MANCHESTER UNITED THIRD OFFER FOR FC BARCELONA CESC FABREGAS

Third time lucky,  perhaps ? News out of England comment that Manchester United will put on the table of FC Barcelona a third offer for Spanish International midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The offers have been rising from 30M€ to 35M€ to a now & last 40M€ that would be a record for the English Club. The English Football giant considers Fabregas a priority for the new season & in their future plans &

NEYMAR DEBUTS WITH FC BARCELONA

It is the photo that FC Barcelona fans have been waiting all year. The debut of Brazilian Football sensation Neymar with his new Spanish Football Club. 




The forward came on late , around the 77th min mark, to replace Alexis in a pre-season match against Polish Club Gdansk which ended 2 - 2. The Brazilian was fiercely followed & one may say was welcomed to European Football with some "rough"

REAL MADRID - GARETH BALE | APPROACHING A NEW WORLD RECORD TRANSFER ?

The news from the BBC ( UK ) is that Tottenham Hotspurs has knocked back an incredible 98M€ offer from Real Madrid for its player Gareth Bale. According to the English news sources Bale is not impressed at all as he desires to move over to Spain this season. Apparently the player ( & his family ) has began to pressure the Club & its "tough" President Daniel Levy to negotiate to let him go.




As

SPAIN 1 FRANCE 2 | U-19 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL RESULT

So close yet so far. Spain lost with extra-time 1 - 2 against France in the UEFA U-19 European Championships semi-final being held in Lithuania. A double Spanish defensive mistake in the 105th min of extra-time allowed Frenchman Conte to get onto a ball to score what would be the eventual winner.

A shame really for Spain as they were overall the better playing team, but mistakes are paid for

REAL MADRID HAS SEVILLA FC YOUNGSTER MORENO AS ALTERNATIVE

Real Madrid left back Portuguese Coentrao has a foot out the exit door of Real Madrid. The player is negotiating his future away from Real Madrid as he does not wish to continue at the Club. Real Madrid knows of his desires & has given the defender permission to look for other options.Meanwhile Real Madrid is already working to find a substitute & according to Spanish media the Spanish U-21

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS ABOUT TO SIGN VALENCIA CF ROBERTO SOLDADO

Everything indicates that Spanish Football is about to export another asset to the English Premier League. English Club Tottenham Hotspurs has indicated to Valencia CF that they will pay the 30M€ contract release clause of Spanish International & Valencia forward Roberto Soldado. The deal is so close that it is said that the only thing needed is to come to an agreement on the forms ( manner ) of

SPANISH FOOTBALL MARKETING & TREND - SETTERS

Hi guys, been out on a "mini summer break" this weekend. There was three "big" matches played yesterday - Saturday - that saw Real Madrid defeat PSG, FC Barcelona won Valerenga & Atletico de Madrid lost overseas to Estudiantes. All were pre-season matches & you would have seen the results & scorers already.To get things back & rolling today's post is about two Football Players that look like they

FC BARCELONA THINKS IN VERGINI OF NEWELL S

FC Barcelona needs a Central Defender. The Spanish Football Club has been scouting the market & the prime candidate the Brazilian & Paris St Germain player Thiago has been discarded while the other alternative Marquinhos of AC Roma goes an signs with Paris St Germain. The name of Chelsea FC defender David Luiz sounded but nothing has come of it. 

Now with the arrival of new Coach Gerardo Martino

SPAIN WINS 3 - 2 HOLLAND FOR SEMI FINALS | EURO U-19

Spain has qualified itself at the Top of the Group for a semi finals berth in the U-19 European Championships being held in Lithuania. The 2 - 3 victory over Holland puts the Spanish U-19 Football Team into their fourth consecutive U-19 Euro semi-final where they will meet France next Monday.

Spain made an excellent comeback to turn things around in the latter part of the second half. It was

REAL MADRID | TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS PRICES BALE AT 120M€

Tottenham Hotspurs 24 year old player Gareth Bale still is grabbing headlines on Spanish Sports papers. Most are contradictory, in that he will not be leaving his Club this season while others insist that players wishes to transfer to Real Madrid.The Welshman is definitely the signing objective of Real Madrid President Florentino Perez but not at any price. 



Today local media publish that

PRE-SEASON GAME RESULTS | FC BARCELONA LOSES REAL MADRID DRAWS

Pre-season games & tests for Spanish Football Clubs FC Barcelona & Real Madrid. The first travelled to Munich to face Bayern, while the second flew to Lyon to play Olympique. The non-Spanish Clubs are fitter with more pre-season training & with more matches under their belts & in both cases it showed as the Spanish Teams have only been training for just more than a week. Added to this the Spanish

LITHUANIA 0 SPAIN 2 | UEFA U-19 EURO CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP MATCH

The Spanish U-19 National Football Team managed another important victory over host Lithuania 0 - 2 in the Group UEFA U-19 Euro Championships. Three points more that now sums up six & puts Spain closer to qualifying for the semi-finals



The match overall was not brilliant but the job was done with ball control & minimizing the home side attacking opportunities. The two goals came from Iker

REAL MADRID NEWS | THE CURRENT GONZALO HIGUAIN SITUATION

Italian Club Napoles - Napoli - has come to an agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Argentine International forward Gonzalo Higuain. The deal is 37M€ plus 3M€ more if certain objectives are achieved, the only thing needed is the OK & signature from the player.



However, the player has become "prisoner" of his unilateral negotiations. Higuain prefers to go to English Premier League

GRANADA BRAZILIAN DEFENDER SIQUEIRA ON REAL MADRID LIST

According to Football observers & insiders at Real Madrid, Coach Carlo Ancelotti has doubts with the current left back position. Brazilian International Marcelo is undisputed but he has a injury tendency & he loses form easily as he has recurring "weight problems". The current substitute Coentrao is unhappy at the Club & may be one of the players that will leave before the 31 st of August. Clubs

REAL MADRID OK TO HIGUAIN TRANSFER TO NAPOLES ?

According to the Italian press Real Madrid has accepted a 35M€ offer for its Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain from Italian Club Napoles ( Napoli ). The Sports daily says that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has given his OK personally to the operation. Now Napoles has to shut its deal with the economic conditions with the player.



Gonzalo Higuain would cover the gap left open at the

SPAIN 1 PORTUGAL 0 | UEFA U-19 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Spanish U-19 National Football Team got off to a great start in the UEFA U-19 European Championship being held in Lithuania. Spain played its first group match against Portugal & won 1 - 0 to get the three points.



The winner came in the 19th min thanks to the goal from FC Barcelona youngster Sandro from a pass from Jose Rodriguez. Overall a worked match with a good Portuguese team that had

AN OPEN LETTER FROM ex-FC BARCELONA COACH TITO VILANOVA

The now ex-Coach of  FC Barcelona Tito Vilanova has published an "Open Letter" on his website. The letter is in Spanish & reads

"Después de cinco años maravillosos formando parte de un equipo que ha hecho realidad los sueños de cualquier entrenador, ha llegado el momento de afrontar un cambio en mi vida profesional para dedicar fuerzas y energías a continuar el proceso de la enfermedad que me

FC BARCELONA LOOKS FOR NEW COACH

FC Barcelona announced yesterday the unfortunate & sad news that its Coach Tito Vilanova could not continue with his job because his illness had "advanced" & the treatment in coming weeks was not compatible with the position. Shockwave that has shaken the Club & has put into motion the urgent need to find a substitute Coach. 

The names on the table are Bielsa, Laudrup, Rubi & Villas-Boas. But

FC BARCELONA | CESC FABREGAS OFFERS - SIGNING RUMOURS

Lot of rumours flying around about FC Barcelona player Cesc Fabregas. The news coming out of the UK comments on offers from Arsenal FC & the last from Manchester United after a "failed" attempt for Thiago Alcantara.



The lastest is that Cesc Fabregas wants to stay at Barça & that FC Barcelona has said NO to the offers ( for now ). The player has not been all that happy at Barça since his

SPANISH FOOTBALL EXPORTS PLAYERS

As mentioned here on a few posts, Spanish Football has evolved over the years to become an exporter of Spanish Football Players. The success of the National Team on all levels ( U-17, U-19, U-21 & Absolute ) along with the explosion of talent has lifted the demand of Spanish players around Europe. This & the lowering of "cultural" shyness plus - perhaps - the diminishing "economic power" of many

ATLETICO DE MADRID TIES ARSENAL FC MIDFIELDER SANTI CAZORLA ?

Atletico de Madrid is having difficulties trying to get back over Brazilian midfielder Diego Ribas from German Club Wolfsburg. The Brazilian is a top priority for Atletico Coach Simeone but the possibilities vanish day by day.

According to Spanish radio two days ago there is an alternative: Spanish International & Arsenal FC midfielder Santi Cazorla.




According to the story, Atletico de

WORLD SOCCER | TOP 10 HISTORICAL TRANSFERS - SIGNINGS

This is a "trivial pursuit" question: what are the Top 10 transfer signings in the History of World Football to date? I say to date because until the 31st of August 2013 the signing season is open & we may see surprises.

Spanish Sports paper "Marca" has done a write up that I think will interest the Spanish Football Sports Blog readers & global visitors.




The Nº 1 World Football Historical

IBRAHIMOVIC WANTS TO FOLLOW ANCELOTTI AT REAL MADRID ?

It was mentioned here a couple of weeks back, that Paris St Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic wished to follow his ex-Coach Carlo Ancelotti & had sent a message via "third persons" that he would be willing to leave PSG for Real Madrid. The Swede is said to have been "offended" with the signing of another number 9 in the player Cavani & wishes to find the exit door.




Spanish Sports paper "AS"

NAPOLES SHUTS TRANSFER OF REAL MADRID DEFENDER ALBIOL ?

News out from Italian, more concretely "La Gazzetta de lo Sport", indicate that Real Madrid & Spanish International defender Raul Albiol may join his ex-team-mate Callejon at Italian Club Napoles.

The Italian news source claims that Napoles has come to an agreement with Real Madrid to transfer Albiol for 12M€. The agreement with the player would be for a contract for 4 seasons.




The idea fits

REAL MADRID CF 2013 MOST VALUABLE SPORTS TEAM IN THE WORLD

According to the prestigious american financial magazine "Forbes", Spanish Football Club Real Madrid CF overtakes English giant Manchester United as "The 2013 Most Valuable Sports Team in the World" with an overall value of 3.3 Billion US$.



The calculations take into account numerous factors like all the assets ( including players, stadium, infrastructure) plus revenue sources & potential. For

FC BARCELONA PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE - CALENDAR 2013

Not only does Real Madrid CF begin its pre-season today, so does FC Barcelona. As with Real Madrid, Barça has an intense pre-season of friendly matches & travelling that takes the squad around Europe & Asia (5/8 - 10/8).

Today Spanish Sports daily "Sport" has elaborated the below image to highlight the Clubs schedule along with dates, matches & location. Its in Spanish but very easy to figure

REAL MADRID PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE - CALENDAR 2013

Spanish Football Club Real Madrid CF begins today its pre-season under new Coach Carlo Ancelotti & Zidane as his assistant  The new signings - Carvajal, Isco, Illarramendi - all Spanish youth promises has lifted local fan expectations. 

As with past years Real Madrid will be travelling to different places for warm up matches, for example, UK, France, Sweden & USA.




Here is a pre-season

BAYERN MUNICH SIGNS FC BARCELONA THIAGO FOR 25M€

FC Barcelona & German Club Bayern Munich have made official the transfer & signing of Spanish International midfielder & "Spanish Football Pearl" Thiago Alcantara. The communication was made at 20.00 & the transfer figure negotiated is 25M€. This way Bayern Munich earns some money from the VAT % that is equivalent to the contract release clause of 18M€, & Barça gets some more cash after some

RCD ESPANYOL SIGN FLUMINENSE FORWARD SAMUEL

Most Spanish Football Clubs are busy confectioning their squads for the upcoming 2013 - 2104 season. While the big Clubs get the headlines, today we will give some space to RCD Espanyol which will soon announce an interesting new signing.





Brazilian forward Samuel Rosa Gonçalves - Samuel - comes from Fluminense & signs with Espanyol for the next 4 seasons. The price is 3,8M€ which is

REAL MADRID CF PRESENTS NEW SIGNING ILLARRAMENDI

Real Madrid CF has officially presented the 23 year old midfielder from Real Sociedad Asier Illarramendi to the Spanish media.



Signs for 6 years at 2.5M€ per season.

REAL MADRID SIGNS REAL SOCIEDAD ILLARRAMENDI FOR 38.8M€

Real Madrid has finally managed to convince Real Sociedad to transfer their midfield promise & U-21 Spanish International Asier Illarramendi. The signing was strategic for Real Madrid as the youngster was seen as the natural replacement ( when the time comes ) of Xabi Alonso. 

The contract release clause is 30M€ but Real Madrid will pay 38.8M€ in transfer fee. Part of the payment - 20% - will go

BAYERN MUNICH GUARDIOLA CONVINCES FC BARCELONA THIAGO ALCANTARA

The voted MVP of the last UEFA U-21 European Championships, FC Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara, has a "bargain basement" contract release clause of "only" 18M€. That figure climbs back up to 90M€ on the 1st of August, thus the big European Clubs are talking with the player in an attempt to convince him to sign with them.

Everything was pointing towards English Premier League Club

MARTIN DEMICHELIS IN MADRID TO SIGN FOR ATLETICO DE MADRID

Argentine International & Malaga FC 32 year old defender Martin Demichelis is currently doing his medical exam in Madrid before signing with Atletico de Madrid. The defender has specifically knocked back an offer from Argentine Football to stay in Spain & under the instructions of Coach Diego Simeoni.



The player comes free of a transfer fee because he ended contract with Malaga FC on the 30th

FC BARCELONA YOUNGSTER GERARD DEULOFEU LOANED TO EVERTON

As written weeks back in most Spanish Sports papers, Spanish U-20 International & FC Barcelona promise Gerard Deulofeu has been loaned out to English Premier League Club Everton. The young winger had offers from Sevilla FC & Borussia Dortmund but finally decided to take on the "English adventure".




The Spanish Football player renewed his contract with FC Barcelona,  but another season with the

UEFA TOP 10 CANDIDATES EUROPEAN PLAYER SEASON 2012-2013

UEFA has released its 10 candidates that will opt for the UEFA European Footballer of the Year ( season 2012-2013). Two players will represent Spanish Football in Lionel Messi ( FC Barcelona ) & Cristiano Ronaldo ( Real Madrid). The list is full of Bayern Munich Players as to expect with their tremendous last season of success ( Bundesliga, German Cup & Champions League).





The list of 10

SPANISH FOOTBALL - LIGA - CALENDAR | SCHEDULE FOR SEASON 2013-2014

This morning the Liga season 2013 - 2014 starting / finishing Calendar dates & match schedules were drawn 

The main highlights:

Start 17th / 18th of August with the following first round






Clasico : FC Bareclona - Real Madrid - Round 10 - 27th of Octubre (Camp Nou)              Real Madrid - FC Barcelona - Round 29 - 23rd of March (Snatiago Bernabeu)



Last Liga games with Round 38 - 17th/

REAL MADRID CALLEJON TO SIGN WITH ITALIAN CLUB NAPOLES

According to Italian source "TuttoNapoli" Real Madrid player Jose Callejon will fly off to Napoles ( Italy ) tomorrow to sign & seal his transfer with the city Club. Its been speculated the past week that Napoles Spanish Coach Rafael Benitez wished to incorporate that Real Madrid player for next season & was negotiating. 





Apparently both Clubs have come to an economic agreement of 10M€ in

FC BARCELONA TRANSFERS DAVID VILLA TO ATLETICO DE MADRID

It was mentioned yesterday here as a possibility, this afternoon it has been confirmed. FC Barcelona will transfer its Spanish International forward David Villa to Atletico de Madrid. The agreement is for 3 seasons with a salary of 7M€ per year for the striker. The transfer figure is speculated to be around 5-5.5M€ ( 2M€ this season, 2M€ following & 1.5 if Villa goes the third season ) with FC

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS FOCUSES ON REAL MADRID YOUNGSTER JESE

The Real Madrid youngster has been knocking at the doors of the first team all last season. Jese Rodriguez has comeback from the U-20 FIFA World Championships with 5 goals & with the attention of the mayor European Clubs. According to the English Press, Tottenham Hotspurs is very interested & will prepare a 12M€ offer for the young Spanish Football promise. 



The player has a year left of his

ATLETICO DE MADRID RETAKES THE DAVID VILLA SIGNING OPTION

With the departure of striker Radamel Falcao to Monaco, Atletico de Madrid needs a replacement with goal scoring guarantees. Coach Diego Simeone wishes to make an improvement on last seasons Liga third placed squad & be highly competitive in this years Champions League. The Argentine Coach has already voiced his unhappiness with Atletico de Madrid Directives as he watches how rivals Real Madrid &

REAL MADRID XABI ALONSO DILEMMA | SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO

From England the news is that Liverpool FC is thinking about signing & bringing "back home" Real Madrid CF & Spanish International Xabi Alonso. The idea would break Liverpool policy of not signing players above 30 years of age, but Manager Brenden Rodgers considers the Football value still left in the player far outweighs the "fears".

Xabi Alonso is possibly at another crossroads of his career

URUGUAY 1 - SPAIN 0 | QUARTER FINAL FIFA U-20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT

The Spanish U-20 National Football Team was knocked out by Uruguay 1 - 0 in extra-time in the quarter-final of the FIFA U-20 World Championship being held in Turkey. The "knock-out" blow came in the 102 th min from a free-kick that found the head of giant Uruguayan Avanatti who put his team ahead & scored the goal that was to be the winner.



In fact this mentioned fixed play was the difference

MANCHESTER CITY PREPARING OFFER FOR REAL MADRID PEPE ?

The following rumour has been persistent especially from the UK. However, it has gained in temperature locally with Football observers commenting that Englsih Premier League Cub Manchester City is preparing an offer for Real Madrid defender Pepe.



The talk is that Man City will offer 25M€, while Real Madrid does not wish to advance until the figure hits the 30M€. Plus there is no communication

REAL MADRID SEES ILLARRAMENDI AS STRATEGIC & WILL ATTEMPT TO SIGN

Been holding out on this story a few days to see if all that was being written had substance. The interest of REAL MADRID in signing REAL SOCIEDAD Spanish International ILLARRAMENDI is definitely serious & worth the post.

According to Football observers the real concern of new Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti is not the forward line ( striker position ) but the midfield & specifically the

THE GREATEST 11 PLAYERS - COACH OF ALL TIME | WORLD SOCCER

Football Magazine "World Soccer" has asked the question, which is the "Best XI" of all time & the "Best Coach" ? To get an answer, the magazine, asked all its journalist correspondents  around the globe. The answers & voting were varied but there was overall consensus that gave the following players & Coach.




Yashin; Cafú, Bobby Moore, Beckenbauer, Maldini; Zidane, Cruyff, Di Stéfano, Maradona

REAL MADRID GONZALO HIGUAIN TO ARSENAL FC FOR 27M€ ?

According to news out of South American media ( Fox Sports Latin ) Real Madrid Argentine International forward Gonzalo Higuain has an agreement with English Premier League Club Arsenal FC for the next three seasons. The news source goes further publishing that Higuain will fly into London tomorrow to pass the medical check & sign his new contract.



The father of the player ( & representative )

FIFA RANKING JULY 2013 | SPAIN NUMBER ONE

FIFA has released its monthly ranking - July - of Football Nations with Spain remaining in the Nº1 position. The big movers are Brazil that jumps back into the Top 10 positions after their Confederations Cup win & performance & Colombia grab attention with their Nº 3 position. England surprisingly drops places from 9th to 15th position. Full list below.




1 Spain 1532 pts
2 Germany 1273

FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP "BEST XI TEAM" | THREE SPANIARDS

FIFA has released its habitual post Confederations Cup "Best XI Team". Obviously the "Best XI" is full of Brazilian players having Brazil won the tournament. The second placed Nation, Spain, has three players in the line-up in Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos & Fernando Torres.






The full list of the Confederations Cup "Best XI":


Julio César, Daniel Alves, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos

SPAIN 2 MEXICO 1 | FIFA U-20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Spanish Football U-20 National Team made a laboured comeback to defeat Mexico 2 - 1 in the FIFA World Championship last 16 team phase being played in Turkey. This game was knock-out & Spain was on the ropes against a very talented Mexican team that went down due to defensive mistakes & some bad luck. 



Oliver Torres


Mexico started on fire with a 2º min goal from Gonzalez that "rocked" the

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS LOOKS AT VALENCIA FORWARD SOLDADO (OR VILLA ) ?

English Club Tottenham Hotspurs is on the local Spanish Sports daily s for third reasons this morning:

Tottenham apparently has Brazilian International midfielder Paulinho in "the bag", beating Real Madrid CF. However, it was never clear Real Madrid made an offer for Paulinho in the first place
Gareth Bale gets very complicated for Real Madrid as the price tag of 80-100M€ is for "madmen". Plus

LIONEL MESSI THE MOST VALUABLE FOOTBALL PLAYER IN WORLD SOCCER

Which player is the "most valuable" in World Football ( Soccer ) ? This question has been answered by the FIFA backed "CIES Football Observatory" - Sport Studies Centre, report which has been picked up by Spanish Sports daily "Sport". The Barcelona based paper have elaborated the below infograpgh to give a "birds eye" view of the World Top priced Football Players.



Courtesy from sport.es