FC Barcelona News: 4 July 2012; Spain Preliminary Squad Set, Grimaldo and Deulofeu Impress in U-19 EURO Opener

Montoya, Thiago, Tello and Jordi Alba pre-selected for Olympics | FC Barcelona
Luis Milla, Spain’s U23 manager, has picked four FC Barcelona players in his shortlist for the London Olympics, namely Martín Montoya, Thiago Alcántara, Cristian Tello and Jordi Alba, although the latter has yet to take his medical and officialise his transfer to the club. This is just the pre-selection of 22 players, which will have to be reduced to 18 names for the definitive trip to Great Britain.

Excellent start for Grimaldo and Deulofeu with Spain's U19 team (1-2) | FC Barcelona
Spain’s U19 team started the European Championship off on the right foot. The Iberians beat Greece by 1-2 in Estonia thanks to the goals from Jesé and Derik. The Azulgranas Grimaldo and Deulofeu featured in Spain’s starting lineup.

Alba set for Barca medical | Sky Sports
"On Wednesday morning he will come to the club's offices to have the traditional photo session in front of the Barcelona badge," reads a statement on the club's official website. "On Thursday he will officially become a new Barca player for the next five seasons. "On the same day Jordi Alba will take his medical, sign his new contract, have the customary photo session at the Nou Camp and offer his first press conference as an Azulgrana player."

Xavi's 23 titles to Jordi Alba's first | FC Barcelona
Xavi Henández is the FC Barcelona player that has won the most titles in the history of the Club. The vice-captain has a total of 23 trophies in his personal collection: six Ligas, three Champions Leagues, two Copas del Rey, two European Super Cups, five Spanish Super Cups and two Club World Cups. To these we must add the 2010 World Cup trophy and the two European Championships won in 2008 and 2012.

Treble and double for FC Barcelona after the EURO and World Cup | FC Barcelona
The seasons following the last EURO in 2008 and the World Cup in 2010 saw Barça lift, at the very least, the Liga and Champions League titles. In the 2008/09 season, Barça also won the Cup; it was the team’s first treble in Club history. Moreover, Barça also claimed three more titles in 2009, taking Guardiola’s silverware haul for the year to six trophies. Barça had a similar story in 2010/11: the team won five titles, the only one to slip away was the Cup.

Xavi's father claims Mourinho objected to Iker Casillas friendship - ESPN Soccernet
Xavi's father has now revealed that the problems in the national camp were serious, and that Spain were able to successfully defend their European Championship crown was down to the diplomatic efforts of Casillas and Xavi.

Tickets to the United-Barça match in Gothenburg, sold out in one hour | FC Barcelona
If you wanted to go to the Manchester United-FC Barcelona match in Gothenburg you’re out of luck. The 40,000 available tickets for the summer friendly sold out the very hour they went on sale.

Baptista out for another four months - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Malaga's Brazilian forward Julio Baptista will be out of action for four months after surgery on the Achilles tendon in his right leg, the Spanish club said on Tuesday.

Maresca signs on for Malaga - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Maresca, 32, is now committed to Malaga until the end of the 2012-13 season after extending his stay by one year. He scored two goals in 19 league games last season as the club on Spain's south coast secured fourth place and entry to the Champions League qualifiers.

Tejera returns to Espanyol | LFP
Sergio Tejera has become Espanyol´s second signing ahead the 2012-2013 season in Spain´s top division, la Liga BBVA. Espanyol and Mallorca have reached an agreement for the Catalan player. Tejera, who is 22 years old, came of age at Espanyol´s youth academy and will sign for four seasons with Espanyol.

Ben Sahar set to leave Espanyol - Goal.com
Ben Sahar has announced that he is set to leave Espanyol in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old failed to hold down a regular place at the Catalan club since joining from Chelsea in 2009, and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Hapoel Tel Aviv and Auxerre.