Adriano to join squad in Miami on Monday

Adriano will join the squad in Miami this Monday after finishing his holiday following his appearance for Brazil at the Cop America.

Pep Guardiola will have the first of his South American players who have been playing in the Copa America back on Monday when Adriano meets up with the rest of the squad in Miami.

Adriano didn’t figure in a single game during the tournament, which means he is the first of the South Americans to return to the squad.

Cover at right back

Guardiola has had to improvise at right back so far this pre-season, with Jonathan Dos Santos amongst others being drafted in. Dani Alves is also on holiday of course and B team player Montoya, who could take his place, is not available.

Kobe Bryant: “It’s great to wear a Barça shirt”

Kobe Bryant is a big fan of the Club and wearing his Barça shirt in an exclusive interview with Barça TV today he declared: “this isn’t the first time I’ve worn it, but it feels great to wear a Barça shirt!”.

In the interview, held at the Kastles Stadium at the Wharf in Washington where Mia Hamm had organised a charity game, the LA Lakers star appeared in the Club colours and explained: “it feels great to wear a Barça shirt”.

Big fan

Kobe Bryant is a big fan of the team and he told Barça TV: “I love FC Barcelona, everyone knows that. They’ve been my favourite team for a long time now. I’ve always liked the way they play –Barça play as a group, all together, with creativity and strength and I admire those virtues a lot”.

Bryant took part in the charity game, which was organised by the friends of Mia Hamm, an FC Barcelona Ambassador in the States, together with Pep Guardiola and Andoni Zubizarreta and he reckoned: “I’ve never played football in front of so many people. I’ll just go out on the pitch and do what I always do –I’ll just do what Mia Hamm tells me to do!”.

Jeffren given permission to go to Portugal

Jeffren Suárez will leave Barça’s US Tour today to travel to Barcelona where he will negotiate his transfer to Sporting CP.


During his press conference in Miami, Pep Guardiola confirmed that the young forward had been given leave to leave the Tour and travel to Lisbon to negotiate with Sporting CP.

Barça train in Miami

Barça trained at the Cobb Stadium at the University of Miami this morning –their first session in the second stage of their US Tour – as they prepare for Thursday’s game against Chivas de Guadalajara.






The pre-season training continues for Guardiola’s players, who this morning worked out at the Cobb Stadium, University of Miami, a University famous for its American Football teams.

The session was held in hot and humid conditions and the players were happy for the slight drizzle which fell at one point, as they worked out in front of plenty of fans who’d come to see their heroes close up.

Seven players and Puyol train apart

Seven of the players who figured in the defeat to Manchester United, and who have also been putting in most minutes in the pre-season –Iniesta, Villa, Fontàs, Thiago, Keita, Sergio Busquets and Pedro– all worked apart from the rest of the group, as did Carles Puyol once more as he worked on his recovery from his knee operation.

Afellay stays at the hotel

Afellay, who picked up a thigh injury against United and is set to miss the next four or five weeks, stayed at the team hotel to work on his recovery.

Deulofeu and Sergi Gómez join up on Tuesday

From Tuesday, the squad will be strengthened by the presence of Gerard Deulofeu and Sergi Gómez, who will fly in from Rumania where they are involved in the European under-19 final this Monday.

Xavi back in training on Friday

Xavi Hernández reckons he’s feeling fit and well and is over the physical problems that have kept him training apart for the start of the pre-season. The midfielder will join the rest of the squad in training this Friday.

“I had some problems with my Achilles tendon last year and I’ve had a few problems with my calf this year, so I have started the pre-season quite gently”, explained Xavi, adding that the work he’s been doing with the Club trainers so far this pre-season: “is to help prevent any injuries”.

Xavi will be training normally this Friday and also insisted: “I hope to take part in the next few games like any other squad player”. The first game the team face is against Manchester United on Saturday, just over two months since the two met in the Champions League final: “we were by far the better team at Wembley. We held onto the ball for the all the game apart from the first 10 minutes. Even Fergusson has admitted it –something which does him a great honour”.

Thiago Alcántara

With Xavi missing the first two pre-season games, Thiago has stepped up to the plate with some well received performances and Xavi agreed with the praise the youngster is receiving: “He has an excellent level, a special talent - he has a real spark that will definitely bring a lot to the team”.

Quizzed as to whether the young midfielder could fit into a Barça side if Cesc should join the Club, Xavi drew on his own experience, explaining: “I have suffered from comparisons at the Club, but the season is long and the more good players we have, the better”. That was an opinion shared by Piqué, who sat alongside Xavi in front of the media and claimed: “there’s plenty of competition in midfield and that is positive for the team as a whole”.

Saturday’s game

Both players were speaking at the press conference to present the game against United, with the Champions League trophy they won against Fergusson’s team alongside them. The local press expressed their admiration for Barça’s style of play and Xavi explained: “there is both mental speed and speed of execution in football. We work hard on the former at Barça. For us it is important to work at keeping hold of the ball and positioning on the pitch” – a tactical lesson that we all hope to see put into practice at the FedEx Field on Saturday against the Premier League champions.

Champions of the Audi Cup (2-0)

Champions of the Audi Cup (2-0)

David R. Jover

Barça beat Bayern Munich 2-0 and won their first trophy of the season. Two goals from Thiago Alcantara in the 41st and the 74th minutes decided a game that Barça dominated from the start.

There are no friendlies for Barça. This Tuesday, in the final against Bayern Munich, once again Barça captivated the Allianz Arena, showing that their style, despite missing several key players, remains intact. Possession and control of the game, Guardiola’s players best weapons, and 2 goals from Thiago, sealed the victory.

Villa had the first chances

Barça created more chances, and the first to shoot at the goal defended by Jens Butt was David Villa. The Barça number 7 had 2 free-kicks from central positions that failed to find the back of the net. The first was pushed out by Butt and the second went just wide of the mark. A while later, in the 32nd minute, he had another chance, again saved by Butt. In minute 38, Valdes was called on to save from David Alaba, who was unable to beat the Barça keeper in a 1 on 1 situation.

Thiago opens the scoring….

The first goalscorer was not one of the strikers. Part of Barca’s greatness is that the midfield players get into many attacking positions, and the player who took most advantage was Thiago Alcantara. In the 41st minute Thiago headed in a cross from the left by Jonathan Soriano, who later had to be replaced due to injury, putting Barça 1-0 ahead, the score remaining the same until half-time.

... and also decides the outcome

In the second half the game’s dynamics were no different from the first. The Barça performance and workrate was just the same, and although Bayern enjoyed slightly more possession, Barça were in total control of the game. There were fewer chances, but Thiago managed to convert one of them. In the 74th minute he played a 1-2 with Afellay, and scored with a fantastic shot, well placed, into the top corner of Butt’s goal to make it 2-0. From then until the end Barça didn’t suffer too much and reached their objective of becoming Champions of the second edition of the Audi Cup.

Alexis Sanchez: "I learned to play football in the street"

The new Barça player reviewed his football career and gave his first impressions after having signed for FC Barcelona on the program "Welcome, Alexis', which will be broadcast tonight at 23h on Barça TV.

Alexis, despite your youth, you already have an extensive curriculum, and you’ve played in both South America and Europe, although you started in the Chilean team Cobreloa. When and how did you start playing football?
"From an early age I liked football and I started with my friends in the neighbourhood, before we even had grass pitches: they were pure dirt pitches, and we got used to playing on them."

What do you remember about your first games with Cobreloa, where you debuted as a player?
"I played with older players, all my life I grew up playing with older kids. Sometimes I played up front, although I was very young, and they always kicked me. They kicked me because they couldn’t stop me and it motivated me even more."

Did you also watch matches on television, when you were little?
"I only played football, and didn’t watch matches on television. I enjoyed playing, I didn’t like watching football matches. I just liked to play, and and that they might watch me".

What time do you remember as one of the happiest of your childhood?
"I think it’s when I told my family that I wanted to be a professional football player, and I ended up realising that dream."

Where do you think you’ve learned most as a player?
"I think I've learned most playing in the street and the neighbourhood games, as in South America a lot of football is played like that. Other than that, I think that both championships and trips also teach you a lot".

Why did you start playing football and decide this was the sport for you?
"Every time I started a game of football I forgot all my problems and I enjoyed myself with my teammates on the pitch".

At 22, you can already say you've played for five different clubs: Cobreloa, Colo-Colo, River Plate and, in Europe, Udinese, and now FC Barcelona. How would you describe your evolution in the world of football?
"I always said: "I have to take it step by step" and, until today, it’s been the case. I never move directly from a small team to a bigger one. I always had to fight for my place in the side and finally get to go to a great team as I have done now, to Barcelona."

How do you compare football now that you're a professional player, to when you played as a child?
"I always think of football as a game, but never forgetting that it entails responsibility. I love to take more responsibility, although I’m still the same player as when I was five or ten years old, I’m still enjoying myself on the pitch".

Having always played in South America, you got the offer to come to Europe in 2007. Despite your youth, you accepted the challenge. It must have been a great challenge for you...
"I like to dare myself to do difficult things, and I decided to come here because I thought that if everyone thought that it was so difficult, I wanted to fight so that it would become easier for me and I might enjoy myself. Thanks to this I had a good championship."

In fact, you have had good championships and this has propelled you towards big clubs. What do you think has been the key to your professional success?
"I think I always had faith that I would get to a big club, be one of the best and win championships with whichever club I may be at".

Just lately you’ve been at the Copa America, with Chile and Marcelo Bielsa. What has he taught you about the world of football?
"I think I learned a lot from the "Profe", and I think he left his mark both in Chile and the rest of the world. I learned a lot with him, I would have never thought I’d learn as much as I did".

The day of your presentation, in the press conference, you said you wanted to learn from your new teammates. Do you often do that?
"I always try to learn from all my teammates. If I see a good move and I like it, and it’s another player who does it, I practice it until I get it right."

On that same day you met Pep Guardiola. What do you think of him?
"I haven’t spoken much with him, but I think he wants to win, and win everything. Not only that, but he wants to do it playing good football, which is how Barça plays."

Here you’ll be wearing the number 9 shirt, is it the position where you are most comfortable?
"I’ve played in all three forward positions, both in the middle and on the left and right. I can adapt to all three positions. Messi wears number 10 and plays as a striker, just like a number 9. Here, it doesn’t matter the number you wear or the position you play in, because in the end everybody changes position all the time."

It’s been said that you can bring things that the team hasn’t had up to now. How do you feel after having signed for FC Barcelona?
"If they need me, I’ll give them everything I can. I feel well supported and with a responsibility at the same time, because I want to leave the name of Chile well positioned."

How would you define Alexis Sanchez away from the football pitch?
"I’m shy and don’t like to go out a lot, I prefer to be at home, watch movies ... but, above all, I want to come onto the pitch and receive the ball".

18 players called up for Monday

Eighteen players will be present for the first day of pre-season training on Monday morning, with just the South American players involved in the Copa America missing.

Valdés, Pinto, Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Villa, Iniesta, Bojan, Jeffren, Keita, Busquets, Pedro, Maxwell, Afellay, Abidal, Thiago, Fontàs and Jonathan dos Santos are the eighteen players who will be at the first pre-season training session and medical tests on Monday morning.

Copa America duty

The only players missing from the list are the Club’s South American contingent who are still involved in the Copa America. The competition finishes with the final on July 24th and Argentina –with Messi, Mascherano and Milito – as well as Brazil –with Alves and Adriano – are both into the quarter finals.

Abidal talks at a standstill

Barca yet to tie French full-back down on fresh terms

Eric Abidal's agent claims contract talks with Barcelona 'are at a standstill' but a deal could still be done.

The Catalan giants hinted towards the end of last season that they were prepared to hand the French full-back fresh terms.

Abidal had to have a tumour on his liver removed in March, and Barca stood by him throughout a difficult period.

The 32-year-old is keen to repay that support and is hoping to see out his playing days at Camp Nou.

That remains a possibility according to his representative, but he has revealed that discussions regarding a new deal have been put to one side.

Messi unstoppable, says Uruguay coach

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez admits his side are powerless to stop Lionel Messi if he brings his best form into the Copa America quarter-finals.

Tabarez’s side meet Argentina in Santa Fe on Saturday in what will be the first meeting between the countries since 2009.

Both teams finished the group stage with identical records, picking up five points from the opening games to claim runner-up spots, and are pursuing a record 15th title of the South American football’s showpiece event.

But Tabarez concedes Barcelona phenomenon Messi will prove the difference if he repeats his match-winning heroics from Argentina’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Monday.

“He is going to cause trouble for us. That, as much as we want it to, will never disappear,” Tabarez told reporters.“There is a saying: ‘if you have a problem and the solution, why worry? And if you have a problem but not the solution, again why worry?’.”

Tabarez also affirmed that he has not chosen the 11 men who will be entrusted with downing Argentina on home soil.

“We still have to define some things. We have spoken with the players, but nothing is decided.”“Normally if I know the team I will play, I announce it quickly. This time, that is not the case.”