Gracies Capita: A tribute to Carles Puyol

A short essay about the best captain in Barcelona history

I am a lucky man. In my brief lifetime, I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of the most important events to ever occur in the sporting world. I’ve seen arguably the best players in many sports ply their craft. I even saw a horse win the Triple Crown! I saw Ronaldihno get an ovation from the Bernabeu; I saw LeBron James and the Cavaliers come back and change basketball history against the winningest team ever; I saw the Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino; I saw Peyton Manning break the all-time touchdown record. I hope to see Venezuela qualify to their first World Cup. Yes, I know they are a terrible team, but they are getting better, and you always root for your country no matter what.

I’ve seen every dazzling performance, every near impossible goal, every masterful free-kick, change of pace, body-check, missed penalty Leo Messi has gifted us. But the thing I am most grateful for, the thing that makes me the most fortunate man in existence is the fact that I got the chance to see Carles Puyol play football.

Carles Puyol changed my life. Let’s get one thing clear here: Carles Puyol is not the best defenseman to ever play the game. Honestly, I don’t think he even cracks the top 10. There have been too many defenders with too much natural talent, and no matter how much I idealize the Captain, I am not one to delude myself. Heck, he wasn’t the best ever at Barcelona. But when push comes to shove, there is no one I would rather have leading my team than Carles Puyol. While many kids, and, let’s face it, many adults, fantasize about their perfect, legendary starting eleven and their choice of Maldini, Nesta, Beckenbauer, Cafu, Hierro, Moore or many others, my first choice will always be the Capi.

To me it is a simple choice. While Puyol might not be a natural talent, he has spades of something I value more…heart. He never quit on a play. You could always count on him to lay his body on the line for the good of the team. Heart. With his passion, his love for the team, and his joy for football, Puyol more than bridged the gap between himself and the natural talents of the game.

As a young man growing up with a debilitating disease, I am ever grateful for the captain Carles Puyol. I only ever got to play football in a wheelchair, so it is safe to assume that I did not have the same physical ability than any of my peers. But thanks to Puyol, I learned the value of passion and putting your heart into things. I’ve applied that same never-say-die attitude to my daily struggles with my disease. Gràcies, Carles, you saved my life.

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2aModsO

Read More

Report: Lionel Messi not planning Argentina national team return after coaching change

Good luck, Bauza

The Argentina Football Federation announced on Monday that Edgardo Bauza has been appointed as new national team manager. After missing out on Diego Simeone, Jorge Sampaoli, Mauricio Pocchettino and Marcelo Bielsa, AFA went with the least popular, only available option.

Bauza was the manager of São Paulo in Brazil, and has been called to save Argentina's football situation in the middle of a complete administrative caos. The 58-year-old was the last choice for the board, but the best Argentinean coaches did not want the job. Bauza hopes to improve Argentina's performance in the South American Qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, while trying to pick up the pieces after another loss in a major tournament final.

To make things worse for Bauza, he doesn't have the best player in the world as the centerpiece of his side. After announcing his retirement from the national team following the Copa América loss against Chile last month, Lionel Messi has been rumored to be changing his mind and could be looking to return soon.

However, according to a report from top Argentinean sports magazine El Gráfico, the Barcelona superstar does not plan to come back to the team after learning about Bauza's appointment. Messi doesn't have something against Bauza, but Leo sees the decision as a reflection of AFA's problems in management.

El Gráfico's report says that Messi will not return unless AFA works out its problems and starts to invest heavily in the development of young players in the national team. It is hard to see Bauza being the leading man in a complete overhaul of Argentine football, so Messi coming back is not happening anytime soon.

Bauza is planning to travel to Spain in the coming weeks to meet with Messi in hopes of changing his main star's mind, but that doesn't look likely at the moment.

Good luck, Argentina.

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2aqjya0

Read More

Report: Barcelona close to trading Douglas Pereira for basketball player

This is just hilarious

Barcelona are so desperate to get rid of a player, they're involving a different sport.

According to reports in Spain, the Catalan giants are close to signing American forward Adam Hanga, from Laboral Kutxa, to join Barcelona's basketball team. All normal there. Here's the catch: Laboral Kutxa's owner, Josea Querejeta, is also the owner of recently promoted La Liga side Alavés, and Querejeta wants Barça to involve a first team football player in the deal for Hanga, the basketball player.

Barcelona's answer? TAKE DOUGLAS! The bench-warming full-back is no longer on Luis Enrique's plans, and after two years of being either on the bench or out of the squad lists, Douglas is dead weight in the Blaugrana squad. Barça nearly sold Douglas to Brazilian club Cruzeiro last month, but the player doesn't want to leave Spain as he wishes to earn Spanish citizenship.

Ever since the Cruzeiro deal didn't work, Barça have tried to offload Douglas into a domestic side, but nobody showed interest. Then the Adam Hanga deal happened, and the Alavés owner looks interested in strengthening his squad with Douglas, and he wouldn't have to pay anything since the Brazilian would be involved in the deal for Adam Hanga (the basketball dude).

If Douglas leaves Barcelona thanks to a trade for a basketball player, it would be the perfect ending to his career with the Blaugrana. Just perfect.

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2aJIdLZ

Read More

Barcelona Ponder Transfer of Gignac, Mandzukic, Bacca, Gomez, Luan

The centerforward search continues. Is Barcelona really on the lookout for a forward from the Mexican league? Or are they targeting someone younger?

Barcelona continues looking for a backup forward, and every time the list whittles down, it seems to expand again. The team missed out on Kevin Gameiro and Luciano Vietto, as one went to Atletico Madrid and the other to Sevilla, swapping places.

So here's back to square one, I guess, and Mundo Deportivo has a few names on their list, though André-Pierre Gignac is the one they seem sold on. Ginac is a French international, 30 years old, playing for Mexican side Tigres UANL.

Gignac took the unusual step of leaving Europe despite doing well in France and having plenty of offers acrossEurope. Many predicted it was the burial ground for his career, but instead he has become a hero for Tigres. Is he ready for primetime or is this just the work of an agent trying to bring up his value?

MD also mentions Mario Mandzukic, Mario Gómez and Carlos Bacca as options, and goes on to say that Barcelona could very well land none of them (surprise) and instead opt for a younger option.

Who? The report did not say, but luckily Diario Sport has a name: Luan Vieira from Grêmio.

Luan is a 23-year-old Brazilian who is in the Olympic squad and ready to make a name for himself. He is a bit of an unknown quantity at the international stage, and certainly more of a risk than say, Gignac, but many have confidence in him. However, we've seen Barcelona time and again mess up the "20-year-old-from-Brazil" transfer, so you can be forgiven for lacking confidence. (Sometimes I'll wake up with nightmares that Keirrison is still on loan somewhere.)

What do you guys think?

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2aqhlih

Read More

Martín Montoya released by Barcelona, completes Valencia transfer

Goodbye, Monty!

The unexciting career of Martín Montoya at Barcelona has officially ended, but he stays in La Liga.

It was announced on Monday that the Catalan club and the Spanish full-back decided to "cancel" their contract, which essentially means Montoya has been released by the club in a friendly way. The agreement was made so that Montoya would be able to sign a for his new club, Valencia, on a free transfer and a four-year contract

Montoya came through La Masia and looked like a promising academy product when he gained promotion in 2012, but struggled to find his place in the Barça first team. Things got worse under Luis Enrique, and Martín played almost zero minutes during Lucho's debut campaign. He was then loaned to Inter Milan, but also failed to impress in Italy and returned to the Blaugrana after just six months. Montoya was then immediately loaned to Real Betis, where he finished last season.

Betis also weren't interested in keeping the player, who then rejoined the Catalans for the start of preseason while he and the club tried to find a new home. Valencia then approached Barça but didn't agree to pay any kind of transfer fee, which led to the release and the free transfer being completed today.

Best of luck with the Bats, Monty!

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2aJE8I5

Read More

FC Barcelona News: 1 August 2016; Ten Internationals Return to Training, Barca Eye Andre-Pierre Gignac

Ten more players begin pre-season training | FC Barcelona
After a week in central England and a match in Dublin, FC Barcelona's pre-season training routine returned to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.Monday's session saw the return of ten players — Ter Stegen, Bravo, Piqué, Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Vermaelen and Douglas — some of whom voluntarily cut short their vacations to re-join the team.

AEC Manlleu v FC Barcelona B: Winning start to Copa Catalunya (1-3) | FC Barcelona
Gerard López started Borja and Gumbau, who had featured in the previous day’s friendly with the first team in Dublin, on the bench, while the other players that went to Ireland were also there to cheer their colleagues on asd they got off to a dominant start but failed to break down the solid Manlleu defence. Xemi had a couple of long pops on goal while the opposition relied on dead ball situations for their chances. The deadlock was finally broken on the half hour by Perea after a powerful solo run and an equally forceful strike into the back of the net.

Barca turn to Gignac? | Football Espana
Andre-Pierre Gignac has reportedly entered Barcelona’s list of striking targets as their search for an ‘MSN’ deputy moves to the Americas. According to Mundo Deportivo, technical secretary Robert has returned to South America to hold talks with targets in the region, and his efforts have taken him to Gignac.

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2aovwRk

Read More

La Liga News: 1 August 2016; Atletico Madrid Suffer Surprising Loss, Schalke Sign Sevilla's Coke

Marco Asensio has a chance to feature regularly for Real Madrid - ESPN FC
Zinedine Zidane's search for a midfielder has taken up plenty of column inches this summer with one name -- Paul Pogba -- dominating the sports pages in Madrid. A deal looks increasingly unlikely, however, with Manchester United the frontrunners to secure the Juventus star's services.

Zinedine Zidane: Alvaro Morata to stay at Real Madrid | Sky Sports
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has confirmed he has no intention of letting Alvaro Morata leave the club this summer. The Spain international striker returned to the Bernabeu from Juventus last month after the European champions activated the buy-back clause in his contract.

Melbourne V 1 - 0 A Madrid - Match Report & Highlights |Sky Sports
The 2016 Champions League runners-up fell behind to a goal against the run of play shortly before half-time and were kept scoreless in the second half. Defender Nick Ansell powerfully headed home off a free-kick from Tunisian Fahid Ben Khalfallah to rock Atletico in the 44th minute.

New-look Atleti mixes experience with youth may be Simeone's best side yet - ESPN FC
Preparations for the coming La Liga season took another major step forwards on Saturday, when Atleti confirmed the signing of Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla on a four-year deal reported to be worth €32 million. Gameiro was unveiled in the searing Madrid heat a day later in front of thousands of fans and made all the right noises.

Gameiro: Atletico Madrid were my first choice - Goal.com
Kevin Gameiro says he always wanted to join Atletico Madrid despite attracting the interest of Barcelona prior to his move from Sevilla. The 29-year-old was long linked with a move to Barca, but ultimately signed for Atletico on Saturday, agreeing a four-year contract with Luciano Vietto heading to Sevilla on loan as part of the deal.

Wolves sign Silvio from Atletico Madrid | Sky Sports
The Portuguese defender has signed a one-year deal, having had his contract cancelled with the La Liga club. According to the Wolves website, the 28-year-old said: "It's always been a desire of mine to play in England and play in the Premier League.

Amath lacks cutting edge to breakthrough at Atletico - Goal.com
Amath Ndiaye has been one of the standout players of Atletico Madrid's trip to Australia but a full debut may still be tough to come by for the youngster. The Senegalese midfielder was arguably the best player in a second-string Atletico side that lost 1-0 to Melbourne Victory on Sunday as he regularly found space on the left.

Schalke confirm signing of Sevilla captain Coke - ESPN FC
Schalke are close to signing Sevilla defender Coke after the player passed a medical and a deal was agreed for his transfer. Coke, 29, will complete the formalities of the deal with Sevilla on Monday before linking up with Schalke at their preseason training camp in Austria, the German side confirmed on their website.

La Liga: Real Sociedad sign striker Willian Jose - Goal.com
Willian Jose has joined Real Sociedad from Deportivo Maldonado on a five-year deal. The 24-year-old striker, who made his La Liga debut for Real Madrid in 2014, has since had loan spells with Real Zaragoza and Las Palmas. Willian Jose scored nine league goals for Las Palmas last season and will complete the transfer pending the formalisation of his contract.

Official: Alaves pick up Ibai | Football Espana
Alaves have confirmed the signing of former Barcelona target Ibai Gomez from Athletic Bilbao on a three-year contract. Athletic agreed to terminate Ibai’s contract prior to his move, despite it having another season to run. The winger’s Alaves deal does not contain a buyback option, although his release threshold has been set relatively low at €10m.

from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/2apzYTl

Read More