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Mystic Penguin

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The new season starts on the 18th of August and it will end on and will end on 1st June 2013.. No fixtures have been announced yet.

Got a feeling this will be a very close title race. I feel like Barca have the stronger starting 11 but Real Madrid have the better squad at the moment anyway. Plenty of time for new signings. The Spanish Super Cup will give us a good indication of where both Barca and Real are.

Who do you think will come out on top this year?

Mystic Penguin, Jul 4, 2012

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Mystic Penguin

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Barcelona have completed the transfer of Jordi Alba from Valencia for a fee of €14 million.

The Catalans confirmed on their official website on Thursday that the left-back has signed a contract until the summer of 2017.

The Blaugrana had reached an agreement with Los Che over a transfer fee at the end of June, and the Spain international has now signed his contract upon successful completion of a medical.

Jordi Alba, who was unveiled to fans on the Camp Nou pitch earlier on Thursday, spoke of his delight at returning to the club at a press conference.

"I'm very happy to come back home to my family and my people," the left-back, who was released from La Masia in 2005, told reporters. "And thanks to the fans who came to the stadium. I did not expect so many people to come. I'd like to thank all those who made it possible to return home."

Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu also spoke of his delight at the completion of the transfer, and revealed that director of football Andoni Zubizarreta had been keeping tabs on the 23-year-old for some time.

"We're very excited. We all know about him - he went out to make a career, and is coming home now. We have a long history here," Bartomeu said.

"It was a goal the club had sought for a long time. Zubi told us about his interest in Alba more than a year ago."

The Euro 2012 winner, who has a €90m buy-out clause in his deal, came through the ranks in Catalunya, before being let go and eventually breaking into the first team at Mestalla.
Click to expand...

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277/la-liga/2012/07/05/3222769/barcelona-officially-sign-jordi-alba

Fantastic business. He should settle right in.

Mystic Penguin, Jul 5, 2012

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Seán_67

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Do we need to start another megathread every new season? :50:

Seán_67, Jul 5, 2012

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sm67 said: ↑

Do we need to start another megathread every new season? :50:
Click to expand...

I didn't know there was a La Liga mega thread. There was one for the 11/12 season.

Last edited by a moderator: Jul 5, 2012

Mystic Penguin, Jul 5, 2012

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kris_bhoy_1916

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Between the the two again but I don't think the super cup will decide who has the better squad. Barca still need a new cb.

kris_bhoy_1916, Jul 5, 2012

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ILoveTheCeltic

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Its a shame that Valencia are continually robbed of great players for heehaw.

Villa, Alba, Mata and Silva have left them for only around £92million. When you consider Madrid spent £56?million for Kaka.
ILoveTheCeltic, Jul 5, 2012

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Mystic Penguin said: ↑

I didn't know there was a La Liga mega thread. There was one for the 11/12 season.
Click to expand...

Ahh right, that must be the one I'm thinking of :50: Was just curious because I enjoy the Serie A one and wasn't sure if we'd have to start a new one for that or just carry it on :50:

Seán_67, Jul 6, 2012

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The Golden God I am untethered and my rage knows no bounds Gold Member

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1st. Barca
2nd. Bilbao
3rd. Madrid

:86:

The Golden God, Jul 6, 2012

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Bielsa has resigned from Athletic Bilbao :54:

ILoveTheCeltic, Jul 6, 2012

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Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa has handed in his resignation, Goal.com has learned

The decision comes just hours after the Basque club issued a statement in which they publicly criticised the Argentine for his row with a construction company employee.

Bielsa had publicly admitted his frustration that construction at the club's Lezama training facility was not completed in time for the start of the pre-season and accused the company responsible of not respecting the contract that had been signed.

However, Athletic distanced themselves from such comments and apologised for the coach's behaviour while insisting that the contract with the construction company 'had correctly been fulfilled' up to that point.

It is understood that the Basque side have not yet accepted Bielsa's resignation and have called an emergency meeting to decide what to do.

Bielsa took charge of Athletic last summer, enjoying an impressive debut season at San Mames as he led the club to the final in both the Copa del Rey and the Europa League, eventually losing both matches.

He signed a new contract, valid until 2013, in June to put an end to speculation about his future after being linked with Chelsea, Inter and Barcelona, among other clubs.
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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277...king-news-bielsa-resigns-from-athletic-bilbao

Surprised. I wonder where he'll go now.

Mystic Penguin, Jul 6, 2012

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Tottenham star Luka Modric has agreed terms with Real Madrid and could soon finalise a move to the Spanish side despite the clubs being unable to settle on a fee so far, according to Croatian website 24sata.hr.

Good signing for them depending on how much they have to be. I wonder if anyone will be going the other way.

Mystic Penguin, Jul 6, 2012

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kris_bhoy_1916

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Benzema/higuian
Ronaldo...modric...ozil
Khderia/sahin....Alonso

Not bad.

Gutted about bielsa leaving :54:

kris_bhoy_1916, Jul 6, 2012

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It looks like Bielsa was looking for a excuse to leave. He'll probably go to Italy now.

Mystic Penguin, Jul 6, 2012

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Keita's after leaving Barca for a move to China.

TESLA, Jul 8, 2012

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Javi Martinez is a man in demand. Last summer, the Athletic Bilbao midfielder captained Spain's under-21 side to European Championship success in Denmark and then signed a new contract to stay at San Mames until 2016. This summer, following more continental cheer with La Roja's senior side at Euro 2012, he now seems unlikely to fulfill it.

Goal.com revealed on Sunday that Manchester City have reignited their interest in the 23-year-old, but Barcelona have moved ahead of the Premier League champions and Bayern Munich as they look to add another Spanish international to their ranks following the arrival of Jordi Alba from Valencia. The Catalan club, however, have earmarked Martinez as an all-purpose acquisition. Should he arrive at Camp Nou, the Spain star will likely operate in both defence and midfield. Two for the price of one.

Perhaps that is why the Blaugrana are prepared to make an exception to their frugal spending strategy. Barca president Sandro Rosell recently claimed the club coffers for summer signings totalled £32 million. But Javi costs that alone - after his release clause was set at that figure last summer - and Barca have already splashed £11m on Alba.

However, Rosell revealed that the Catalans could delve into next year's funds if special circumstances called for an additional outlay. Now they do. Barca's failure to bring in back-up for captain Carles Puyol last summer proved costly. Puyol suffered again with injuries in 2011-12, while Gerard Pique struggled for fitness and form. Midfielders Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets, meanwhile, were shown up on occasions when asked to fill in at the back, and Eric Abidal is still sidelined following his liver transplant.

Martinez is a midfielder also, but the 23-year-old featured heavily in defence for Athletic last term and offers Barcelona something different in midfield, too. His box-to-box style is unlike any player currently on the books at Camp Nou and his pace and power would bring incoming coach Tito Vilanova a useful tactical variant. Above all, however, he is seen as a long-term replacement for Puyol, still sidelined with a knee problem and reaching the twilight of a brilliant career at the age of 34.

The Spanish press have recently reported that Martinez is prepared to take the next step in his short but already successful career, with Bayern said to have 'leaked' the player's willingness to move on this summer.

The midfielder came through the youth system at Osasuna, not Athletic, and does not hail from the Basque Country but neighbouring Navarre (they also qualify to play for the Bilbao side). He has always claimed to be content at San Mames, but continually left the door open to a future move and told Catalan daily Sport in June that Pep Guardiola's Barca side were the best ever.

"The football that [Barcelona] have played these last few years has been spectacular," he said.
"We have enjoyed [watching] them a lot, they have been one of the best ... why not say it? The best team in the history of football."

Now it could be reality, especially given the uncertainty over the future of Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa. After having his resignation rejected by the club's board on Friday, he is still by no means guaranteed to remain at San Mames for next season. The Argentine's possible departure could see many of the club's finest footballers move on, too, with Fernando Llorente, Iker Muniain, Martinez and more all attracting interest from across Europe.

Should Martinez sign for Barca, the Catalans could conceivably field a whole team of current Spanish internationals: Victor Valdes in goal; Puyol, Pique, Alba and Javi himself at the back; Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Busquets in midfield; Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and David Villa further forward. Add Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and Dani Alves to that, and it is quite a team.

Martinez had previously seemed more suited to Real Madrid, on the lookout for a midfielder ever since Jose Mourinho took over at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2010. But the capital club have now switched their attentions to Tottenham's Luka Modric and with Bayern unwilling to pay up for Martinez, plus the midfielder said to be unconvinced by a move to the Premier League at this stage in his career, Barca are now in pole position.

He may be expensive, but signing Martinez will more than compensate for the loss of Seydou Keita, who announced he would leave the club on Saturday evening, while freshening up a defence which buckled at times in 2011-12.

With Javi, Barca will be getting two players in one - and the 'double' deal may mean the Catalans do not have to sign anybody else this summer. At 23, they will also be signing a player with much of his career still ahead of him, as well as a high re-sale price. Expensive? It's all relative.
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Looks like it will happen eventually.

Mystic Penguin, Jul 8, 2012

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AD1967

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i reckon madrid will win it again. leagues arent won by teams, but by squads, and no doubt reals is stronger than barcas.

AD1967, Jul 8, 2012

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Utter pish news about Bielsa :38:

I think Real will take the league, while Barca will take the Champions League back. I think it will be another big year for Athletico Madrid. First full season for Simeone in charge. If they could add another couple of class players, they will be up there at the top for most of the season. Malaga as well perhaps

Celtic abu, Jul 8, 2012

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AD1967 said: ↑

i reckon madrid will win it again. leagues arent won by teams, but by squads, and no doubt reals is stronger than barcas.
Click to expand...

That's what I think.

Barcelona are starting to close the gap in terms of strength and depth though.

Mystic Penguin, Jul 8, 2012

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Biesla is staying apparently.

The Golden God, Jul 8, 2012

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Mystic Penguin said: ↑

That's what I think.

Barcelona are starting to close the gap in terms of strength and depth though.
Click to expand...

disagree. the only department that they have plenty of cover for in centre mid. they have only two reliable goal scorers which isnt enough for a side looking to win everything all season, ok one is messi but he can sill break a leg. and in defence there just isnt the cover at all, in any position.

the only way i can see barca winning the title is if either the next puyol breaks into the side or if vilanova spends some serious cash to improve the squad.

AD1967, Jul 8, 2012

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