Having been released by Fulham after an injury plagued 2007-2008 season, former Barcelona player Philippe Christanval (30) is at this moment still available on a free transfer.

Christanval had been playing for English Premier League club Fulham since 2005 but his expiring contract wasn't renewed this summer.

Arriving from French club AS Monaco in the summer of 2001, Philippe Christanval played two seasons for Barcelona. The central defender returned to the French league in 2003 joining Olympique Marseille.

AC Milan star Kaka has backed Barcelona midfielder Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or. Kaka is also on the shortlist to win this year's award.

“Messi is a truly great player. Cristiano Ronaldo is also very good and deserves the away, but I want Leo to be my successor,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“He has incredible ability and can control the ball superbly and that makes him one of the best players in the world.

“I think he is the sort of player that you would always want in your team.

“I am only talking about this year. My aim is to recover my form as quickly as possible and to try and win th trophy again in Paris and the FIFA World Player of the Year in Zürich.

“But for that to happen I have to be playing at a consistently good level for Milan.”

Bar?a Atlètic picked up its first three points of the season after a fine display against Gramanet. The game finished 2 ? 0 to the side managed by Luis Enrique.

A minute’s silence was held before the game in memory of ex-Bar?a player Joan Segarra who died recently. Luis Enrique’s players dedicated their first win of the season to him after beating Gramanet on Sunday at the Miniestadi.

Sending-off at start

In the 11th minute Héctor Verdés was sent off for a heavy tackle on Pugui. However Luis Enrique decided to stick to the same attacking system he’d used since the start of the game with three players up front.

Despite the sending-off Bar?a Atlético dominated the whole of the first half with the best chances going to Nolito and Thiago who brought fine saves out of the visitors’ keeper.

Goals not long in coming

Bar?a Atlètic continued to dominate the game in the second half and the goals weren’t long in coming. Six minutes into the half Víctor Sánchez scored the first after a great assist by Goran Maric.

Sides evened up

The two sides evened up in numbers when Gramanet defender Xavi Mu?oz got his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card in the 57th minute. Luis Enrique’s men were playing much more confidently and in the 71st minute Xavi Torres headed home from a Jeffren corner to make it two nil.

Jeffren injured

As the game moved towards its end, Jeffren got injured after having a crack at goal from a Maric pass, and had to be stretchered off.

With this result Bar?a picked up its first three points of the campaign. Next week Luis Enrique’s men will be visiting Sant Andreu.

STATS

FCB Atlètic, 2
At. Gramanet, 0

Bar?a Atlètic: Mi?o, Córcoles, Espasandin, Hector Vedés, Víctor Sánchez, Rueda (Xavi Torres, min 45), Rayo (Jeffren, min 45), Thiago (Sergi Busquets, min 68), Maric, Longás and Nolito.

At. Gramanet: Barragán, Rezzonico, Jorge, Pugui, Monty, Meca, Expósito, Lao, Alfaro, Roberto Carlos.

Goals: Víctor Sánchez (min 51) and Xavi Torres (min 71)

Referee: Sebastian Ripoll

Joan Oliver is new chief executive officer.

Joan Oliver i Fontanet, born in Barcelona in 1955, has this Monday agreed to become FC Barcelona’s new chief executive officer.

Joan Oliver has worked in the financial and communication sectors at the Financial Times Group and Catalan Television where he was director general until 2004. At present he collaborates with a number of media outlets. He is also an independent audiovisual consultant.

Joan Oliver is to replace Jaume Ferrer, who had temporarily taken over the duties of chief executive after Anna Xicoy left the post earlier this month.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi is set to return to action for Barcelona on Sunday when they travel to face second division champions Numancia in Pep Guardiola's Liga debut at the helm of the Catalan club.

Messi was rested for Barca's Champions League third qualifying-round second leg away to Wisla Krakow during the week, which they came through 4-1 on aggregate, after helping Argentina to win gold at the Beijing Olympics.

All eyes will be on Bernd Schuster's team sheet to see whether he will include Robinho for Sunday's trip to face Deportivo La Coruna.

The Brazil forward's on-off move to Chelsea has seen him watching Real's last two games from the sidelines. New signing Rafael van der Vaart is suspended.

Deportivo boosted their confidence on Thursday with a 2-0 victory away to Hajduk Split that put them in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Riki and Joan Verdu scored for the Galicians.

"We deserved to go through and we are delighted, especially as we had rested some players for the Real game," coach Miguel Angel Lotina said.

Sevilla's Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has been impressed with the side during pre-season and has said they are in good shape for their opener away to Racing Santander on Sunday.

"The squad is stronger than last year [when they finished fifth]. We aren't favourites for the league but we could certainly spring a surprise," he said.

Real Betis have problems for the visit of regional rivals Recreativo on Sunday with forwards Rafael Sobis, Edu and Jose Mari all injured. Winger Mark Gonzalez is struggling with a muscle strain.

Copa del Rey finalists Getafe will be without experienced captain David Belenguer for the trip to face newly-promoted Sporting Gijon on Sunday. The centre back has damaged a shoulder.

Real Mallorca's Guinea striker Alhassane Keita will miss Saturday's match at Valencia with a muscle injury, but fellow new arrival Aritz Aduriz from Athletic Bilbao could make his debut.

Valencia are still licking their wounds from last weekend's 4-1 defeat to nine-man Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup second leg.

Reuters