It becomes more and more likely that FC Barcelona will let Brazilian right full back Juliano Belletti move to AC Milan during the January transfer window for an estimated € 5 mill fee. Rumours are mounting and it seems only matter of days when the transfer should be confirmed.


Belletti has seen little action this season following the arrival of Italian world champion Gianluca Zambrotta and several injuries. Belletti´s contract with FC Barcelona expires in 2008 but reports from sources in Barcelona suggest that his brother, Sandro Belletti, has brokered a new 4-year deal with the Rossoneri.
Thanks to his Champions League winning goal against Arsenal last May that brought the European Cup to Barcelona again for the second time, he will always have a special place in the heart of the fans and the club will not stand in the way for his last lucrative contract in his career.


FC Barcelona are not short for right full back options. Zambrotta, Oleguer, Puyol and Thuram are all capable of playing in this position.


AC Milan have been looking for a replacement for veteran right back Cafu and seem to have found the player in Belletti.

FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol´s reaction after the match was self-critical but believes that the team will put things right again.


Here is a selection of his post match comments:

There is no need for alarm bells, but I do agree our recent results have not been good. It is a problem for the whole team, we aren't playing well up front or at the back. Now we need to turn the page.

Espanyol were better than us from start to finish. They came out more aggressive. After the goal they felt more comfortable and played football on the counter attack. In the second half, when we scored, it looked like things were going to change but they scored their second too quickly.

Everybody needs to give a little more, starting with myself. I am never happy when we lose.

There is a long league to go and we have time to change things. We don't need to worry. It is important for our rivals not to run away from us. We have taken a knock, but with a bit of luck the other teams will too.

We have to recover the kind of football this team has always played. Yes, players are missing, but we can't look for excuses. We have play like we used to, putting on pressure, maintaining possession. It can't be that complicated because we are still the same players.

Every year we go through bad spells, but we have always got over them. I have my faith in the team. If we aren't scoring, it is not just the forwards' fault, it is everybody's, we need to start attacking moves form the back and carry them on through midfield. We have a good team and we can turn the page.

Dear FC Barcelona Blog Visitor,


I will be on a trip for the next 10 days and will return Saturday, 2nd of December. During this period, I will try to blog and inform you as good as possible but this all depends on internet access and time.


I will be back, just in time for the big match against Werder Bremen in the Champions League and service will commence prior to the match as usual.


I apologize for the limited service during this period but hope, the Barca team will cheer you up with some great performances.


I expect, when the service is back to normal that Barca is still top of the table and has one more point than Werder Bremen in the UEFA Champions League!


Visca el Barca!



Sven