Keita extends contract

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barca’s Mali midfielder Seydou Keita has extended his contract with the club until 2014, depending on appearances made, with a buyout clause of 100 million euros.

Seydou Keita’s contract was set to finish in 2012, but today’s deal could keep him at the club for a further two years with an extra 10 million also added to his buyout clause.

Key in midfield
Keita, who will be 34 when the contract runs out, signed from Seville in 2008 and quickly settled into the Barca style to become a key piece in Guardiola’s plans, slotting into a defensive role beside Sergi Busquets and after today’s deal he explained: “I’m very happy to play at this club. I‘m in my third year here and we’ve won everything, but I want to stay and win it all again. Barca have given me everything and I really want to stay on here. There is a lot of pressure, but I’d love to stay here till I hang up my boots. That’s my dream, but we’ll have to see how it goes”.

Guardiola
The African star made clear his feelings for Guardiola, claiming: “he’s not just a good coach, he’s a good person. He’s shown his confidence in me and I know he like players with a big heart who can help their teammates and the club”

Keita also stressed the importance of the social commitment of the club to making his decision to extend his stay: “this is more than a club. The Fundacio has helped set up a school in my country to help the children and that is very important for me”.

Villa: "I could do no more"

David Villa was pleased to have scored his first league goal for FC Barcelona as he netted in the 0-3 win against Racing Santander, but also felt that starting the season with a victory was vital.

The Asturian striker nodded in Barça’s third in El Sardinero on Sunday evening and also netted in the opening period only to see the effort ruled out for a dubious offside flag. “I am pleased with the way everything went today,” Villa said after the game . “I am pleased with the result, the win and the three points. It was a complete league debut and I could not do any more.”

Dominating displayu

“The team has played well and we always had the initiative while playing well and dominating,” Villa continued as he reflected on the performance. “We created chance and won well. To start the season is always tricky and we came from pre-season without much time. We took the points though and felt good.”

Changing fortunes

Villa does not have fond memories of his previous visits to play Racing Santander. “I have never had much luck in this stadium,” he commented. “But my luck is changing and this is a new chapter. Today I played well here and scored. It was not easy to fit straight in here in some ways, but in others it has been great. What is certain that the players here are suited to my way of playing.”

Family support

In El Sardinero watching from the stands were Villa’s family who travelled across Asturias to see him. “I dedicate this to all my family,” he explained. “It was just chance that the game was near where I am from and they could come.”


Below is what some of the other players had to say after the game:

Xavi Hernández

“It is very important to start the league well and now there is a break and many of us will go away for internationals.”

“Without doubt we have a great team to retain the title.”

Víctor Valdés

“The defensive work was great. Racing wanted to play football and were brave while we played well and created chances with our style.”

“I do not think it was a penalty, but once they are given that is it. The last time I saved a penalty was at Betis and I personally pleased that I was able to help the team here.”

“[ Puyol and Xavi ] felt knocks and it as intelligent to not risk them.”

“I am very pleased for Villa and he told me that he picked up an injury here, but now everything was fine.”

“To go to join the Spain squad is great.”

Sergio Busquets

“The game was good in general. They are only three points, but it is much better to start like that because we wanted to calm ourselves.”

“Villa is a great player and he scored twice, even though one was ruled out, but the win is more important than the players.”

Guardiola delighted with winning start

Pep Guardiola was pleased with the display and outcome of FC Barcelona’s first league game of the new season as he felt that the result was important after the 0-3 win against Racing Santander on Sunday evening. The Blaugrana boss praised his own team for their performance as Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and David Villa all scored and Víctor Valdés saved a penalty in El Sardinero. “To start with a 0-3 win is important,” he said. Racing never gave up on their principles and that earned praise from Guardiola. “They are one of the few teams that we have played face-to-face as they did not resort to long balls,” he continued. “We watched them and doubted that they would and instead they tried their luck.” Lacked spark
Despite evidently being pleased with the performance Guardiola admitted that there was room for improvement. “We have lacked a spark, but that is normal,” the stated. “More games will give us that throughout the season. We are very satisfied with what we have done.” Valdés confidence
Valdés stood out as he saved a penalty and then made other stops to earn the gratitude of his trainer. “He is Mister Reliable,” Guardiola commented. “He is very important to us between the posts and in the dressing room. Valdés gives everyone confidence. His penalty save at that moment was crucial to the game.” Ibrahimovic move
Questions about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s move to AC Milan were inevitable and Guardiola was charitable with his responses. “He is an immense player,” he said. “I wish him all the best in his new adventure. He was part of five trophies that we won.” Iniesta praise

Iniesta also played very well in El Sardinero and Guardiola was delighted. “He is in great form after a very complicated year,” the coach explained. “His goal was very difficult to pull off.”

Racing Santander-Barcelona 0-3

Barça start drive for title hat-trick

FC Barcelona kick off the second consecutive defence of the league title with a trip to the north coast where they meet Racing Santander in El Sardinero on Sunday evening (19.00, R@dio Barça).

Pep Guardiola's team start the season in Cantabria and the excitement and expectation is sky high after the team secured their first trophy last weekend when beating Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup. Now the side are faced with a fresh challenge as David Villa, Adriano and all the regular stars aim to become the only other outfit apart from Johan Cruyff's Dream Team to win more than two league titles in a row in Barça's history.

Ready for the off

The Blaugrana have shown in pre-season that they have not lost any of their desire nor have they seen a change of style or a drop in their level. After friendly wins in Norway and the Far East the Catalan outfit bounced back to win the Spanish Super Cup before having their last pre-season test in midweek against AC Milan in the Trofeo Gamper.

Debut days

Barça have travelled to Santander with 18 players after leaving Zlatan Ibrahimovic , Aliaksandr Hleb and Martín Cáceres out. Villa and Adriano have both already played in their new club's colours, but this encounter could mark their league debuts. Samuel Eto’o, Deco, Ludovic Giuly, Henrik Larsson, Thierry Henry and Yaya Touré all made their first appearances for the team in El Sardinero as Barça have met Racing six times on the opening day away from home and four times in the past 12 seasons.

All change

For the hosts it has been another summer of change as coach Miguel Ángel Portugal looked to improve on last term's finish of 16th place. The club's rising starlet Sergio Canales completed his move to Real Madrid and experienced heads such as José Moratón, Toni Moral and Luis García all left. While Barça's Henrique saw his loan deal renewed, the club signed six new faces, including former Championship Manager favourite Kennedy Bakircoglü from Ajax, Adrían González from Getafe and Cisma.

Ibrahimovic loan to AC Milan agreed

FC Barcelona and AC Milan have agreed a deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to move to the Italian club on loan for the entire season 2010/11 with the Rossoneri paying all his earnings.

Included in the agreement is the option for AC Milan to make the move permanent next summer for a fee of €24 million.

If the option to buy Ibrahimovic is taken up by the Serie A club then that could see FC Barcelona save approximately €60 million.

The deal was able to be done thanks to the collaboration of the player and the willingness of his agent to conclude the negotiations.

Guardiola welcomes Mascherano

Pep Guardiola has congratulated Javier Macherano after a deal was reached for him to join FC Barcelona from Liverpool and stated that the midfielder will improve his squad.

The Blaugrana boss was delighted with the latest addition to his ranks after Mascherano joined David Villa and Adriano Correia as the summer signings at Camp Nou. After the former West Ham United enforcer landed in the Ciutat Contal on Saturday Guardiola stated: "Mascherano will give us many things and I want to congratulate him and the club, who did things well. He is much more than a defensive player. He has a great touch, keeps things simple, is very strong and will add a lot to our midfield. Also, despite being young he has great experience and we have references that he is a good person too."

Midfield magic

The arrival of Mascherano makes him a direct replacement for Yaya Touré, who left to join Manchester City at the end of last term, but Guardiola does not want to compare the two players. "Mascherano is different. But he will integrate quickly because tactically he is very intelligent. Both he and Sergio Busquets can play together because use different ways to move the ball out from the back." Guardiola remembered that Barça had been keen to sign Mascherano a year ago, but having both Touré and Busquets meant he was unable to.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been making headlines this week and Guardiola reflected on the situation. "That people are talking so much about his future is down to the time of year," the coach explained. "I am keeping a cold head and will not lose my calm while taking what I believe are the best decisions for the club." The Swedish striker has not been included in the squad to face Racing Santander. "That is my decision," Guardiola explained. "He has trained well and is in form. Because of the situation that we find ourselves in though I have chosen not to call him up. I am the one who is in control here." Should Ibrahimovic leave Guardiola was asked if he would look to replace him. "At this moment he is a Barça player. Depending on what happens we will decide. We will see how the market looks," he added.

Difficult start

Barça travel to the Nuevo Sardinero on Sunday to face Racing Club and Guardiola is well aware of what a tricky trip it could be. "It is always a difficult place for us to go," he said. "It was the same during my time as a player as well. I have watched them and know how they play. They use different pressure and are well organised and have stand-out players like [Pedro] Munitis. I am very excited and hope that it will be a great game." Some critics have said that the league could be a two-horse race between Barça and Real Madrid, but Guardiola does not agree. "It will be completely between us," the trainer commented, adding that Valencia, Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid could be involved.

Champions League

On Thursday the Blaugrana drew Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan in the Champions League. "Again we are four league champions in the same Champions League group," Guardiola said. "It makes me feel better to play against teams who everyone thinks will be difficult. I am not looking forward to seeing Rubin and I have utmost respect for them." The Champions League final will be played at Wembley Stadium next spring, but Guardiola is not thinking about history repeating itself. "To play the final anywhere would be great, but Wembley is currently a long way off," he stated.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of team!

2010 summer transfer period, AC Milan, one of the most exciting moves to make. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola's team will play fantastic football player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Racing Santander in the match did not take the team. Milan transfer Ibrahimovic official statements coming from the front, only two are expected to express. Milan's number one chief executive Adriano Sandro Roselle Galliani'nin Barcelona on Saturday with talks about the transfer of the two teams end with the elimination of roughness will be put into official said the talks. Barcelona Guardiola'nın season's first game, the racing battle set for the team are as follows; Valdes, Pinto, Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Xavi, David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Messi, Bojan, Keita, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Milito Maxwell, Jeffren, Adriano and Abidal.

Spain La Liga in the much anticipated new season begins.

Spanish First Football League (La Liga) 2010-2011 season begins today with the match. In the first week of the season, last year's champion, Barcelona, Racing Santander away to fight with. Barcelona's 99 points last season as league champions, Real Madrid, scoring 96 second-, Valencia finished in third place was 71 points. Spain finished second in the League last season during the first 3 Real Sociedad, Hercules and Levante in the first division this season, will compete.

Most have championship in Real

UEFA ranking in second place in La Liga so far in nine different teams won. La Liga, was founded in 1929 with 10 teams and became the first champion Barcelona. Since the league was founded only three teams, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao were relegated.

Most of the winning team in La Liga champions Real Madrid with 31 times the joy of living. Madrid team, champion of the last two seasons with Barcelona is followed by 20 championship. After the two teams with nine championship Atletico Madrid 3 at the time. The number of championship teams and won championships in Spain, said:

Real Madrid (31), Barcelona (20), Atletico Madrid (9), Athletic Bilbao (8), Valencia (6), Real Sociedad (2), Deportivo La Coruna (1), Sevilla (1) Real Betis (1 ).

Fixtures WEEK

In the first week of the season's matches will be played:

PROGRAM

Saturday
19:00 Hercules - Ath. Bilbao
21:00 Malaga - Valencia
23:00 Levante - Sevilla

Market
18:00 Deportivo La Coruña - Zaragoza
18:00 Espanyol - Getafe
18:00 Osasuna - Almeria
18:00 Real Sociedad - Villarreal
20:00 Racing Santander - Barcelona
22:00 Mallorca - Real Madrid

Monday
22:00 Atlético Madrid - Sporting de Gijón

Deal with Liverpool to sign Mascherano

FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have reached agreement in principle for the transfer of Javier Mascherano, who will join the club for the next four seasons. The agreement was reached after considerable effort from the club over the last few hours and the willingness and desire of the player to make the move. FC Barcelona will give more details of the operation once the player has gone through his medical and the transfer is definitive. Javier Mascherano is expected to arrive in Barcelona this weekend.

Barça drawn in the Group of Champions

Barça have been drawn in Group D of the Champions League together with Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan. The draw for the group stage of the Champions League was made in Monaco on Thursday afternoon. Although the other three teams may not be that well known to many fans, they all won their respective leagues last season. In fact, Group D is the only group to feature four league champions and Barça fans will remember that Russian champions Rubin Kazan produced a shock win in the Camp Nou at the same stage last season.

UEFA Club Player awards

During the draw, the winners of the 2009-10 UEFA Club Players awards were announced. Reigning European champions Inter Milan scooped all four prizes - Julio Cesar (goalkeeper), Maicon (defender), Sneijder (midfielder) and Milito (forward). Milito also took the award for Best Club Player.