Cesc

Just keeping you updated, Barca seems to have made between a 32 - 39 million euro offer. No one seems to know where within there it fell. Either way I think they (Arsenal) might actually accept which I never thought would happen this summer...

So Barca could be getting Cesc... soon. Also apparently if they do keep him, Arsenal might revoke his captain ship :( Poor Cesc. And Valdes called the whole thing a soap opera the other day and slammed Arsenal sorta. He was like he obviously wants to come and he has for years, I don't know why his team can't accept that. Maybe arsenal want to drag out the drama. BAM!

I'm sure Arsenal won't mind.

Also we resigned Thiago with a 90 million buy out clause till 2015, he's basically a younger potentially better (depending on who you ask) version of Cesc so who knows what will happen.

And last thing, Alexis Sanchex whose deal was "80% done last week" is now looking less likely. His club sorta backed out because Man City offered more (how like them) but Barca wouldn't offer any more and now they're like oh well actually he does really wanna play for you so maybe that is good enough..

And the truth comes out..

So there's this guy named Fernando Gago who until today I believed to be evil (he plays for Madrid). Today, however, he admitted the truth. Now I like him.

Gago (Real Madrid): "Barcelona are the best team in history. Far better than Real Madrid. It was impossible to beat them this year." [espn]

Oh, it gets so so so much better:

Fernando Gago (Real Madrid): "Our fans kept on thinking it was possible to beat Barcelona. They just couldn't admit it wasn't." [espn]

Ahahahahahhaha, yeah, that's right... it might have something to do with him being Argentine. Maybe Messi, Maschy, & Milito wouldn't pass to him until he saluted the campiones. (:

Happy Birthday Messi (:

Oh how quickly they grow up.

Today is Messi's 24th birthday (:

So I think we should take this chance to look at the hoard of awards and trophies he's gathered at this point.

He's won: 5 Spanish leagues, 1 Spanish Cup, 4 Spanish Super Cups, 3 Champions Leagues, 1 Fifa Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Olympic Gold Medal, 1 Fifa World Player *which became the Baloon d'Or, 2 Baloon d'Or, 4 World Soccer Player of the Year, 1 Golden Foot, 1 League Highest Scorer, and about ten more titles that just seem repetitive as they all just proclaim him the best.

He's won every single trophy at club level and broken about 5 different records this year alone.

Every year there is another, "Messi never has"... he never had scored on an English team. Did that. Never scored on a Mourinho led team. Did that. Never scored in England. Did that.

The expectations surrounding him are impossibly high and yet he doesn't fall under them, he just pushs them higher. In short, he's a very very tiny, soccer god.

Happy Birthday Messi (:

Transfers...

I didn't want to right about Sanchez.. but Barca had basically signed him at this point so woohoo alexis <3

But here's a good article about all transfers...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/734709-fc-barcelona-transfer-rumours-who-are-pep-guardiola-and-bara-really-chasing

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/733447-barcelona-transfer-rumours-8-potential-signings-that-could-guarantee-another-eu

Cesc

Interview:

"I'm very happy, I'm an Arsenal player now, and that's it. Wenger knows what I want and he's the boss, he decides."
"It's frustrating not to win trophies. Barcelona are a great club, the best in the world, and playing there is a guarantee to win."

"I won't step forward and say I want to join Barça. After 8 years at Arsenal, I won't harm the club. That's not my way of being."

"Since I'm 11, I'm saying that playing at Barça is my dream. I don't have to repeat it at every press conference"

"At this point, who can I fool about what's my dream… If it will happen or not, I don't know, that's not in my hands."

So Cesc is polite && really wants to come to Barca.

David Villa (:

Villlla (:

That's an interview with him ^

He talks about lots of great things like Messi, Pep, and Barca (joining Barca) and his season, and Madrid (:/), and how he looks like Trotski.

I'm glad that he's happy with how he played this season because everyone keeps saying he didn't live up to the hype (he scored 28 goals in 42 appearances last season and 23 in 50 this season). But come on, he's the bomb. He had to adjust to Barca and he deserves some time to do that.

Anyway, Pep thought he did a good job and if Pep thinks your doing well, you're doing great.

Messsi (:

http://www.barcablaugranes.com/2011/6/12/2215949/defense-barcelonas-neglected-component#storyjump

Read me ^

Barca B!

So I thought I should let you know how amazing Barca's B team is (:

So Barca B was in the 3rd devision when Pep Guardiola (:D) took it over in 2007, they were first in the devision and they were promoted to the second devision.. and Pep became head coach.. and Pedro got to start playing on the first team (: Anyway, they finished the league this year in 3rd place in the second devision which should mean they play in the playoffs and have like a very very good chance of promotion to the primera devision- the one that Barca plays in. Of course that can't happen because a club can't have two teams in one league. But how awesome is that? Barca's reserve team is good enough to play in their league.

Also, just for your knowledge these are sorta their key players.

Well Fontas has already been promoted to the first team, though he didn't play much, so supposedly he's good.

Soriano is a beast that scored a ridiculous number of goals. He's going to leave this year, which is probably for the best since he would have a hard time breaking into the first team with Pedro, Messi, & Villa there.

Thiago I've metioned but he's the guy whose always being called Xavi's replacement (not yet of course). He has great sight and he can score too, so we like him. He could be gone this year :( Hope not.

Dos Santos, Sergio Roberto, Batra, and Oriol romeu are also pretty good.

I think Mino is good too, but not sure.

Anyway, we rule.

PepPepPep

It's all Pep's fault. Nough Said.

There were rumors that he'd be Quatar's coach too, but now that they probably don't get to keep it & i doubt they'll actually qualify. SO HAHAHA.

Unless they do. He better not leave us :(

SISTERFRIEND

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ALL OF US TO YOU WE WISH YOU VERY HAPPY THINGS SO WE CAN HAVE SOME TOOO!!! (i don't know if i got the words right)

Transfers - Rossi!

Giuseppe Rossi! So we apparently really want him/he really wants to come. He's sorta a traitor. He was born in NJ but he decided to play for the Italian national team, so I'm not sure how I feel about him...

He's pretty good though.. but he's also pretty expensive. He's really important at Villarreal (he was the main reason they got 3rd). He's worth like 28 mill but they want 30. And Barca only has 45 mill to spend so gahh.

So they could do a + player thing but villarreal doesn't seem interested.

I don't really know if I want him so much at this point.. but he is good...

Mer

Remember this guy? Well I just learned that he's actually really good. Doesn't that make you sorta sad? See, really good:

Speaking of goalies...

Victor Valdés played a major role in Barcelona’s amazing season. His “save rate” in Liga matches was 82.2%, enough to earn him his third consecutive Zamora title for the league’s best goalkeeper. In comparison, Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas finished the season with a save rate of 70.6%, and Pepe Reina at Liverpool with 68.4%.

Read more: http://www.totalbarca.com/#ixzz1OjcyWbba

Also, for the record, Victor Valdes doesn't do this:

The world isn't fair.

Hahahhahahaha

The commentary after the first goal is spectacular.

Transfers? - Cesc (:

There are a butt load of transfer rumors out there right now and so there is like a 99% chance I'm going to forget someone but lets hope not. We'll start with the big three: Cesc, Rossi, and Alexis Sanchez. I'm gonna do one post for each..

Cesc. There's a little too much to say I think. It's a lot less public then last year when Barca was basically texting him and he was basically blatantly telling Wegner he wanted to leave. It's a lot quieter now but it's still happening. Wegner keeps changing his asking price and Barca keeps changing how much they're willing to pay (so say the rumors). The number I keep hearing is 50 mill. Which is all of Barca's transfer fund.. Arsenal really wants to keep Cesc, & even more so now that Nasri could leave. I've heard that Barca wants to offer 35 mill + a player or two. I've heard that the players would be Affelay, Bojan, or Thaigo. This seems super unlikely though.

In Bojan's case, I don't think it will happen because he wants to stay.

"Everything that has come out in the press is false," he told Diario AS. "Nothing is true and I am very relaxed about things. Both the club and I know that they have confidence in me and I am very happy to form part of FC Barcelona. I am not thinking of leaving or of forming part of any deals to make transfers any cheaper," insisted Bojan.

He likes Barca & he's good. While he may be becoming increasingly unnecessary- if they get Rossi or Sanchez there won't really be a place for him... if he wants to stay it's unlikely Barca will make him leave. Also, he's only 20 & Barca doesn't like to sell their young, talented, home grown players.

With Affelay it's more that he's too promising & that's too cruel. He's only been at Barca since January and he really likes it. He's just learning Spanish now and he's all chummy with everyone. They can't make him leave :( Also he's already gotten so much better, if he does say so himself.

"I think that the conditions are there to do even better next season. The past six months have already been quite good, though. I feel very well and the future is looking very bright. I have been at the club for only a few months, but I already feel like a much better player than before I arrived here."

No, they won't send him away.

Lastly, Thiago. He's just plain too good to sell.

He's sorta like a morphed together Xavi&Iniesta. Barca won't let him go anywhere because he's a home grown talent that can take over when Xavi is gone. The funny thing is he's actually probably the main reason Barca doesn't need Cesc.

The only way I can see Barca letting any of them go is on loan or with a buy back option.. but Arsene Wegner doesn't dig that idea. He's really expensive to but as a bench warmer... he's really good but Barca has the best midfield in the world and they really want him more as a next generation of that midfield. The thing is though, he so clearly wants to come that it sort of makes sense for Barca to wait until 2014 when his contract ends with Arsenal, and then sign him. It's when they want him anyway. I hope he comes soon because him & Pique will be funny (: but.. I don't know.

So things in the Cesc department are slowly evolving. Of course everyone loves him and wants him at Barca (including himself) but Arsene Wegner eats puppy dog tail so...

Next up, Rossi.

Xavi & Pique

One more thing...

I <3 Xavi & Pique. They are my favorites, after Messi. Of course.

Pique -

First off. He wrote a book? What? Who does that? It's called Return Journey and it's about getting to play in Barca's first team.. or the whole journey to getting where he is. About Man U, and Sir Alex and Pep too. As far as I can tell it's only in Catalan at the moment though :(

Also, he's just generally awesome. Really. I like him. First, he's just funny and wonderful.

Second, him and Puyi are in love. Third, him and Cesc are in love, Fourth, him and Shakira are REALLY in love. And fifth, he's actually really good, which I never really noticed. But no. He's like,super good. <--- And all that great stuff was before this year which has apparently been his best year ever. So he bleeds a lot.. we all have flaws. Article guy is right, the world would be a worse place without Pique.

Xavi-

First off, him & Puyi are nominated for the Golden Foot, which is- The Golden Foot award is an international career award only for at least 29-year-old football players, who stand out for their sport results (both as single players and with their team), for their personality and for the esteem of the public and football experts.... (over 29 as you can see, so no messi (: ) Vote for them by clicking here!!

Besides that, he's also just so in to Barca (: He loves everyone. This interview is amazing and you should read it, but you probably wont. But basicly he says this is the best team he's ever played for, he's never been happier, and he has never, you ready, LOVED a team more. He's never been on a team with a better relationship, never had closer friends & teamates. Aw, love. Also he managed to throw in that this team is the best of at least the last 20 years and that Messi is the best player of all time. Not in the world. Of all time. Yup. & he managed to throw in that Real Madrid are trying to destroy soccer. Ah, :)

Also, he's apparently pretty good? Who knew?

Lalala

Spain!

Match Reportt

So Spain played Venezuela today, and won 3-0 (:

First goal was scored by David Villa (:

Second by Pedro (:

Third by some other guy that doesn't matter named Xabi Alonso. But no one cares.

More importantly is the "0" part. Valdes started today, and played until the like 89th minute. What sucks is that it's only his 4th cap for Spain. Which is insane because is in one of the best goalies in the world. Unfortunately, everyone is under the illusion that Iker is good. And he's also the capitan. So gah. What's annoying about the whole thing is that Valdes won the Zamora for the third year in the row- ahead of Casillas every year and people are all like, "omg it's like totally because he's like never tested". So, to recap, the fact that he is the unstoppable goaly for the best team in the world (which also happens to have a pretty good defense which is NOT HIS FAULT) actually counts against him.

Poor Victor :(

Also Valdes made a really amazing save that is of course left out of the highlights.

So here - bake in his glory -

He's amazing. I'm bitter. Growl.

Messi (:

The first five seconds make me scared. I don't know how his little ankles are still in tact.

The rest is just him being a monster. RAWR.

Landon!

Donovan : Lionel Messi, Forward, Striker, Attacking Midfielder. He's five 6 and a half- don't leave out that half- but his play, is larger than life. Barcelona saw his talent and moved his whole family from Argentina to Spain. He made his league debut at 17, and you might say he's done pretty well. He's been named champions player of the year, two-time la liga player of the year, and European footballer of the year, Fifa player of the year, and five time player of the year in his home, Argentina. He plays with instinct- he's creative... he plays kind of like I would play against fifteen year olds. Lionel Messi, call him Leo. You know what, right now, lets just call him the best.

Landon has a crush on Messi :)