FC Barcelona news: 28 February 2012; UEFA Drop August Friendlies, Ronaldinho Recommends Barça to Neymar

Clubs and UEFA agree to drop August dates for friendly internationals - Goal.com
European Clubs Association (ECA) chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has declared that an agreement has been reached with Uefa over the removal of the unpopular August international friendly dates. Coaches across the continent will praise the decision as it removes an unnecessary distraction from the start of a new season.

Atlético Madrid v Barça in numbers | FC Barcelona
Andrés Iniesta has equalled Chendo (47) for the most consecutive league games undefeated, and is just three short of the all-time record.

Week affected by international matches | FC Barcelona
An odd week started for Josep Guardiola and his team on Monday. With so many players away on international duty, only Keita, Pedro and Pinto are left in Barcelona. That means work can't really begin on the league game with Sporting at the Camp Nou until Thursday evening, when everyone is due back.

Wing it to win it | Sky Sports | Guillem Balague
We said on Revista that Pep is a closed box. I'm writing his biography and talking to a lot of people around him and who are very close to him and no one knows what he's going to do next. It's a matter of him finding the motivation in himself. It's a very tiring job he's got to do each season. He's got to keep motivating a side which know his style as a coach.

Ronaldinho talks up Barca to Neymar - Soccerway
According to Neymar, the Flamengo attacker still speaks fondly of his time in Catalunya and has told him that he would love it there. "He's always been something of a benchmark for me," the 20-year-old forward said of the former Ballon d'Or winner during an interview with El Mundo Deportivo.

Enrique cools Barca talk | Sky Sports
Roma coach Luis Enrique has played down speculation he could succeed Pep Guardiola as Barcelona boss should he leave Camp Nou at the end of the season. Former Barcelona player Enrique has been tipped as a possible successor but the 41-year-old insists he wants to see out his Roma contract, which runs until 2013.

Mourinho attacks no-show Real fans - Yahoo! Eurosport
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho chastised the club's fans after only a handful turned up at Real's city rivals Rayo Vallecano for their 1-0 La Liga victory. Rayo play in Vallecas in the south east of the Spanish capital, and Mourinho said he was disappointed only around 300 fans made the short trip on a warm and sunny Madrid afternoon.

Phil Ball: Bilbao's booming - ESPN Soccernet
It's been difficult to avoid Athletic de Bilbao this week, despite the fact that their 2-2 draw at struggling Villarreal was a fairly predictable result, given the current tidal patterns on both clubs' shores. Apart from the draw - not in itself a bad result - just about everything else over in Bilbao has been absolutely tickety-boo. Never mind the recession. The city is humming with content.

Alvaro Negredo ruled out of Spain's friendly with Venezuela through injury - Goal.com
Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo has been ruled out of Spain's friendly with Venezuela after suffering a thigh injury. Negredo could now spend four weeks on the sidelines as he tries to recover his fitness and his place in the Spain squad for Euro 2012.