Incredible! FC Barcelona held a first team training in an open doors session at the Miniestadi and was watched by a stunning amount of 12,000 people., going to show that interest in the squad is as high as ever going into the new year.


Many of the faszinating crowd of 12,000 spectators were children, who were able to see their idols live. Cheering, Screaming and applauding during the training session and especially when a goal was scored increased the level of noise immensely during the training session.


The players entered the pitch of the Miniestadi after the scheduled 10:30 and were completely surprised to see the stands nearly completely filled.


Unfortunately Ronaldinho, Deco, Zambrotta, Thuram, Oleguer, Gio and Motta were absent for different reasons but Rafa Marquez was back.
Javier Saviola entered the pitch late and was greeted by Frank Rijkkard and a very special applause from the huge crowd.


This was a fantastic morning for the kids and should be repeated soon!

Villarreal´s coach Manuel Pellegrini wants Barcelona striker Javier Saviola to enforce his attacking line during the winter transfer period.
With Turkish International Nihat and Antonio Guayre out for the long term, Pellegrini is looking for a cover and a player to challenge Diego Forlan and Jose Mari. Villarreal coach Pellegrini explained:

Saviola's situation, not being able to play, is bad for football. I don't know the reasons why he isn't playing for Barcelona, but he is a player of great quality who would succeed anywhere he goes.

Villarreal is looking for a loan deal and this would suit als Javier Saviola, who will negotiate a Bosman free transfer in the summer. saviola only plays a minor part in Frank Rijkaards plans and will only be selected as cover for injured players or in the Copa del Rey competition.

In today´s issue, Barcelona based daily sports newspaper "El Mundo Deportivo" reported that FC Barcelona have successfully sealed the transfer of young Argentinan international goalkeeper Oscar Ustari from Independiente de Avellaneda in the summer.
Barca´s technical secretary had followed the young goalkeeper since a while and had been convinced that the 20 year-old Independiente keeper would be perfect addition to challenge regular shotstopper Victor Valdes. Ustari is seen as a great prospect, who will keep Victor Valdes at top level and could replace local boy Valdes at any time, if injured.


"El Mundo Deportivo" believes that Ustari is a bargain for the estimated € 10 mill. transfer fee and quoted former Argentinian national goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol, who also held the position of Agentina goalkeeping coach from 1999 to 2006:

He’s capable of estimating both, distance and time with precision, dominates his area and chooses the moments to leave his line well. Apart from that he’s got a real will to win and a team personality as well as ability with his feet.


Oscar Ustari has no EU-Passport at present but his family was originally from the Basque Country and Barca will be keen to get him double nationality on the fast track and apply for an EU-passport.

This month FC Barcelona is looking closer into the project of the extension and improvement of their stadium Camp Nou and its facilities and surroundings.
In September, the Camp Nou will be 50 years old and by then, the club is hoping for the official approval of the entire project. FC Barcelona wants to rebuild a stadium of world class standard. The board of directors of FC Barcelona want to fulfil the dream of turning the Camp Nou, its facilities and surroundings, into an architectonic, tourist and sport site of world wide recognition.



During the month of January the Barca directors will start conversations with the Ajuntament (City Counsil) and the Col.legi d'Arquitectes of Catalunya (the College of Catalan Architects) to a schedule for the presentation of the new Camp Nou project.

This Wednesday the FC Barcelona first team returned to training a session at 10:30 and later in the afternoon at 17:30.
Tomorrow morning (Thursday) the Frank Rijkaard´s team will train in the Miniestadi, in an open door session open to the public. Club members will be free and other Barca fans will have to pay € 3.00 to attend.


With this open door session during the school holidays, FC Barcelona will give many boys and girls the chance to see their idols live.