FCBarcelona: July 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Magic, goals and class for Barça

www.fcbarcelona.cat

A skilful and physically imposing footballer, an all-round goal scorer. That would be a quick and concise definition of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barça’s second signing of the season. Ibracadabra’ is coming to the Camp Nou to continue working his own bra

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was born in Malmö (Sweden) of a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother on 3rd October 1981. He joins Barça at the height of his career and is recognized as one of the most lethal strikers in European football. He is one of that rare breed of total footballers: he’s deadly in the air, fast, effective in front of goal and mesmerizing with the ball at his feet. His style of football makes his team-mates play better.

Technique and power

Ibrahimovic has always stood out as a skilful player, scoring some amazing goals and displaying tremendous creativity. That’s why he’s known in Italy as ‘Ibracadabra’. He stands 1.92 metres tall and combines great technique with a powerful physique, making him particularly feared by defenders in the air, as well as making it difficult to take the ball away from him.

In short, the Swedish international is the perfect modern centre forward and goal scorer. Last season he scored 25 goals in the Italian league with Inter Milan.

Ajax at the age of 19

zlatan-ajax.jpgIbrahimovic started his career with Malmö before moving on to Ajax in 2001, where he joined up with Barça team-mate Maxwell. Here he started to get noticed on a bigger footballing stage and gave indications of becoming a world class star despite his youth. For part of his time at Ajax his manager was former Barça star Ronald Koeman.

The Italian league

After three seasons in Holland, where he won two league titles, the Cup and two Dutch Super Cups, Ibrahimovic signed for Italian giants Juventus, staying there for two seasons from 2004 to 2006. When Juventus were relegated to the second division as a result of the “Moggigate” scandal, he signed for Inter Milan.

Three successful seasons with Inter Milan

Ibrahimovic won three league titles and two Italian Super Cups with Inter Milan and has been an essential part of the starting line-up under both Mancini and Mourinho.

Ibrahimovic is also a key member of the Sweden international team and has been voted his country’s best player on three occasions (2005, 2007and 2008).

Ibrahimovic signs five-year contract

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Zlatan Ibrahimovic put pen to paper earlier this evening and agreed a five-year contract with the club in a deal which also sees Samuel Eto’o sign for Inter and Alexander Hleb move on loan.

At about quarter past seven this evening Zlatan Ibrahimovic officially became a Barca player after signing the contract that brings him to the club for the next five years.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, accompanied by his agent Mino Raiola, signed the contract in Joan Laporta’s office with the President, Txiki Begiristain and club Vice-President Rafael Yuste representing the club.

46 million plus Eto’o and Hleb

2009-07-27_FIRMA_IBRAHIMOVIC_04.jpgBarça will pay 46 million Euros to Inter, as well as Eto’o, valued at 20 million and the loan of Alexander Hleb for a season. If Inter wish to sign the Belarus midfielder after his loan period, they have a first option to buy at 10 million Euros, plus 2 million according to appearances and results.

Ibrahimovic’s buy-out clause has been set at 250 million Euros.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Maxwell delighted at Barça

Roger Bogunyà

In his official presentation to the media, Maxwell, Barca’s new left back has said that “today is a very special and happy day for me ... it is a dream come true.”

Serious, relaxed and humble, the first new addition to the treble winning squad, Maxwell, was officially presented today in Sala París at the Camp Nou. In his first official statement since signing, he said: “today is a very special and happy day for me. It is a dream come true. This is the strongest team in Europe”.

Four years, and option for one more
2009-07-17_PRESENTACION_DE_MAXWELL_002.JPGBefore the presentation, Maxwell visited the offices to sign his contract, which will be for four seasons, with an option to stay for a fifth, depending on the number of games the Brazilian plays for Barça in his fourth year. The buy-out clause on the contract has been set at 50 million euros.

Praise from Txiki
Toon_Maxwell_B.jpgBarça’s director of football Txiki Begiristain, who attended the press conference along with president Joan Laporta, explained why they had signed Maxwell. “We understood that it was a position that needed improvement. He is a Brazilian player, but has grown up in Europe and where there is a very similar philosophy to our own, at Ajax, and he has also played top level competition at such a team as Inter.”

When asked to describe his new acquisition, Txiki Begiristain had no doubt that “he is top class, has a good physique and plenty of skill”.

His role
2009-07-17_PRESENTACION_DE_MAXWELL_015.JPGMaxwell has come to Barça just after Sylvinho’s contract ran out on June 30. “I know I am here to replace a player that has left and I know that competition for places at the club is a positive thing”, he said when asked about his role in the team, where he will be competing with Frenchman Éric Abidal for the left back place.