FC Barcelona News: 10 February 2012; Talks Between LFP and AFE Break Down, Light Recovery Training for Players

Talks break up between league and players - Yahoo! Eurosport
However, the league (LFP) said it had now been forced to halt talks in the face of what it described as AFE "intransigence". "After months of talks, the LFP yesterday felt obliged to break off negotiations over a Collective Accord for professional football given the intransigence of the AFE's position at the table," an LFP statement said.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell hopeful Pep Guardiola will sign contract extension - Goal.com
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell remains hopeful that coach Pep Guardiola will imminently extend his contract with the club. Guardiola's current deal expires at the end of the season and the former B team coach has yet to give any indication as to whether he intends to remain at Camp Nou beyond the summer.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique: Pep Guardiola is more motivated now than he was four years ago - Goal.com
Gerard Pique has dismissed the notion that Pep Guardiola is losing interest in his job as the coach of Barcelona. "I see Guardiola more motivated than in his first year here," Pique said during a press conference. "That says everything. "Ever since Pep arrived, the team has not stopped growing. Barca are stronger now than four years ago.

Xavi: "This is a moment to savour" | FC Barcelona
"We are very happy to be in the final. We have got through some tough ties and deserve to be here, we believe we were superior to all our opponents and dealt with things well ... The whole squad has celebrated. We are enjoying fine form and sometimes don't appreciate what we have. This is a moment to enjoy".

Recovery exercises for the finalists | FC Barcelona
The Copa del Rey finalists got back to work on Thursday at midday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The first eleven against Valencia and Sergio Busquets worked behind closed doors, with the focus being on recuperation from the previous night’s exertions. The others, who included reserve team members Dos Santos, Tello, Sergi Roberto, Espinosa, Lobato and Masip trained as normal.

Zubizarreta reveals Marc Muniesa will be promoted to the Barcelona first team - Goal.com
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has revealed that promising youngster Marc Muniesa will be promoted to the first team at the end of the 2011-12 campaign. The 19-year-old defender is a product of the illustrious Barcelona youth academy, but has been featuring mainly for with club's B team.

Barça v Valencia, in statistics | FC Barcelona
After beating Valencia, Barça have won 24 of the 26 knockout ties of the Guardiola era. Only Sevilla in the cup and Inter in the Champions League have ever managed to put Barcelona out.

The world's best team with the Laureus trophy | FC Barcelona
Before today’s training session, Barça’s first team posed with the Laureus trophy, the award that distinguishes them as the world’s best team in 2011. The ex-cyclist Miguel Indurain, member of the Laureus Academy, presented the trophy to the first team.

Barcelona have no plans to re-sign Oriol Romeu - ESPN Soccernet
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says the club currently have no plans to bring Oriol Romeu back from Chelsea. Romeu left the Camp Nou last year, with the deal taking him to Chelsea initially said to contain a buy-back clause that could be exercised in either 2012 or 2013.

Altintop suffers calf tear - Yahoo! Eurosport
The 29-year-old sustained a tear to the internal calf muscle of his left leg, and depending on the severity of the injury could miss several weeks. The news heaps further misery on the midfielder, who has suffered numerous setbacks since arriving at the Bernabeu last summer on a free transfer and has seldom appeared for the Galacticos.

Real Madrid plan Robin van Persie move | Mail Online
Sportsmail revealed last week that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is plotting an ambitious move for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero. But Madrid sports paper Marca suggests boss Jose Mourinho would rather go for Van Persie, who has the versatility to play as an imposing No 9 such as Didier Drogba, or take a place on either flank.

Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa targets Copa del Rey glory - Goal.com
"The goal is not the final - but to win it," the Argentine told reporters after the game, before going on to pay special tribute to the crowd at San Mames for the role they played in his side's 6-2 victory on the night. "I had never before seen the fans as involved, influential and happy. I had many testimonies about the explosive atmosphere, but it is different to actually hear it [first hand].