Deco flies back to Sao Paulo to join his growing family.


Barcelona's midfielder Deco has left the Westin Beijing Hotel location of FC Barcelona in the Asian training tour, flying to Brazil after a stop over in England to share the joy of fatherhood with his family. The Brazilian born Portuguese International was informed of the birth of his fourth child, who has been named David. Barca's coach Frank Rijkaard announced the news of Deco's new child to the squad, also announcing that Deco will be leaving camp for the reason of being with his wife and new born baby in Sao Paulo fater which the Barcaelona playmaker will join the rest of the team in Camp Nou to continue pre-season training.
Before leaving, Deco was congratulated by all members of the FC Barcelona team who wished him well. The Portuguese player has been linked with transfer moves of late, but seems quite set to remain in with the Blaugrana though having his sights set on the English premeirship at sometime in the future.

Barcelona's Luca Zambrotta engages Rivals Real Madrid in an off-the-pitch duel.


The 90 million Euro offer for AC Milan's Kaka by Real Madrid has been condemned by FC Barcelona's Italian defender, Zambrotta. The Barca ace believes the overtly over-expressive approach by Real Madrid for the Brazilian star will send shock waves round the footballing world with a multiplier effect of inflation on the transfer prices and wages of players, which will cause a glut in the soccer world. Zambrotta says:

The Madrid move is a show of craziness and lack of respect for football. Things like this, if not checked, will impact negatively on football and blow up transfer prices well beyond reach and proportion. This is unnecessary and not good at all, as football is not all about money as some people are trying hard to make it seem.

Zambrotta is an advocate of reasonable activities in football and is a player often identified with professionalism and a knack for showing the better side of soccer as a professional career to be enjoyed rather than a purely business concern to be merchandised and sold off to the highest bidder.

The Italian lifted the last World Cup with the Azzuri and is hoping to lift the European Champions League with the FC Barcelona super squad this season.

Dutch youth star insists it's Barcelona or nothing.


Royston Drenthe has succeeded in cooling of Real Madrid's interest in the Dutch youth star, leaving the stage set for Chelsea FC and Drenthe's preferred club, FC Barcelona to struggle for the talented 20 year old soccer revelation. However, s struggle may not be necessary as Royston has made up his mind where he wants to be. Drenthe's agent, Andre Waisman said :

Drenthe has his mind made up. He wants to play in a team with the likes of Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Messi. Barça spoke with the player and explained to him that they must first sell players, and can only then make an offer for him. Frank Rijkaard spoke directly with Drenthe and asked him to be patient over a move to Barcelona after the club sorts out its current players and issues. In England, Frank Arnesen, the Chelsea sporting director, has also been interested in him, and wants to complete the signing quickly. Real Madrid also want him as a left wing back, but Drenthe does not like the idea. Besides he doesn't want to play for Real Madrid. He wants to play for Barcelona.

Royston is highly valued after sterling performancees in the Dutch Youth Team earned him the Best Player Award for the Netherland team. His current club, Feyenoord, do not want to let go off their gem, but admit that the best move at the right time is the way the young star's career should go.

Gudjohsen injury scare being monitored.


Eidur Gudjohnsen is being closely observed after sustaining a light injury in FC Barcelona's training yesterday, after the Icelandic star was knocked on his left knee, around the area where his knee cartilage was hurt sometime back. Although Gudjohsnsen has continued training, Eidur will be monitored to see if the knock was of any significance in order for adequate measures to be taken for treatment well ahead of time.
Gudjohnsen has been strongly linked with interests from West ham United, Celtic of Scotland and most recently from Newcastle United, as the Magpies have expressed sound interest in the Barca forward.


However, Guddy believes he still has a chance to prove he can score great goals in Spain, and, urged by his father and agent Arnor, is being convinced to remain at Camp Nou despite the seemingly packed forward line of the Blaugrana who have the likes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho,Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi to dictate the pace of the Barca attack. Arnor believes all the four cannot have 90 minutes of action through out the season and this being the case, his son Eidur will have a place and will regularly come up from the reserve bench when ever the need arises, even if the former Bolton and Chelsea FC star doesn't have a secure starting place in the star-studded Barcelona squad.

Camp opens as training for year-long season 2007-08 begins.


July 21 finally saw the commencement of the new season for FC Barcelona as training began for the challenges of 2007-08. In the first training which began at 9 am, Barca players were divided into four groups for different medical tests and the first training session. The players worked out in the gym and at La Masia. In order to enable cordination, the team was divided into four groups. The green group of Zambrotta, Thuram, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Motta and Bojan were the first to go to the Medical Services and the gym area.
The red group made up of Valdés, Belletti, Deco, Ezquerro, Olmo and Giovani Dos Santos

The blue group made up of Oleguer, Abidal, Henry, Eto'o, Maxi López and Marc Valiente.
The yellow group consisted of Jorquera, Sylvinho, Touré, Iniesta and Ronaldinho.

Reserve team players Oier Olazábal, Marc Crosas and Dimas, who had already taken their medical tests with Barça B, also trained at La Masía. The session started with running exercises and physical exercises as well as the usual drills. The players then exercised in the centre circle.


After stretching, fitness coaches Albert Roca and Paco Seirullo put the players in pairs for a series of circuits, which included sit-ups and obstacles.
The blue and yellow groups trained in the afternoon in a session that was almost identical to that in the morning. In the session Dimas and Marc Crosas, who trained in the morning, carried on working apart from the main group with some light jogging. Meanwhile, the red and green groups undertook their medical tests in the afternoon.

A steady programme to ensure discipline and result oriented performance in a free and warm atmosphere is the watchword.