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The Chilean says his sole focus is to make Luis Enrique's decision a tough one as he battles Marc-Andre ter Stegen for a starting berth
Claudio Bravo claims he is still unsure who will be named Barcelona's No.1 goalkeeper for the start of the season - but is determined to stake his claim.
The Chile international joined from Real Sociedad this summer along with rising Germany star Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was signed from Borussia Monchengladbach.
With Victor Valdes having left Camp Nou at the end of his contract, the question over who head coach Luis Enrique will select as his first-choice keeper is yet to be answered, and Bravo admits the players themselves are still fighting for the spot.
"Luis Enrique hasn't told us anything. We don't know and we don't have to ask for explanations, we're there to make it hard for the coach and let him decide," he told reporters.
"The important thing is I've worked very well and been very comfortable in recent weeks, the reception from the squad has been amazing."
Luis Enrique has already confirmed Bravo will start against Napoli in Wednesday's pre-season friendly and the Chilean was eager to stress that the game was important for the team's preparations.
"All matches are as important, whoever plays in goal. The team is what counts."
The 34-year-old midfielder has succeeded Carles Puyol, who had long held the armband but left the club this summer to take up a non-playing role
Barcelona have announced that Xavi will succeed the retired Carles Puyol as club captain following the centre-back's exit this summer.
The former Spain midfielder was Puyol's deputy last term and won a vote of his team-mates to take on the armband on a permanent basis after deciding to remain at Camp Nou.
The 34-year-old will be assisted by Andres Iniesta, who will be his immediate depty, ahead of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.
Last term, Victor Valdes was the third captain after Puyol and Xavi, but the goalkeeper left the club this summer after his contract expired. The Spaniard is currently recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is without a club.
Xavi has spent his entire career at Barcelona, making close to 500 Liga appearances for the Catalan giants since making his debut in 1998.
He has won a stunning seven Primera Division titles in his time at Camp Nou, along with three Champions Leagues and two Copa del Reys.
This week, he announced his retirement from the international scene and revealed that he was close to leaving the club this summer, but was persuaded to stay by new coach Luis Enrique.
The striker's appeal will be heard on Friday, with his lawyers hoping the 27-year-old will be cleared to return to action by the end of August
Luis Suarez’s four-month ban should be halved and the Uruguayan allowed to train with Barcelona during his suspension, his legal team is set to tell the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.
The striker is currently prohibited from engaging in all football-related activity for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup Group D match in Natal in June.
However, his lawyers are on the way to Lausanne, where CAS will hear an appeal into the ban imposed by Fifa, and they are confident they will be able to argue a strong case for a reduction in Suarez’s punishment.
“It would be more logical to reduce the sanction by a few months than to reduce the ban concerning international games, because legally it’s easier to contend against the terms of the suspension that forbid him from training and from being at the club, because they violate fundamental rights,” said Alejandro Balbi, who is both Suarez’s adviser and a member of the Uruguayan FA’s executive committee.
“The nine-match ban for Uruguay is more a question of the level of the punishment,”
Balbi and his team are expected to petition for a 50 per cent reduction of the player’s domestic ban, which would allow Suarez to return to action on August 26.
That would mean the ex-Liverpool star missing only Barcelona’s opener against Elche and being available for the first time for the trip to Villarreal on August 31.
Suarez has yet to be officially unveiled as a Barca player since his €88m move from Liverpool as a result of his far-reaching suspension.
The Spanish champions continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the defence of their La Liga crown, with the defender penning a three-year contract with the club
Atletico Madrid have bolstered their defence with the signing of Malaga full-back Jesus Gamez.
The 29-year-old will compete with Juanfran for the right-back spot following the departure of Javier Manquillo to Liverpool.
Gamez has penned a three-year deal and will join a much-changed squad from that which claimed La Liga title last season.
Top-scorer Diego Costa and full-back Filipe Luis have left for Chelsea, who have also reclaimed on-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while forward Adrian has joined Porto.
Coming in are France winger Antoine Griezmann, Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic and Brazilian left-back Guilherme Siqueira.
Gamez came through the youth ranks at Malaga before breaking into the first team in 2005.
Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero was pleased to have him on board, telling the club’s official website, www.clubatleticodemadrid.com: “Gamez is a full-back with quality and experience who will reinforce our defence and increase the group’s internal competitiveness.
“He can also play in a central position, allowing us to have other variables in the defensive game. His experience will be helpful to the group.”
The Arsenal captain has rejected the overtures of Manchester United and has opted to join the Catalan giants having lost his place in the Gunners' starting line-up
By William Joyce
Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has opted to join Barcelona and and has snubbed interest from Manchester United, Goal understands.
The Belgium international, who hasn’t featured in any of Arsenal’s pre-season matches due to injury, has been unable to oust either Laurent Koscielny or Per Mertesacker in Wenger’s side since he lost his regular first team spot over 18 months ago.
Vermaelen faced a straight choice between Manchester United and Barcelona and privately indicated in the last 24 hours that he would prefer to join the Catalan giants.
United, who are in need of defensive reinforcements following the departures of club stalwarts Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, have now admitted defeat in the race to sign a player whose Arsenal career has been plagued by a number of injury setbacks.
Wenger confirmed on Thursday that Manchester United were among a group of clubs who had registered an interest in the former Ajax defender but the Arsenal manager insisted he would rather sell the 28-year-old abroad rather than aid one of his potential title rivals.
Asked directly whether United had made an offer, Wenger said: “I think they could be in a group.
"We have offers from abroad and ideally I would rather sell him to a club abroad. We're in a position where it's difficult to stand in his way."
Barcelona are keen to bolster their back-line ahead of their bid to reclaim the league title from Atletico Madrid and have identified Vermaelen - who made 21 appearances for the north Londoners last season - as a target ahead of the new season.
The midfielder will sit out the Super Cup clash with Sevilla after the European game's governing body upheld the suspension he received for his celebration during the Champions
The Uefa Appeals Body has rejected Real Madrid's appeal against Xabi Alonso's one-match suspension for a "breach of general rules of conduct".
The Spain international was sanctioned for running down the sidelines to celebrate Gareth Bale's goal in Los Blancos' 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final in May.
Madrid challenged the ruling but the Uefa Appeals Body has upheld the original decision, meaning Alonso will sit out Tuesday's Super Cup clash with Europa League winners Sevilla.
The midfielder had been forced to sit out Madrid's meeting with Atleti in Lisbon after picking up a booking in his club's semi-final second-leg win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Consequently, he had been consigned to the touchline for the final. However, Alonso set off down the touchline in celebration when Bale put Madrid 2-1 up in extra-time, resulting in a one-game ban for the 32-year-old.
Los Blancos were also fined €18,000 for picking up five bookings in the final, as well as the "improper conduct" of their supporters, who were found to have set off fireworks during the tournament decider.
'I'm better than Casillas and you know it' - Diego Lopez furious at being forced out of Real Madrid
Aug 9, 2014 16:00:00
The Galician goalkeeper is leaving the Spanish side to join AC Milan, but is unhappy at how he was treated by the club where he started his professional career as a 19-year-old
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer
Diego Lopez was furious at being forced out of Real Madrid and told club directors before agreeing an imminent move to AC Milan: "I'm the best goalkeeper here and you know it."
Milan's Twitter channel confirmed the switch on Saturday, bringing to an end a goalkeeping saga which has lasted more than 18 months.
Bought by former coach Jose Mourinho after Iker Casillas was injured in January of last year, the Galician remained first choice for the remainder of the 2012-13 season, before sharing the responsibilities with the club captain last term.
Lopez then rejected a move to Monaco last summer in order to fight for his place at Madrid and was rewarded as he was chosen by goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi as the man to start in La Liga in 2013-14.
But Madrid came third in the Primera Division, while winning the two competitions in which Casillas started - the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
Nevertheless, Iker's poor performances at the World Cup gave Lopez renewed hope he would be first choice in the coming campaign and the Galician was prepared for a three-way fight for a starting spot with Casillas and summer signing Keylor Navas.
UNLUCKY NUMBER | Navas' arrival meant there was no room for Lopez at Real
Lopez's agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, insisted his client would stay at Madrid, but the club had other ideas and alarms bells sounded for the 32-year-old as he was surprisingly substituted at half-time for youngster Jesus Fernandez (who has since moved to Levante) in the Champions Cup against Inter late last month.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti later confirmed that Casillas would start in the Uefa Super Cup against Sevilla on Tuesday and Lopez was told he had no future at the Spanish side.
Seemingly, he had been punished by his association with Mourinho and the fact that the club have ended up without a trophy in all of the competitions he played for Real (Liga, Copa and Champions League in 2012-13 and the Primera Division again in 2013-14). Lopez is unhappy at the treatment by the club he originally joined as a 19-year-old and told Madrid directors on the flight back from their pre-season tour of United States last week: "I'm the best goalkeeper at the club and you know it - but do what you like..."
The former Villarreal and Sevilla shot-stopper was then encouraged to accept offers this summer, with Madrid opting to bite the bullet and pay the remainder of his contract - which ran until 2017 - at around €12 million in total in order to dispense with the former Spanish international.
AC Milan then moved to sign Lopez after Monaco's interest cooled and the Galician goalkeeper is expected to sign a four-year contract after undergoing a medical in Italy on Monday.
The Belgium international passed a medical earlier on Saturday and has now completed a move to the Catalan club for a fee of €19m
By Ben Hayward in Barcelona
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has completed a €19 million move to Barcelona, the Catalan club confirmed on Saturday.
The centre-back agreed to join Luis Enrique's side late last week after rejecting the overtures of Manchester United in favour of a summer switch to Camp Nou. The Belgium international flew in to Barcelona on Saturday morning for his medical ahead of the transfer, which will cost the Catalans an initial €15m and an additional €4m in extras.
"FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of the Belgian player, who will sign for the next five seasons," the club revealed on their website.
Arsenal also confirmed the deal on their official site, releasing a statement which read: "Thomas Vermaelen has agreed to join Barcelona in a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.
"Vermaelen passed his medical in Barcelona on Saturday. His transfer is subject to the completion of the normal regulatory process. Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Thomas for his contribution during his time at the club and wish him well for the future." The 28-year-old has been blighted by injuries over the last few seasons and was given a thorough, two-part examination by Barca at the Hospital de Barcelona and later at the Clinica de la Creu Blanca on Saturday morning.
However, the former Ajax player came through the tests without any problems and is the second centre-back to join the Catalan club this summer, after Jeremy Mathieu arrived from Valencia in a €20m deal last month.
The defender, who becomes the third Arsenal captain to join Barca in seven years (after Thierry Henry in 2007 and Cesc Fabregas in 2011), will be unveiled at Camp Nou on Sunday.
The Dutch attacker has been beset by injury problems since arriving at Camp Nou from PSV in December 2010 and has now been allowed to move to Greece in search of regular game time
Ibrahim Afellay appears to have played his last game for Barcelona after being allowed to join Olympiakos on a season-long loan.
The injury-plagued Netherlands international has just one year left on his current contract with the Blaugrana and will spend it in Piraeus, the Catalan club announced on their official website on Sunday.
Afellay arrived at Camp Nou from PSV in December 2010 and enjoyed an encouraging start to life in La Liga, making 16 appearances in the second half of the season.
However, the attacker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2011 and his Barca career never recovered.
Indeed, Afellay featured only twice for the Blaugrana last season and, having been deemed surplus to requirements by new coach Luis Enrique, he has now been loaned to Olympiakos for the remaining 12 months of his contract.
Valencia have confirmed the signing of Bordeaux defender Lucas Orban on a five-year contract.
AS reports the Argentine, capable of playing as a left-back or in the centre of defence, will complete his medical this afternoon and then be presented as Los Che’s latest arrival.
Orban joins Shkodran Mustafi, Nicolas Otamendi, Andre Gomes, Rodrigo and Yoel as new signings for newly-appointed Coach Nuno Espirito.
The 25-year-old Orban started his career at River Plate and moved to France last summer.
Blow for Barcelona as Vermaelen is sidelined with hamstring injury
By Stefan Coerts
Aug 11, 2014 10:57:00
Just days after the Belgian passed a medical as part of his transfer from Arsenal, the Catalans have disclosed that the defender is struggling with a muscular problem
Barcelona have announced that Thomas Vermaelen will be out of action for an indefinite period of time due to a hamstring injury.
The Belgium international passed a medical at the weekend before completing his €19 million transfer from Arsenal, but the Catalans have now revealed that the 28-year-old will not be ready to make his debut for now following his World Cup exploits.
Vermaelen made two appearances for Marc Wilmots' men at this summer's tournament in Brazil, where Belgium made it to the quarter-finals.
"The first-team player Thomas Vermaelen has a hamstring injury in his right leg that he sustained in June during the World Cup," a statement on the club's official website reads.
"The player will undergo physiotherapy. His return to regular training action depends on the evolution of the injury."
Vermaelen signed a contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2019 on Sunday.
The Camp Nou side previously secured the services of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo, Jeremy Mathieu, Alen Halilovic, Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.
The 22-year-old has overcome the back injury that brought his World Cup to a premature end, but new signing Thomas Vermalean was only able to undergo specific physiotherapy work
Barcelona have been boosted by the return to training of Brazil star Neymar after he completed his recovery from a broken verterbra.
The 22-year-old saw his World Cup campaign ended at the quarter-final stage following a collision with Colombia's Camilo Zuniga at the start of July.
But after just under six weeks of rehabilitation, Neymar joined the rest of his team-mates for full training on Monday, along with new signing Jeremy Mathieu and Xavi who have also overcome knocks.
However, new signing Thomas Vermalean, who arrived at the club from Arsenal in a €19 million deal on Saturday, didn't train and instead underwent specific physiotheraphy work.
Barca begin their quest to regain La Liga when they host Elche on August 24, in what will be Luis Enrique's first official match in charge.
Johan Cruyff has had his say on the respective summer business of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Blaugrana legend has claimed that Los Blancos have done well in capturing Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, whilst the former forward wants to give his old club ‘the benefit of the doubt’.
“Kroos was one of the best players at Bayern and at the World Cup - he sprays the ball around really well,” he told Ultima Hora.
“James is a terrific ballplayer. Barca always used to sign lots of ball players, but now Madrid have done so.
“[Barca have] gone in a new direction and we have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
“They've spent a lot of money, which always brings a lot of scrutiny, and we'll have to see how it goes.”
Cruyff then remarked on Luis Enrique as he embarks on his first season as Barcelona Coach.
“The onus is on him to win over the players. You can bet that he won't win over one or two and that's when he'll have to make some tough, strong decisions.”
The goalkeeper took a blow to the back on Monday and the Germany international will train alone for a short while as a precautionary measure
New Barcelona signing Marc-Andre ter Stegen has injured his back in training less than a fortnight before the start of the new Liga season.
The German goalkeeper, who will rival fellow summer arrival Claudio Bravo for the position of No.1 at Camp Nou in 2014-15, suffered a blow to his spine during training on Monday.
Barca's medical team assessed on Tuesday that Ter Stegen's injury is not a major one but have decided to keep him out of first-team training for a short while as a precaution.
"New first team goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a blow to his spine during the second of Monday’s two training sessions," a club statement read.
"Tests early on Tuesday confirmed the injury of the German goalkeeper who will work on his own for the next training sessions."
Bravo's signing means that at least Luis Enrique will not be short of a quality solution should Ter Stegen's injury be worse than at first feared, with former Barca B shot-stopper Jordi Masip also an option for the new coach ahead of their first Liga game of the season on Sunday, August 24 versus Elche.
Ter Stegen has also avoided the fate of another summer signing, former Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen, who is out for an indefinite period of time with a hamstring injury sustained during the World Cup.
Cruyff: Barcelona used to sign playmakers - now Real Madrid do
By Miles Chambers
Aug 12, 2014 09:46:00
The Dutchman is dismayed by the fact that James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos have ended up at the Santiago Bernabeu and not Camp Nou
Johan Cruyff is perturbed that Real Madrid are now acquiring the kind of players that he believes former club Barcelona used to be renowned for signing.
Carlo Ancelotti's side paid a reported €80 million fee to Monaco for World Cup starlet James Rodriguez not long after Toni Kroos arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from Bayern Munich for an estimated €25 million.
Cruyff has praised Los Blancos for bringing the pair to La Liga, giving his former club a subtle dig in the process.
"Kroos was one of the best players at Bayern and at the World Cup," the Barca icon told Ultima Hora. "He sprays the ball around really well. James is also a terrific playmaker.
"Barca always used to sign lots of playmaker, but now Real have done so."
Whereas in recent years - such as under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola - Barca have been able to thrive off their youth team products, they have splashed huge amounts of cash on Neymar and Luis Suarez in the past year or so.
Ivan Rakitic, Thomas Vermaelen, Claudio Bravo, Jeremy Mathieu and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are also among those whom Luis Enrique has brought on board for considerable fees this summer and Cruyff insists the club deserve time before they are judged on the vast amount of money they have spent on players in 2014.
"Barca have gone in a new direction and we have to give them the benefit of the doubt," the ex-Barca coach and player continued.
"They've spent a lot of money, which always brings a lot of scrutiny, and we'll have to see how it goes.
"I've been impressed by new Barcelona coach Luis Enrique's enthusiasm to get down to work and give his all in his new role, though.
"The onus is on him to win over the players. You can bet that he won't win over a couple of them and that's when he'll have to make some tough, strong decisions."
The 23-year-old striker's move has been made official as Diego Simeone further bolsters his attack ahead of the new season
Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Club America striker Raul Jimenez on a six-year deal for a fee in the region of €10 million.
Diego Simeone has already brought Mario Mandzukic to the club in the wake of Diego Costa's departure to Chelsea and has now added further bolstered his attack.
The 23-year-old was part of Mexico's World Cup squad and has signed a six-year-deal in Spain, with his now former employers confirming the deal over Twitter.
“Raul Jimenez is an Atletico Madrid player,” read a tweet from America. “Extend your wings and fly high.”
Atletico's sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero added his thoughts on the acquisiton and feels the striker will be the final piece of his side's striking jigsaw.
"Raul Jimenez is a player with enormous promise and will complete our offensive line," he said in a news release.
"He has a lot of desire to succeed in his leap to European football and his hope is that he will adapt quickly to our league."
Jimenez made his Liga MX debut in October 2011 and has since gone on to become one of the brightest young stars in the league.
He was part of the Mexico squad that won the Olympic gold medal in London 2012 and was used as a substitute by El Tri at the recent World Cup, playing six minutes in the team's 0-0 draw with Brazil.
He leaves Liga MX as the leading scorer in the Apertura, which is into just its fourth week, after scoring against Tijuana in week two and notching a hat-trick against Pumas a week later.
A judge has ruled that Real Murcia should be readmitted to the Segunda and the second tier will have 23 teams next season.
AS reports that a court has overturned the LFP’s decision to relegate Murcia to Segunda B for financial irregularities.
The LFP may appeal, AS add, but as it stands the Segunda will have 23 teams and a new calendar and fixture list is being drawn up.
A statement from the LFP in response has been posted on the organisation’s official website in which they argue it is impossible to readmit Murcia to the Segunda.
The LFP claim Murcia owe €12m in back taxes and are a ‘repeat offender’ of laws on club finances.
Financially-motivated relegations have in the past been enforced, the LFP add, as recently as August 8.
And the LFP also say they haven’t received a court order confirming the reported ruling and insist the decision to relegate Murcia is part of a disciplinary procedure.
The Uruguayan striker's four-month playing ban remains in place, although he will now be allowed to return to training
Luis Suarez has had his appeal against the four-month ban placed upon him by Fifa rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but will be allowed to train with Barcelona.
Suarez was originally banned by Fifa from all football-related activity after biting Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win over Italy in a World Cup fixture in Natal in June.
But CAS has made the decision that the Uruguayan should be allowed to return to work, albeit with his playing suspension remaining in place.
The 27-year-old can now train with his new Barcelona team-mates for the first time since his €88 million transfer from Liverpool, while he can also commit to promotional activity.
He is due to return to the playing field on October 26, one day after Barcelona are scheduled to play rivals Real Madrid in La Liga. However, Suarez could well feature in the Clasico as national TV could decide to it to a Sunday fixture.
The extent of Suarez's playing ban was said by CAS to be proportionate with the act committed, with Suarez having twice been caught biting opponents in the past. He was banned for seven matches after biting PSV's Ottman Bakkal while playing for Ajax, then sat out 10 games following a similar incident at Liverpool on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
He will sit out the first 11 games of Barcelona's season, while his nine-match international ban is still applicable.
The striker trained with his new Barcelona team-mates for the first time on Friday and is eager to look to the future as he serves his ban for biting
Luis Suarez was thrilled to have trained with his new Barcelona team-mates for the first time on Friday and says it is time to forget the past two months.
On Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decreed that Suarez's four-month ban from all football-based activity should not exclude him from training.
Fifa hit Uruguay star Suarez was hit with the sanction after he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup - the third time he has been found guilty of such an offence.
The striker - who joined Barca from Liverpool for a reported €88 million last month - joined in training with the rest of the Spanish giants' squad on Friday, and could make his debut for the club in Monday's friendly against Club Leon at Camp Nou.
And even though he cannot play competitively until late October - with his first appearance potentially set to be against Real Madrid - the 27-year-old expressed his delight at being able to practice with his team-mates.
"I'm very happy to return to playing football and to be with my peers," Suarez told Barca's official website.
"It was a situation that made me uncomfortable. I'm paying for a mistake I made and have already apologised, but this should be forgotten.
"We must think about the future - [which] is to be at Barcelona, the club where I had dreamed of playing.
"I am very grateful to the club for all they have done for me in the last weeks and days. They have treated me very well and I appreciate that."
Friday August 15 2014
Barca ‘expected better’ in Suarez appeal
By Football Espana staff
Barcelona have been left with a bittersweet feeling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling on Luis Suarez’s biting ban appeal, reports say.
Mundo Deportivo claim Barca hoped CAS would reduce the four-month ban handed to Suarez by FIFA after the forward bit Giorgio Chiellini in the Uruguay vs. Italy World Cup match.
Suarez was also banned for nine international games and from all football activity, which meant he was prohibited from training, entering a football stadium or being presented as a Barca player after his move from Liverpool.
CAS lifted that portion of the ban, freeing Suarez to train and appear in friendlies for both club and country, but upheld the duration of the suspension, leaving Suarez on the sidelines until October for competitive club games.
MD add that Barca argued that since he was representing Uruguay and Liverpool at the time of the incident, they should not be punished, and wanted the ban shortened by a month.
But CAS are thought to have dismissed that argument and also taken into account the recidivism factor as this is the third time Suarez has bitten an opponent.
Barca are yet to comment publically on the decision and Suarez is due to be presented as a Barca player at the start of next week.
He is available for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Leon on Monday.
