F.C Barcelona

Bojan is likely to win a place in Barcelona's starting line-up against Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana at the San Mames tonight, and he cannot wait for the game to start.

The Barca prodigy has happy memories of playing against the Basque side, having scored during the Blaugrana's Copa del Rey final win.

Speaking to Sport, he expressed his excitement ahead of the first official game of the season, saying, "It is a game that excites me a lot.

"We are playing against a great team, in a great stadium, with great fans. And there is a title at stake.

"I would love to participate, whether it be as a starter, or off the bench. It would be great to add another title at such a young age.

"Naturally, all my team-mates are also keen to win."

Bojan then reflected on the night when Barca won the Copa del Rey, continuing, "It was a great way to end a competition in which I had been playing a lot, and scoring.

"I saw the chance to score as soon as I got the ball, I did not see 'Samu' [Eto'o] at all. I concentrated hard, and in the end it turned out well.

"It was a great moment for all of us, since it was our first title.

"It was also confirmation that I could play at this club."

Finally, Bojan explained just how glad he was to be part of the Barca squad, stating, "When I see myself in the starting eleven in a photograph, I realise that this is the place where every player wants to be.

"I have been here all my life, but it takes a lot to remain a Barca player, so I intend to savour all of my time here."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will prove to be a great signing for Barcelona after he moved to the club in a swap deal that involved Samuel Eto'o last month, Jari Litmanen believes.

The Finnish legend played for Barça and was a team-mate of the Swedish striker at Ajax and that combination has led him to believe that the Blaugrana have made a superb buy.

A similar deal was mooted last summer when Pep Guardiola took over, but Eto'o stayed and helped the club to the treble and now Ibrahimovic can bring even more success.

"Zlatan has all the quality to succeed at Barca," Litmaned was quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.

"He's already shown it at Ajax, Juve and Inter - in all the places he has been. He's also shown it with the Sweden national team.

"I don't have any doubts about his personality or his quality as a player.

"I played with him for two years and know him well. He is a great signing for Barca, with different characteristics to Eto'o, but with some particular virtues which make him a great striker."

Barcelona could be set to re-ignite their interest in Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, and are preparing a bid for the Serbian, according to reports.

English tabloid The Daily Mirror suggests that the Blaugrana have suspended negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk over the transfer of Dmytro Chygrynskiy, after the clubs could not agree terms, and have turned their attention to Vidic.

The 27-year old, who missed Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Birmingham City this afternoon through injury, has apparently become’s Pep Guardiola’s main target once again, after he previously courting the defender last season.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is unlikely to encourage a move for the former Spartak Moscow stopper, who he paid £7m for in 2006, as he has formed a strong partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the Red Devils back line.

Guardiola is looking to strengthen his defensive options, following the departure of Martin Caceres to Juventus on loan, and has already added Maxwell from Inter.

Vidic was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award last season in England, and has won the Premier League title for three consecutive seasons with the Old Trafford club.

Founded: 1899

Address: Avenida Aristides Maillol 8020 Spain

Phone: (+34) 93 496 36 00 -

Chairman: Joan Laporta

Club Director: Txiki Beguiristain
Club History

FC Barcelona is thought of as more than a club and is seen as the flag-bearer of the Catalunya region with its mix of sport, politics and symbolism. Founded on November 29, 1899 by Swiss enthusiast Joan Gamper, who changed his name from Hans, Barça are seen as one of the biggest names in world football.

Who's Who

The club have won virtually every major honour and the list of past and present players reads like a list of a who's who in the sport. Josep Guardiola, Antoni Ramallets, Josep Samitier, Andoni Zubizarreta, Hans Krankl, Diego Maradona, Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldo, Hristo Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, Gary Lineker, Ladislao Kuabala, Johan Cruyff, Ronald Koeman and Johan Neeskens have all graced the shirt throughout the years.

Golden eras have brought unprecedented success, most notably in the 1950's and 1990's, and in recent seasons the club has entered another successful period under coach Frank Rijkaard and president Joan Laporta. Events on the pitch are well known, but so too are the politics surrounding the club and the importance it held during the years of General Franco's rule.

While the club was founded by Gamper, there was a strong English influence that remained right up until the 1990's, as several f the early players and managers heralded from England. After winning the league championship for the first time in 1928, following the exile of Gamper by dictator Primo de Rivera, it was not until the end of the Spanish Civil War that the Blaugrana would clinch the title again winning it under Samitier in 1945, 1948 and 1949.

Moving Grounds

In the early 1950's it became clear that the club was growing too big for its Les Corts ground as the success of the team began to draw in more and more fans and work on the Camp Nou, which opened in 1957, began. With Kubala, who was named as the club's greatest ever player during Barça's centenary celebrations, leading the way Barcelona won the Spanish Cup in 1951, before completing two league and cup doubles in '52 and '53.

The 51-52 campaign became known as 'the season of five cups' as a side containing Estanislao Basora, César, Kubala,Tomás Moreno and Eduardo Manchón won the Spanish League, the Spanish Cup, the Latin Cup and the Eva Duarte and Martin Rossi trophies. After winning the league once more in 1958-59, the team enjoyed success in Europe as they won the Fairs Cup in 57-58 and 59-60, before the following decade brought only three success, all in the Spanish Cup.

It was not until the arrival in the early 1970's of Cruyff that Barça had stark upturn in fortunes. The Dutch legend's influence on the club and the region was to be huge. The title was clinched at the end of Cruyff's first season, 1973-74, and Real Madrid were beaten 5-0 by the Blaugrana in the Santiago Bernabéu. The following years were only highlighted by victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1979, before the arrival of Terry Venables as head coach.

The Dream Team

After 11 seasons without winning the championship the Englishman steered the club to the top and only missed out on winning the European Cup the following year on penalties against Steaua Bucharest. As Venables stepped down, Cruyff made a return and imprinted his name in annals of Barça's history forever from the bench.

A favourite during his playing days, the Dutchman became a hero for a second time when he led the Blaugrana to four consecutive titles (1991-94), but the highlight of his tenure came at Wembley in 1992.

Koeman's extra-time free-kick against Sampdoria gave Barça their first ever European Cup and earned the side of the era the label of the Dream Team. The English connection was resumed when Bobby Robson coached the club to success in the Spanish Cup, the European Cup Winners Cup and Spanish Super Cup, as well as second-place in the league, in 1996-97.

Despite that incredible haul he was replaced by Louis Van Gaal the following summer and the Dutch trainer continued the trophy haul by winning the following two league championships and the Spanish Cup in 1998. A lean spell at the start of current century ended when Laporta was installed as president and Rijkaard arrived as the coach.

A New Era

The duo have helped to lift the club back to the pinnacle of world football with two league titles, in 2005 and 2006, and the club's second European Cup, now under the guise of the Champions League, against Arsenal in Paris in 2006. Having won Europe's elite club competition, Barça were accused of taking their foot off the pedal during the 2006-07 campaign as they failed to win a major trophy, despite Laporta's prediction that the team would win seven pots.

While off the pitch the club saw its' membership increase to 125,000, they were unable to produce the dazzling form of the past two years and saw the league title slip from their grasp on the final day of the season. A summer of rebuilding was needed, but there was no knee-jerk reactions to the lack of silverware.

Thierry Henry arrived from Arsenal, Touré Yaya came from Monaco, while the defence was bolstered with the arrival of Gabi Milito from Real Zaragoza and Éric Abidal from Olympique Lyonnais. With these new additions added to the flourishing talents of Lionel Messi, Giovani Dos Santos and Bojan Krkic, the club look set to remain at the pinnacle of Spanish and European football for a long time to come.
Trophy Cabinet

La Liga (18)

1928-29, 1944-45, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1973-74, 1984-85, 199-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06

Copa del Rey (24)

1909-10, 1911-12, 1912-13, 1919-20, 1921-22, 1924-25, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1936-37, 1941-42, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1956-57, 1958-59, 1962-63, 1967-68, 1970-71, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1982-83, 1987-88, 1989-1990, 1996-97, 1997-98

Supercopa de España (7)

1983, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006

Copa de la Liga (2)

1981-82, 1985-86

European Cup/Champions League (2)

1991-92, 2005-06

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (4)

1979, 1982, 1989, 1997

European Super Cup (2)

1992, 1997

Copa Latina (2)

1948-49, 1951-52

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (3)

1957-58, 1959-60, 1965-66

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has declared that he prefers Lionel Messi of Barcelona to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is presently at Real Madrid.

The Italian proclaimed that, though both players are great in their own right, the young Argentine just has the edge.

"They are both fantastic players," Zola told The Daily Mail.

"But I like Messi.

"Ronaldo is a fantastic goalscorer but I don’t think he is as good as Messi when it comes to creating chances for others."

Meanwhile, assistant manager of the Irons, Steve Clarke, was unable to resist the temptation to light-heartedly poke fun at his boss.

"He’s only saying that because he’s the same size," quipped the Scotsman.

Lionel Messi will miss Barcelona's first league game of the season against Sporting Gijon, after being given permission to join his national team instead.

Messi was facing a hectic schedule, with the European Super Cup on Friday 28 followed by the Sporting match on the following Monday, before Argentina's crucial World Cup qualifier against Brazil. Speaking to Sport, Pep Guardiola explained the decision, saying, "The European Super Cup is on Friday, and it is important to look after the players.

"He wants to play for Barca, but we are letting him join his national team.

"He could have played this weekend against Bilbao, but I preferred not to risk him, because we have many games ahead."

Guardiola then spoke of Barca's chances of winning more titles this term, continuing, "I hope we are celebrating a title next week.

"You can never pass up an opportunity to celebrate titles. There are none more important than the other.

"We had a perfect season last year without being perfect, because there are always things to improve. That is why we are so enthusiastic.

"We are humble enough to know that we can lose at any time."

Finally, Guardiola explained his plans for the youth team players, stating, "I would be afraid if they did not have the talent, but that is not the case.

"They will respond well, and I will give them chances."

According to Marca, cash-rich Manchester City have not given up on signing Lionel Messi and are interested in capturing him at all costs.

The Argentina international is currently in talks with Barcelona over a new contract and City have used that situation to renew their interest in the gifted footballer.

It is believed the Premier League club have approached Messi's agent to let the player know of their interest, having handed the 22-year-old a blank check, in effect asking him to name his price.

This is not the first time that City have expressed an interest in Messi. In the winter transfer window, they were ready to pay his release clause, set at €150 million, and offer him €12 million per season after tax.

Messi rejected the approach and it is understood City's new attempt will receive a similarly short shrift as he is happy at the Camp Nou and wants to stay in a team that can challenge on all fronts.

Barcelona have been given the green light to make an approach to Arsenal for Cesc Fabregas, according to a report.

The Blaugrana have set their sights on re-signing the midfielder who left them to join the Gunners six years ago, and believe that they have just a week to put a deal in place.

Arsenal take on Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers on August 18, and the Catalan giants want to tempt manager Arsene Wenger into selling before then to stop Fabregas from playing and therefore becoming cup-tied.

If he does appear in the first leg of the European encounter, Barca will be forced to forget about signing him, so an offer is due to be made this week, El Mundo Deportivo believe.

A phone call to the representatives of the playmaker saw Barcelona encouraged to make a move. They were supposedly told that Cesc would like the idea of returning to the Blaugrana if Arsenal could be persuaded.

But Wenger is unlikely to willingly let another key player go after a summer that has already seen him lose Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

A fee of €40 million or €50m will be required to give Barcelona a chance of signing the playmaker, especially as Wenger is not interested in the likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen in part exchange.

Andres Iniesta thinks that Barcelona should honor Samuel Eto'o for the key role that he played in helping lift the club out of the doldrums in recent seasons.

The Cameroonian international left the Camp Nou this summer without much fanfare as he was part of a swap deal with Inter that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic move to the Blaugrana.

Eto'o joined Barca as the club endured a six-year spell without winning a trophy but led their resurgence, winning three league titles, two Champions Leagues and the Copa del Rey.

"Samuel must be remembered for the player that he was. History shows that this club has had very few strikers like him," Iniesta told La Vanguardia.

"I do not know if there has ever been anyone like him before.

"What I do know is that Barcelona should erect a stature for him.

"Samuel was a fundamental player here in recent years and was key to all of the titles that the team won."

Iniesta is on tour with Barcelona in the United States, but is still recovering from a knock and cannot yet play or train with the squad.

"I cannot wait to start kicking a ball and begin playing again," he added.

Barcelona have spent over €60 million this summer to sign Keirrison from Palmeiras, as well as Inter duo Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but president Joan Laporta has now indicated that there will be more changes to the treble-winning side.

"There will be more reinforcements," Laporta told Sport. "We have full trust in the coach [Pep Guardiola] and if he asks for someone, we will try to bring him."

Laporta praised Barcelona's pre-season form, which, according to him, comes from the squad's "spectacular players", adding the club have been showing a "great image on all levels".

Laporta considers Lionel Messi's contract renewal a done deal as the "platform of commitment already exists, and there is a great affection from both parties".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o have raised plenty of questions about who will succeed the most following the high-profile switch between Barcelona and Inter.

Both strikers have a lot to live up to at their respective new clubs but Nerazzurri coach, Jose Mourinho believes that it is the Swede who will be under more pressure to meet expectations.

“You want to know if Ibrahimovic’s legacy will weigh heavily on Eto’o? Well, if you compare the careers of the two players, the pressure is on Ibra,” Corriere dello Sport quoted him telling reporters ahead of Inter’s Supercoppa Italiana clash with Lazio in Beijing.

“It’s just like a year ago when people spoke about the pressure on me and they were proven wrong,” he added.

The ever-controversial Portuguese coach also reiterated that although he is grateful to Ibra, he was not sad or disappointed to see him leave the San Siro.

“We will not forget a player who has been so important to us, and I, as a coach, do not forget the players who have made significant contributions,” he assured.

“However, I am not sad about this change and I am sure that the fans, like me, feel the same.”

Eto’o is expected to start for Inter against Lazio, while Ibrahimovic’s Barca debut has been postponed until the Catalan giants’ own Supercup clash with Athletic Bilbao on August 16.

Messi Confident That Barcelona Can Repeat Treble Success
He knows it won't be easy, but Leo thinks the Blaugrana could conquer all before them once more.
Aug 9, 2009 1:36:48 AM
Lionel Messi versus Seattle Sounders (Troy Zielonka, Goal.com)
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Lionel Messi versus Seattle Sounders (Troy Zielonka, Goal.com)
Having won the treble last year, Lionel Messi believes Barcelona are well equipped to do it all again.

Barca made history by becoming the first Spanish side to win the treble last season, and, speaking to El Mundo Deportivo, Messi saw no reason why it could not repeat itself.

"We definitely want to win it all again," he said.

"We are as motivated as we were a year ago. We want to continue making history with this group.

"We must be calm, take each game as it comes, and not think about titles or the Champions League final in the Bernabeu. We did that last season, and ended up with the treble.

"We are aware that this season will be harder, since every team will want to beat us."

Inevitably, Messi was then asked to compare Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o, and he was diplomatic in his response.

"We already knew that Zlatan was a great footballer when he played at Inter," he said.

"Eto'o gave an impressive amount to Barca. He worked hard, created pressure, and scored goals.

"Ibra can give us that, because he has tremendous quality."

Messi then assured Barca fans that he had no intention of quitting the club: "I will not be leaving.

"My father will sort out the contract renewal.

"I have never had any problems here, so I am calm."

'La Pulga' then discussed Real Madrid's summer spending, saying, "They have bought a lot of great players, it is hard to choose just one.

"But we are motivated, because we know how it feels to win the treble."

Finally, Messi played down talk of winning the Golden Ball: "A Barca player deserves it, because of all we won.

"If I get it, great. If not, I will continue working as I have until now."

Barcelona Stars Stunned By Daniel Jarque Death
The death of Dani Jarque has affected Barcelona's stars as they learned of the news in America.
Aug 9, 2009 6:46:37 AM
Daniel Jarque, Espanyol (PA)
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Daniel Jarque, Espanyol (PA)

Barcelona's stars have been stunned by the news of Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque's sudden death at the weekend, with his close friend Andres Iniesta being particularly affected.

The Blaugrana are flying home from the United States on Sunday, but before leaving they were told that the Espanyol defender had died of a heart attack at just 26-years-old.

Iniesta was a good friend of the Blanc i Blau captain and was the hardest hit when the players were told that Jarque had passed away in Italy on Sunday.

“It has been a very big shock," the Barça midfielder wrote on his personal website.

"I will miss you, my friend."

Blaugana captain Carles Puyol was also stunned to hear the news and explained that he had contacted friends at Espanyol to offer his condolences.

“It is a sad day for us and football," he was quoted as saying by the official Barca website.

“We send our support to his family and colleagues. I have spoken to some, like Ivan [De la Pena], and they are very upset.

“We will support his family and colleagues. It has been a very tough shock."