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First things first, FC Barcelona finally captured Udinese’s Alexis Sanchez. After long and drawn out negotiations, the much coveted and equally as highly rated youngster is set to be unveiled as FC Barcelona’s latest signing on Monday. And Sanchez comes at a reasonable (initial) price tag, €26 million (plus €11,5 million in variables). On the other hand, FC Barcelona also finalized the sale of Bojan Krkic to Serie A giants AS Rome for a reported €12 million and the most complicated buy back clause in the history of football. Apparently the Italian side can prevent any buyback option from FC Barcelona in 2013 if they pay a further €28 million to take the overall transfer value to €40 million. Quite frankly, I don’t see that happening. Not only is Italy’s Serie A the most defensive league in Europe, Bojan also has Roma icon Francesco Totti ahead of him in the pecking order. If Lionel Messi is the darling of Barcelona than Francesco Totti is no less than the Emperor of Rome. Any club would’ve been a better choice, especially La Liga’s Villarreal CF. But Bojan didn’t want to be a makeweight in the Giuseppe Rossi operation – I honestly believe he’ll regret that decision.
Speaking of La Masia youngsters leaving FC Barcelona, Oriol Romeu has been given the permission to discuss personal terms with EPL side Chelsea FC. Apparently new Chelsea head honcho Andre Villas Boas rates the youngster highly, given that he needs to find a replacement for the injured Michael Essien. Well, at least FC Barcelona has managed to insert a buyback option for Romeu too, and it’s a lot less complicated than Bojan’s. The Blaugrana can exercise their option to the tune of €8 million, which is not too shabby considering that Chelsea FC is rumored to pay as much as €5 million for his services. An additional €3 million for two years training and playing with one of the best teams in the EPL, sounds like a good deal to me.
EPL? Transfers? Isn’t there someone left…there is! Cesc Fabregas! But unfortunately there isn’t any further development of any kind. He is still, or continues to be an Arsenal FC player. At a very reasonable valuation of €45 million he is just not for FC Barcelona. He is definitely worth every penny Arsenal demand but I don’t see the urgency of his signing. It’s better for all parties involved if Cesc were to stay at least one more season with the Gunners. If the signed with FC Barcelona he would probably lose his position within the Spanish national team. After all, you don’t get called up to the national team warming the bench for other players, only Gabriel Milito can get away with it. But I’m afraid the Cesc saga will drag on for the rest of the summer or transfer window for that matter.
It has long been announced and it will finally see the light of the day, the first Barca Blaugranes podcast featuring myself and Jose. To be honest neither he nor I had that much experience prior to taping it but it was good fun. We talked about a couple of things, the ugliest players, the most gorgeous WAG’s and of course football and FC Barcelona. We’re new to this so forgive us if it’s not as polished and well-produced as Managing Madrid’s pocasts’ but we’ll get there. Furthermore, I am asking you to submit questions I can use for the podcast I’m about to do with the Busby Babe’s Gene Um.
On a totally unrelated note, I have tweeted it on Twitter before; I absolutely love Google+ and the Google hangout? It’s the coolest thing on the web. If you’re lucky you can catch at least half the BB staff on Google+ and video chat with us.
That’s it, that’s this weeks’ write up. Look out for the Barca Blaugranes podcast and our feature with the Busby Babe.
Yours truly,
Sebastian
Congratulations to Uruguay for winning the Copa America but I still don't like Luis Suarez!
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