Several top players offered to candidates

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that several players have in the past days and weeks been offered to Barcelona presidential candidates and to directors who are still part of the board, while candidates on the other hand are also sounding out players.

The players who are being linked with a possible move to Barcelona this summer are: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan) and Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid).

Read more:
Torres not willing to negotiate with candidates
Candidates are trying to interfere in transfer talks
Rosell linked with Valencia winger Mata

Torres not willing to negotiate with candidates

Spanish sports paper SportYou claims that Liverpool forward Fernando Torres (26) has rejected an approach by Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, who wanted to sound him out on a transfer to Barcelona this summer in case he would be elected as president.

Torres, who would have decided to leave Liverpool this summer, is reportedly not willing to talk with candidates but would be open for negotiations after the elections. After Barcelona signed David Villa earlier this month, a transfer to Barcelona would nevertheless not be an option anymore.

British tabloid paper The Daily Mirror claimed last week that Rosell would want to reproduce the Villa-Torres pairing in Barcelona. So far, there would only have been tentative enquiries, but when Rosell is elected as president he could launch a bid of more than 80 million euros. By the end of the World Cup, Rosell might have raised more funds by selling players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry.

Read more:
Torres not rejecting approach by Rosell
Candidates are trying to interfere in transfer talks
Rosell linked with Valencia winger Mata

Torres not rejecting approach by Rosell

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has contacted the representatives of Liverpool forward Fernando Torres (26). With the player being concerned over speculation surrounding his club's future, Rosell is said to have been encouraged by the response he got.

Torres would be a possible substitute of Barcelona forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has reportedly been offered to English Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester City but the two teams would prefer to sign Torres, who would cost around 82 million euros. If Barcelona would sign Valencia striker David Villa in the coming weeks, a transfer of Torres would become difficult.

Read more:
Torres confirms good relationship with Rosell
Villa to be presented before the elections
The program of Sandro Rosell

The program of Sandro Rosell

Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell answered yesterday at a press conference questions about his project.


Transfers
If Pep agrees, we will always support the transfers. But from experience, we know that signing players before elections could cost you 30 to 50 per cent more than when you do it after them, so you should take that into account.

Begiristain
We don't want to talk about which people should stay or leave because that's something you should do from 14 June on. If it's true that Txiki leaves, we have candidates to fill his place.

Higuain
Having a deal with Higuain would mean we're not thinking about Barça but about other things. No, that rumour is not true.

Elections
The favourite in the elections is always the continuity candidate, whoever that may be this time because I admit I'm a bit lost.

Cruyff
We will talk with him about how he sees his task as honorary president but the members will also have their say.

Pedro and Jeffren
We went to sign them in Tenerife for 30.000 euro each.

Palau
We'll build a new Palau with 10.000-12.000 seats and a little Palau with 2.000-3.000 seats.

Guardiola
I don't think it would be good that candidates claim Guardiola just to make a good impression on the club members. But it's a fact that he's a good friend of mine for about 20 years.

We won't agree with everything he proposes. He didn't sign yet but he gave his word and I'm sure that he will stay. But we'll only agree with his proposals if we like them. If he asks something we don't like, we won't follow him. But we know that everything he will ask will be reasonable. If we win,we will reach an agreement in 15 minutes.

I would want him to stay for many years. A bit like Ferguson, although then I'm talking about the time in office not about the function.

Economic situation
If we're elected, we will do audits and of course explain to the members, who is the owner of the club, the real situation, no matter who would or would not be happy with that.

Uzbekistan
It would be contradictory to have Unicef on your chest and have deals with countries like Uzbekistan. If those deals exist, we will immediately cancel them.

New technologies
The 2.0 technologies will be very important to communicate with the club members.

Torres
There's nothing.

Barcelona Atlètic
If the team promotes to the second division, they will play the main home games at the Camp Nou.

Ronaldinho commission
No comment, I refer to the press release we've put out.

Electoral pacts
We won't make a deal with anyone.

Foster project
We won't maintain the project and given the current cost of that, no one else will do that either. It's impossible. We nevertheless want to remodel and cover the stadium.

Radical fan groups
I congratulate president Laporta for the courage decision to keep them out of the stadium.

Oliver
We think it's unacceptable that the general director of the club uses money of the club members to investigate directors of the club.

Current Barça
Regarding the sports area, this is the best Barça in history. Economically and socially it is not.

Limiting number of members
We will not cut the number but we will regulate the entrance of new members. The current system doesn't work. New technologies will help in this area.

Read more:
Rosell linked with Valencia winger Mata
Cardoner: "The member always has the last word"
Rosell leading in university poll

Candidates are trying to interfere in transfer talks

Asked about possible transfer deals to be closed before the elections on 13 June, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said at a book presentation yesterday that presidential candidates are trying to upset ongoing transfer negotations the club is trying to conclude:

"We do not want to close transfer deals in a hurry, we just try to fulfil the demands of the technical staff. But a transfer can become more expensive when there are interferences from people who want to claim that transfer.

We are dealing with some cases for a long time, holding calm and private talks from club to club. But there are people who are harming the interests of Barça. That is what a candidate is doing. I call on the candidates to let the club interests prevail over electoral interests. The club is on the right track and now is the time to act."

Asked about this issue, Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has denied in an interview with Catalan television station TV3 that he feels aimed at by the statements of the president:

"I don't feel referred to, I didn't talk with any club so I don't know who he's talking about. It should be another candidate. And besides, several papers are already saying for weeks that contracts have been closed so even when a candidate would try to interfere, that wouldn't change anything."

Read more:
Rosell worried about transfers of Cesc and Villa
Villa to be presented before the elections
Rosell linked with Valencia winger Mata

Rosell linked with Valencia winger Mata

Valencia regional newspaper Levante-EMV claims that Barcelona presidential candidate Sabndro Rosell has reached a personal deal with Valencia left winger Juan Mata (22).

If Rosell would be elected as president of FC Barcelona on 13 June, Mata would join Barcelona for a transfer fee of 20 million euros. The player would triple his year salary and get a little less than 2,5 million euros each season.

Speaking at a press conference today, Mata has denied the rumours: "I don't have signed a contract or a pre-agreement with anyone. At this time of the season, there are names of players and clubs popping up everywhere, but there's still a league game and a World Cup ahead.

I won't let myself be distracted by the stream of rumours. I have a contract with Valencia, I'm happy and have a lot of years left here. The most important thing for me is the sporting aspect and I cannot complain there since I have played a lot this season. The rest are only rumours."

Read more:
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Villa to be presented before the elections
Rosell worried about transfers of Cesc and Villa

Rosell worried about transfers of Cesc and Villa

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims, based upon statements made during a meeting with Barcelona fan club members last week, that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell is worried about the transfer policy of the current board in the weeks that are left before the elections.

Rosell reportedly thinks that the club could speed up some transfer negotiations and close deals regarding players like Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas and Valencia forward David Villa before the elections, which could benefit the board candidacy. This might lead to Barcelona paying transfer fees that are above the market price.

The former sports vice-president would have said it's possible that Barcelona would spend up to 100 million euros in transfers, which could also limit the actions of the new board that will take office on 1 July. Regarding the transfer of Villa, Rosell is quoted as saying that a correct transfer fee would be between 25 and 30 million euros.

Read more:
Villa to be presented before the elections
Laporta blocks transfer plans Rosell
Torres confirms good relationship with Rosell

Villa to be presented before the elections

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona and Valencia have reached a principal agreement on the transfer of Valencia forward David Villa (28) after a formal meeting between Barcelona chief executive Joan Oliver and Valencia representatives in Valencia last week.

Apart from the determination of the final transfer price, the deal between the two clubs would be complete. The rumoured fee would be around 30 million euros but Valencia would want to include some Barcelona players in the deal because cash money would go directly to the bank that has refinanced the club's debts.

Pressured by their creditors, among which Spanish bank Bancaja is the most important one, Valencia would be forced to sell players for between 40 and 60 million euros this summer and reduce the cost of the players' salaries from 90 to 60 millions.

The plan is reportedly that the deal could be closed soon after the end of the league season and that Villa would be presented as new player of Barcelona before the presidential elections in 13 June and before Villa, who was already a transfer target of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola during the past two transfer summers, travels to South Africa for the World Cup.

Read more:
Laporta blocks transfer plans Rosell
Rooney could become electoral transfer target
Rosell preparing bid for Cesc

Laporta blocks transfer plans Rosell

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has already closed two transfer deals for the summer and would that way make impossible the plan of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell to announce signings ahead of the elections in June.

A Barcelona vice-president is quoted as saying: "Sandro Rosell will not be able to announce his candidacy with a transfer because Laporta has already verbal agreements with two players who will arrive before 30 June. So Sandro will have to wait two years to sign someone if he in the end wins the presidency of Barcelona."

The paper claims that one of the two players involved is Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22). The second player would be Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli (19 - picture) or Valencia forward David Villa (28). Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would like all three players.

Read more:
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Rooney could become electoral transfer target
Rosell preparing bid for Cesc

Cartoon 33: Rosell ready to solve Cesc's problem

Cesc:
It's very frustrating not to be able to make my debut at the Camp Nou, I would like to find a solution for that.

Rosell:
Well, I have 56 million solutions.


(click the cartoon to enlarge)


by caye

source:
sport

check more election cartoons here

Rosell preparing bid for Cesc

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona presidential candidate and former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell is preparing a bid of 56 million euros to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas in the summer.

Rosell would always have maintained excellent relations with Cesc, whose contract with the English Premier League club expires in 2014, as well as with his family, and securing the transfer of the former Barcelona youth player would strengthen his bid for the presidency.

Read more:
Ribery rejects approach Rosell
Laporta and Rosell contacted Cesc
Torres confirms good relationship with Rosell

The Quote: Joan Laporta

"I won't leave Barça without having presented Cesc."


Joan Laporta,
Barcelona president

read more election quotes here

Torres confirms good relationship with Rosell

Asked about a possible return to Spain, Liverpool Fernando Torres (25) has said in an interview with Madrid sports tabloid As that, despite a good contact with Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, he has no plans to leave the English Premier League soon:

"You never know what can happen but for now I don't consider a return to the Spanish league. Sandro Rosell already wanted me before? I have a good relationship with Sandro since his time at Nike, but these are hypotheses because he is not even the president of Barça. In the short term, my future is in England."

Read more:
Rosell sounding out Fernando Torres
Rooney could become electoral transfer target
Polls lead to Cesc transfer rumours

Ribery rejects approach Rosell

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has been trying to close a deal with Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry (26) but the player would not be interested in a move to Barcelona (read more here).

Rosell would like Ribéry to be one of the new faces of his project if he's elected as president in June but despite several calls to Bayern Munich and attempts to convice the Frenchman, Ribéry would reportedly only want to join Real Madrid in the summer.

Read more:
Candidate has deal with Ribery
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Polls lead to Cesc transfer rumours

Candidate has deal with Ribery

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that one of the people who will run for president of FC Barcelona in the elections that will be held later this year, has reached a personal agreement with Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry to join Barcelona in the summer.

The candidate would have informed Ribéry, who should become the substitute of Barcelona forward Thierry Henry, that he is willing to pay the price that will be asked by the German club but that the transfer will in the end depend on the approval by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola.

Read more:
Ribery on wish list Rosell
Polls lead to Cesc transfer rumours
Transfer battle between board and Rosell

Polls lead to Cesc transfer rumours

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the recent rumours regarding a deal on the transfer of Arsenal midfielder Cesc to Barcelona this summer are a consecuence of vote intention enquiries.

Private polls among club members and fans would show that Barcelona vice-president Alfons Godall is going behind and the leaking of names of players that could join Barcelona would be a strategy by the club to attract more votes.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that, because of the polls, the current board wants to present two big transfers before the elections, with Cesc and Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry suggested as possible targets. The club would be trying to make a budget of 100 million euros available for the signings.

Read more:
Rooney could become electoral transfer target
Laporta and Rosell contacted Cesc
Ribery on wish list Rosell

Laporta and Rosell contacted Cesc

Spanish television channel Antena 3 claims that Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22) has decided that, because of the lack of trophies won, he wants to leave the English Premier League club at the end of the season and join Barcelona.

Both Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell would already have contacted the entourage of Cesc, but the player reportedly doesn't want to be linked with any candidacy and would first try to convince Arsenal to let him go in the summer.

Catalan sports papers Sport, El Mundo Deportivo and El 9 Esportiu all claimed this week that Barcelona wants to sign Cesc before the end of the mandate of Laporta, who will leave the club on 30 June after seven years in office (read more here).

Asked about a possible return, Cesc meanwhile suggested in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he could be willing to come back to Barcelona, the club he left as a youth player in the summer of 2003:

"I've never hidden that one day I would like to return to Barça. Since I was nine months old, I went to the Camp Nou. I spend my whole youth wearing those colours, but because of a series of circumstances I had to leave. You never know what can happen in the future, but during the coming four months I want to focus on my job at Arsenal."

Read more:
Guardiola will push candidates to sign Cesc
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Rooney could become electoral transfer target

Rooney could become electoral transfer target

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney (24) could become a transfer target for candidates in the elections for president of Barcelona after news reports in England saying that the player might be for sale.

British tabloid The Sun reported earlier this week that Manchester United has serious debt problems which could force the English Premier League champions to sell Rooney. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid would be interested in the English striker and are said to be preparing bids of around 78,5 million euros.

British tabloid The Daily Express confirms today that Manchester United is urgently trying to sort out their financial problems to avoid selling Rooney. Unless the club can reschedule their loans to reduce interest payments, they would have to let go players and only Rooney could raise the money needed without destabilizing the whole squad.

Read more:
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Guardiola will push candidates to sign Cesc
Ribery on wish list Rosell

Guardiola will push candidates to sign Cesc

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is believed to want all candidates who will run for Barcelona president this year to make Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22) the central player in their transfer strategy and could even be linking his own renewal to the signing of the Catalan player.

A source close to Guardiola is quoted by the tabloid as saying: "There is no way that Guardiola will not sign a new contract and he can almost write out his own terms [...]. But he wants to make sure that [...] there is a commitment to Fabregas. It will be an important signing for them this summer and any new president will want to keep Guardiola happy."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that it's clear to all presidential candidates that the transfer of Cesc, who is said to be together with Bayern Munich player Ribéry Barcelona's transfer priority for the summer, could be a decisive factor in the upcoming presidential elections.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca meanwhile claims that Cesc would be a key player in the project for next season of former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the relationship between Rosell and Cesc is so close that in case the player would leave Arsenal, that would only be to join Rosell's Barcelona.

Read more:
Godall: "I want Cesc to return home"
Benedito denies talks with Mascherano
Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc

Ribery on wish list Rosell

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribéry (26), who last May would have rejected an offer by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, could play a part in the upcoming elections as presidential candidate Sandro Rosell would have the Frenchman on his wish list.

Rosell would be interested in Ribéry for many reasons, among which the facts that the player would fit Barcelona's playing style, that he's one of the few top players available on the market, that the former sports vice-president has good contacts with executives of Ribéry's sponsor Nike and that Real Madrid is also interested in him which could win Rosell extra votes if he succeeds to sign the player.

Bayern Munich would reportedly want to organize a bid race between the two Spanish clubs, Chelsea and Inter Milan, while the player is said to have reached a verbal agreement with Madrid president Florentino Pérez last August.

Read more:
Barcelona wants to tie down Ribery before elections
Rosell sounding out Fernando Torres
Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc