometres north of Lisbon. The midfielder has recovered from his thigh strain and can play in the side’s only warm-up fixture against Georgia on Saturday.

 
On 1 August FC Barcelona will find out its rivals in the third round of the qualifying stage for the Champions League. Barça has played at this stage of the competition twice before and got through on both occasions.
After taking third place in the League Barça will play in the third round of the qualifying stages of the 2008/09 Champions League. On two previous occasions Barça has played in this part of the competition, against Skonto from Riga and Wisla from Krakow, reaching the group phase both times.

Seeded

FC Barcelona will be seeded in the third round. That means they will avoid the most dangerous teams with the best European records in the draw after the first two qualifying rounds. That means Barça won’t be matched with sides like Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Fiorentina and Schalke, or Spain’s Atlético de Madrid. Other seeded sides are Anderlecht, Celtic, Panathinaikos, Olympiakos and Fenerbahce. The last two, however, first have to get through the second round. The Turkish champions, Galatasaray, will also be seeded.

Teams with tradition

Some of FC Barcelona’s possible rivals are clubs with a long tradition such as Austria and Rapid Vienna from Austria and the Belgian outfits Standard Liege and Anderlecht. Other teams who will be looking to make to the last stage are CSKA Sofia and Dynamo Zagreb from Croatia.

The danger teams

Holland’s Twente -which has knocked out Ajax Amsterdam- Partisan Belgrade and the Swedish sides Kalmar and Elsfborg could be the most dangerous rivals. Other sides which on paper look an easier proposition are Artmedia from Bratislava, Portuguese side Vitoria and Girondins from Bordeaux, a side managed by ex-Barça star Laurent Blanc.

Sixteen places for 58 clubs

28 clubs begin the first series of Champions League games in the second half of July. 14 more will be added in the first half of August, with 16 more coming on board in the second half of the month, including FC Barcelona, to play the third and final round of matches. In total, 58 clubs will be vying for 16 places in the group stages to begin in mid-September.

 
Andrés Iniesta and Bojan Krkic are in the ideal team and the best debutants’ XI for the 2007/08 season in the First Division.
This Friday the UEFA website posted the ideal line-up and best debutants from the Spanish First Division. Andrés Iniesta and Bojan Krkic are in these two teams.

All-rounder Iniesta

The Barça midfielder played in 28 of his side’s 38 League fixtures, making him the third most-used player in Rijkaard’s squad. He played in all midfield and attacking positions scoring 3 goals, giving 3 assists and being one of the players to receive most fouls at 97.

Iniesta is in the ideal XI alongside Casillas (Madrid), in goal; Sergio Ramos (Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Deportivo), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo) and Cata Díaz (Getafe), in defence; Guti (Madrid), Iniesta and Jorge López (Racing), in midfield; and up front leading goalscorer Dani Güiza (Mallorca), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) and Atlético de Madrid’s Argentinean striker Sergio Agüero.

Bojan is best debutant

Barça’s young talent is one of the best debutant strikers in the League. Aged just 17, Bojan has played 31 games in his first season, 14 in the starting line-up, and found the net 10 times, which is a better record than Raúl González’s in his first season with Real Madrid.

UEFA’s best debutants’ XI features Diego López (Vila-real’s keeper), Pepe (Madrid), Martín Cáceres (Recreativo), Bruno Saltor (Almeria) and Filipe Luis from Deportivo as defenders; Getafe players De la Red and Granero in midfield; Seville’s Diego Capel and Valladolid’s Sisi playing wide; and Bojan paired upfront with Almeria striker Álvaro Negredo.

 
Argentina has beaten Catalonia by 0-1 in the Camp Nou. Victor Valdés played the first 45 minutes while his Barça team-mate Leo Messi was on the pitch for 71 minutes and was one of the South Americans’ leading figurers in attack.
It just after he had left the pitch that Argentina scored the winner through Lavezzi. The game was very entertaining and both sides had lots of chances, though Argentina did dominate towards the end of each half. The friendly, played at the Camp Nou, has been a festival of football, especially for the 43,280 who came along to Barça’s ground this Saturday evening.

Argentina takes control

Both teams came out looking for a win. However, Argentina looked more dangerous with a series of swift counterattacks against a Catalan defence that was playing quite a long way up the field, and Agüero had chances to open the scoring in the 6th and 20th minutes. Nonetheless Catalonia was also creating scoring opportunities, especially through the indefatigable Luis Garcia.

The Argentineans were most clearly on top towards the end of the first half. Barça player Messi, playing on the right flank of the Argentine attack, gave David Garcia a torrid time and he also had a great chance playing in the centre forward slot which was well saved by Valdés in the 42nd minute. Team-mates but opponents this evening, today’s individual battle was won by the goalkeeper who was substituted at half-time with a clean sheet to his name.

Lavezzi makes it 0-1

Catalonia came out stronger after the break and Serrano had two good chances to give his side the lead. Argentina, by contrast, waited a bit before stepping on the gas and it was not until the 65th minute that they once again took control of the game with Messi still superb out on the right. However, ironically the Barça player had already left the field when Argentina made the scoreline 0-1 with Lavezzi slotting home in the 73rd minute.

Just two minutes later a fine piece of individual skill by Agüero almost made it 0-2. The last few minutes of the game, like much of the second half, saw a large number of substitutions for both teams.

 
FC Barcelona first team trained on Friday for the last time of the 2007/08 season.
Only four players (Ezquerro, Pinto, Bojan and Oleguer) were there, as Valdés is training with the Catalan national team, and Gudjohnsen has been given permission to attend to other duties. Márquez (with an injury to his Achilles heel) and Edmílson (knee) were also away doing recovery work and did not set foot on the pitch.

Five reserves

Like on Thursday, five reserve team players were added to the mix to make up the numbers, namely Rueda, Fali, Urbano, Álex Ruiz and De la Puente. They were also joined by some of the B team coaching staff for the final session of the year.

Game to end

After the usual exercises, Rijkaard arranged a seven-a-side match. Wearing orange were Bojan (in goal), Oleguer, Rueda, Pinto and Álex Ruiz and two coaches, including Unzué) The side without bibs was made up of Fali, Urbano, Ezquerro, De la Puente, plus Eusebio and Rijkaard and the utility man.

Albert Jorquera, stayed apart to continue his own specific recovery programme, doing circuits based on strength and resistance.

 
Edmílson is leaving FC Barcelona after four seasons during which time he has helped the club win major trophies, but also suffered from injuries to his knee that sidelined him for long spells.
"It is like a dream. My aim now is to play in as many games as possible to win the Champions League," he said when joining the Blaugrana on July 30, 2004. The Brazilian midfielder arrived in Catalunya after winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles with Olympique Lyonnais and Barça's sixth new signing that summer. The was already out in the Far East and Edmílson flew out to join them on August 2 in Seoul.

Debut date

His official debut came on Sepember 19 of that year when he made his first appearance in the draw with Atlético de Madrid in Vicente Calderón, a game in which he played the full 90 minutes. Barcelona went ahead through Gio van Bronckhorst, with a shot from outside the area, before Fernando Torres levelled matter after the break.

Vital Statistics

During the four seasons Edmílson spent at Camp Nou, he played 71 league matches, 12 Champions League game, ten more in the Copa del Rey and two in the Spanish Super Cup. The former São Paulo starlet was named in the starting line-up for the Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris and was substituted for Andrés Iniesta before the Blaugrana had scored.

Last term

The 2007-08 campaign began in Son Moix and Edmílson was able to play for 20 minutes after undergoing a medical exam on his troublesome right knee. In all, he played 11 league games, three in the Copa del Rey and one in the Champions League, against Celtic, throughout the season.

Injury problems

On October 3, 2004, in the sixth week of the new season, Edmílson badly injured his right knee. In the 64th minute of game against Numancia he rose to head a ball and fell badly. The break to his internal meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament meant that he was sidelined until May 22, 2005, when he returned to action against Villarreal, after Barça had already won the title. Last season, he again suffered problems with the same knee and ended up having surgery on June 21 2007.

 
Edmílson said an emotional goodbye to FC Barcelona after leaving the club and gave a positive account of his four years at Camp Nou since he joined from Olympique Lyonnais in 2004.
With his contract due to expire on June 30, the Brazilian midfielder wanted to say farewell at a press conference on Friday afternoon. "I am sad to be leaving the club, but I go away happy for the four years I have had here," he stated. With tears in his eyes, Edmílson referred to his 'black sheep' speech, adding: "I hope that whenever I return that I will be remembered as the person I am and not for some of the statements that I made. I want to be able to come back wit my head held high and be recognised for the four years I spent here."

Looking back

"During my time here I have always tried to do my best to make the fans happy," he continued, before explaining that the 2005-06 season was his most cherished. "I played well, above all in defence, and then after the injuries affected me."

Tough times

The last two seasons have seen Barça not win a trophy and Edmílson admitted it was tough.. "It is the hardest experience during my eight years in Europe," he stated. "Things did not go well and we were all angry. The players thought that by having the best squad that we could win everything and when it came down to it, the other teams were better prepared than us."

The future

Looking ahead to next season, Edmílson said he understood that there would be changes. "When a team does not win, it is normal that there are changes made," he said. "The club has to renew the mentality. I hope that things can be fixed and that there is unity because that way everyone wins." On his future, Edmilson added: "I have it almost sorted out," he explained. "I think that on Monday everyone will know where I am going. Things are going well, but I am not someone who is going to say anything at the moment."

 
Manchester United’s Gerard Piqué has commented that his negotiations to join the FC Barcelona first team are “at an advanced stage”.
Gerard Piqué, one of the players named in the Catalonia squad for Saturday’s game with Argentina at the Camp Nou, has confirmed after training with Pere Gratacós’ team at the Miniestadi that, as was already hinted at by Txiki Begiristain, “The negotiations with Barça are at an advanced stage”.

Player keeping quiet

Prudent as ever, Piqué stressed that “nothing is official yet. From here on, we have to wait and see what happens.” The 21 year old also explained that “right now the decision is in other people’s hands ... while nothing is official I am not imagining myself wearing any other shirt, because anything could happen yet”.

Champion of Europe

Piqué could not train with the squad because of problems with his flight to Barcelona, but would rather “focus on Saturday’s game” and once its over “get some rest, because these have been tough days”, in reference to Manchester United’s important games in both the Premiership and the Champions League, both of which his club won.

Always keen to return

Gerard Piqué left FC Barcelona in 2004 at the age of 17, leaving the junior side to try his luck in England. But he has said “the doors have always been open” to a return to Barcelona. “I like the idea of being able to come back to play for Barça” he added.

 
Eleven players took part in Thursday morning’s training session, including five players–Fali, Rueda, Urbano, Álex Ruiz and De la Puente – from the B team.
Senior squad players Valdés, Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Bojan, Oleguer and Ezquerro plus the B team youngsters were put through their paces by Eusebio and Juan Carlos Unzué. Lionel Messi has already joined up with Argentina squad ahead of Saturday’s friendly in the Camp Nou against Catalonia.

Meanwhile, Edmílson is feeling unwell and returned home after speaking to Club doctors. Márquez is suffering from tendonitis and exercised in the gym while Iniesta and Puyol, who will shortly join up with the Spain squad to prepare for EURO 2008, were at the Camp Nou but did not take part in the training session. Finally, Samuel Eto'o has already flown off to Cameroon on international duty.

Exercises and training match

After the usual warm-up exercises, the group worked on a tactical exercise involving breaking from midfield, passing wide, crossing and finishing off with a shot or header. The players switched positions to practice all aspects of the move.

The group then divided into two teams for a training match: Pinto, Eusebio, Albert Roca, Fali, Gudjohnsen, Bojan and De la Puente (blue bibs) and Álex Ruiz, Urbano, Oleguer, Valdés, Unzué and Ezquerro (orange bibs).

 
Samuel Eto'o has joined up with the Cameroon squad ahead of their two vital World Cup qualifying games.
The Barça striker will play against the Cape Verde islands on 31st May in the Cameroon capital Yaundé. The second game is on 8th June away to Mauritius in Curepipe.

Start of World Cup campaign

These two games will mark Cameroon’s start on the road to the South Africa World Cup. Cameroon have been drawn in Group 1 of the preliminary phase together with Cape Verde, Mauritius and Tanzania, and look to be firm favourites to qualify.

 
Barça have ended a season in which they played the maximum number of possible fixtures with the sole exceptions of the Spanish Cup and Champions League finals. In the 5 biggest leagues in Europe, only Getafe and Chelsea have played more than Barça.
In a more compact season than usual due to the European Championship in June, FC Barcelona have played 58 of the possible 60 official matches.

Barça and Getafe top list in Spain

In Spain, only Getafe have played more official games than Barça. The side from Madrid played 61 games: 38 in the League, 9 in the Copa del Rey (where they reached the final) and 13 in their run to the UEFA Cup quarter finals.

FC Barcelona faced 58 games: 38 in the League, 8 in the Copa del Rey and 12 in the Champions League, where they went as far as the final four. The only potential games Barça missed out on were the finals of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

After Barça and Getafe, there is some difference before we come to the next Spanish team Real Madrid, who played 50 matches, Sevilla on 48 and Villarreal on 46, the same as Atlético Madrid.

Only Chelsea played more

In the other four main leagues of Europe, (England, Germany, France and Italy) the only team that played more games than Barcelona was Chelsea, with 61.

As well as the Premier League and making it to the final of the Champions League, Chelsea also reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup and the final of the League Cup. No English side comes close to that total (Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all played 56 games) as they all went out of the FA Cup and League Cup at much earlier stages.

The busiest side in Italy was Fiorentina, with 57 encounters, having reached the semis of the UEFA Cup and the quarters of the Coppa. Roma came next, with 55 games, while Inter played 53.

Bayern Munich won more titles than any other side in the major leagues, the Bundesliga, and both the German cups, but there are only 18 teams in the Bundesliga and the cups are shorter affairs, so in total they ‘only’ had to play 57 games. They are followed by Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 on 50, and Bayer Leverkusen on 47.

And in France, Olympique Lyon played 54 games after making the last eight of the League Cup and being cup finalists.

 
The majority of the first-team squad were absent from training on Wednesday with players away preparing for Euro 2008 and other being sidelined with knocks that they have suffered.
While official games have finished, Barça continue to train as they prepare for their end of season friendly encounter in Saudi Arabia against Al Ittihad next Monday (19:45, Barça TV and Barça TV Online).

Absentees

Apart from the eight players who are away preparing for the European Championships - Deco, Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Gianluca Zambrotta, Éric Abidal, Lilian Thuram and Thierry Henry - the session saw Samuel Eto'o, Edmílson and Rafa Márquez also absent. The Cameroonian striker has a blow on his left foot, while Edmílson is suffering from tendonitis in his knees and Márquez is still feeling pain in his Achilles.

Added to that list of players missing, Sylvinho, Touré Yaya, Gaby Milito, Ronaldinho and Albert Jorquera are also all out injured.

Seven up

On the pitch in front of La Masia the players, watched by Eusebio and Juan Carlos Unzué, included Víctor Valdés, José Manuel Pinto, Santi Ezquerro, Lionel Messi, Oleguer Presas, Bojan Krkic and Eidur Gudjohnsen. The seven players began by warming up and playing the usual ball games.

The two goalkeepers then moved away to work with Unzué while the rest of the players went through a circuit that concluded with a shot at goal. A small-sided practice game was then set up before the players headed back to the dressing rooms.

 
Sylvinho has admitted that he is very keen to stay at FC Barcelona and believes that he is currently in good form. "I am pleased the work that I have done one a personal level," he said.
"In an interview on Barça TV, the Brazilian full-back talked about the possibility of him renewing his contract at Camp Nou and explained that it is his main aim. "I really want to stay here," he continued. "The truth is that I am very comfortable in the city, I feel I identify with the club and also all my family are here now."

"A personal reward"

Reflecting on the praise that Txiki Begiristain heaped on him last Monday, Sylvinho admitted he was happy. The Blaugrana technical secretary stated that the player had "a very good season on the pitch and in the dressing room and therefore the club would strive to reach an agreement over a new deal". Sylvinho believes that it "is reward for all the hard work I have put in this season".

Veteran star

If he does renew his contract then Sylvinho would become one of the elder statesmen of the squad during his fifth season at the club. "If I stay, Barça will have been the club where I have spent the most time," he continued. "That would be an important thing for me."

Guardiola’s role

Asked about the choice of Pep Guardiola to succeed Frank Rijkaard as first team coach at Camp Nou, Sylvinho said. "It is great that pep is coming. Everyone wants him to and he has done a great job with Barça B. On occasion we have trained with some of the B team players and I know the work that Pep has done with them and how good it is. I wish him all the luck and hope that everything works out for him."

Injury update

Sylvinho is currently coming back from an injury to his right knee and explained where he currently stands. "Things are going well enough. I have been doing recuperation work for two weeks and I have two more to go," he stated. "I expect to be at my best in time for next season."

 
Manchester United have won the Champions League for the third time in the club’s history. They beat Chelsea in the penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.
Both goals came in the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo put United in front in the 26th minute but Frank Lampard equalised for Chelsea on the stroke of halftime.

Plenty of chances

Both teams had their chances to win the match, with Manchester Utd going close on at least two occasions in the first half only to be thwarted by some fine saves from Cech. However, Chelsea had the better of the second half and twice hit the woodwork.

Rain and tiredness

The match was played at the frenetic pace typical of the Premier League and this, added to the persistent rain, led to a rash of physical problem, especially in extra time. Nerves got the better of Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, who was red-carded for raising his hand to central defender Vidic some five minutes before the end of extra time.

Penalty shootout

With the two teams deadlocked after 120 minutes of exciting football, the match went to a penalty shootout. Cristiano Ronaldo missed his penalty giving Chelsea skipper John Terry the chance to clinch the result with the last penalty of the first round of five. The unfortunate Terry slipped as he took his spot kick and sent the ball wide of the post. Chelsea’s French striker, Nicolas Anelka, also missed his penalty to hand the trophy to Manchester United. Chelsea’s second penalty was converted by former Barça defender Juliano Belletti.

 
Pere Gratacós has announced the team to face Argentina in Saturday’s friendly at the Camp Nou, and the only Barça player in the squad is Víctor Valdés.
Catalan head coach Pere Gratacós has announced a list of 18 players for the Catalonia v Argentina match this weekend. Euro 2008 has limited the number of players available to him, while he has also left his squad open pending news on the shoulder injury sustained by Racing’s Albert Crusat, who may be a late inclusion.

Victor Valdés only Barça player

The only FC Barcelona player in the squad is the goalkeeper, given that neither Bojan Krkic nor Oleguer Preses have been picked. Pere Gratacós said these two players were left out because “in Bojan’s case, I spoke with him and told him my reason for not naming him was mainly because after an agreement I made with Luis Aragonés, I don’t want to set off any arguments or problems for the player. It was a decision I made myself, and I assume the risks of not playing Bojan Krkic in this match”.

Absence of Oleguer Preses

But the Catalan defender was another shock name missing from Pere Gratacós’ selection. He justified the decision by saying “despite the emotional level that playing a game like this means for him” he decided not to include him because “I want players that are in the right playing rhythm and in a situation in which they can make a major effort, and Oleguer has not played since December”.

Important and interesting match

This is the 200th game played by the Catalan national side, and they will be up against an Argentina team that includes Leo Messi. Pere Gratacós described the game as “important and very interesting as the Argentina team are a high quality side and includes about 10 players that would be in their full international squad”.

The players included in the Catalan squad are as follows:

Victor Valdés (FC Barcelona)
José Miguel Morales (Terrassa FC)
Ferran Corominas (RCD Español)
Angel Martínez (RCD Español)
David García (RCD Español)
Francisco J. Chica (RCD Español)
Jonathan Soriano (RCD Español)
Sergio González (Deportivo)
Joan Verdú (Deportivo)
Albert Lopo (Deportivo)
David Belenguer (Getafe)
Bruno Saltor (Almería)
Carlos García (Almería)
Santi Triguero (CF Vilanova Geltrú)
Gerard Piqué (Manchester United)
Oscar Serrano (Ràcing de Santander)
Luis García (Atlético Madrid)
Gerard López (Recreativo)

 
For the second year running, the FC Barcelona first team will travel to Saint Andrews (Scotland), flying out on July 21 and returning on the 26th.
In the week building up to the trip to Sant Andrews, the team will start work in Barcelona, combining training sessions with physical tests and medical revisions for whatever players are available.

On July 21, the team will fly north to Saint Andrews (Scotland), the same place they stayed last summer. They will stay there until July 26.

Two friendlies

While they are in Scotland, FC Barcelona will play two friendlies with local clubs. On July 24 at 19.45 (20.45 CET), they will play against Primer League outfit Hibernian at the cathedral of Scottish rugby union, Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

On Saturday 26, Barça will meet familiar opposition in Dundee United, who they also played last year, winning 1-0. The venue will be United’s Tannadice Park at 16.00 (17.00 CET).

Back to Barcelona after second game

Once the second match is over, the squad will be heading straight back to Barcelona. The remaining pre-season matches will be confirmed shortly.

 
Six new players joined the Barça first team last summer (Henry, Abidal, Touré Yaya, Milito, Bojan and Giovani) and in the 58 official games played, they featured in an average of 74% of the encounters.
Despite injuries and other physical woes (in Touré’s case) and the African Nations Cup, the new players have played a prominent role in the team this season. Eric Abidal played the most minutes, Henry scored the most goals and Bojan made the most appearances.

Established defence

Both Milito and Abidal won regular places in the Barcelona defence. The Argentinian, who scored one league goal, appeared in 73% of the official games the side played, while the Frenchman appeared in 78%. Milito, of course, missed the run-in to the end of the season after injuring a knee at Old Trafford.

Leading the midfield

Touré Yaya, played in 67% of the games, a figure that was limited by the time he was away in Africa and also because of his back problems. Touré scored twice, once in the league and once in Europe.

Top scorer

Thierry Henry topped the club’s goalscoring with 19 goals in three competitions. He was top in the Cup, with four goals, and second in the league, with 12 goals, four fewer than Samuel Eto'o.

The ex Arsenal star played 47 games, 79% of the total, and like Touré, his total appearances were limited by physical troubles, which in Henry’s case affected the middle of the season.

Promoted to the first team

Apart from the new signings, the year also saw two players that came up from the reserves playing a prominent role. It was not since the 95/96 season that there has been such a high presence of products of the Barça youth system playing first team football.

Good stats for Bojan and Giovani

Bojan appeared in 31 league games, and Giovani in 27. Taking all three major competitions into account, the Catalan played 48 games, 81%, and Giovani’s 37 appearances corresponded to a participation rate of 66%. Both newcomers were advantaged in terms of first team opportunities by the physical problems suffered by some of the more established forwards (Eto'o, Messi, Ronaldinho and Henry) as they lived up to and even exceeded expectations at the start of the campaign.

Bojan scored 12 goals, like Henri in all three competitions, and also became the youngest player ever to score for Barça in the league and the second youngest goalscorer in Champions League history.

 
The pre-selection for the Italian squad for Euro 2008 was announced on Tuesday and Gianluca Zambrotta is one of the names on the list, the eighth Barça player to get a call up for the competition that starts on June 7.
Italian manager Roberto Donadoni has named 24 players, but one of these will be displaced when he announces the definitive list to UEFA on May 28. Zambrotta is in the squad for now, but there is still a small chance that he may eventually miss out on the trip to Austria and Switzerland.

Same for Thuram, Abidal and Henry

He is in the same boat as the three French players named by Raymond Domenech, Thuram, Abidal and Henry. All three form part of an initial list of 30 men, but only 23 will be allowed in the final squad, so their presence is not yet fully confirmed.

Portugal and Spain make it count

But the Spanish and Portuguese squads are the final ones, so Deco, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta will definitely be competing for the Henri Delaunay trophy.

 
With the League Championship over, Samuel Eto'o is Barça’s top goalscorer, Valdés the one who has played most and Deco the one who has received the most cards.
The 3-5 win at Murcia was Barça’s 38th and last League game in the 2007/08 season with the victory confirming the Catalans’ third spot. Samuel Eto'o notched the first goal to strengthen his position as Barça’s top goalscorer. That is just one of the stats from a championship which is now over.

Eto'o, top goalscorer

Barça scored the second highest number of goals of any team in the League with a total of 76. The side’s leading goalscorer is Samuel Eto'o, with 16, followed by Thierry Henry with 12 and Messi and Bojan who both found the net on 10 occasions. Turning to assists, where counting is a lot more subjective, Messi and Henry also had a leading role. Depending on the source, the Argentinean created between 13 and 10 goals, while the Frenchman provided between 9 and 7 assists.

The side’s goals against column has got a lot worse over the last three games and has ended up with a total of 43. Nevertheless Víctor Valdés stands second in the list of goalkeepers who’ve conceded fewest (35 goals in 35 games). Barça has shot at goal 566 times and its opponents have made 420 attempts.

Many more penalties against than in favour

Even though Barça tends to be significantly better than its opponents in possession and reaching the box, it has only been awarded 7 penalties while 11 have been given against it. Deco has been shown the most number of cards, getting 10 of the 85 yellows awarded to the team. He is followed by Puyol with 8 while third spot is shared by Touré Yaya, Zambrotta, Márquez and Milito on 7 each. Only Deportivo has been shown fewer yellow cards.

Valdés plays most

According to LFP figures, Víctor Valdés has spent most time on the pitch (3150) followed by Xavi (2909 min) and Iniesta (2614 min). 28 players have been used with Valdés and Xavi having the most appearances at 35 each. Five Barça B players have made their debuts this season: Pedrito, Víctor Sánchez, Víctor Vázquez, Fali and Rueda.

 
Marc Ingla denied that there had been any "negligence or self-satisfaction” in the way the football first team has been handled over the season. He defended the record and set out the reasons behind its disappointing results.
The club’s vice-chairman for sport appeared at a press conference with director of football Txiki Begiristain to review the 2007-08 season. Marc Ingla stressed the fact that "there has been no negligence or self-satisfaction” on the part of either him or Begiristain.

In this respect the decisions open to the Board to correct the team’s course in mid-season were to sign players in the January transfer window “right when the team was playing best” or to change the coach which was not taken as “Frank always gave us a better guarantee for short-term results."

"Frank wasn’t able to handle it"

“We’ve been on top of the first team every day and every week, working with the coaches and discussing how to make progress. In the specific case of the players, we spoke with them and with their agents. We also spoke with the coaching staff and obviously with the manager. Frank wasn’t able to handle it. We believed that he could,” said Marc Ingla.

Last summer the Board had renewed its confidence in the players and coaches who had achieved so much for Barça. “Without wishing to personalise it, the players who we’ve given a second chance to haven’t responded to that trust we put in them last summer and haven’t done what they should have,” said the club’s vice-chairman for sport. “Both of these things are very disappointing.”

Physical training

One of the aspects which has been monitored most closely is the physical training of the squad. Here Marc Ingla highlighted some things which have been done to improve it: “At certain times of year we’ve had double training sessions while on other occasions we’ve put more stress on resting, for example by coming back the day after a game. And we’ve put greater emphasis on personal daily training plans.”

Medical Services and injuries

The club’s vice-chairman for sport pointed out that this season due to Euro 2008 the team has played the same number of games as in the previous campaign, but in a month less. “In total we’ve had 42 injuries, 20 on muscles and the other 22 traumatic. We are still below the average on UEFA’s injury rate ranking.”

“We are all responsible”

Marc Ingla said that the entire club bore part of the blame for an unsatisfactory season: “We are all responsible. The players, because they didn’t get the results; the coaches because on certain occasions they haven’t been able to manage the games; and the technical staff and the board because we haven’t been able to change things round at certain times.”

Marc Ingla pointed out that “last summer we took decisions that led to great expectations which in the end were not met”, and publicly apologised to members and fans alike for this. According to the club’s vice-chairman for sport, two seasons “in which titles have slipped through our fingers” mean that the first team has always been on a razor’s edge between success and failure. In Ingla’s view all this has contributed to the fact that everyone to do with the club has become more anxious.

The road to different competitions

After highlighting the first team’s performance in both the Spanish Cup and in the Champions League, Marc Ingla said that the side’s weaknesses were most apparent in the League. “In some games there’s been a lack of confidence and character, a lack of leadership to turn matches around. We haven’t been helped by injuries either or by things like the African Cup of Nations,” he said.

The team’s form

As for the team’s form, the vice-chairman for sport said that “we just haven’t been consistent enough”. Ingla thinks that the side experienced major ups and downs over the course of the season, especially after the defeat away at Atlético de Madrid. “We have seen some passages of good play in important games and some very intense periods when we didn’t concede but also others when we couldn’t score, when we’ve been very vulnerable and when we’ve lacked mental strength.”

 
The vice-chairman for sports, Marc Ingla, and the director of football Txiki Begiristain, say that there will be “major changes” in the team for next season and that this “will generate a lot of hope and expectation”.
Now that the first team’s official competitions are over, it is time to take stock of the season and start planning for the new first team squad. Marc Ingla, vice-chairman for sports at FC Barcelona, and Txiki Begiristain, director of football, have been given the job and today appeared before the media to announce “major changes, which have begun with the coach”.

Great project

Both Marc Ingla and Txiki Begiristain are convinced that next season there will be a squad “which will generate a lot of hope and expectation”. As director of football, Txiki said that “we’ve looked at last season and this forces us to suggest changes. My job is to come up with an attractive proposal which the Board likes.”

Nevertheless, Marc Ingla asked for patience with new signings and players leaving the club over the next few weeks. “There will be a lot of pressure but we don’t want to rush into things,” he said. “But I’m convinced it’s going to be a really great project.”

The choice of Guardiola

On 8 May it was announced that Pep Guardiola would replace Frank Rijkaard as manager. “This decision was taken by people who are on top of things, was backed by the Board and then implemented at just the right time,” argued Marc Ingla. “Pep Guardiola will handle discipline in his own way and maybe will be a little more on top of the little things. The results will come as a consequence of good tactical work.”

Txiki Begiristain added that nothing was being imposed on Pep Guardiola: “He’ll be in charge of the dressing room. There has to be a feeling that he’s making the dressing room his, and in this respect we do want some changes.” Txiki then highlighted Guardiola’s virtues including "his methods, character and the way he deals with players” and called him a “football addict” in reference to his capacity for work and constant analysis.

On the way out

The director of football said that not all the players in the first team were up for sale. “We will accept offers for some players we would like to change,” he said, “but if there are players who are key for next season, then we won’t look at any type of offer.”

Txiki Begiristain was not prepared to name names as to which players will be leaving since “they are important players and we want them to leave in the best way possible. Plus we also have to go to the market to buy and sell well”. Marc Ingla guaranteed that the club “is on a sound financial footing to tackle this renewal.”

Negotiations for Piqué

Txiki Begiristain said that negotiations to sign Gerard Piqué, the Manchester United defender, “are well-advanced but for the moment we’ve left it for later on”. Piqué will of course be playing for Manchester United in this Wednesday’s Champions League final.

Turning to the players whose contracts run out this season, Txiki said that the club hoped to keep Sylvinho “as he’s had a really good season”. As he pointed out, that would “clear up” the left-back position.

 
The Mexican forward has had a successful operation on his left ankle. He is expected to take about four weeks to get over it.
Doctor Antoni Dalmau, the surgeon who operated on Giovani Dos Santos, and first team doctor Ricard Pruna held a press conference this Monday afternoon to talk about the operation and how it went.

Description of the operation

“Giovani dos Santos had a floating bone caused by the lack of consolidation of an ossification nucleus in the ankle bone. This defect in bone formation occurs behind the ankle bone during the growth phase,” said Doctor Dalmau. “It is a fairly common defect but doesn’t bother everyone, with discomfort being most frequent in sports players such as Giovani. We’ve taken out this floating bone and cleaned up the area to prevent the pinching which leads to the discomfort, and everything went very well.”

Four weeks on the sidelines

Doctor Pruna said it would be about four weeks before Giovani could go back to training with the rest of the players. “During the first two weeks the player will follow post-op procedure to check there have been no mishaps and starting in week three he’ll begin simple recovery work. At the end of the four weeks he will be able to play as usual.”

Background

“We kept an eye on this injury because the player told us in pre-season that his left ankle had been giving him some pain since he was a child, but he could still play,” said Ricard Pruna. Due to the discomfort the player has been given local anti-inflammatory infiltrations throughout the season which have enabled him to play the entire season with no impact on his performance. The doctors said that “today’s operation is not connected” with the injury Dos Santos picked up in the Cup match against Alcoyano.

 
The game between Murcia and FC Barcelona left some records for the football history books. Eto’o got Barça’s 100th goal this season, and Giovani scored the 60,000th goal in the history of the Spanish football league.
It seemed like yesterday’s game would be uneventful, but the match between Murcia and FC Barcelona left some records for stats lovers.

The 3-5 result is the second highest scoring game in the league this year, only beaten by Atlético Madrid 6 - Almería 3. The total of eight goals had only been scored in one other game: Mallorca 7 - Recreativo 1.The only other team to score five goals away has been Real Madrid at at Valencia (1-5).

It was also Rijkaard’s first game with eight goals as Barça coach. The last time this happened was when Llorenç Serra Ferrer was coaching the 2000-01 season, when Barça drew at home with Zaragoza 4-4. The season before, Barça had also drawn 4-4 away at Villareal.

Giovani man-of-the-match

Yesterday’s game in la Nueva Condomina was also special for Mexican Giovani dos Santos. He not only got his first league goal (he had scored one in the Champions League against Stuttgart), but he rounded off the season with a hat-trick. He also goes down in history for scoring the 60,000th goal of the Spanish football league. Giovani’s hat-trick against Murcia was Barça third of the season. Henry got the first away at Levante, and Eto’o got the second, this time also against Levante in Nou Camp. It was Eto’o’s goal yesterday which became Barça 100th this season in official competitions.

Debuts by Fali and Rueda

Barça B players Fali and Rueda also made their debuts. Rafael Romero (“Fali”) substituted Thuram in the 70th minute, and rose to the difficult challenge of marking Dani Aquino. He also got a yellow card for the only foul he committed against Ivan Alonso.

José Manuel Rueda came on for Gudjohnsen, and demonstrated his midfield skill making 16 accurate passes out of 17, and taking one shot at goal. He blocked two Murcia attacks and formed a good partnership with Xavi.

 
Three FC Barcelona players appear in the provisional French squad of 30 for this summer’s European Championship to be held in Austria and Switzerland. The final squad will be named on May 28th.
As expected, Thierry Henry, Éric Abidal and Lilian Thuram are the three FC Barcelona players that appear in the provisional French squad of 30 for this summer’s European Championship to be held in Austria and Switzerland. Coach Raymond Doménech has drawn up a provisional list of 30. The players will meet at Tignes from the 24th May onwards, and the final squad will be named on 28th.

 
FC Barcelona will make their first ever appearance at Real Murcia's Nueva Condomina on Saturday evening because the last time they met the same team in an away game it was at their previous stadium in 2003-04.
The new arena was inauguratd in January 2006 and, therefore, the Pimentonero outfit have played their for just under 18 months. It is one of the most modern stadiums in Spanish football and has an all-seated capacity of 32,000.

Up and down

A year ago, Murcia won promotion to la Primera and it was time for celebrations, but 12 months later and more planning will be done after the team were unable to stay up longer than one season and have already had their return to la Segunda B confirmed.

The last visit

FC Barcelona played a toal of 17 games in Murcia's previous stadium. The last one was on the 28th day of the 2003-04 campaign when Frank Rijkaard's team won 2-0. It was on March 14, 2004, to be precise, that Javier Saviola scored before half-time and Ronaldinho added a second after the break to give the visitors victory.

 
Three Barça players have been called up for Spain’s squad to play in this summer’s European Championship, which is to be held in Austria and Switzerland.
Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta are among the 23 players who have been called up by coach Luis Aragonés this Saturday lunchtime for Spain’s squad to play in this summer’s European Championship held in Austria and Switzerland.

In the press conference, Luis Aragonés told the press why he hadn’t named Bojan Krkic: “I talked to him and he told me he didn’t feel in shape physically or mentally, so I respect his decision. I don’t usually check with each player, but Bojan is very young”.

 
Txiki Begiristain acknowledged during half time of the Murcia-Barça match that: “We’re at an advanced stage in negotiations”, referring to possible player signings over the next few days.
The technical director limited himself to saying “we have ongoing negotiations, some more advanced than others”, but he wouldn’t give any names.

Monday’s press conference

Txiki Begiristain warned that the aim of the press conference that he and Marc Ingla will be giving on Monday isn’t to announce signings, though “it would be nice”.

Barça B

On the possibility of Luis Enrique being the next coach for Barça B, he answered that he hoped it would be, but that it was all down to Luis whether he wanted to coach the side that Josep Guardiola has coached this season.

 
The Mexican Giovani, the hat-trick scoring star of yesterday’s match, admitted he was “anxious” about not scoring. On Saturday he got his first three league goals.
Barça’s number 17 explained that although he’d worked hard, he’d been denied a goal all season. He said that the goals had rounded the season off for him, and he dedicated them to outgoing coach Frank Rijkaard.

Below are some of the Barça players’ comments:

Giovani

“I needed to score. I was anxious. It’s never too late to show your goal-scoring skills.”

“I’ve worked hard, and I’ve been denied a goal all season. The goals have rounded the season off for me.”

“I’ve dedicated them to Frank Rijkaard, who I care a lot for.”

“I don’t seem to figure in the press’s plans.”

“It’s a coincidence that I’ll go down in the league’s history (he scored the league’s 60,000th goal).”

“I’m really pleased with the hat-trick. I didn’t expect it.”

“It was Barça who opened doors for me and they are still my first option.”

Fali

“It was a nice debut.”

“It not the best time to make a debut, but I’m happy with the win.”

“Rijkaard told me to be calm, and he congratulated me at the end.”

Rueda

“It was good for Rijkaard to win the last game.”

“I’d like to thank him for putting his trust in us.”

Pinto

“It’s great to win the last game.”

“I’m always positive, and when I came on I knew my role. I believe in my work.”

Henry

“We haven’t won anything but we wanted to finish well.”

“I’m happy for Giovani. It was important for his self-confidence.”

“I came to this club to win, but we haven’t won anything. I hope we’ll do it next season.”

“I’ve scored 19 goals and set up 11.”

“When you don’t win, changes have to be made.”

 
Barça closed their 2007-08 season against Murcia, and their president Joan Laporta recognized that throughout the campaign the results “weren’t always great”, but he now believes Barça “needs to be strong and to look forward to the new cycle”.
Barça closed their 2007-08 season with a festival of goals against Murcia in la Nueva Condomina (3-5). Just after the game the Barça president said “a cycle has come to an end that in general has bought us some beautiful moments and glory”.

Joan Laporta also stated that “all cycles must come to an end, and people get to the end of their work”, referring to some of the current squad who won’t be at Barça next season. He added that “we still have a solid base to the team, and some players have come up who can still give us a lot of pleasure”.

We’re working on it

Joan Laporta didn’t want to get into speculation about who was leaving and who was staying, he limited himself to saying: “for the moment, we have said that Rijkaard won’t be continuing and Pep Guardiola will be taking over. The new coaching staff is taking shape”, he added, and he stressed that all the issues of who was leaving or staying would be dealt with calmly.

 
Barça went over the 100 goal barrier at Murcia on Saturday. The 100th goal was scored by Eto’o.
76 in the league, 18 in the Champions League and 10 in the cup. That’s a total of 104 official goals in 58 games.

Five more in Murcia

Rijkaard’s Barça went out with another goal-spree. It has been the third time that Barça has scored five or more goals this season, after 5-1 against Levante and 6-0 against Valencia. Saturday evening’s five goals brought Barça’s official tally to 104 this season. Adding goals in non-official ties, that brings the total to 124, with the game against Al-Ittihad still to play.

Third hat-trick

Giovani’s hat-trick against Murcia was Barça third of the season. Henry got the first away at Levante, and Eto’o got the second, this time also against Levante in Nou Camp.

Two more debuts

Apart from the goals, there were also two debuts against Murcia: Fali and Rueda. This year in the league, Pedrito made his debut at home to Murcia, Víctor Sánchez in Almería and Víctor Vázquez in Huelva.

 
Eusebio Sacristán appeared in the press conference to give his view on the last game on the season. “We’ve shown our professionalism”, he stated.
Once again, the Barça coach has passed on his press conference duties to one of his aides, Eusebio Sacristán, who gave his view on the last game on the season. He expressed his satisfaction at the players’ attitude against Murcia: “It was difficult to find motivation for today, but we’ve shown our professionalism”.

“The club has to keep to the same philosophy”

On the club’s future with Pep Guardiola at the helm, Eusebio believed that the club shouldn’t make any brusque changes. They should keep to the same philosophy. It’s never a good idea to change everything”.

Congratulations to Giovani

Eusebio went on to congratulate Giovani dos Santos on his hat-trick: “We’re very happy for him. It’s a good reward for a lad who’s always been a model of good behaviour. He deserves it”.

Ready for new challenges

Finally, Eusebio expressed his “great satisfaction” with his two spells at the club, both as a player and as a member of the coaching staff. “I’m ready to move on, face new challenges. Obviously this hasn’t been the ending I had wanted, but I feel privileged to have both played and coached here”.

 
When Barcelona hosted Real Murcia earlier this season it was the first time that Frank Rijkaard had given a B team youngster his debut this season. Since then a total of three have tasted football at the highest level.
Pedrito made his debut for the Blaugrana first team when Murcia visited Camp Nou for the last game of the first half of the season. It was not until the 88th minute that the prospect came on to replace Samuel Eto'o.

The newcomers

The right winger's entrance gave others in the B team real hope of being able to step up to Rijkaard's squad and more have followed since that fateful day. The next player to be given the experience was Víctor Sánchez when he was called into the squad for the trip to Almería in the 28th round of games of the campaign and he came on in the final minute. Pedrito and Víctor Vázquez were also included, but did not play.

Pedrito returns

The following weekend Barça hosted Valladolid in Camp Nou and the Dutch coach again dipped into the B squad and kept Pedrito in his ranks and this time the rising star replaced Bojan Krkic with five minutes remaining of the game.

Third one in

In the match against Recreativo in week 32 of the season, Víctor Vázquez was the third and final player to be given a taste of la Primera. Having been a regular in the B team this season, Vázquez was given 13 minutes in the top flight when he went on to replace Santoi Ezquerro.

Eight overall

While only three players have actually played for Barça in the league from their B team, no fewer than eight have been in the squad and enjoyed numerous training sessions. Oier Olazábal, Víctor Espasandín, Fali, Rueda and Botia have all taken the step up, but were unable to actually make their first team debuts.

 
Frank Rijkaard has named 15 first team players and two from the B team for his last ever official squad as coach of FC Barcelona as they take on Real Murcia on the final day of the season this weekend.
The number of absentees has meant that the coaching staff has had to call upon those available and also call up some youngsters for the game with Fali and Rueda again tasting life at the top. Gianluca Zambrotta is also included after being given the green light by medical staff after recovering from a knock.

Xavi is back after completing his suspension last weekend against Mallorca and Eidur Gudjohnsen is also named. In contrast, Edmílson is suspended, Touré Yaya is recovering, Deco has a knock and Rafa Márquez still has problems with his ankle.

Training behind closed doors

Barça trained behind closed doors on Friday morning in Camp Nou in the last session before they head to Murcia for the game on Saturday evening.

Rijkaard worked with all 13 available players that would make up the majority of the squad and Fali and Rueda were also included. Gudjohnsen and Zambrotta did not train b