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Jordi Roura has released the 19-man squad for the Copa del Rey return leg with Cordoba, and it has been determined that Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro will certainly not feature in the game as they have not been included in the squad. The 19 players are: Victor Valdes, Jose Manuel Pinto, Martin Montoya, Dani Alves, Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano, Marc Bartra, Adriano Correia, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Alex Song, Jonathan Dos Santos, Thiago, Sergi Roberto, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Cristian Tello.
It has also been confirmed that two Barcelona B players, Jordi Quintilla and Miguel Angel Sainz-Maza, will leave the team on loan for the remainder of the season. Quintilla will join Segunda División B side Badalona, while Sainz-Maza will join Betis B who play in the same division.
Ballon d'Or 2012: Return to Barcelona | FC Barcelona
The FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala comes to an end at 20.00. Leo Messi, winner of four Ballons d’Or, is mobbed by the press, as is Andrés Iniesta and the members of the FIFA/FIFPro World XI Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué and Xavi Hernández. The FC Barcelona players talk to the press until it’s time to board the plane back home to Barcelona (21.45).
International press honours Leo Messi | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi has appeared in the papers all around the world after winning a record fourth FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich, which has confirmed his place as the greatest footballer ever. The media has bestowed endless praise on the Barça star and his most incredible year yet.
Messi and Barça send gift to Müller | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi ended 2012 with an all-time world record of 91 goals in a calendar year, thus breaking the previous best set by Gerd Müller (85 in 1972). Messi wanted to share the moment with the legendary player known as The Torpedo by sending him a Barça shirt on which he has written the message: "To Gerd Müller / My respect and admiration / A hug".
Pedro: "Scoring again was important for my confidence" | FC Barcelona
Pedro Rodríguez told the press today that "I wanted to play well and help the team but the goals weren’t coming … I certainly was on a negative streak and scoring again was important for my confidence. I felt very comfortable the other day and I hope things carry on like that".
Cuenca resumes Barcelona training - Goal.com
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has received some encouraging news on the injury front as young attacker Isaac Cuenca has returned to the training pitch again after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.
Squad congratulates award winners | FC Barcelona
After an emotional Monday, Leo Messi was back at work this morning with his team mates. The winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012 was heartily applauded by his team mates before the training session, while there were also congratulations in order for the other members of the squad who came back from Switzerland with trophies awarded at the FIFA gala.
Why Spain is the centre of the footballing world | Pitchside Europe - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Two cities, three clubs. The world’s best XI of 2012 was comprised entirely of players from Barcelona (5), Real Madrid (5) and Falcao from Atletico Madrid. Or ‘Madrid 6 Barcelona 5’ according to Madrid-based sport paper AS, who prefer club and city one-upmanship.
'Mourinho bad for Real Madrid image', say own fans - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Members gave his performance as coach since he took over in 2010 an average mark of 6.68 out of 10, down from 8.82 in a similar poll conducted in March 2011, but 54.4 percent still thought he should stay on after this season, with 41.8 percent saying he should leave, they added.
IFFHS salute Mourinho again | Football Espana
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics have selected Jose Mourinho as the Best Club Coach for a fourth year. The Portuguese won the Spanish League title and Spanish Super Cup during the calendar year of 2012 and has been recognised for that with the FIFA recognised award from the IFFHS.
Valencia, Malaga through to Copa quarters - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Valencia will play 2011 winners Real Madrid or Celta Vigo for a place in the semi-finals, with Celta holding a 2-1 advantage from last month's last 16, first leg ahead of their visit to the Bernabeu on Wednesday. Malaga are facing a probable last-eight clash with holders Barcelona, who host Cordoba on Thursday having won their first leg 2-0 at the second-division Andalusian club.
Michel prepared for Sevilla exodus - ESPN FC
Michel said at a press conference on Tuesday that a lot could happen before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month. "Until January 31 anything could happen, a spectacular offer could arrive and nobody knows," he said. "(But) we will not lower the level of the squad, we are not that needy."
Sevilla defender Antonio Luna to join Mallorca on loan for rest of season | Sky Sports
Sevilla defender Antonio Luna is to join Mallorca on loan for the rest of the season, the island club have announced. The 21-year-old left-back passed a medical on Tuesday and will be presented to the media on Thursday.