Official: Barcelona sign Arda Turan from Atlético Madrid

The 'mystery player' has been revealed, and it's not Paul Pogba, Koke or Gundogan.

Barcelona has announced on Monday the signing of Turkish international and Atlético Madrid star Arda Turan, who will join the Blaugrana on a five-year deal. For his signing, Barça has paid a €34 million fee to the Colchoneros, with an additional €7 million in performance bonuses.

Turan, 28, is expected to debut in January of 2016, once the transfer ban imposed by FIFA is lifted and the Catalan giants are able to register the player into the database, much like Aleix Vidal, the other Blaugrana signing for the 2015-16 season.

Because this is a Josep Maria Bartomeu transfer, there is a selling option on the contract which ends on July 20th, two days after the club's elections. If Bartomeu loses, the new president can block the operation and sell Turan elsewhere, with Chelsea being the biggest candidates until Monday morning.

However, it is very unlikely that any president decides to exercise that selling option, since the Turan signing is a direct request from Treble-winning manager Luis Enrique. The Asturian coach wanted a high-level midfielder to replace Xavi Hernández, and he asked for one that fits his system. Arda, like Ivan Rakitic, is an active player who can cover a lot of ground and add pace to the counter-attack, some of the key tactical components of Lucho's scheme.

Welcome, Arda! We certainly hope you can be as dedicated and talented as you were at Atleti. Here's hoping for five years of success.

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FC Barcelona News: 6 July 2015; Three Make Copa America Best Eleven, Roma Talk Terms with Adriano Correia

Montoya to be unveiled on Wednesday | F.C. Internazionale Milano
Preparations for the 2015/16 season are well and truly underway, with Roberto Mancini’s squad grafting hard at their Brunico training camp. New signing Martin Montoya is busy getting to know his Nerazzurri team-mates, and on Wednesday 8 July it will be time for the Spaniard to be formally introduced to the press.

Martin Montoya exit disturbing Barcelona trend - ESPN FC
Montoya's tale is a cautionary but familiar one, reminding us all that a young player's future is never set in stone. Called up to the senior Spain squad some three years before his contemporary Dani Carvajal, it was once taken as a given that the Catalan would quickly establish himself at both club and international level. A strong display as a starter in the 2012 Copa del Rey final only further heightened expectations.

Bravo, Messi and Mascherano make 2015 Copa América team of the tournament | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, striker Lionel Messi, and midfielder Javier Mascherano were all named to the 2015 Copa América team of the tournament by CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football which organises the event. Bravo respresented Chile, which won this year's edition, while both Messi and Mascherano played for Argentina.

Claudio Bravo rounds off a perfect season | FC Barcelona
Claudio Bravo is now Copa América champion, captaining a Chile side to their first ever victory in the 99 year history of the competition. As such, the Barça goalkeeper has claimed an amazing four trophies in the season 2014/15.

Arda Turan deal given green light by Barcelona presidential candidate | Sky Sports
Barcelona presidential candidate Josep Maria Bartomeu has given his blessing for the club's interim management to sign Atletico Madrid's wantaway midfielder Arda Turan. Last week, El Mundo Deportivo reported that Barca's interim management had decided to postpone the signing of the player until the club's presidential elections are held on July 18.

Arda Turan to reject Barcelona in favour of Chelsea move
Arda Turan is set to turn down a four-year deal with Barcelona in favour of a move to Chelsea according to the Metro. The daily newspaper has stated that the Turkish international is keen on a move to the Premier League and has become frustrated with Barcelona delaying the transfer.

Suárez and Gerrard good friends off the field | FC Barcelona
On Saturday Steven Gerrard, LA Galaxy’s new signing, came out at half time during his new team’s game against Toronto FC to say a few words to the fans in the StubHubCenter, the stadium where the California side play their home games. The legendary former Liverpool captain arrives in Los Angeles to lead the team along with another former Premier League player, the captain Robbie Keane.

Laporta opens door to Pep return | Football Espana
Speaking on the Cuatro show Travelling with Chester, the 52-year-old covered a wide range of topics, including Lionel Messi’s role in the Barca team, the chances of Sergio Ramos joining the club, the conduct of former Presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu and the anthem booing that overshadowed last season’s Copa del Rey final.

Barcelona Presidential Candidate Meets Marco Verratti’s Representative | Inside Futbol
Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa has met with the representatives of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti with a view to persuading him to sign for the Catalan giants, according to Catalan daily Sport.

Roma agree personal terms with Barcelona ace | Forza Italian Football
Roma have reportedly agreed personal terms with versatile Barcelona midfielder Adriano. The capital club has been busy so far this summer, making enquiries into many players as they look to strengthen their squad. Reports are suggesting the Giallorossi are currently in talks with Edin Dzeko of Manchester City, Alexsandar Mitrovic of Anderlecht and Abdul Rahman Baba of Augsburg.

Bartra: I rejected offers for Barca | Football Espana
Marc Bartra has revealed that he rejected multiple offers in order to stay at Barcelona and prove his worth next season. The defender confirmed after Spain’s 2-1 friendly win against Costa Rica in June that a clause, activated by a lack of Barca game time, allowed him to leave for just €12m.

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La Liga News: 6 July 2015; Valencia Sign Zakaria Bakkali, Southampton Could Sue Atletico Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo cuts interview after contract question - ESPN FC
Cristiano Ronaldo stormed out of an interview with SNTV when asked about his contract at Real Madrid. Ronaldo, 30, has three years remaining on his deal at the Bernabeu but was in no mood to discuss the matter.

David De Gea to return for Manchester United preseason - ESPN FC
David De Gea has confirmed he is to begin preseason training at Manchester United on Monday amid persistent speculation that he is to join Real Madrid this summer. The Spain goalkeeper left Madrid on Sunday to travel to the north of England, where he is under contract with United for another season.

Southampton to sue Atleti? | Football Espana
Southampton are reportedly considering whether to take legal action against Atletico Madrid in their attempts to sign Toby Alderweireld on a permanent basis. The Saints are believed to have secured a €6.8m buy-out option when they signed the Belgian defender on loan last summer, but this has not stopped Atleti from negotiating a sale with fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Jimenez not looking to leave Atleti | Football Espana
Raul Jimenez has spoken of his desire to stay and fight for his place at Atletico Madrid after being linked with a move away. The Mexican striker struggled in his debut season at the Vicente Calderon and has subsequently attracted interest from the likes of Porto and Benfica, but he insists he is not looking to leave the club this summer.

Phil Neville's Valencia role: A huge challenge and a huge opportunity | Sky Sports
As Phil Neville begins his first day on the training field as assistant manager at Valencia, Adam Bate looks at the challenge facing the Englishman in Spain. It's fair to say that Valencia's appointment of Phil Neville captured the imagination. Within the hour, the former Manchester United and England player's La Liga switch to take up the role of assistant manager at Mestalla was even the top UK trending topic on Twitter. People were fascinated. Bemused. Thrilled.

Bakkali to undergo Valencia medical | Football Espana
PSV starlet Zakaria Bakkali will undergo a medical on Monday ahead of completing his free transfer to Valencia, according to Marca. The attacking midfielder, 19, reportedly landed in Valencia on Sunday and could be confirmed by Los Che imminently. Bakkali burst onto the scene in 2013-14 when he became the Eredivisie’s youngest player to score a hat-trick, aged just 17 years and 196 days.

How Sevilla could line up next season | Squawka News
Sevilla successfully defended the Europa League after beating Dnipro 3-2 in May, becoming the first team to win the competition four times. As well as sealing their place in the record books, Sevilla’s win also secured qualification for the coming season’s Champions League campaign; they will play in the group stage of Europe’s leading club competition for the first time since 2009/10.

Real Sociedad sign Gerónimo Rulli on loan for second season - Inside Spanish Football
In a statement released on the club’s website, Real Sociedad confirmed the agreement with Rulli’s rights holders Deportivo Maldonado SAD to take the Argentine on loan for another year. Real Sociedad have reached a new agreement with Uruguayan public limited company Deportivo Maldonado SAD (who own the player’s rights) for the loan of Gerónimo Rulli until 30 June 2016.

Official: Barral leaves Levante for UAE | Football Espana
David Barral has joined Al Dhafra of the United Arab Emirates after leaving Levante at the end of last season. The striker, who turned 32 in May, ran up his contract at Ciudad de Valencia and is now expected to see out the remainder of his career in Abu Dhabi. "I’m officially an Al-Dhafra player. My dream of playing in the UAE has been realised. Thanks for everything [Levante]," he wrote on his Twitter account.

Zé Castro pens three-year extension with Rayo Vallecano - Inside Spanish Football
In the announcement, Rayo Vallecano announced the signing of the 32-year-old, who will be with the club for five seasons, should he see out his entire contract. Following the announcement, Castro spoke about his new deal and his desire to remain with the club for the next several years, after several months of negotiating his new deal.

Liverpool midfielder Luis Alberto set for Deportivo La Coruna loan - Goal.com
Luis Alberto is set for another season out on loan from parent club Liverpool, with the 22-year-old to undergo a medical with Deportivo La Coruna on Monday. Midfielder Alberto signed for Liverpool from Sevilla in June 2013, but made just two starts for the Premier League club throughout his maiden campaign in England.

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FC Barcelona News: 5 July 2015; Five Presidential Condidates Confirmed, Claudio Bravo Lifts Copa America Trophy

Barcelona presidential candidates confirmed - Goal.com
The names of the five candidates for the Barcelona presidential elections have been confirmed. Josep Maria Bartomeu, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa, Agusti Benedito and Joan Batiste are the figures who will contest the position in the forthcoming vote, while Jordi Farre and Jordi Majo failed to acquire the necessary backing.

Claudio Bravo Copa América champion (0-0, 4-1 pens.) | FC Barcelona
Claudio Bravo’s Chile are Copa América champions for the first time in their history following victory over Argentina in a penalty shoot out in the final played in the Estadio Nacional in Santiago. The Barça keeper and Chile captain was the hero in game that ended goalless after 120 minutes of football, saving Éver Banega’s penalty to give former blaugrana Alexis Sánchez the chance to nervelessly score the decisive spot kick for a 4-1 win on penalties.

Bravo joins Sotil, Ronaldo, Giovanni and Rivaldo as Barça Copa América champions | FC Barcelona
The 44th Copa América has taken its place in FC Barcelona’s history. Many Barça players have featured in what is the oldest international competition in world football, but only five of them have had the fortune to lift the trophy. On Saturday in Santiago, Claudio Bravo became the first blaugrana since Rivaldo back in 1999 to join that famous list.

Claudio Bravo: We had to win | FC Barcelona
Claudio Bravo ended the season by winning the Copa América with hosts Chile and being selected as the best goalkeeper in the tournament. After beating Argentina in the final on penalties, the blaugrana revealed: "We simply had to win."

FC Barcelona's Copa América on social networks | FC Barcelona
A collection of comments posted by the five Barça players in Chile.

Marc Bartra to fight for place at Barcelona - ESPN FC
Spain international Bartra made only 14 La Liga appearances for the Spanish champions last season and he confirmed to Radio Marca last month that the release clause in his contract had dropped to €12 million due to his lack of games. However, the 24-year-old centre-back has told Sport he is now willing to fight to show Luis Enrique his worth.

Sergio Busquets reveals coaching ambitions | FC Barcelona
Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta were the stars of a rather different press conference on Saturday. In the closing ceremony of the Nike Camp Andorra, they answered questions put to them by the children attending the camp. There were some unusual and entertaining questions and answers. For example, Sergio Busquets revealed that in the future he would like "to be a coach."

Best wishes to FC Barcelona's fans in the US on the Fourth of July | FC Barcelona
It’s July 4 in the United States of America and that can only mean one thing: Independence Day. The USA is a country where Barça has one of its largest support bases, and here at www.fcbarcelona.com we’d like to send our very best wishes to all of our American fans on this special day.

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La Liga News: 5 July 2015; Valencia Sign Santi Mina, Sevilla Make Edin Dzeko Bid

Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos 'not negotiating with anyone' - ESPN FC
Ramos was coy when asked by a Cuatro journalist how the negotiations were going, replying: "I am not negotiating with anyone." The Spain international, who has two years remaining on his contract, declined to answer a further question on whether he was going to stay at the Bernabeu.

Raul Jimenez happy at Atletico Madrid - Goal.com
Raul Jimenez insisted he is happy at Atletico Madrid, despite interest from elsewhere. Jimenez has been linked with a move away from Madrid after just one season in the Spanish capital, with Porto, Benfica and Granada reportedly interested. The 24-year-old striker - on holiday after Mexico's Copa America campaign in Chile - plans to stay at Atletico.

Mbemba to undergo Atleti medical? | Football Espana
Atletico Madrid are reportedly closing in on the capture of Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba from Anderlecht. According to dh.be, the 20-year-old - who can play at centre-back or right-back – could undergo a medical in the Spanish capital on Monday if talks conclude this weekend.

Valencia sign Santi Mina from Celta Vigo - ESPN FC
The 19-year-old forward signed a six-year contract tying him to Valencia until June 30, 2021, on Saturday after passing his medical with Los Che. Mina came up through the youth ranks at hometown club Celta before making his Primera Division debut in February 2013. Last season he scored seven times in La Liga as well as two in the Copa del Rey.

Sevilla offer €15m for Manchester City's Edin Dzeko - Inside Spanish Football
Sevilla are looking for a suitable replacement for Colombian international striker Carlos Bacca, who was transferred to AC Milan on a €30 million deal earlier this week and seemed to have found it in Edin Dzeko. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sevilla made a one-time bid of €15 million for the 29-year-old and after Manchester City promptly turned them away, Sevilla dropped their interest, refusing to negotiate anything beyond their original offer.

Celta gain full ownership of Nolito | Football Espana
Celta Vigo have gained full ownership of Nolito after purchasing the remaining 35 percent of his economic rights from an investment fund. The Galicians signed the forward from Benfica on a permanent basis in 2013 but only took 65 percent of his ownership. However, Celta have now announced on their official website that they own the 28-year-old outright.

Official: Rulli stays at La Real | Football Espana
Real Sociedad have announced that Geronimo Rulli’s loan has been extended for another season. La Real appeared to have lost the goalkeeper as reports claimed his parent club Deportivo Maldonado were ready to force through negotiations with Valencia, who hoped to replace the injured Diego Alves with the Argentine.

Player signs 5 year deal for David Moyes despite visit to St James Park | NUFC The Mag
Real Sociedad have announced that David Moyes has persuaded exciting teenager David Concha to join him, the 18 year old winger (can play on either wing) signing a five year deal with the La Liga club. Concha signed the contract on Friday night in Las Rozas where he was based with the Spanish Under 19 squad, before flying off to Greece today for the Under 19 European Championship finals which begin on Monday.

Rayo Vallecano sign Ousseynou Cisse from Dijon - ESPN FC
Rayo Vallecano have signed France-born Senegalese midfielder Ousseynou Cisse from Ligue 2 club Dijon for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old, a former trainee with Paris Saint-Germain, has signed a three-year contract at Vallecas.

Fenerbahce confirm Ochoa interest | Football Espana
Fenerbahce have confirmed their interest in signing out-of-favour Malaga goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. The 29-year-old arrived at La Rosaleda last summer following an impressive 2014 World Cup campaign with Mexico but spent his debut season playing second fiddle to La Liga ever-present Carlos Kameni.

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Alexis Sánchez, Claudio Bravo, Chile win 2015 Copa América

Sometimes it's just fate.

Chile are your 2015 Copa América winners, after enduring a 120-minute battle against Argentina and winning 4-1 on penalty-kicks to become champions for the first time in their history. Barcelona keeper and La Roja skipper Claudio Bravo had a key save against Ever Banega, and then former Blaugrana Alexis Sánchez buried home with style to end a giant drought.

It was a match dominated by the hosts, with Jorge Sampaoli's pressing and intensity style getting to control the whole affair. The defense, led by Gary Medel, completely neutralized Lionel Messi, who had his less brilliant performance in quite some time, which had tons to do with the marking from his opponents. The only time Messi really had space, he created a magical counter-attack that could have won the Cup had Gonzalo Higuaín scored the easiest goal of his life, which he didn't.

Javier Mascherano almost killed himself trying to will his team to stopping La Roja. He did it for 120 minutes, but then he just couldn't do anything to make Higuaín and Banega score their penalties.

But sometimes it's just fate. Congrats to Chile that played great football in the whole tournament and won a major title for the first time, at home.

CHI, LE, CHI-CHI-CHI, LE-LE-LE, VIVA CHILE!!!

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Copa América 2015 Final: Chile vs Argentina: Live Game Thread

A live thread for the Copa América Final clash between Chile and Argentina

After some fun weeks of football down in South America, we reach the final of the continental competition with the two best teams of the tournament: Chile and Argentina didn't exactly destroy every single opponent, but each had at least one memorable performance in the 2015 Copa América, and both teams play the most beautiful football at the moment among the Latino nations.

And, what is more fun, both have some pretty important members of their respective squads that play for Barcelona. Claudio Bravo is the captain and leader of La Roja, the calming influence and the spectacular goalkeeper that we all know after a year of watching his brilliance in La Liga. The Albiceleste has the best player ever, Lionel Messi, and El Jefecito, Javier Mascherano, two of the most important pieces of the Treble-winning season for the Blaugrana. Chile also has Alexis Sánchez, who left Barça just a year ago and was a very good player for the Catalans.

Both teams want to make history today: Argentina hasn't won a senior competition since 1993, and the current generation, which is arguably the most talented ever, carries a lot of weight in their shoulders to finally deliver a title for a country who lives and dies football. Chile, on the other hand, has never won a Copa América, and they have a golden chance to do it in front of their home crowd. This talented and bold side is coached by a Marcelo Bielsa disciple, and Jorge Sampaoli makes every Chile game a must-watch.

You want to comment the game? Here's your chance! Join us at 22:00 CET and cheer for your favorite team! Have fun!

******

Starting Lineups:

Chile (4-3-1-2):

Bravo; Isla, Silva, Medel, Beausejour; Díaz, Aránguiz, Vidal; Valdívia; Sánchez, Vargas

***

Argentina (4-3-3):

Romero; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Rojo; Mascherano, Biglia, Pastore; Messi, Agüero, Di María

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