The Fans Blog4

Spanish club Racing Santander has yesterday officially announced the transfer of former Barcelona winger Luis García (31).

The Spanish player, whose contract with Atlético Madrid expired this summer, will sign a two-year contract with the Spanish first division club after the meidcal tests.

Luis García came through the Barcelona youth ranks. After having played with Barcelona B for two years, he went out on loan to Valladolid, Toledo, Tenerife and again Valladolid, before being sold to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2002. One year later, Barcelona used the buy back option and signed Luis García for the first team. After one year at the club, the Catalan left winger left for Liverpool.

Read more:
Ex-Barça: Motta to Inter Milan
Ex-Barça: Ezquerro leaves Osasuna
Ex-Barça: Saviola to Benfica

Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) will not play for Barcelona as of the coming season, like had been rumoured over the last months (read more here).

Atlético Madrid has yesterday officially announced the transfer of Asenjo, which has also been confirmed by Real Valladolid.

Asenjo will sign a four-year deal with the Spanish first division club on Monday. Atlético Madrid is believed to have paid the buyout clause of around 5 million euro while Atlético Madrid players Diego Costa and possibly Ignacio Camacho could also be included in the deal.

Read more:
Barcelona starts negotiations with Asenjo
Case closed: Zhirkov
Barcelona could keep the same three goalkeepers

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona could start the new season with the same three goalkeepers as last season.

Barcelona first goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (26) renewed his contract until 2014 yesterday (read more here), Barcelona second goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto (33) wasn't expected to leave and Barcelona third goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) made clear on Monday through his agent that he plans to stay (read more here).

Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué meanwhile confirmed in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) was the main candidate to replace Valdés if the latter wouldn't have renewed his contract that expired next summer (read more here): "Now that everything is over, we can say this. We were interested in Asenjo."

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Barcelona won't sign a new goalkeeper
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes
Barça B goalkeeper Mino will be promoted

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona has started negotiations with Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19).

Barcelona would have immediately picked up the talks after the renewal negotiations with Barcelona goalkeeper Valdés broke down today. Catalan sports paper Sport claimed earlier this week that Asenjo was postponing a deal with Atlético Madrid to see how the talks between Barcelona and Valdés would evolve (read more here).

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Valdes exit would open door for Asenjo
Barcelona looking at possible substitutes for Valdes
Valdes renewal negotiations broken off

Asked about the difficult renewal negotiations between Barcelona and Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, Fernando Redondo, the agent of Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19), has said in an interview with Spanish newsagency EFE that this could open new perspectives for a transfer:

"If Víctor Valdés wouldn't renew his contract, that could open the door of Barcelona for Asenjo. I didn't receive any news of Barcelona lately so Barça is the one who should move now. If Valdés would leave the team, that logically would be a possibility, but we cannot know what will happen at this point.

Despite various offers, we have at this moment given the green light to the offer of Atlético Madrid. We're now waiting for the two clubs to reach an agreement and finalize everything. We're not doing anything now. Atlético is interested and both the player and we, his agents, are giving priority to the sporting arguments because he proved himself enough over the last two years to go to a team to play there. Now it's up to the clubs to deal with things and I think that sports directors Jesús García Pitarch of Atlético and Roberto Olabe of Valladolid will meet next week.

We also received an offer from Fiorentina but we've rejected it because they have Sébastien Frey for the coming four years. Given his age, we should be careful and what we want is that he plays and isn't the back-up. There's a big chance he'll be able to play at Atlético since the club wants to sign him after not having renewed the contract of Leo Franco, something the kid is taking into account."

Read more:
Barcelona needs to move soon for Asenjo
Three candidates to become back-up of Valdes
Asenjo, Zhirkov and Silva main transfer targets

Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that Barcelona will make few transfers during the coming summer transfer window.

A serious reshuffle is the squad is expected for the summer of 2010, when the contracts of several players and the coaches expire and presidential elections will be held.

The preparations of next season already started a couple of months ago but all negotiations have now been stopped until the end of the season. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain have agreed on the basic principle of continuity. The starting point would be to sign one player for each line.

Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (30) would want to leave because he lost his place as second goalkeeper to Pinto. Because there's still some uncertainty about the renewal of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27), Barcelona is working on several options with a different profile. Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) could be on the list.

With the contract of Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (35) expiring, Barcelona is looking for a player who can replace him. The return of Brazilian central defender Henrique (22 - picture), who was signed last summer and who is playing on loan with German club Bayer Leverkusen this season, is being considered (read more here).

Barcelona also plans to buy two attacking players. Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (26) is high on the list. If Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (28), whose contract expires at the end of next season, would leave, Barcelona will look for a new striker.

With Lyon forward Karim Benzema (21) having expressed his wish to stay in France for at elast one more year (read more here), Barcelona is now looking at several options, that include Valencia forward David Villa (27), Liverpool forward Fernando Torres (25) and Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor (25).

Read more:
Torres first option to replace Eto'o
New bid for Adebayor being planned
Villa first option to replace Eto'o

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona will have to move in the coming weeks for Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19).

Atlético Madrid would already have made a formal proposal to Fernando Redondo and Zoran Vekic, the agents of the player, and is now waiting for the answer.

Asenjo would have been offered to sign a five-year deal including a serious pay rise. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Asenjo is Atlético's first choice to replace goalkeeper Leo Franco, who would already have found an agreement with Turkish club Galatasaray. As claims that Villarreal would also be interested in the Spanish goalkeeper.

Once they have the approval of Asenjo, Atlético Madrid will start negotiating a transfer deal with Valladolid, who already has been informed about Atlético's interest to sign Asenjo. Although the goalkeeper has a buyout clause of 5,5 million euro°, Valladolid would be planning ask a transfer fee of 6 million euro plus the loan of two Atlético players.

Asenjo would still be in doubt about his future. The player's agent Zoran Vekic would have promised Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain that Asenjo won't make a final decision before giving Barcelona a last chance to talk with him. It is nevertheless believed that a transfer could be finalized before the end of the season, which means that Barcelona should soon make the player a proposal and clearify the position of current Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés.

Read more:
Scouting report recommends transfer Asenjo
Barcelona monitoring promising players
Barcelona managing list of four goalkeepers

French football weekly paper Foot Transferts claims that Barcelona is interested in Marseille goalkeeper and French international Steve Mandanda (24) (read more here).

A Barcelona scout would have recently watched Mandanda in action. The report was positive and Barcelona would already have informed the player's entourage about their interest. Barcelona executives are expected to contact the French club shortly to hear more about the contract situation of the goalkeeper.

Mandanda would be part of a five-name shortlist of possible substitutes of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés that also includes Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (31), Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez (27), Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29) and Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo (19).

Read more:
Marseille wants to sign Keita next summer
Manchester United wants to sign Valdes
Marseille goalkeeper Mandanda followed

Watch a video of Mandanda here:

Spanish tabloid 20 minutos claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristian is preparing for in case Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (28) would leave the club at the end of the season and is managing a four-name list of possible substitutes.

The number one candidate would be Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19 - picture), with Villarreal goalkeeper Diego López (29), who would cost 20 million euro°, being the alternative option.

Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31) and Atlético Madrid B goalkeeper and Spanish youth international David de Gea (18) are also on the list, although the possible transfer fee of the first would be considered to be too high for a player of his age and the second seems more an option for the future.

Read more:
Scouting report recommends transfer Asenjo
Who could replace Valdes?
Barcelona speaking with Cech and Buffon
Atletico B goalkeeper De Gea sounded out

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the transfer of Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) is recommended in a scouting report drawn up by Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué (read more here).

Asenjo would be preferred over Villarreal goalkeeper Diego López (27) because the first one is better outside the goal area and because he would cost less. While Asenjo has a buyout clause of 5,5 million euro°, Manchester United would already have made a bid of 26 million euro for Diego López.

Asenjo was again closely watched during the Valladolid versus Barcelona game last Saturday where the Spanish goalkeeper, who returned from an injury that kept him sidelined for a few months, again performed well with some crucial saves in the first half. People of his entourage would nevertheless believe that Asenjo is on his way to Atlético Madrid.

Read more:
Agent Asenjo confirms Barcelona contact
Aguero, Cesc and Asenjo could join this summer
Who could replace Valdes?

Catalan newspaper Avui claims that Barcelona plans few changes during the summer transfer window (read more here).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would already have met several times to discuss possible transfers and Barcelona would focus on buying three players: a goalkeeper, a left back defender and a centre forward.

Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés will stay the number one next season although Barcelona would like to sign a new goalkeeper who could put some more pressure on Valdés. Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) could be the main target. Barcelona goalkeepers José Manuel Pinto (33) and Albert Jorquera (30) could both leave if a good offer comes in.

With the contract of Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (35) expiring at the end of this season (read more here), Barcelona wants to sign a solid back up for Abidal. For the centre forward position, everything will depend on what will happen with Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o (28).

If Eto’o leaves the first name on the list is Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27). Chelsea forward and Ivory Coasqt international Didier Drogba (31) and Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovich (27) could be other options.

A left wing attacker wouldn’t be a priority for the club anymore, although it’s not excluded that depending on the situation of the players, Barcelona could go after Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international David Silva (23) or Atlético Madrid attacker and Argentinian international Sergio Agüero (20).

Read more:
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer
Villa first option to replace Eto'o
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market

Spanish football site Join Futbol claims that Valladolid is closely monitoring Barcelona Atlètic central defender and Spanish youth international Alberto Botía (20).

Valladolid would want to sign Botía, who is regularly taken part in the training sessions of the first team and who has been part of Barcelona's match squad a couple of times this season, to rejuvenate their defense and would like to include a buy option in a possible one-year loan deal.

Barcelona would be considering to let Botía leave on loan to a Spanish first division club in the summer to gain some experience. The Spanish defender, who joined Barcelona's youth acadamy in 2003, could this way gain some experience before joining the first team.

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Introducing the four selected B-team players
B player Botia in Athletic list

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona is interested in Atlético Madrid B goalkeeper and Spanish youth international David De Gea (18) (read more here).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristan has excellent scouting reports about the player and the club would have sounded out De Gea for the first time a few days ago.

Barcelona has let him know that they are looking for a young player who can act as second goalkeeper next season and asked the player for his situation. Arsenal would also be interested in the player.

De Gea, who signed last year his first professional contract that links him to Atlético Madrid until 2011, prefers to continue at his club although this could change if he wouldn't be promoted to second goalkeeper next season and if the club signs another young goalkeeper.

Atlético Madrid would want to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer, with Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) being the main target. Barcelona is also interested in Asenjo (read more here) but the player prefers to move to a club where he can be first goalkeeper and Barcelona's interest would have dimished after Asenjo suffered a serious injury earlier this season.

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Barcelona sounds out Juventus goalkeeper Buffon
Agent Asenjo confirms Barcelona contact
Barcelona speaking with Cech and Buffon

Catalan sports paper Sport gives today an overwiew of what the paper claims could be the main movements during the summer transfer window.

If Eto'o decides to leave, he could be replaced by Atlético Madrid forward and Argentinian international Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (20) (read more here). And if Valdés would decide to leave, he could be replaced by Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) (read more here).

Barcelona will furthermore look for players who can replace Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (34), whose contract expires at the end of the season, and Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27), who will be put for sale. Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (21) could return to the club.

Read more:
Cesc rejects Madrid because of Barça dream
Hleb not looking for a summer exit
Barcelona has first option on Aguero

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona is interested in Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31).

Barcelona's technical staff would be unsatisfied with the performances of Víctor Valdés this season and the club would be looking to strenghten the goalkeeping position in the summer.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would like to sign a younger goalkeeper by following the advice of Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué and former Barcelona assistant coach Eusebio who recommended Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) and Atlético Madrid B goalkeeper and Spanish youth international David De Gea (18).

The board of the club would nevertheless be wanting to buy a more experienced goalkeeper. Buffon has therefore already been sounded out and the Italian goalkeeper would have welcomed the interest and would be glad to live a new football adventure before he retires.

In this scenario, Valdés could well leave the club this year, one year before the end of his contract. In that case, Barcelona would try to sign De Gea, who would then be given the time to grow in the shadow of Buffon in the coming years. Atlético Madrid would be aware of the interest of Barcelona in their young player and will try to counter it by promoting De Gea to the first team next season.

Read more:
Valdes unaware of the club's renewal plans
Transfer history: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Agent Asenjo confirms Barcelona contact


Watch a video of Buffon here:

Asked about the renewal of his contract that expires in 2010 (read more here), Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27) has said at a press conference that he doesn't know what the intention of the club is:

"There has been some talking about my renewal but I hear these things through the media. Until now, nobody from the club has contacted me.

I've said before that I will have to assess my future and that the club know what they should do. I will leave it there. I only know that I have a contract until 2010 and that I'm a professional. I owe my club a lot and I've always been very proud to play at Barça. The only thing I can do is to keep on working with my team-mates like I've always done."

Catalan sports paper Sport meanwhile claims that Barcelona plans to buy Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) if the renewal talks with Valdés wouldn't lead to an agreement between the two parties. In that case, Asenjo would be loaned back to Valladolid until the summer of 2010.

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Barcelona working on Valdes renewal
Valdes: "I like the quietness of the countryside"
Negotiations with Puyol, Valdés and Eto'o to start

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola have agreed on the three priorities for the next transfer summer.

Independent of the results of this season, the club would want to buy a goalkeeper, a left back defender and a left winger (read more here).

The club want to sign a goalkeeper who can put some more pressure on Víctor Valdés. The number one on the target list would be Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) (read more here). To bring in some more competition for Abidal, CSKA left winger and Russian international Yuri Zhirkov (25) is the first option (read more here).

For the left wing, Valencia left winger and Spanish international David Silva (23) would be the preferred candidate, although also the most expensive one (read more here). If it's not possible to find a renewal deal with Eto'o, Barcelona will also look to sign a centre forward, with Torres, Benzema and Villa being the three names on the list.

Read more:
Agent Asenjo confirms Barcelona contact
CSKA Moscow left winger Zhirkov offered
Barcelona is still preferred destination for Silva

Asked about the rumours linking Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Fernando Redondo has admitted in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that he has talked with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain:

"I spoke with Txiki about the situation of Asenjo back in December, just before he travelled to Japan. We just exchanged information but nothing more. Barça is preparing for next season and that's why they contacted us. We've talked with Txiki but also with other sports directors."

Redondo told the same in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM, adding that it's likely that Asenjo, who's recovering from a meniscus injury, will leave Valladolid next summer: "Txiki and I have talked. It was a simple exchange of opinions. Barça is collecting information before they make a move. Asenjo is now recovering from an injury but it's very likely that he will leave Valladolid at the end of the season."

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona is one of the clubs that have already asked for Asenjo. But because he would come as back-up for Valdés, the goalkeeper wouldn't be very keen on moving to Barcelona and would prefer to join Atlético Madrid instead.

Asked about the new rumours, Asenjo said to journalists that he's now focusing on his recovery: "Every player would like to play for a big club like Barça, and even more now when they go through a great moment. But I don't have time to think about these things. I can only think about my knee. I'm concentrated on my recovery. I hope I will be return to the pitch soon."

Read more:
Do We Buy? Goalkeeper.
Asenjo candidate to be back-up for Valdés
Advanced negotiations with goalkeeper Asenjo

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has met a few days ago with Fernando Redondo, the agent of Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19).

Since other clubs are also interested, Barcelona had already asked for a meeting more than one month ago but the appointment was then cancelled bacause Begiristain had to travel to Japan to stand by his sick brother.

During this week's meeting, there would have been found an agreement on some basic conditions for a transfer next summer.

Asenjo has a buyout clause of 5,5 million euro° and would sign a contract for four or five years that would include a year salary of 2 million euro plus incentives. Although there are still some issues left, the intention of both parties is to find an deal, with Barcelona being the first option for the goalkeeper.

Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué has closely followed the performances of Asenjo closely over the last months and in an positive report he has recommended the transfer of the Spanish goalkeeper, preferring his transfer over that of Villarreal goalkeeper Diego López (read more here).

Read more:
Asenjo candidate to be back-up for Valdés
Do We Buy? Goalkeeper.
Asenjo not considering foreign offers

Asked about the rumours linking Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) with several European top clubs, amongst which Barcelona (read more here), Fernando Redondo, one the player's agents, has said in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that the goalkeeper will certainly not leave in January:

"There's not a chance that he will leave during the winter transfer window. First, because he cannot legally join another Spanish club at that time and second, because we didn't even look into the legislation in other countries since we're not considering that option.

There are no negotiations going on at this moment. Another thing is that clubs are maybe fiddling around, waiting to make a move, but at this moment there's nothing concrete. We're now focusing on doing our best for Valladolid.

The future of Asenjo is in the fridge until the end of the year when we will hold talks with the club to see if a higher buyout clause is possible. We shouldn't put extra pressure on him or make his losing his head."

Read more:
Asenjo candidate to be back-up for Valdés