FC Barcelona News: 22 March 2011; Abidal 'In Good Shape', Messi - The Highest Paid Player in the World, Platini Re-Elected

Abidal 'in good shape' after surgery | Eurosport
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta visited Abidal in hospital and relayed good news about the 31-year-old's condition. "He is fine, in good shape and in high spirits," Zubizarreta told Mundo Deportivo.

Messi has 17 league assists | FCBarcelona
Leo Messi has beaten Xavi Hernadez’s record of 16 assists set in the 2008/09 campaign. With nine games still to go, his pass for Bojan’s goal on Saturday night was the seventeenth time he’s set up a goal in the league this season. The Argentinean not only leads the team with his 45 goals(27 in La Liga, 8 in the Champions League and 3 in the Super Cup) – he’s also become the leading provider.

Messi and Mourinho top rich list | ESPN
Barcelona forward Messi, the two-time World Player of the Year, brought home €31 million from his salary and publicity deals in 2011, just ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo (€27.5 million) and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (€20.7 million).

Training with the reserves | FCBarcelona
It was an unusual training session at Sant Joan Despí, as the players that have not been called up by their national squads or that have yet to leave worked out with the reserves. The first team players present on Monday were Pinto, Alves, Fontàs, Keita, Jeffren and Bojan. Adriano stayed in the gym, while Pedro, Maxwell and Puyol are all still recovering from injury.

Barcelona’s David Villa: I’ve Been Unlucky Lately | Goal
'El Guaje', who is the all-time leading goalscorer for Spain, has scored 21 goals in all competitions for Barcelona this season, with 17 of those registered in La Liga. Villa’s stats may appear impressive, but his goalscoring record is minor when compared to Blaugrana team-mate Lionel Messi.

Laporta accuses Real | Sky Sports
Laporta has told Catalunya Radio: "It is clear that Real Madrid are behind the doping accusations against Barcelona. "I don't think it was enough that he (Rosell) excused the president of Real Madrid (Perez) because he had a telephone conversation with him."

Real 'owe apology' for doping claim | Eurosport
And Cruyff, writing a weekly column in Catalan newspaper El Periodico de Catalunya, said: "The charge is too severe, too harsh for there to be any excuses. An apology should be made by Real Madrid itself", the honorary president of Barcelona continued.

Barcelona's Bojan Krkic On Napoli Radar - Report | Goal
The 20-year-old attacker is a product of the Barcelona youth academy and has made 100 La Liga appearances to date. But Krkic has yet to become an undisputed first team player for the Catalans and could therefore opt to move on in order to get more playing time elsewhere.

Real linked with Fellaini | Sky Sports
Belgium international Fellaini, 23, is sidelined until the end of the season with an ankle injury, but that has not stopped Real coach Jose Mourinho reportedly enquiring about the midfielder. Spanish daily As claims Everton have quoted Real €25million (£21.7million) for Fellaini.

Real Madrid Request Rearrangement Of Sporting Fixture Prior To Champions League Quarter-Finals | Goal
The Portuguese coach is concerned with time constraints as the match in Gijon, scheduled for Saturday April 2, means his squad will have just 48 hours to prepare for the quarter-final against Spurs on April 5. AS reports that the former Inter boss wants the league encounter to be played on Friday, April 1, to offer ample time for Champions League duty.

Atletico Madrid Keeping Tabs On Porto's Fernando Belluschi - Report | Goal
The Colchoneros are eager to add some more creativity to their squad in the summer transfer window and they consider the 27-year-old Belluschi to be the perfect addition to their roster. Belluschi joined Porto from Olympiacos in the summer of 2009 and has since developed into a key player at the Dragoes.

Liverpool target Prieto | Eurosport
The Daily Star claims that Reds boss Kenny Dalglish sees the highly-rated Real Sociedad star as the perfect man to drop crosses on to £35m striker Andy Carroll's head.

Levante lose top scorer | LFP
Levante striker Felipe Caicedo will be out of action for the next month. The Ecuadorian, who has contributed 11 of the team’s 30 goal this season, suffered a one centimetre tear to his right thigh muscle in the weekend victory over Deportivo.

Platini re-elected as UEFA president | Eurosport
The Frenchman, who has been in the post since 2007, was voted in by acclamation at the UEFA Congress, where he was given a standing ovation.

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