FC Barcelona News: 1 September 2011; Transfer Deadline Passes, Alexander Hleb Loaned, Pierluigi Collina Speaks

"The ongoing challenge is to maintain the excellence " | FCBarcelona.cat
A few hours before the end of the summer transfer market, there was time to take stock of events during the preseason. With this in mind, the Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu, and Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta appeared at a press conference. Bartomeu explained that: "We tried to deliver everything the coaching team asked for, but always from an austere standpoint, and defending the interests of the Club".

Hleb to Wolfsburg on loan | FCBarcelona.cat
Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu has announced the loan of forward Alexander Hleb to Wolfsburg, who play in the Bundesliga. The cost of the operation will depend on the number of games he plays. The player, currently recovering from injury, will join the German team in October, Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed.

Will Lionel Messi stay motivated? Can Ronaldo clean up his image? Graham Hunter's take on the new La Liga season - ESPN
Guardiola was hinting at two specific things. The vast majority of Barca's superstars across the ages have left abruptly, disillusioned or via the back door. That list includes Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Deco, Ronaldinho, Guardiola, Figo and Michael Laudrup. Guardiola doesn't want that to happen with Messi.

Barcelona youngster Park Sheung-ho hailed as the next Lionel Messi | Mail Online
Scottish angst, Catalan culture and the youth of today: they met at Celtic Park on Wednesday night in the second instalment of the new NextGen Series, a sort of Champions League for teenagers. Barcelona, as might have been expected, defeated Celtic but it was a decent contest that should have eroded some of the pessimism eating into Scottish football.

Picking up a deliberate booking will result in a two-match ban - Pierluigi Collina - Goal.com
Uefa refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina has revealed that players who deliberately pick up a booking in order to receive a suspension will now receive a two-match ban. The matter became an issue last season when Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho instructed Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso to pick up a booking in order to be banned for the next fixture

Gago joins Roma from Madrid - ESPN Soccernet
Roma have signed Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago on loan from Real Madrid, the Serie A club have confirmed. Gago's move to Roma could be made permanent next summer with the Serie A outfit having an option to buy the South American player for €6 million.

Official: Everton complete loan signing of Real Madrid's Royston Drenthe - Goal.com
Everton have completed the signing of midfielder Royston Drenthe on a season-long loan from Real Madrid. The 24-year-old has penned a deal until the end of the 2011-12 with the Premier League outfit, who have acquired a midfield reinforcement after the departure of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal.

Official: Valencia sign Antoni Barragan from Valladolid - Goal.com
Valencia have completed the transfer of Antoni Barragan from Real Valladolid for an undisclosed fee. The full-back has signed a contract until the summer of 2015 with the Champions League hopefuls. Barragan is a product of the Sevilla youth academy and was also under contract with Liverpool and Deportivo La Coruna before joining Valladolid in the summer of 2009.Sevilla

Liga - Double deal for Villarreal - Yahoo! Eurosport
Uche, 27, who has had a string of injuries through his career, is to finalise a four-year deal with Villarreal. He is away on international duty but on his return will play this season on loan with promoted Granada. De Guzman, 23, who has represented Netherlands at youth level, came up through the Feyenoord youth system before joining Mallorca in 2010.

Atletico Madrid sign Diego from Wolfsburg on loan - ESPN Soccernet
Wolfsburg have confirmed that Brazilian midfielder Diego will move to Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan deal.Diego, 28, has been on the verge of an exit since he was fined after storming out of the team hotel last season after being told he was a substitute.

Official: Espanyol sign Sevilla's Romaric as Luis Garcia joins Real Zaragoza - Goal.com
Espanyol have confirmed the signing of Sevilla midfielder Romaric, and the sale of striker Luis Garcia to Real Zaragoza. The Ivory Coast international will initially join on loan for the season, but has an agreement in place for a permanent transfer for next summer, where he will sign a three-year contact.

Tziolis moves to Racing | LFP
Racing have secured the loan of Greek midfield player Alexandros Tziolis for the remainder of the season. The player is due to undergo a medical revision at the club on Wednesday 31st August. Tziolis joins on loan from Serie A outfit AC Siena, who bought him in the winter of 2010.

Pedro Leon returns to Getafe on loan from Real Madrid - ESPN Soccernet
Getafe have signed former winger Pedro Leon on loan from Real Madrid for the season with a view to a permanent transfer. Leon, 24, played for Getafe in the 2009-10 season before moving to the Bernabeu, where he has struggled to assert himself in the first team.

Official: Getafe sign Atletico Madrid's Ruben Perez on loan - Goal.com
Getafe have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Ruben Perez on a season-long loan deal. The 22-year-old, who is yet to break into Gregorio Manzano's first-team plans and was set for a season with the club's B squad, makes a speedy return to La Liga after spending last season at Deportivo on a similar arrangement.

Official: Betis sign Red Star Belgrade's Dusko Tosic on loan - Goal.com
The Serbia international has joined the Liga outfit on a temporary basis just one year after signing for Red Star from Portsmouth. Betis have secured the option to buy Tosic at the end of the loan spell, though the club did not reveal the figure which will be required to land the 26-year-old permanently.

Zaragoza buy Portugal striker Postiga - Yahoo! Eurosport
La Liga team Real Zaragoza signed Portugal striker Helder Postiga from Sporting for one million euros on Wednesday. The Portuguese club also said the transfer fee could double but did not specify the conditions. The 29-year-old Postiga joined Sporting from Panathinaikos in 2008.