FC Barcelona News: 29 June 2011; Barca Make New Fabregas Bid, Sanchez Deal Close

Young, gifted and Spanish | Eurosport
Barcelona's Thiago Alcantara was another wearing the Spain shirt with pride as he showed off two of his team's trophies and arms full of tattoos. He also refused to be drawn on talk of a move away from Camp Nou and while he made it clear that he'd like to stay at Barca last week, the decision may not be his.

Barcelona lodge new £35m bid for Arsenal captain Cesc Fábregas | The Guardian
Barcelona have made a renewed offer of £35m for the Arsenal captain Cesc Fábregas. The European and Spanish champions scent victory in the long-running saga, and Arsenal must now decide how to respond. The sense, however, is that the matter is finally drawing to a close and Fábregas will get his move back to the club where he started out as a trainee.

James Lawton: Wenger will be devastated if he loses his protégé ... but Fabregas has paid his dues | The Independent
Depending on your perspective, there is one of two possible reactions. The first is that Fabregas is betraying the man who invested so much in his possibilities as one of football's truly creative forces. The second – and it is the most persuasive available choice here – is that at 24, Fabregas has paid his dues to both his mentor and his club.

Roberto Mancini reveals Manchester City pull out of race for Udinese's Alexis Sanchez, as Barcelona move edges closer | Goal
Udinese representative, Quique Pina, revealed last week that the deal is almost complete, and both sides have now resumed negotiations to wrap up the transfer, Sport reports. Barcelona and Udinese have reached an agreement on a transfer fee of €40 million, but the Champions League winners want to pay an initial €27m with the remaining €13m depending on variables.

All set for the Copa America | FCBarcelona
Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gaby Milito, for Argentina, and Dani Alves and Adriano Correia, for Brazil, will be representing the Barça name in the oldest surviving international football competition in the world, the Copa America.

What you need to know about Barcelona & Roma target Jose Angel | Goal
Angel seems, then, to be the perfect hybrid; competent in his duties as a defender, but accomplished enough to play a role further forward if required. Not to make a comparison in any way, but Dani Alves combines these duties to devastating effect on the right flank, and Guardiola clearly believes that with development the raw talent could eventually be congruous with the club's ideals, and evolve into a suitable option on the opposite side.

The U.S. president, Barack Obama, compared himself to Lionel Messi | FCBarcelona
Barça’s global recognition has even reached the White House. The U.S. President, Barack Obama compared himself to the first team player Lionel Messi. Obama made this comparison during the official reception for the champions of the North American Soccer League (MLS), the Colorado Rapids.

Jonathan dos Santos & Nestor Vidrio among eight players dropped from Mexico squad after prostitution scandal | Goal
Eight Mexican U-22 stars, including Barcelona's Jonathan dos Santos and Nestor Vidrio of Atlas have been sanctioned by the national side and excluded from the Copa America, after it was discovered that they were using prostitutes in the Tricolor's pre-Copa base in Quito.

Guti: Messi has edge on Ronaldo | ESPN
"[Ronaldo] is a great player and has been decisive in many games," he told Punto Pelota, "yet in the big games he doesn't deliver, which is something that Messi has done. The top stars are the ones who perform in the top-level games."

De Gea agrees United move | ESPN
De Gea, 20, has signed a five-year deal with the Premier League champions to become Edwin van der Sar's successor. He joins Phil Jones and Ashley Young in moving to Old Trafford to take Sir Alex Ferguson's spending to £50 million this month.

Real Betis sign Villarreal duo | Eurosport
Newly-promoted Real Betis have announced the double-signing of Jefferson Montero and Javier Matilla from Villarreal. Ecuador international winger Montero (pictured) arrives on a season-long loan. There is no right-to-buy clause in the 21-year-old's deal.

Martí renews contract with Mallorca | LFP
Mallorca have announced via their web-page that Pep Martí has been handed a contract extension. The player will stay for another season at the Balearic-island club, where he has been since 2008 after signing from Real Sociedad.

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