The technical secretary of FC Barcelona Txiki Begiristain has clarified the situation regarding Argentine striker Javier Saviola. Txiki Begiristain has made FC Barcelona’s intentions clear regarding the future of Javier Saviola. Txiki confirmed that after the Liga break, Barca will work on an offer and present such offer at the right time:

We will be leaving our decision, as he knows perfectly well because we spoke to his agent a month ago, until after this league break, when we will start working on an offer. We hope, he studies our proposal, which will correspond to what the player represents for us and that he accepts it.

The Player needs to know what his future is. But it will club that decides when to make its offer.


Javier Saviola’s contract ends on June 30 and he is keen to know, what the offer will be:

The club has not approached me. I just want them to come forward and tell me what they think. But I am not holding a gun up to anybody to force them to stay here. I don’t know how to deal with the situation. I don’t know what I have to do to make them come and speak to me.

I have had some lovely years here. Since I gambled on staying at Barcelona, I have always come to training and given it all I can. And when I play, too. I don’t regret the decision I made and I have always acted like a professional.

Out of respect, I won’t speak about any clubs. I have not left Barça yet and I don’t know yet if I will have to leave. The day I know what the club thinks, I will start deciding whether to go or not.

This season, Saviola appeared in 21 official matches. 16 in La Liga, 5 in the Copa del Rey and 1 in the Champions league. He has scored 12 goals so far.

FC Barcelona´s European Cup hero Juliano Belletti, who scored the winning goal against Arsenal in last year´s final in Paris, has been offered an extension on his current contract until 2009. The club and the player agreed on improved terms and the player is ready to put pen to paper by the end of this week, once the contracts have been drawn up.

Today´s spanish Football newspapers El Mundo Deportivo and SPORT, both reported today Real Madrid tried to torpedize the verbal agreement between Arsenal´s Henry and FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona is very condident and convinced that "Titi" will be a Barça player for the next 3 years.



Both papers reported that Real Madrid sent intermediarse to persuade and pressure the agent of Thierry Henry and Arsenal to re-think the Barca agreement and to commit to join Real Madrid instead of FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona is extremely keen on signing Arsenal´s goalgetter and two times "Golden Boot" Winner Thierry Henry to strengthen the Barça team in the season 2006/2007 ahead and does not believe that Henry will change his mind and sign a new contract with Real Madrid instead with Arsenal or FC Barcelona.

The assault to kidnap the Henry deal is a cheap way of "Merengue" President Fernando Martín to gain votes for the next presidential elections. It is also believed that Milan´s coach Carlo Ancelotti, a candidate for the manager position at the "Merengues" has made the signature of Henry to Real a condition to sign for the "Non-Galacticos". But Henry himself and his agent are not willing to listen to this sort of propaganda and do not want to be drawn in any presidential ellections at Real Madrid. The verbal agreement is made and the Barça board is absolutely convinced that Henry plays for the next 3 years at BARÇA.


FC Barcelona will wait for the final decision that Thierry Henry will not sign a new contract with Arsenal. Not to offend any FIFA Regulation, the agreement is only verbal and logically no written agreement exists. FC Barcelona will wait until Henry´s final decision and his official declaration is made that he does not sign the new contract offered by Arsenal FC. Then will the time arrive, when the pact will receive official character and when Barca will finalise the transfer of Thierry Henry with the Arsenal board.
With regards to Arsenal, behind closed doors the board has already resigned and is out to look for the possible "clon" of their talismatic goal getter and Highbury idol. Arsenal´s manager and Henry mentor Arsène Wenger as well as the board know about the desire of their talismanic No. 14 to sign his last contract with the biggest football club in the world FC Barcelona, trained by a friend, Frank Rijkaard. The Arsenal officials know that it will be almost impossible to hold Henry to the remaining one year left on his contract and it would be without any financial responsibility not to cash in on Henry just to let him go on a bosman free transfer one year later. Henry, now 28 years old (he will be 29 next August) knows this will be his last big contract and he wants to be part of a great winning side. Barça´s style and world class players are currently praised all over the world. Barça is dominating La Liga with an 11 point lead and is absolute top favourites for winning the Champions League. Pundits all over the world forsee even Barca dominating Europe for a while. Arsenal has had not its best campaign this year and todays 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspurs at home at Highbury dropped their chances significantly to qualify for UEFA´s Champions League. Even a fourth place would sent them into a qualification round. But Arsenal still has the hope to qualify for the Champions League by winning the Final in Paris. So, what is it to be, Thierry Henry?

Also Barca player´s and friends of Thierry Henry like Giuly or Etóo, with who "Tití" maintains regular contact are quite sure that Henry will join Barça. Of course, it is not up to them to anounce any confidential information before Thierry Henry himself speaks out officially. An official transfer anouncement a few weeks after the finish of the season and just when all the attention is directed to the Word Cup in Germany, would probably the best timing.

French newspaper L'equipe reported that French Barca winger Ludovic Giuly wants to extend his contract (expires 2007) with FC Barcelona for another 2 years but the player himself admits that he has got offers from several Clubs like Inter, Monaco, Glasgow Rangers, Lyon and Galatasaray. Latest Club who seems to be monitoring Giuly´s contractual situation is Liverpool. "L'Equipe" also reported that Giuly´s future at Camp Nou depends on the arrival of Arsenal´s top star Thierry Henry. Despite great performances such as on last Tuesday in the Champions League against Milan when he scored a stunning goal and seald Barca´s victory he is not a regular starter in the team. an attacking front with Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Henry and Messi would leave no room for frenchman Giuly.


El Mundo Deportivo today reported that Giuly's agent will meet Barça president Joan Laporta next month trying to negotiate a new deal.

The extension of the contract of Rafael Marquez was and is only a formality. Rafael Marquez always claimed the desire to extend his contract with Barca and it seems that the Football Club Barcelona and the Barca defender have found an agreement for the future. Rafa Marquez´s intention is to finish his career with FC Barcelona and he is meant to sign the new contract this week. He will sign a new 3 year contract with an option of extention for an additional year. Rafael Marquez was approached by AC Milan and an undisclosed important Premiership Club other than Chelsea FC. Rafael Marquez has been in outstanding form and a very important part of the Barca team for the last 2 years.