FC BARCELONA | ARTURO VIDAL SIGNS FOR 3 YEARS

Its official, FC BARCELONA has signed Chilean International & Bayern Munich midfielder ARTURO VIDAL for 20M€ & with a 3 year contract. The player joins the other new incorporations this off-season like Brazilians Arthur & Malcom wth French defender Lenglet. 

The signing adapts two aspects, the first, the desire by Coach Valverde to have a solid substitute for the departed Paulinho who was sold of to Chinese Football. Secondly, the relative "low" transfer price made it all too attractive for Barcelona, although once again, the Spanish Club interfered in the last moments in an advanced operation (remember Malcom with AC Roma) with another Club (this case Inter Milan) to "take" the player. 

The Chilean passed the medical exam which was focused mainly on his knee, as the midfielder has been sidelined months with ligament problems. This was the only existing hurdle which was passed with a green light by the Barça doctors. 

The incorporation of Vidal distances somewhat FC Barcelona from their traditional form of Football. This is not to surprise anyone as basic & fundamental players like Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol etc which are exceptional & have left the Club. Vidal is a more physical & aggressive player that employs a more direct Football than "touch". 

The 31 year old midfielder has his last opportunity to stay relevant at the top level with a high profile Club. Everyone wishes that Vidal is able to exploit this chance & not allow his "erratic behaviour" off the field to spoil it all.  

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NEYMAR TO PARIS ST GERMAIN | VALUE & REASONS

It looks like the long & boring “Neymar case” is coming to its end. The Brazilian & still FC Barcelona forward visited his team-mates this morning & announced that he was going to Paris St Germain. There in the Clubs dressing rooms this morning Neymar personally dismissed himself from Messi, Suarez, Iniesta & Coach Valverde, this last giving him permission to leave his scheduled training duties.

From here Neymar went to the Clubs offices & announced to Directives his intention to leave FC Barcelona, to later board a private plane to Portugal to get away from media & plan the next steps.

FC Barcelona has expressed to the player that 222 Million Euros will be needed to breaking his current contract. A massive new record in Football transfer history smashing last years 117M€ transfer for Pogba from Juventus FC to Manchester United

But is Neymar really worth 222M€? It has been written here previously that Neymar is the Worlds most over valued Football Player, definitely not worth the 222M€. The player has 25 years of age & has won some important titles with FC Barcelona (1 Champions, 2 Spanish Ligas…) but has not done anything truly outstanding, except the occasional skilful party trick, which is not exclusive to the Brazilian. So why will Paris St Germain pay 222M€? Difficult to rationally explain or understand, but value in the market place is heavily dominated by perceptions. What does PSG gain?

•  A good player & goalscorer needed in their squad to better their Champions League campaigns which fall short season after season,
• Promises made to keep current players at PSG. Italian Verratti expressed that he would continue at PSG only if the Club invested heavily in Top players,
• Prestige. PSG will have an asset to “brag” about  Internationally & this will attract World class sponsorship deals,
• Marketing: merchandising sales & International trips will double-triple in value,
• Bigger fanbase in France & through the World where TV rights can be further exploited.

But do these points justify 222M€, no. The only justification is that someone is willing to pay & another willing to accept. It is a purely market given explanation.

The other question is why has Neymar left FC Barcelona?

• The long shadow of Lionel Messi. Neymar cannot progress with the Argentine taking the spotlight. It is said that Neymar has gotten tired of repeating that Messi is the best in the World. Plus on the field, everyone plays for Messi, & the Brazilian feels limited & held back.
• A 30M€ per year salary is also a mayor reason. Neymar will be on the same level as Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo on the economic level
• The continued Court appearances over tax evasion in Spanish Courts do not help & moving to France will clear this front
• An average relationship with Spanish media & Spanish football players.
• There is a belief that FC Barcelona will begin its decline from European & Spanish Football dominance as key players get older, including Messi 

The deal has a second phase to go through as 222M€ still needs to be deposited in the Spanish Football League headquarters in coming days, plus FC Barcelona is threatening to take things to UEFA & FIFA over “fair financial” issues.

Be what may, farewell to Neymar from Spanish Football, the Worlds most overrated & now over valued Footballer.  

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REAL MADRID TRANSFERS MORATA TO CHELSEA FC FOR 80M€

The big news today in Spanish Football is the official announcement by REAL MADRID that there is agreement with CHELSEA FC for the transfer of Spanish International forward ALVARO MORATA. Both Clubs have priced the operation for 80M€ plus variables per objectives achieved. 

Morata will again be under the orders of Coach Antonio Conte from back in the Juventus FC days, & will fill the space left open by an almost certain departure of Diego Costa.

Couple of weeks back, Morata was the firm candidate to be the new forward of Manchester United, but the English team did not agree to the Real Madrid transfer price & dropped out electing Lukaku instead. 

Good move for Alvaro Morata, under the circumstances, going to a competitive League, a team that plays Champions League, & Club were he can find the playing time not found in Real Madrid to attempt to win a place in the Spain team for the upcoming World Cup competition in Russia 2018.

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JAMES RODRIGUEZ GOES TO BAYERN MUNICH

Its official. Real Madrid & Colombian International james Rodriguez heads off to German Club Bayern Munich on loan. The move is good for James, great for Bayern & excellent for Real Madrid as it firms relationships with the German Club.

The conditions are good. The player goes on loan to Bayern until June 30th of 2019, after which the German Club has the option of buying outright. Bayern Munich pays 5M€ per season for the loan, plus the players 8M€ salary; if the buying option is taken the transfer price is 32,5M€. Real Madrid will receive around 45M€ for a player which cost them 80M€, however not all is down to money, Real Madrid saves salaries, gets rid of a potential problem & maintains good relations with Bayern. 

Negotiations were accelerated in the last hours so to avoid James Rodriguez going with the Real Madrid squad to the United States & doing the pre-season. Instead James Rodriguez begins pre-season with Bayern Munich & will travel to China were the Germans have some friendlies & the Colombian plenty of "marketing power". 

We wish James the best.

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FC BARCELONA SIGNS ANDRE GOMES

Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona has "beaten" Real Madrid in the signing of Portuguese International midfielder ANDRE GOMES. The 22 year old Valencia CF player will change for Barça after the latter forks out 35M€ in an initial transfer fee. However, the figure is more likely to rise to 70M€ after you add a further 20M€ in variables plus a further 15M€ in individual-collective objetives. 

But there is more, Valencia CF wants on top one of the following players: Montoya, Tello & Samper either in property or loans.

Big money for a player which ended up a substitute in the Portugal team during the Euro 2016 Championship. The real value is in the players age, 22 years & scope for further growth. The idea is to slowly take over from Iniesta who is maturing & will be rested more in coming seasons.
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SEVILLA FC SIGNS BRAZILIAN GANSO

Spanish Football Club Sevilla FC has paid 10M€ for Brazilian International Ganso.

The new Liga signing Ganso of 26 years of age midfielder is an express request from new Chilean Coach Sampaoli. In his long career in Brazil he has played 87 matches for Santos: where he has scored 15 goals and with 19 assists, while he has played 221 games for Sao Paulo: with 24 goals and 49 assists.

It is the 6th signing by Sevilla FC for the upcoming 2016-17 season. Ganso will travel soon to Sevilla to pass all the compulsory medical tests and sign with his new Club, to later join the team in the 'pre-season stage' in Germany.

Paulo Henrique Ganso, signs a five-year contract with Sevilla FC.

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FC BARCELONA SIGNS LUCAS DIGNE

French International defender Lucas Digne, currently property of French Club Paris Saint-Germain, will strengthen the left-back position of Spanish Club FC Barcelona to compete with Jordi Alba next season. The 22 year old player currently on loan at AC Roma is about to be signed by Barça. 

Negotiations are super advanced & are coming close to a good end with an official Clubs announcement expected within the next hours. The player could even be presented later week this week to media by Barça. The signing is estimated by to around 16M€.

Digne was part of the French squad from the Euro 2016 competition but did not get any playing time.The defender is considered a young talent & has enormous potential to explode in the European Football scene. FC Barcelona wants to have the future tightly under control & secured putting their faith in the young French Football talent.

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SEVILLA FC | KRYCHOWIAK OFF TO PARIS ST GERMAIN

Spanish & new Coach of Paris St Germain Unai Emery has already "fished" in his ex-Club Sevilla FC. Polish Imternational & Sevilla FC midfielder Krychowiak is virtually a Paris St Germain player for next season. The Clubs have to make it all official but its been commented by Football press as a done deal.

The deal is 26M€ a profit as Sevilla FC bought the midfielder for 5€ two seasons back. The Sevilla fan-base are not happy at all, but the Spanish Football Club is following the recommendations of their new Coach Chilean Sampaoli who prefieres another profile like Argentine Kranevitter, the latter from At. Madrid currently in negotiations. 

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NOLITO SIGNS WITH MANCHESTER CITY

Spanish International forward & now ex-Celta de Vigo player Nolito has been officially presented as a new signing by English Premier League Club Manchester City. The English Club now being Coached by Pep Guardiola has paid the 18M€ contract release clause. A bargain price.

Nolito signs a 4 year contract & will wear the number 9 on his Manchester City shirt. We congratulate Nolito from here & wish him all the luck. 

The player may have some initial difficulties adapting but I believe that the player has abilities more suited to the English style of Football. Sure Nolito will learn & mature as a player.  

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FC BARCELONA SIGNS DEFENDER UMTITI

French Sports paper "L´Equipe" announces that Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona has agreed to a 30M€ transfer fee payment for 22 year old Central defender Samuel Umtiti. The Olympique Lyon player takes the place of Batra who goes to Borussia Dortmund.

The defender signs for the next 5 seasons & will give competition to Mascherano & Mathieu. The new signing can also play in the left-back position is needed, like an injury to Jordi Alba.

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AT MADRID MAKE OFFICAL NICOLAS GAITAN SIGNING

Spanish Football Club has made official the signing of Argentine International midfielder Nicolas Gaitan. The 28 year old Benfica player has been a personal wish from Coach Simeone for the new season 2016 - 2017 squad.

The Argentinian player signs for the next 4 years & has cost At Madrid around 25M€ in transfer fee. Other names sounding as possible reinforcements for next season are Diogo Jota & defender Sassuolo Vrsaljko. Stay tuned!

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FERNANDO LLORENTE TO SEVILLA FC

After weeks of speculation, Spanish & Juventus FC forward Fernando Llorente returns to Spanish Football. Spanish press has announced that Sevilla FC will be the new home of Llorente for the next three seasons after a 10M€ transfer deal (other sources say that his transfer is at zero cost ) with the Italian Club according to Italian media. The terms of payment is delaying the official Club announcement but everyone takes it as a formality & a done deal.

Sevilla FC get themselves a top notch forward to replace Carlos Bacca who signed for AC Milan.

Said the above, Sevilla FC & Juventus FC are also talking about the possibility of Chilean International Mauricio Isla landing in Sevilla. A difficult prospect but apparently open & possible that we will have to wait & see. Stay tuned!

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FC BARCELONA WINGER PEDRO ABOUT TO SIGN FOR CHELSEA FC

Looks as if  Spanish International & FC Barcelona winger PEDRO Rodriguez has decided to practice his trade in the English Premier League. Straight after Manchester United apparently withdrew their interest, Chelsea FC quickly stepped in & voice theirs. 

Current news is that Pedro is now in London shutting a deal with Chelsea FC & undergoing the obligatory medical exam. News sources speculated that transfer price is 28M€ plus 2M€ in variables.

Hard decision taken by the Barça player who has been sidelined ever since Neymar & Luis Suarez claimed a regular spot in the Barça team. The Spanish winger wants minutes & regular play while he puts his sights towards the upcoming European Championships with Spain in 2016.

Pedro will be in good company at Chelsea with Cesc, Diego Costa, Azpilicueta & to a less extent Courtois. 

Good luck to Pedro. A fine quality signing for Chelsea FC.

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VILLARREAL TO SIGN ROBERTO SOLDADO - BAKAMBU

Barring "strange events" Tottenham Hotspurs & Spanish forward Roberto Soldado will be new player for Spanish Club Villarreal. Tottenham striker Erik Lamela let the cat out of the bag when he said goodbye to team-mate Soldado via Twitter, which he latter had to eliminate. However, the truth is that Roberto Soldado is currently in Spain, Villarreal, to tie up loose ends & pass the obligatory medical exam. 

Its just a matter of hours before both Tottenham & Villarreal announce officially the transfer. Roberto Soldado returns to Spanish Football & will no doubt add experience & goals for Villarreal.

But there is more, Villarreal is about to sign another forward. Cedric Bakambu comes over from Turkish Club Bursaspor at a price of 7M€.

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ATLETICO MADRID SHUTS JACKSON MARTINEZ DEAL WITH PORTO

It´s official, Spanish Football Club Atletico de Madrid has paid the 36,75M€ contract release clause to Porto to do with the services of Colombian International striker Jackson Martinez. The deal was shut 2 weeks ago but negotiations continued between Clubs because Porto wanted to include in the operation young Atletico Madrid midfielder Oliver. Finally the Spanish Club decided not to deal with Oliver & paid the "full price".

The Colombian signs with Atletico de Madrid for the next 4 seasons & is currently enjoying his vacations after participating in the recent South America Cup with his Nation. The Spanish Club will soon fix a date to present officially to media their new player.

Welcome!

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REAL MADRID | IKER CASILLAS LEAVES FOR PORTO

News just coming in  announce that Real Madrid Goalkeeper & Captain Iker Casillas is on his way to Portuguese Club Porto after the player & his current club shut the deal. A bitter end after 25 years of service with 16 in the A-squad. The negotiation battle was hard with economic issues at the forefront & with end to end accusations from both sides that blemished the end of the career from Iker at Real Madrid.

So bad have things apparently ended, that Iker Casillas has refused a "special goodbye event" organized by the Club & will say goodbye to the "fans" in a press conference tomorrow that he will organize. Already expectations are high on what will be his final words, & if he will leave throwing darts.

Iker Casillas leaves for Porto - free of transfer - after his remaining 2 years of contract was resolved. Porto offers a 2 year contract with another optional & will pay 5M€ in salary & Real Madrid the remaining amount as in his contract with the Spanish Club. Just to remind you Casillas was earning around 12M€ + or - gross at Real Madrid. 

Casillas leaves bitter after he was shown the exit door & from the harsh criticisms received from fans in recent years. We wish him luck with his new adventure.

Real Madrid has already quickly moved & is close to signing RCD Espanyol Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, transfer price around 6M€. Another target David De Gea is still in negotiation.

Stay tuned!

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AT MADRID DEFENDER MIRANDA TO INTER MILAN

After months of speculation, Spanish Sports paper "Marca" confirms that Brazilian International & Atletico de Madrid Central Defender Miranda will be signed by Italian Club Inter Milan.

Miranda is currently in the city of Milan under going the regulatory medical examination before signing his new contract with Inter. The Brazilian was being followed by other Clubs, including Chelsea FC, but Inter Coach Mancini made it a priority for next season.

The player leaves 15 M€ in the Atletico de Madrid bank account plus opens the way for young Uruguayan International defender Gimenez to be the regular Central Defender along side his fellow countryman Godin to secure the Atletico defence. 

Wish Miranda all the luck in the World at Inter. The Italian Club has signed a very fine defender.

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CARLOS BACCA GOES TO AC MILAN

Spanish Football & Sevilla FC will lose a fine forward. The representative of Colombian International Carlos Bacca has announced that Italian Club AC Milan has come to an agreement with Sevilla FC to transfer player for next season. The economic amount is said to be 30M€ with a 4 seasons contract for Bacca.

Interesting to find that Bacca has sacrificed playing in Champions League next season as Milan will not participate in said competition. This makes one think that the offer made to the player was hard to knock back. 

We wish Carlos Bacca all the luck in the World at Milan & in Italian Calcio.
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JUVENTUS FC SIGNS MARIO MANDZUKIC

News hitting the "stands" is that Spanish Club Atletico de Madrid & Italian Champions Juventus FC have shut the transfer operation of Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic. The transfer is around 18M€ minus what Atletico still owns Bayern Munich.

Mandzukic has not really fit in with the style of play of Atletico de Madrid Coach Simeone, plus the imminent expected arrival of Villarreal forward Vietto has opened the doors for the Croatian. Juventus speed up the operation once it was clear the forward Carlos Tevez was out, thus Mandzukic now competes for a place along with the two Spaniards Morata & Fernando Llorente. The latter may think about moving elsewhere himself as Llorente & Mandzukic are of a similar profile. 

Thanking  Mandzukic for his services to At. Madrid & I wish him luck.
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FC BARCELONA SIGNS SEVILLA FC DEFENDER ALEIX VIDAL

FC Barcelona made official today its new signing for next season. Barça gets on-board Aleix Vidal previously the Sevilla FC right-back & also recently called up Spanish International. Very good addition to the Catalan squad who is destined to replace Dani Alves who looks like possibly leaving Barça & perhaps going off to AC Milan. 

The 25 year old defender, Catalan by birth, signs for the next 5 seasons with the operation hovering around 22M€ mark broken down in fixed, variables & extras. The player accepts the fact that he cannot play with Barça until the 1ºst of January 2016, due to the FIFA imposed sanction on FC Barcelona for signing underaged players. Obviously the player realizes that this is a one off golden opportunity for his Football career. Lots of luck!

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