FC Barcelona´s director of football Txiki Begiristain believes that the suad for next season ois completed and expressed his delight over the quality signings of Eidur Gudjohnsen, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta. He believes that the team has got the necessary quality to win any trophy. Txiki is sure that the new signings added depth to the squad. FC Barcelona also let a lot of players leave the club to gain Primera Liga experience with other clubs but assured through buy back clauses, that they can return to the club, if needed. Saviola is the only player, whose future is not sorted. The Argentinian World Cup striker has spent the last two seasons out on loan to Monaco and Sevilla and it has been made clear to him that he will not fit into Barca´s plans for the future. Saviola has been heavily linked with Premiership clubs Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United, as well as Greek giants Panathinaikos and Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.


Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain confirmed that there had been offers but none that satisfied both, the club and the player. Txiki Begiristain has now mentioned for the first time that if no solution has been found soon that Barca would keep Saviola and include him in the squad that travels to Mexico and the United States. Txiki explained:

Saviola has everything needed to go on tour with us. If by July 31 he has not found a new team then he will be given a number here and will be another Barca player. There are offers from different clubs but we have not found a solution that satisfies us both but we will continue finding a way out for him."

Obviously there are differences between FC Barcelona and the player´s agent Alfredo Cabrera Brizuela over the way forward. FC Barcelona does not want to loan the player while he has got only one year left on his contract. Barca is holding out for the 6 mill. euro transfer fee, the last installment the club has to pay to River Plate. The player's agent Cabrera has made it clear that Barcelona only have the right to loan him out for the remaining year of his contract and that his wages of 3.5 mill. have to be paid in full. He explained that it made little sense for Saviola to agree to a transfer with reduced personal terms now, when he could wait for a year and then sign a Bosman free deal. Alternatively, they would also be open to Barca allowing Saviola to leave on a free transfer now.


Begiristain responded that Saviola could face a long lonely season on the bench:

We don't want him to go on loan when he only has one year of his contract left. We still have time for work, but if nothing is decided he will join the squad and have a number. He can be a member of the squad if there is no solution, but he must be very clear about what his situation is.

Barca coach Rijkaard will not plan with Saviola at all and it is unlikely he will pick the player even for the bench, leaving Saviola two options at FC Barcelona: A one year long holiday or the highest paid player for Barca B!