..::Football III::..

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Chelsea's Cech set for Arsenal medical

Petr Cech will undergo a medical on Friday before completing a move to Arsenal next week after the Gunners agreed a fee with Chelsea for the veteran goalkeeper.

The Czech Republic international has already agreed personal terms with the north Londoners and is on the verge of ending his 11-year association with the Blues.

Despite having just one year left on his contract, Chelsea hope to receive as much as £15 million (€21m) for the 33-year-old, who was desperate for first-team football after being usurped by Thibaut Courtois.

Goal first revealed that Cech had asked to join Arsenal at the start of June, with the veteran goalkeeper not only keen to re-establish himself as No.1 but also wary of uprooting his young family.

Jose Mourinho was publicly against the idea of allowing Cech to join a rival, but the final decision lay with Roman Abramovich who sanctioned the move due to his friendship with the keeper and out of respect for his long and successful career at Stamford Bridge.

Cech has won the Premier League four times with the Blues since joining from Rennes in 2004, also lifting the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League.

His departure leaves Chelsea in need of a new No.2, and the club have already identified Stoke City's wantaway shot-stopper Asmir Begovic as a possible target.

Arsenal, meanwhile, could now offload David Ospina despite his strong form in the second half of the season, with rumoured interest from Fenerbahce, while Wojciech Szczesny is seen as a more capable deputy to Cech.

 

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Pepe: Spectacular season awaits Real Madrid

Real Madrid defender Pepe is eagerly anticipating the 2015-16 campaign and expects a successful season under new boss Rafa Benitez.

The Santiago Bernabeu side endured a trying season under Carlo Ancelotti, who was consequently dismissed for failing to win anything other than the Club world Cup last term.

The Italian has since been replaced by Benitez, who has been lured away from Napoli, and Pepe is confident that Los Blancos will soon get back to their best.

"I can't wait for pre-season to start; I'm looking forward to returning to Madrid, linking up with my team-mates again, meeting Rafa Benitez and getting down to work," Pepe told Marca.

"I'm really motivated because I'm convinced a spectacular season is in store for us.
"If we all work our guts out and pull together in the same direction, success will come, I have no doubt about that."We respect all our opponents, but we have a huge amount of quality in our squad."

Madrid were beaten to the Liga title by Barcelona last term, while Juventus proved to be too strong in the Champions League and Atletico eliminated them in the Copa del Rey.

 

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Xavi: It was clear I had to leave Barcelona

Xavi has admitted that it was clear to him that he had to leave Barcelona, but is happy that he stayed on for an extra year at the club.The midfielder was linked with a move away from the Catalan side ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, but opted to remain at Camp Nou.

This summer, he brought an end to a 24 year spell at the club which started in the famous youth academy when he was just 11, signing for Al Sadd in Qatar.

The 35-year-old says he is happy he waited another year to win a domestic and European treble with Luis Enrique's side before leaving, but maintains the time was right to wave goodbye to the Blaugrana.

"Imagine last year, leaving without titles, with no euphoria," he said on the club's official website. "When Barca don't win anything, we have to get rid of 10 players, everyone is angry. Imagine having to make a farewell with angry people."Now people are euphoric, happy, content, it just so happened that we won the league a week early so I they could do the tribute at a home game.

"I'm very glad I stayed one more year, that sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, Luis Enrique and president Josep Maria Bartomeu convinced me. "It was clear that I had to leave and I am very stubborn, but they convinced me in two or three meetings, so now I am very happy."

Xavi is the club record holder in terms of appearances and trophies won, but he feels Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi will end up taking that title from him soon.
"I know that eventually my record will be beaten, perhaps by Andres and Leo, and they’ve only got one title less than me so they’ll top that next season."

 

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Official: West Ham sign Payet

West Ham have completed the signing of Dimitri Payet from Ligue 1 side Marseille in a deal worth around €15 million, with the France international agreeing a five-year contract.

The 28-year-old was one of the stand-out stars in France last season, assisting a league-high 17 goals as OM just missed out on a Champions League spot.

Marseille originally had little intention of allowing Payet to leave the club this summer, but admitted they had been blown out of the water by West Ham's offer.

The east London side have handed their new recruit a salary worth €75,000-a-week, a figure Marseille were unable to match, though had hoped he might snub the more lucrative wage package to remain in the south of France.

Instead, Payet has become West Ham's second signing of the summer, following on from the capture of Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria, and Hammers fans will not have to wait long to see the Frenchman in action.

Slaven Bilic's side take on FC Lusitans in the Europa League on Thursday, with pre-season training having begun this week, and Payet could yet feature.

The Marseille star's departure, meanwhile, piles more misery on a club who have lost their topscorer, Andre-Pierre Gignac, and Andre Ayew on free transfers, while the future of Marcelo Bielsa remains in doubt.

 

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Laporta: We would not think of signing Di Maria

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has insisted he will not seek to sign Angel Di Maria if he is elected in the upcoming elections.

The 52-year-old, who served as the club's chief from 2003 to 2010 and is standing to succeed Jose Maria Bartomeu at the helm of the club ahead of the vote on July 18.

His campaign has been linked to the possible signings, including Di Maria, but he insists he will not look to lure the former Real Madrid man away from Manchester United.

"We could not think about signing Di Maria," he told Catalunya Radio, before stressing his confidence of winning the campaign. "We guarantee that we will win because we manage sporting success."I am very excited to be able to lead the club."

The politician also took a pop at his rival Bartomeu, insisting he is the one Real Madrid fans would prefer to see elected.

"I have always respected the Madrid fans and they tell me that there are surveys that say Bartomeu is the preferred candidate of Real Madrid."We are Unicef, but Rosell and Bartomeu, they are with Qatar. It does not bring any confidence or satisfaction that they can remain the sponsor of the club.

"I don't like to be told that the models are similar."Laporta was also full of praise for Lionel Messi, insisting the club must do what they can to keep him for the remainder of his career before praising Luis Enrique.

"Leo gives you everything and when you have Messi, you can always dream.We should always strive to get him to finish his career at the club."

"Luis Enrique deserves to work in a team with great talent and achieve a successful outcome. That is a credit to him and his team. His philosophy is like Johan Cruyff's, keep the ball, press hard, be strong."

 

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Douglas Costa can be the new Robben - Lucescu

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu expects Douglas Costa to reach Arjen Robben 's heights when he completes his expected move to Bayern Munich .

The Brazil international - currently on Copa America duty in Chile - looks set to make the switch to the Allianz Arena after spending six seasons with the Ukrainian side.

While Bayern are yet to confirm the deal, Lucescu did little to play down the rumours, suggesting Costa can make the same impact Netherlands winger Robben has with the Bavarian giants. "It seems normal to me that they wanted him so much," he told Dolce Sport ."Inter were also in the chase for Douglas - the boy can be the new Robben!

"He's only 24-years-old and could reach Robben's level in the coming years."
Lucescu was also quizzed on the future of striker Luiz Adriano, who scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Ukrainian side last term.

"Luiz Adriano does not want to extend his contract. We have agreed a fee with Al Ahli, but the player does not want to go to the Emirates," Lucescu added.

"But maybe they will compete with other clubs such as Roma, Milan, Monaco, those who have wanted him in the winter."He has six months left on his contract, but it would be good for us to get some money for him."

 

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Barcelona sack Vinyals as B-team coach

Barcelona B coach Jordi Vinyals has been sacked, the club have announced.
Vinyals was in charge of the Juvenil A side before he replaced Eusebio Sacristan at the helm of the club's second team in February this year.

However, the 51-year-old failed to make an impact on the team as the finished bottom of the Segunda Division, nine points from safety.And Barca have acted swiftly, dismissing Vinyals from his post.

"Barcelona coach Jordi Vinyals will not be in charge of Barca B next season," a statement on the club's official website read.

"The Club’s Technical Commission acknowledged the need to begin a new chapter in the club’s reserve team and has begun a period of reflection in order to restructure next season’s coaching staff.”

 

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Barcelona and Real Madrid want Mustafi - agent

Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi has attracted the interest of Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to his agent.

The 22-year-old joined the Spanish side from Sampdoria last season and started 33 games for the side who finished fourth in La Liga.And his agent, Ali Bulut, says his bright performances have caught the attention from the biggest teams in the league.

"There has been an inquiry from Real Madrid," he told Bild. "But there have not been any further talks.

"Barca talked about a transfer in the winter, but Mustafi has a good contract at Valencia."It is a great club and he will play in the Champions League. If he is to move, everything must be perfect."

Germany international Mustafi scored four goals in La Liga for Valencia in 2014-15.

 

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Argentina 0-0 Colombia (5-4 pens)

 

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Jackson Martinez's agent hits out at Porto

Jackson Martinez's agent has spoken of his anger at the behaviour of Porto president Pinto da Costa during negotiations with Atletico Madrid.The Spanish club have activated the striker's €35 million release clause, but Luis Henrique Pompeu says the move has been far from smooth.

Martinez's representative revealed on Tuesday that Atletico had won the race for the 28-year-old ahead of AC Milan, who had previously been confident of striking a deal.

Pompeu told A Bola: "I sent a fax with a formal offer of €35 million to activate the buy-out clause for Jackson Martinez, as clearly stipulated last year.“It was a surprise to me that the Porto president would not meet me. I demand some respect and want him to fulfil what has been agreed.”

The Atletico deal will eventually be completed upon the Colombia international's return from Copa America duty.

 

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'I flinched when I heard Liverpool's brutal fee for Firmino'

Liverpool's transfer fee to land Roberto Firmino is "brutal" and puts the Brazilian under pressure to justify his price tag, according to the club's former defender Markus Babbel.

The 23-year-old became Brendan Rodgers's fifth summer signing on Wednesday in a deal Goal understands is worth €30 million up front, and which could rise to €40m.

Only Andy Carroll, an ill-fated £35 million move that reaped just six goals in 44 Premier League appearances, has cost Liverpool more and Babbel believes Firmino will be expected to hit the ground running.

"That [transfer fee] is brutal," he told Bild. "When I heard that I flinched, because even for Liverpool that is not chicken feed.

"He is under a certain pressure with this weight on his shoulders. You have to win trophies. This is a major challenge for Roberto."

However, Babbel believes that Firmino will prove to be a good signing for Liverpool.

"Firmino and Liverpool, that fits," he added. "He is an atypical Brazilian, more German than many Germans. Roberto is disciplined, has enormous assertiveness.

"Roberto does not complain when he is fouled. He is not an actor, he stands up again. That is beneficial in England, because that is what English fans like to see."

 

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Montoya set to leave Barcelona for Inter

Barcelona defender Martin Montoya is set to join Inter on a two-year loan deal, Goal understands.

The two clubs have agreed a €1.5 million loan fee and Inter also have a non-compulsory option to purchase the player for an additional €6m at the end of his temporary stay in Italy, which would mean a total transfer cost of €7.5m if the Serie A side are happy to go ahead with the deal.Montoya will earn €1.5m-per-year at San Siro - the same salary he was picking up at Camp Nou.

The right-back has been forced to play second fiddle to Dani Alves in recent years and the Brazilian's decision to sign a new contract made it clear to the player he was not a key part of Luis Enrique's future plans.

Montoya and his agent Juan de Dios Carrasco spent much of last season publicly seeking a departure from Barcelona due to a lack of first-team opportunities, with the player starting just six La Liga games over the course of 2014-15.The 24-year-old still has three years remaining on his contract at Barca, which expires in June 2018.

 

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'Payet transfer embarrassing for France'

Dimitri Payet's move from Marseille to West Ham has been branded "embarrassing" by the president of France's Football Federation.

The 28-year-old completed a €15 million move to Upton Park on Friday and is the latest big name to leave Ligue 1 for the Premier League.Earlier this month, another Marseille star - Andre Ayew - joined Swansea City and Noel Le Graet says the financial clout of England's biggest clubs is showing.

"It's always embarrassing," Le Graet said to Le Parisien. "PSG have a role to play though, as do Monaco. I would prefer that our big clubs, with strong economic situations, were interested in French internationals.

"I dream to see half of the team at PSG consisting of French players. It would be better for everyone and feed the market. With the values, we could have a competitive team.

"If we got more money from our television companies, we could be more intelligent. But they don't give us a lot - it is a joke because we are close to the level of the leagues in Italy and Germany.

"There is already an attraction to English football because of the money. Now a zero is added to the wages of our young players when they cross the channel and that's not about to change.

"There's nothing we can do for the next three or four years. The French model must be stronger economically. We need more leaders on the marketing and business side of the game in France, which has been neglected."

 

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Ferdinand: Ramos is using Man United for new deal

Rio Ferdinand believes Sergio Ramos is using Manchester United to win an improved contract at Real Madrid.

Goal understands the 29-year-old held showdown talks with the Madrid hierarchy on Wednesday, with the player unhappy at the terms of the contract extension currently on offer.

Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo claimed last week that he was offered Ramos, but dismissed the notion as a ploy to get the player a better deal at Real.

Meanwhile, United have been heavily linked with the World Cup and two-time European Championship winner, though Ferdinand is not convinced a move will happen.

"Ramos to Manchester United? It ain't happening. He ain't going to Manchester United," Ferdinand said in a video for his No.5 website.

"He's at Real Madrid with, I think, a new contract coming up. Maybe the agent is putting [rumours] out saying he wants [to leave] so Real Madrid come back in with a bumper offer and he signs on the dotted line. Happy days."

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is another player reportedly at the top of Louis van Gaal's summer wishlist, but again Ferdinand expects the player to stay put despite the rumours.

He added: "I remember when I was at United and there were rumours he was coming to Manchester United; he wanted to come, he loves the club and sees himself as a Manchester United player, allegedly. Then he signs a new deal at Bayern Munich.

"I get the same feeling with the Ramos deal. It's not necessarily the players but the people looking after them bartering around for a new deal so they use other clubs sometimes.

"Schweinsteiger is in the [Ryan] Giggs and [Steven] Gerrard mould. He is a one-club man and I'm sure he would like to end his career at Bayern Munich."

Finishing off his round-up of the latest transfer rumours, the former defender was again less than impressed when the topic of Jack Wilshere's future at Arsenal was raised.

"Arsenal can't sell him... They can't sell him," he said. "That's Mr Arsenal right there. He is Arsenal, he is living and breathing Arsenal. He doesn't want to leave. Fans will pull the place down."

 

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I want to be Manchester City's Maldini, says Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure insists he is happy at Manchester City and wants to stay at the club for a long time.

Toure has been strongly linked with a summer move to Inter, where he would be reunited with former City boss Roberto Mancini, after the Italian claimed the midfielder was keen on a move.

But the 32-year-old now seems certain to remain with Manuel Pellegrini's side and is targeting becoming a legendary figure at the club like Paolo Mandini is at AC Milan.

“That’s the dream for all the players,” Toure told the Manchester Evening News. “I was trying to convince some players to continue at the club and they said ‘why?’

“Because it was the case of Maldini, it was the case of [Franco Baresi], of [Alessandro] Del Piero - so many important players. [Francesco] Totti as well.

“They stayed at the club for a long time."

Toure held talks about his future with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in May, with Inter reportedly keen to bring him to San Siro.

The Ivory Coast international ultimately opted to stay put and admitted the City supporters played a big part in that decision.

"It is very, very important as a person and as a football player as well when you see people are following you,” he said. “It is difficult sometimes to disappoint them.

“The fans are doing brilliant for this club. When people show you loyalty, nothing is going by. That’s why I want to stay at City. I want to stay for a long time."

 

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Argentina 0-0 Colombia (5-4 pens): Martino's men sneak through after spot-kick drama


New Boca Juniors signing Carlos Tevez struck the winning spot-kick as Argentina defeated Colombia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes to book their place in the Copa America semi-finals.

Tevez netted with Argentina's seventh penalty after Lucas Biglia and Marcos Rojo had both missed opportunities to claim victory from the spot in Friday's Vina del Mar quarter-final clash.

It was no less than Argentina deserved after they dominated throughout the 90 minutes, with only a massive display from Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina ensuring the contest required a shoot-out.

The Arsenal shot stopper's best moment was an amazing double save in the 26th minute when he denied Sergio Aguero with his foot before scrambling to palm Lionel Messi's follow-up header around the post, with both shots coming from inside the six-yard box.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman had made four changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Peru in their final group encounter, with his decision to drop misfiring striker Radamel Falcao the standout.

Jackson Martinez was promoted to lead the line, while Victor Ibarbo, Alexander Mejia and Camilo Zuniga were also included as Pekerman switched from a 4-2-2-2 to a 4-1-3-2 formation.

That decision did not work, however, and Pekerman made a change midway through the first half with forward Teofilo Gutierrez sacrificed in favour of midfielder Edwin Cardona as Argentina ran riot, although it made little difference as Colombia finished the first half without a shot on goal.

As the second half wore on, Colombia began to gain a foothold in the contest but struggled to test Argentina keeper Sergio Romero, while Ospina kept a clean sheet at the other end.

Romero made just one save throughout the 90 minutes but was impressive in the shoot-out before Tevez - who was confirmed as a Boca Juniors player during the game - sent Argentina into the last four.

It took just five minutes for Ospina to register his first save, with the 26-year-old getting down low at his near post to parry Javier Pastore's toe-poke.

Argentina had decent arguments for a penalty when Aguero and Messi both went down in the box in the 20th minute, while the former headed over soon after.Ospina was sharply off his line just before the break to deny Pastore, while he had to beat Angel di Maria to the ball outside his box early in the second half.

James Rodriguez wasted an opportunity to shoot in the 67th minute, before Martinez produced Colombia's only shot on target, heading straight at Romero from a corner.

Argentina hit the woodwork twice late in the game, with substitute Ever Banega clipping the crossbar before Ospina produced another stunning stop - palming Nicolas Otamendi's effort onto the post. The ball rebounded along the goal-line before being cleared.

Colombia breathed another sigh of relief in the 88th minute when Cristian Zapata almost put the ball past Ospina, only for Jeison Murillo to produce a sliding clearance.

Eventually penalties were required, with the first six spot-kicks all finding the net before Luis Muriel blasted over the bar with Colombia's fourth.

After Ezequiel Lavezzi scored off the post, Romero almost denied Cardona but the midfielder's penalty squeezed under him before Biglia missed a chance to seal victory, sending the shoot-out into sudden-death mode.

Amazingly, the next three penalty-takers then failed to score with Romero denying Zuniga before Rojo clipped the bar and Murillo matched Muriel's poor effort.

That left Tevez to calmly convert and decide the tie, with Argentina booking a last-four date against either Brazil or Paraguay.

 

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Boca Juniors announce Tevez signing

Carlos Tevez has left Juventus to return to Boca Juniors, the Argentine club have announced.

A message posted to Boca's official Twitter account in the early hours of Saturday morning welcomed the striker back to La Bombonera.

The tweet reads "#TevezReturnsHome. It's a reality. It's official: Carlos Tevez returns to Boca".

The announcement was made during Argentina's Copa America quarter-final clash with Colombia, which went to penalties and was settled by Tevez himself, who scored his sudden-death effort to secure a 5-4 victory.

Tevez joined the youth ranks at Boca in 1997 and spent three years in the senior team between 2001 and 2004, winning the Copa Sudamericana and Libertadores as well as the Intercontinental Cup.

He signed for Brazilian outfit Corinthians at the start of 2005, before sealing a controversial move to West Ham in the 2006-07 season, alongside compatriot Javier Mascherano.

Tevez played a key role in the the Hammers' Premier League survival that season but the club avoided a points deduction despite breaching England's third-party ownership rules in recruiting the two Argentina internationals.

The forward moved on to Manchester United that summer and spent two seasons on loan at Old Trafford before sealing another controversial transfer, this time across town to Manchester City.

His time in England was to be shrouded in controversy, though, and he missed a large part of the 2011-12 campaign after refusing manager Roberto Mancini's orders to warm up during a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

After falling out with Mancini, failing to secure a transfer away and receiving a hefty fine, Tevez returned from a long spell in Argentina to help the club win their first Premier League title.

After a final season in the Premier League, Tevez moved to Juventus in 2013 and he formed a key part of title-winning teams under Antonio Conte and Masssimiliano Allegri.

He scored 29 times last season as Juve won the Serie A title and Coppa Italia, although they were beaten in the Champions League final by Barcelona.

Tevez won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Champions League, two Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia during his time in Europe.

 

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Copa America Quarter-Final Fixture 2015.06.27

Copa America Quarter-Final Fixture 2015.06.27

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Brazil Vs Paraguay

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[Wolverine GTR]

eka thami machan.anith eka thami deadline day lan wenkota ithuru wena players lath overpriced
puluwan nam pre season matches walata kalin new palyers la ganna one.
ethkota next season start ekedima experiment karanne nathiwa hoda team ekak danna puluwan.
last season eke Chelsea la Costa , Fabregas, Filipe Luis kalinma sign karagaththa.loic remy withrai deadline day eke sign karagaththe
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& oya kiwwath wage Pre-season walata kalin playesla ganna 1ka thamai karanna thiyana hodama de.Pre-Season 1kedi aluthen ganna kattiya+team 1ke danata inna kattiyata chance 1ka deela baluwama idea 1kak ganna puluwan team 1ka gana.Athakota time 1ka thiyanawa team 1ka hadaganna.Nathnam ithin season start 1ke experiment karanna giyama wenne team 1ka gana idea 1kak nathuwa onama karana points miss wena 1kaPahugiya seasons wala uneth okamane bro

Ow bro Chelsea lage style 1ka hariyatama hari.Wenger/LVG bala bala inne nathuwa karana deyak ikmanata karala teams hadagatthoth thamai hoda nathnam ithin bala bala idala anthimata ganna player kenek wath nathi wei​

 

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Barcelona will sign another player - Bartomeu

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club intend to follow up the arrival of Aleix Vidal from Sevilla with another summer signing.

Bartomeu is running against former Barca chief Joan Laporta in July’s presidential elections and was reported to be lining up Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan as the marquee signing to win another term in office.

Rumours in the Spanish media claim the Turkey international will not join the reigning Spanish champions but Bartomeu is expecting another player to arrive before going to the ballots.

“We have a very reliable team for next season but besides Aleix Vidal another player will join,” Bartomeu is quoted as saying by Marca.“The club is not paralysed by the election process and is making sporting plans for coach Luis Enrique. The coach knows what we need and we will carry out those duties.”

Laporta, who oversaw the most successful period in Barcelona’s history between 2003 and 2010 is widely expected to reclaim the presidency and is already discussing a moves for the likes of Juventus star Paul Pogba.

Yet Bartomeu is confident of achieving re-election despite being at the heart of the scandal following the controversial transfer that brought Neymar to the club.
"I do not know how many signatures we will get,” Bartomeu said. “But we see very pleased to partners down the street who are eager for us to continue at the club."