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FC Barcelona News: 31 July 2013: Barca Legend Antoni Ramallets Passes Away At 89

It was a sad day for Barcelona yesterday as club legend Antoni Ramallets sadly passed away at the age of 89

By Arron Duckling

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Adam Nurkiewicz

July 30, 2013 is a date Barça fans will remember for two reasons. The first is a sad one, for one of the greatest players ever to represent the team, Antoni Ramallets, passed away today. A minute’s silence was respected in his honour in Gdansk, and the players wore black armbands. But this was also the day that Neymar made his Barça debut, coming on for the last fifteen minutes of a 2-2 draw at Lechia. Sergi Roberto and Messi scored Barça’s goals, both times to cancel out earlier efforts from the home side.

Neymar says that idolises team-mate Lionel Messi, describing his debut for Barcelona as a "dream come true". Speaking to reporters after the game, the Selecao starlet admitted that the transition from dream to reality had begun after making his bow. "What was my debut like? My dream is turning into a reality and I'm very happy," he enthused.

Having failed with initial offers of £20 million and £30 million, a third approach may be the last attempt to bring the former Arsenal man to Old Trafford. Barcelona have so far resisted all United's efforts, but the 26 year-old has been the prime target for Moyes ever since he took over from Sir Alex Ferguson. A £35 million deal would represent a club record, eclipsing the £31m paid to Spurs for Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.

New Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has handed club chiefs a shortlist of five Premier League defenders who he wants this summer. The boss met with sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday to outline his transfer plans, and demanded one of Vincent Kompany, David Luiz, Daniel Agger, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen be signed before the season starts late next month.

Twelve players at morning training | FC Barcelona

There were twelve first team players at Wednesday morning’s training session. These were the ten available players that didn’t go on the trip to Poland, namely Valdés, Alves, Alba, Piqué, Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc and Pedro, and also the goalkeepers Pinto and Oier, who played a half each of the 2-2 draw on Tuesday night in Gdansk.

Partick Thistle set to announce capture of young Barcelona midfielder | Partick Thistle | Sport | STV

Partick Thistle are set to announce the signing of two new midfielders ahead of the new SPFL season with Barcelona youngster Simon Colina and former Aberdeen player Isaac Osbourne joining the club. Colina, an 18-year-old midfielder is a product of Barcelona's youth system and was a captain of their 'Juvenil B' team. He is expected to sign a two-year contract with Thistle after being released by the Catalan side.

Arsenal Turn Attention to Barcelona Forward as Luis Suarez Bid Falters | CaughtOffside

Arsenal have reportedly set their sights on Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez as Arsene Wenger’s push to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez falters due to the Anfield side’s valuation of the Uruguayan according to Sports Direct News.

Tottenham stun Real Madrid with £125m valuation of Gareth Bale | Football | Sport | Daily Express

Spanish sports paper Marca - who have close links with Real - today claim that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has slapped a £125m (€145m) price-tag on his prized asset. Bale is again splashed across their front cover, this time with the headline of 'Una Locura' - which translates as 'Crazy'.

La Liga club presidents speak in Barcelona - 7M sport

Javier Gomez: "The Spanish Football League (LFP) has recently approved a new economic control named 'a priori control'. And the difference with UEFA's 'financial fair play' is that this is set before the beginning of each season. There is a set of criteria applied to the clubs that limits the amount of money they can spend in acquiring players throughout the season."

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