FC Barcelona News: 5 January 2012; Barça Rout Osasuna, Eight Possible Clasicos in 2011/2012 Season

Messi, Fabregas ease Barca past Osasuna - Yahoo! Eurosport
Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas each scored twice as Barcelona thrilled the Nou Camp with a crushing 4-0 win over Osasuna in their Copa del Rey last-16 first leg.The Spanish, European and world champions completely dominated their La Liga rivals, victory made all the sweeter when talisman Messi came off the bench to add two goals to first-half strikes from the former Arsenal captain.

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola: Lionel Messi called me to say he wanted to play - Goal.com
"Messi was feeling unwell this morning, he had stomach ache and some fever, so we sent him home," Guardiola told reporters at a post-match news conference. "I told him to come and watch the match and if he felt fine, he would play. He called me three hours before the game and told me he wanted to play, so I put him on the bench.

Leo Messi: he came, he saw, he scored | FC Barcelona
On the game, Messi is clear that the 4-0 is not a definitive result and that the team doesn’t believe that the tie is decided. "It’s a good result going into Pamplona, because we know that it’s not an easy field and they are strong at home. Visiting teams have a really hard time winning, that’s why we needed to put in a good performance here," Messi explained.

Guardiola: "We've made a positive step forward in the playoff" | FC Barcelona
Despite recognizing that the result in the away game of the last 16 King’s Cup tie is "a very good step forward," the manager cautioned that "we still need to go to Pamplona." He added, "in general terms we played an excellent game and we’ve made a positive step forward in the playoff. But it’s not decided yet, because we must go play in Pamplona."

Guillermo Amor confident Pep Guardiola will sign new Barcelona deal - Goal.com
"What interests Barcelona the most at the moment is that Guardiola stays at the club and we think that will happen as it would be good for every one involved," Amor was quoted as saying by Barca TV. "Pep is very committed to Barcelona and has a lot of faith in the players at the club. That gives us confidence that he will stay. I hope that he will continue working at Barca for many more years.

And you thought last season was crazy - Real Madrid & Barcelona on course for a possible eight Clasico meetings in 2011-12 - Goal.com
No wonder the Clasicos have been getting out of hand recently. Tensions flared as Real Madrid and Barcelona met four times in 18 days last April and early May, six times in all last season and on seven occasions in the calendar year of 2011.But if you thought that was crazy, the two eternal enemies are now on course to meet an unprecedented eight times in 2011-12!!

Back in the days of Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff or Pele, Barcelona's Lionel Messi would have been a substitute, says Hugo Gatti - Goal.com
"The best player ever is without any doubt Pele. After that you have Alfredo [Di Stefano], [Johan] Cruyff, and Diego [Maradona]," Gatti said in an interview with Radio La Red. "In those times, Messi would have been a substitute rather than a star. "All of these Barcelona players who say they play for the best team in the world would have been bench-warmers in the times of Maradona and Cruyff."

Barcelona reject Hercules approach for Rodri | tribalfootball.com
Rodri has been scoring goals for fun with Barca B this season and Hercules had wanted to sign him to boost their attack. But Barca management see the youngster as a future first teamer and refused to consider parting with the youngster.

FC Barcelona's new motor coach | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona will present the Club’s new official motor coach this Thursday with the company Autopullman Padrós, official sponsor of the Club and official motor coach sponsor since the 2003/04 season. This new vehicle will be the fist team’s official coach and it will also be available for the Club’s other professional teams.

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain reveals coach Jose Mourinho read the riot act at half-time against Malaga - Goal.com
Gonzalo Higuain has revealed that some strong words during the interval from coach Jose Mourinho were responsible for Real Madrid’s stirring second-half comeback against Malaga on Tuesday night.

Ancelotti cools Kaka rumour - Yahoo! Eurosport
The oil-rich French giants had been linked with both players, with both men having played under Ancelotti at Milan. However, after watching his new chargers lose to his old club 1-0 in a friendly in Dubai Ancelotti said there was "no chance" he would be signing Kaka, who is now with Real Madrid.

Ajax reject Valencia's latest offer for Gregory van der Wiel - report - Goal.com
Van der Wiel is understood to have one foot at Mestalla after the Netherlands international claimed last month he had agreed personal terms with the Liga club. However, the two clubs have so far failed to reach a compromise over the transfer fee, with Ajax holding out for €12 million, while Valencia have so far proved unwilling to go beyond the €10m mark.

New Athletic deal for De Marcos - Yahoo! Eurosport
Despite only scoring twice in 15 league appearances for the Basque club this season, the versatile former Alaves forward has been rewarded with a new deal and has has his buy-out clause set at £26.5 million.

Chinese talent Feng Renliang begins trial with Spanish La Liga club Villarreal - Goal.com
Exciting China international midfielder Feng Renliang has arrived in Spain for his trial with La Liga outfit Villarreal. The 23-year-old Shanghai Shenhua man will train with the Yellow Submarine for the next two to three weeks. Feng's trial comes following the signing of the agreement between Villarreal and Chinese shirt producer X-Tep.

Ponzio leaves Zaragoza | LFP
Leo Ponzio has reached an agreement with Real Zaragoza to rescind his contract with the northerners. The Argentine midfielder joined in the 2003/04 season and made 246 appearances and also captained the Maños in two separate spells with the club. "The way I feel about this shirt, for this city and for the club will not change."