catalan players

FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC have struck a deal to bring Aleix Vidal to the Camp Nou, with the 25-year-old signing a five-year contract that will keep him at the Catalan club until June 2020. Vidal – a pacey right wing back – was officially presented on Monday, after a morning of medical tests at the Hospital de Barcelona and the Centre Mèdic at the Ciutat Esportiva. Aleix Vidal is delighted to have signed for FC Barcelona, and that was more than obvious from what he had to say in Monday’s press conference at the Camp Nou. “Apart from the day my daughter was born, this is the most special day of my life” he said, describing it as a homecoming after he spent one year at the club playing for the U14 B team. He was joined in the pressroom by Vice-President Jordi Mestre, who explained that the player’s transfer fee from Sevilla was 18 million euros, plus a further €4 million in variables.

Piqué’s contract, which runs until the end of next season (30 June 2015), has been extended for four more seasons. The Catalan defender has played 266 games for FC Barcelona in 6 seasons. He has scored 20 goals and has won 16 titles so far. The new contract will keep Piqué at the Catalan club until the end of the 2018/19 season and will be signed within the next few days. After coming up through the academy system, Piqué spent three years with Manchester United and another season with Zaragoza before returning to Barça in 2008, coinciding with the start of the Guardiola era.

FC Barcelona has announced the signing of the keeper from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Marc-André Ter Stegen, and the departure of José Manuel Pinto after six and a half years of service to the team. In addition, youngsters Gerard Deulofeu and Rafinha Alcantára will be returning to the Club after a year out on loan at Everton and Celta Vigo respectively. The Catalan winger and the Brazilian born midfielder both came up through the Masia and they have put in impressive performances on loan this year. Ter Stegen is one of the new signings for the 2014/15 Barça squad, announced by Football Director Andoni Zubizarreta and FC Barcelona's Board of Directors. On top of this, they also confirmed that José Manuel Pinto will no longer defend Barça’s goal now that his contract has expired.

The FC Barcelona Captain bowed out at an emotional event at the Camp Nou this Thursday afternoon, surrounded by Barça heroes, past and present. "It’s the end of an era, but there will be more and I hope to enjoy them as much as this one. Thank you all very much and visca el Barça!", stated Carles Puyol. The team's greatest captain leaves FC Barcelona after a fifteen year career in the first team that has brought him 21 titles. Recalling his time as a boy, playing football in the street with his brother and his friend Javi Perez, Puyol commented:"I came here as a boy and I’m leaving with a family who I’m really proud of".

FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu and Catalan defender Marc Bartra signed the deal in the club offices this Tuesday that will keep the centre-back at Barça till June 2017. The new deal includes a 25 million Euro get out clause.The 23-year-old Bartra joined FC Barcelona as an eleven-year-old and worked his way up through the academy and Barça B teams before signing a first team contract in the 2012/13 season.After putting pen to paper, the Catalan centre-back admitted: “I’m very happy. It’s a great feeling and I hope everything continues to go as well as they have done in my time at the club so far. For me, Piqué and Puyol are my reference points - it’s a challenge to me to achieve what they have . Establishing myself in the team is a big test, but I am getting there”

The FC Barcelona captain made the announcement to the media on Tuesday afternoon, after having reached an agreement with the Catalan club. The player’s contract will be rescinded at the end of June and leave it without effect for the two years that were left on it. After two serious operations, the Catalan centre-back – who in April will be 36 years old – “finds it very hard to get back to the level” needed to play for Barça, “much more” than he thought and “the surgeons told” him. However, Puyol emphasised that there are still three months of the season left and that he “will not give up” and “will keep fighting to the end”. The player explained he had not made any future plans yet. He also announced he will hold a press conference to “say farewell to all the people that have accompanied him”. Carles Puyol has been a Barça player for 14 years, playing 593 games and scoring 18 goals.

FC Barcelona have agreed to renew Marc Bartra’s contract until June 30, 2017. The defender will sign the new contract in the coming weeks and his buy-out clause will be set at 25 million euros. Bartra, who started playing in Barça’s youth academy in 2002, made his debut for the first team on February 14, 2010, away to Altético Madrid. From that point on he combined his first team work with his reserve team duties. He was promoted to the first team in the 2012/13 season. This year, Marc Bartra has progressively earned Tata Martino’s confidence thanks to his good performances on the pitch. He’s featured in 14 matches this season and he’s scored one goal. This year, Marc Bartra has progressively earned Tata Martino’s confidence thanks to his good performances on the pitch. He’s featured in 14 matches this season and he’s scored one goal.

The Catalan forward will play for the Dutch team until the end of the current season. Ajax does not have the option to buy the player once the loan period expires. Formed in FC Barcelona’s youth system, Cuenca’s breakout year was the 2010/11 season, when he played a decisive role in Sabadell’s promotion-winning season from Segunda B to Segunda A. The following season he returned to Pep Guardiola’s Barça, where he enjoyed first team action and featured in 30 games for the senior side. However, he was seriously injured at the end of last season and he was not was given the green light to return to competitive play since 10 days ago.

Barça players Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol were congratulated by their team-mates before this morning's training session to prepare for the Spanish Cup quarter final game to be played tomorrow. Piqué was congratulated for becoming a father, while Puyol was congratulated for extending his contract with the FC Barcelona.

Barça Manager has admitted that he was surprised by Víctor Valdés’ announcement today that he will not be extending his contract with FC Barcelona any further than June 30, 2014. However, Vilanova insisted that “he did not ask to leave, he just said he’s not renewing his contract”. Vilanova has confirmed that Valdés will continue to be the first choice keeper, saying that “as long as he is with us, he’ll be our goalkeeper and we have to help him as he would help us”.

The Catalan Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola has reached an agreement with FC Bayern München to manage the football team as from next season until 2016. Finally, after rumours circulated pairing him with Manchester City and Chelsea, Guardiola has chosen the German club for its way of understanding football, which is much closer to the Catalan’s own approach based on attacking, playing nicely and working with home-grown players. Pep Guardiola quit FC Barcelona in June to take a year’s sabbatical, and moved to New York with his family. He will replace Jupp Heynckes, who is retiring at the end of the current season, in Munich.

The defender and midfielder have renewed until 2016, while the Argentinean will stay until 2018. Over the next few weeks, all of Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández and Leo Messi will be signing their respective new contracts.

Cristian Tello has extended his contract with FC Barcelona until June 2016. The release clause has been fixed at €10 million. Tello, born in Greater Barcelona, is a product of the Catalan club’s school and youth system. He debuted with Barça’s first team in November 2011 and from 2002 and 2007 he played in the club’s youth ranks.