Yesterday, English tabloid "Daily Mirror" reported in their print version as well as online services, that Chelski owner and Russian oil billionaire, Roman Abramovich, would have a chance to land the player he most craves for Chelsea, due to the fact that Ronaldinho indicated to a "close but anonymous source" that he wants to quit FC Barcelona.


Abramovich´s desire to get Ronnie to Stamford Bridge is so great, that he would fork out a new world record transfer fee of over € 150 mill. in a money-no-object mission.


The "close anonymous source" revealed:

Ronaldinho doesn't feel he is properly backed at Barcelona any more. He knows that Barca's special advisor Johan Cruyff doesn't like him, and everybody knows, when Cruyff talks, the president Joan Laporta and his board listen.

Once again, Ronaldinho has been associated with a big money move to Chelsea. For sure, "Big Roman" would like to add another toy to his selection after recently completing the purchase of the most luxurious boat of the world.
Only Ronaldinho personally can confirm or deny a statement by an anonymous source but it will be very unlikely he will respond to this one.


FC Barcelona Blog gives a few reasons (among many others) why Ronnie would not change to Chelsea or the English Premier League now:


Barca´s magical No. 10 intends to extend his current contract (expires in 2011) to 2014 by the end of this season.

Ronaldinho himself knows that he is a La Liga player, where people admire him for his incredible technical skills and his flair. So, why should he want to play in a kick-and-rush League where his freedom of performing his elegant style is seen as laziness, selfish behaviour and poor defending. I prefer Ronnie as he is instead running around like a headless chicken.


One reason mentioned in the article, why Ronaldinho would want to leave Camp Nou is because "special advisor" Johan Cruyff does not like him. Funny, that Ronaldinho, did end up at FC Barcelona in the first place (to our knowledge Cruyff was already "specially advising" Laporta) and why is he playing already his 4th season for Barca?


Mourinho will not change his tactics in favor to give a gifted player like Ronaldinho the freedom to entertain. This means, Mourinho has to leave before Ronaldinho arrives.


Not that I waste one second on this unrealistic idea but just think of the biggest nightmare of all: a swap deal between Barca and Chelski - Ronaldinho/Mourinho

The January transfer window is open since a week and a big Club like FC Barcelona is always in the headlines of the press when it comes to transfer rumours. Who is leaving and who is coming to the Blaugrana? Have a look what certain papers in and out of the country suggest.


Xavi - From FC Barcelona to Manchester United
Catalan daily paper "SPORT" reported that Manchester United are interested in the services of the Spanish international and Barca midfielder Xavi Hernandez. Sport suggested that after being 10 years at the Club, he could be up for a new challenge. Additionally, Xavi is sharing his spot in the starting line up with in form midfielder Andres Iniesta, a situation that is uncomfortable for Xavi who held an undisputed regular spot alongside Deco in the Blaugrana midfield in the last successful years.

The rumours say, that Manchester United´s coach Sir Alex Ferguson has got the Barca star on top of his wishlist for the season 2007-08. Ferguson believes that Man U are able to land Xavi from Barcelona, especially when Frank Lampard of Chelsea will join the European Champions.
Another bait could be inform Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who could leave Old Trafford for Camp Nou ion an exchange deal.


FC Barcelona Blog: With Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich not going to Manchester United it might be that Sir Alex is turning to other quality midfielder in Europe, but we will not see "Fat Franky" arriving at Camp Nou and Xavi leaving anywhere! May be Cristiano Ronaldo plus a substantial amount of cash could make Barca´s technical staff think. Still, I doubt it!




Carlos Diogo - From Real Madrid (on loan to Real Zaragoza) to FC Barcelona


FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in Real Zaragoza´s right back and part time boxer Carlos Diogo. The Real Madrid player, on loan to Real Zaragoza this season, has shown some great performances this season but also proved his qualities as a boxer with a killer punch. Diogo has been in the news recently for that infamous fist-fight with Sevilla´s Luis Fabiano, with both having been banned for 5 matches.

However, his performances for Real Zaragoza have been excellent and therefore FC Barcelona could be interested in him immediately, when Barca right full back Belletti should move to AC Milan.
It is rumoured that Real Zaragoza has got an option to buy the Uruguayan international Diogo for € 4 mill. from the Merengues and in the case of Belletti´s transfer Barca would want Real Zaragoza to exercise the option and immediately sell him for a profit to the Spanish Champions.


FC Barcelona Blog: I guess this is a little bit of a fairy tale but I would like to see the faces of the Merengues when another Real reject would join Barca and perform brilliantly at the Camp Nou!


Andreas Laudrup - From Lyngby BK to FC Barcelona

Mads Laudrup - From FC Copenhagen to FC Barcelona
Former Barca star Michael Laudrup's sons Andreas and Mads Laudrup are on trial with the Blaugrana at La Masia. FC Barcelona have been following the boys´ progress and seem to be pleased with their development.


FC Barcelona Blog: Due to the fact that both player´s have not broken in to the first team squads of their Danish Clubs FC Copenhagen and Lyngby BK, the talneted youngster are probably a case for the Barca B team at the moment. If they have inherited the talent of their father Michael Laudrup, who was part of the dream team and won 4 straight Spanish Championship titles and a European Cup with Barca, I am sure that they will be prospects for the future.


Lilian Thuram - From FC Barcelona to Olympique Marseille

French reports are speculating about Barca´s French veteran defender thuram moving to Olympique Marseille. Thuram who joined FC barcelona from Juventus after the world cup has been subject to suggestions that the Barca player could be unhappy with a lack of first team action.


FC Barcelona Blog: Thuram can not be unhappy about the lack of first team football. Unfortunately in the moment he was needed, he got injured and is out for about 10 matches alltogether. For sure he is not thinking of leaving before the summer.

FC Barcelona´s technical secretary txiki Begiristain has denied any claims Barca will sign Real Zaragoza forward Diego Milito. The Zaragoza striker, is partly owned by Italian Serie B team FC Genoa and their president Enrico Preziosi's claimed through various italian media this week that European giants FC Barcelona and Internazionale were after the argentinian goalgetter.


Txiki Begisitain was quickly denying any of these report and declared:

The reports are completely false. He is a good forward and an interesting player but were we to sign him, then we would have to sell either Gudjohnsen or Eto'o and we are very happy with both these players.

Newcastle United forward Albert Luque is keen to renew his strike partnership with Samuel Eto'o. Albert Luque shared a good strike partnership with Samuel Eto'o at RCD Mallorca, from 2000 to 2002 and would be very excited by the prospect to play along his former teammate.


The former Barca youth player came through the youth ranks of FC Barcelona before the player left the club to join RCD Mallorca as a youngster and later was signed by Deportivo la Coruna. Luque was very close to a move two summers ago, but FC Barcelona refused to meet Deportivo's high transfer fee demand. However, albert Luque seems now to be on Barca´s short list of possible transfer targets during the January transfer window.


Newcastle Untited forward Albert Luque has never hidden his desire to play for his hometown club FC Barcelona again and a switch from the City Ground to Camp Nou would be a dream come true but revealed that he had no contact with Barca so far:

If there were to be an interest from Barça, it would be an absolute honour. But I am not aware of anything. I would like to be able to play with Samuel again and also Xavi. I also have good relations with many players in the team, such as Puyol and Oleguer.
I was very close to signing two years ago, but in the end I went to Newcastle. My desire is to return to Spain, and if it is with a great team, even better.

Former Barca star Henrik Larsson, now playing for Swedish outfit Helsingborg, revealeed that he would be open for talks to join Barcelona on loan until the summer but insists he has not yet been contacted by his former club:

I had some fantastic years in Barcelona, but at the moment I have no bid to think about but you can never say never. If Barcelona are interested, I suppose, they first have to contact Helsingborg.

However, Helsingborg´s sports director Bosse Larsson explained that an offer could appeal to them financially, especially as the Swedish league season does not start until April:

We haven't received any offer yet, so we will see what happens in the coming days. They are in a different financial world to us, so it is obvious that it could be financially attractive for us.