Javier Saviola has revealed that he will probably have to leave FC Barcelona, even the Catalan Club is his first choice. Saviola is a free agent next summer when his contract expires but admitted that the European Champions have not made any offer yet. Saviola explained:

I think it will be difficult for me to continue with Barcelona. My first option is to stay, but the club still hasn't made an offer to me. If the situation does not change it is normal that I will leave the club.

FC Barcelona's techniocal secretary Txiki Beguiristain feels it is too soon to offer Saviola a new contract and admitted that the contract negotiations do not have priority at the moment:

It is still too soon to speak about the subject of Saviola. It is still not a priority for us.

FC Barcelona Blog: It does not look like Saviola will stay. Barca know that there are plenty of Clubs after the Argentinian striker but if it is not the Club´s priority to negotiate with a player who can sign for free for other clubs now, it is not a positive sign.


Should Saviola stay or not?

FC Barcelona´s technical secretary Txiki Begiristain admitted that the elimination from the Champions League to Liverpool has been a major disappointment but stressed out that the season is far from over.


Txiki explained:

It is a major disappointment to go out of the Champions League again. We went through this two years ago, so we know what it is all about. But I don't like talking about failure. For me, the word "failure" can only be applied once the season is over. That's when we will see where we are and how it has all ended. What we have won and what we have lost. If we win the two titles we have left to play for, we can say it has been another fantastic season.

Liverpool are a difficult, strong, disciplined team, who play very physical football. They players work well together, they play great team football. They play to their style. The year they won the Champions league, they did something very similar in the semi finals against Chelsea. If they have gone through in the end, then it is because they deserved to, and because they scored twice at the Camp Nou. These are the small details that have gone on to decide the tie.

We wil continue to employ the same style. It is because we have won so many games playing our way. We like playing like that and the fans do too. We won the League and Champions league playing our style.

FC abrcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has requested to technical secretary txiki Begiristain and president Joan Laporta not to punish Barca´s Cameroun striker samuel Eto´o and to close the "case Eto´o" now.
Both, Txiki Begiristain and Frank Rijkaard, have confirmed today in a press conference, that the "case Eto´o" is closed and no sanctions to the players have been made.

Txiki was the first who spoke to the media and explained:

The issue is dealt with and we are happy that the case is closed now. Frank has requested that Eto´o should not be sanctioned because he believes in the self-management of the team. It has all been an error from the first moment, from Sunday night on, and there has been a lack of dialogue and that is, what we have to avoid from happening again.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard has sent out a positive the message, to look forward and to forget the past:

We are happy now, because the team has demonstrated to be a great group. What happened, could have a positive effect on the team and in fact, we already have seen it in the training this morning.

FC Barcelona´s technical secretary Txiki Begiristain met Cristiano Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes during Tuesday's friendly international, when Portugal beat Brazil at Arsenal´s Emirates Stadium but denied that Barca have made the first move to sign the talented Manchester United youngster.


English tabloids reported Begiristain and Mendes met at a London hotel prior to the match and pictures showing the pair sitting together in the stands fueld the rumours that the topic of their meeting was the Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo.


Txiki Begiristain publicly admits the interest of Barca in Ronaldo but explained in the English tabloid Daily Mail:
It's true that we met. Jorge Mendes is my friend, I've known him for years. It is logical, we are interested in Ronaldo but I must stress, we are a big club and we will work in a proper way.


Jorge Mendes is also the agent of Barca players Rafa Marquez and Deco.


FC Barcelona Blog: There are more discrete places and opportunities around for Txiki and Mendes to meet and discuss a Ronaldo transfer than the Emirates Stadium or a London hotel!

FC Barcelona´s technical secretary Txiki Beguiristain confirmed again that Barca has no plans to sign new players during the January transfer period.
Txiki also denied any contact to Swedish international player Johan Elmander and played down any recent rumours in the spanish media and the player himself:

It is certain that we are a club open to any question, but today it has not entered into our plans to close new deals. At no moment are we speaking with Elmander or other players.