Apparently Eto'o did some things in the dressing room last year that Pep didn't approve of but kept a lid on.

It's crystal clear that Laporta is the one that doesn't want Eto'o, not Pep (and I'm not buying that locker room thing about Eto'o). Laporta went on the record saying that he wants to keep Eto'o on the team, but that the best he can offer is a 2year contract (which is short), under the same conditions he was playing last year (which shall be more, jugding by the season Etoo had). He said that the this deal is very reasonable, and that Eto'o shall be happy with it. He also added that people shall know that just like Eto'o has added a lot to Barcelona, Barça has added a lot to Eto'o as well.

Not that anything he said is actually wrong, or unreasonable, but why should a team president talk about a players future in the media, a player who happens to still be their player, and is coming of a great season. Furthermore, maybe some of you might not know, or have forgotten, but Laporta himself was the one who wanted to offer Ronaldinho a 15 year deal in 2006. In contrast in 06 he was trying to use Eto'o, in a trade to get Henry, and tried to get rid of him, in every upcoming summer as well.

I really don't like to be mean, because I like Barcelona as a team, and have lots of friends who root for them, and SS is one of the best posters in here, but I'm just not able to come up with an explanation that will justify their politics about Eto'o. Maybe it's me being an Eto'o troll (he is my CF, in my PlayStation team), but I don't know what else the guy was supposed to do, to prove himself as worthy.

Benzema on the verge of a £30m deal to go to Madrid and Ribery has come out and said he wants to leave for Madrid. I know they want to compete and sign awesome players, but this is just getting downright ridiculous :shock:

It looks that just like they did earlier this decade, this team will collapse once again, because the stress is improperly propagated. Maybe Benzema will be useful to them, but they shall immediately start selling some players, and realize, that offense is only one aspect of the game.

BTW, I don't know how Real was able to pull it off, but when I read that Benzema joined Real, I was like "Why didn't he go to United", and trust me, with the way I hate Manyoo, thinking that says much. They rapidly became the most annoying, and hateable team, in the world.

Michael Owen to Manure. WTF. Does he not care at all about the people in Liverpool?

I'm speechless. :shock: Talk about ruining a legacy right there. Didn't 'pool make any offer at all?

Michael Owen to Manure. WTF. Does he not care at all about the people in Liverpool?

I'm speechless. :shock: Talk about ruining a legacy right there. Didn't 'pool make any offer at all?

I think Owen was really short of options. There was some talk of Everton being interested, but nothing came of it. Sam Allardyce said he was well past his best (which he is) and that he wouldn't even think about signing him for Blackburn. I think the only definite offers he had were from Stoke and Hull, so when the call came from Fergie, you can't really blame Owen for jumping at the chance to join United.

Owen doesn't have the pace to create chances for himself any more, but if he's able to stay fit and gets decent service from his team mates he'll probably score at least double Tevez's 5 league goals from last season. Of course Owen and Tevez are two very different players, but at £25m cheaper and £50k a week less wages, it's a pretty good bit of business by anybody's standards.

I only hope Capello isn't tempted to stick him straight back in the England squad and ruin our chances for next summer.

Michael Owen to Manure. WTF. Does he not care at all about the people in Liverpool?

I'm speechless. :shock: Talk about ruining a legacy right there. Didn't 'pool make any offer at all?

I think Owen was really short of options. There was some talk of Everton being interested, but nothing came of it. Sam Allardyce said he was well past his best (which he is) and that he wouldn't even think about signing him for Blackburn. I think the only definite offers he had were from Stoke and Hull, so when the call came from Fergie, you can't really blame Owen for jumping at the chance to join United.

Owen doesn't have the pace to create chances for himself any more, but if he's able to stay fit and gets decent service from his team mates he'll probably score at least double Tevez's 5 league goals from last season. Of course Owen and Tevez are two very different players, but at £25m cheaper and £50k a week less wages, it's a pretty good bit of business by anybody's standards.

I only hope Capello isn't tempted to stick him straight back in the England squad and ruin our chances for next summer.

Yeah, I totally agree with you. I just always had a feeling, that Liverpool was going to try to sign him. If 'pool didn't make any (serious) offer, I definitely understand him picking ManU. Why go to a Stoke, or Hull and risk going to Championship, when you have far better options. In current situation, Only Milan, and Manyoo are the teams, that have the tradition of winning, and have an empty spot for Owen. And ManU has the edge, because Milan will probably get Dzeko, and simply because Owen probably wants to stay in England. I don't agree that Owen is washed up, he is just not the CF of the weaker teams. He needs his team, to be able to push the game in the opponents half, so he can use his quickness to get away from opponents, and make the final touches. Granted injuries, have taken his game a step down, but I believe he'll be a good addition for ManU.

Yet, and still even though it has been a long time, since he left Anfield, I have always considered him as Liverpools own. I'm sad that he'l be playing for Manure.

As disgusting as it was watching Owen wearing a Manyoo jersey, I have to say that it doesn't affect my opinion of him in the slightest. Nothing will take away all that he's done for us, and it was perfectly understandable that he went to Utd. If he comes good, it'll be a good piece of business by Fergie again. But I'd rather have Tevez any day of the week

How do you feel about it BB?

Chelsea sign Zhirkov Great acquisition imo.

Milan buy Onyewu :shock: Seriously, that guy is no good and he only played a couple of good games in the Confeds Cup Thiago Silva and Nesta should be a great combo if Nesta can stay fit, and he can become Silva's mentor. Ambrosini to be the new captain - I kinda understand why though - Nesta is always injured, Rino is a beast but he can't lead, Pirlo is apathetic and Seedorf is Dutch

Gabriel Obertan to Utd. Personally, haven't watched him but if Fergie thinks he's got talent then, he's got to have something.

CR9? He better do R9 proud with that shirt.

ENE!!!!! Have you been keeping up with Valencia?

Valencia have bought Moya, Mathieu, Bruno Saltor, which appear to be pretty good signings.

Although I think Moya is a good addition, I was really looking forward to seeing more from Renan this season

I thought Mathieu was a DM, but he's listed as an LB? I don't mind as he'll give us options around the pitch. For LB, we have Moretti and Del Horno already, but I don't really like either and hopefully we can get rid of at least one and let Carleto start challenging for a first team spot. Other than that we're he'd be good back-up in the midfield if anyone gets injured.

Bruno to reinforce RB, and fighting with Miguel.

Edu has been released and we should sell Viana too, they're both deadwood for a club in crisis and we have Albelda, Baraja, Maduro and Fernandes in those positions, not to mention Ever should be coming back hopefully Banega's got so much talent but someone needs to nurture it and work on his mentality

There are rumours we've rejected bids for Marchena as well, who we'll need to pair Alexis now that Albiol is gone. I haven't seen too much from Lomban or Arturo but youngsters normally need time to adapt. I don't trust Navarro either... I thought we sold him already -__- At least we can use Maduro to do the job - he's defensively suspect but some of his tackles are superb.

I haven't seen Rangers play but I don't think Aaron is ready to take over for any of our forwards yet. Pablo, Aaron and Joaquin pairing with Zigic (ugh!) and possibly Negredo if our forward triumvirate leave? :yuckky: I hope we can at least keep Mata

AND WHO THE FUDGE IS DEALBERT???!!!!!

EDIT: There are rumours that we have found a buyer for the old Mestalla :dance: :hell yea!:

Ambrosini to be the new captain - I kinda understand why though - Nesta is always injured, Rino is a beast but he can't lead, Pirlo is apathetic and Seedorf is Dutch

CR9? He better do R9 proud with that shirt.

Please don't tell me that Cristie will actually be wearing #9!

ENE!!!!! Have you been keeping up with Valencia?

Valencia have bought Moya, Mathieu, Bruno Saltor, which appear to be pretty good signings.

Although I think Moya is a good addition, I was really looking forward to seeing more from Renan this season

I thought Mathieu was a DM, but he's listed as an LB? I don't mind as he'll give us options around the pitch. For LB, we have Moretti and Del Horno already, but I don't really like either and hopefully we can get rid of at least one and let Carleto start challenging for a first team spot. Other than that we're he'd be good back-up in the midfield if anyone gets injured.

Bruno to reinforce RB, and fighting with Miguel.

Edu has been released and we should sell Viana too, they're both deadwood for a club in crisis and we have Albelda, Baraja, Maduro and Fernandes in those positions, not to mention Ever should be coming back hopefully Banega's got so much talent but someone needs to nurture it and work on his mentality

There are rumours we've rejected bids for Marchena as well, who we'll need to pair Alexis now that Albiol is gone. I haven't seen too much from Lomban or Arturo but youngsters normally need time to adapt. I don't trust Navarro either... I thought we sold him already -__- At least we can use Maduro to do the job - he's defensively suspect but some of his tackles are superb.

I haven't seen Rangers play but I don't think Aaron is ready to take over for any of our forwards yet. Pablo, Aaron and Joaquin pairing with Zigic (ugh!) and possibly Negredo if our forward triumvirate leave? :yuckky: I hope we can at least keep Mata

AND WHO THE FUDGE IS DEALBERT???!!!!!

I had only heard about us signing Bruno Saltor. But Miguel is one of my favorite players, so I wasn't that excited. Hopefully he'll help us though.

I agree with you about Moya. He may give us a little flexibility, but I think Renan was solid. I'd consider it as a move to open up a spot for an international player, but now Edu is waived, and it's not like we're using our internationals, either. Lets have our hopes, on us signing a great young talent. We'll need a quality CF, with Villa, and Moriantes likely to be gone.

Mathieu is the one I watched the most probably, and in Toulouse he was playing in the mid-field, as a left winger. He seemed really fast, but I have question marks about his defense. Well, maybe he'll be our version of Dani Alves.

Yeah, I wish

I guess we needed a LB though. Assier has dissapointed me a lot.

I hope Ever will come back as well. If he can bring up his A game, he may put us a level above.

As a team in crisis, I wouldn't consider selling Marchena a bad move. Even though I'm against having unexperienced CBs as starters, there may never be a better time than this, for us to make an experiment. Maybe one of our youngsters will leave up to the expectations.

Say, Dealbert?

I don't like our offensive lineup as it looks now. We have great offensive mid-fielders, but as I said we'll probably need a better CF. And the thing I agree with you the most, is that we shall definitely keep Mata. He is our future.

Yet, it looks like we'll be a step short of Sevilla, and Atl. Madrid, the following season as well. I miss 2002.

Milan are going in the wrong direction. I don't mind Onyewu actually but the overall transfer policy and the way Berlusconi and Galliani are doing it is so disappointing

^ Milan was supposed to start rebuilding a couple of years ago. The years won't give them any special treatment. They're getting old. Did they get Dzeko from Wolfsburg?

-------

Liverpool signed Glenn Johnson for £16,000,000

OK, I like the kid, but I'm not sure if he deserved to be the most expensive defender in 'pool history?

Nevertheless, I think he'll be a good addition. Congratulations Ed.

Milan should've started rebuilding in 2007 latest and it was painfully obvious they had lost their class on the European stage after they were completely dominated and dismantled by a young and vibrant Arsenal side 2 seasons ago, but they continued signing old players

Glen Johnson is a rip-off. No matter how good he was for Pompey, he was never £17m good. I wouldn't even pay double digits for his services :yuckky: but I guess I'll have to accept him now that he's here. Arby was perfectly fine Rafa I think he'll be good as well though, but he'll face a bit of pressure living up to the price tag. I'm expecting him to revolutionise the team for that money :|

Dzeko hasn't signed for Milan and doesn't seem too likely he will this summer. Milan are trying to get Luis Fabiano it seems.

Yes a rebuild is really necessary but it is expensive and I am not sure Berlusconi wants to spend.

That's why it is good to have a long-term plan? But Milan are in a fair bit of debt at the moment, no?

Yes a rebuild is really necessary but it is expensive and I am not sure Berlusconi wants to spend.

I've never really thought of Milan as a big spending club, more as one who usually try to cultivate young talent, like Kaka and Pato, and make superstars out of them rather than buying players in for huge fees. A bit like Barcelona really, most of their current top performers have worked their way through the ranks (with the exception of Eto'o, Henry and Alves).

But if Milan are short on cash, they could probably make some by selling half the squad to Chelsea this summer

"A piece of futsal skill to savour..." Complete with at least 250 replays

Samuelito... :cry:

That's no good I can't see Ibra fitting in that well in the Barca team tbh, but when you have such a great team providing so many opportunities, it'd be hard not to score goals.

Inter got a good deal; €45m + Eto'o and Hleb :shock:

What an incredible deal for Inter. Whoever does their negotiating is a genius :|

Oh my, Eto'o is gone? I don't know why, but I didn't want him to go to Italy. Hopefully he'll have a great year there.

As for Barça, well I've got good news for you guys (bad news for Real fans). Ibrahimoviç = Domestic Title

Since he joined Ajax in 2001, he won the domestic title in 02, 04, with Juve in 05, 06, and with Inter in 07, 08, and 09.

And in 03, he missed a fair amount of games, because of injury.

I'm telling you guys: REAL IS DOOMED.

On Eto'o side, it's a little sad to be used in a trade, but I'm sure he'll adapt his game, and be great in Inter as well. It's a little poetic justice, that now him, and Ronaldinho are the main players of the city rivals. Milan-Inter games will be fun to watch.

The one that I'm most happy about in this whole thing (the only one that I'm happy for, actually) is Alexander Hleb. He is a pure winger, and was not fitting much in Barcelonas system. Under Mourinho, he'll get much ore playtime, and prove his qualities.

He was neither here or there for Barca really. I wish we went for him