La Liga

Apparently Pogba is going to reject a move to Manchester City in favour of a move to Barcelona. I guess nobody has told him that Barcelona are under a transfer embargo then?

Courtesy of Sky Sports Transfer Centre

10:26
POGBA TO SNUB CITY

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will snub interest from Manchester City this summer to hold out for a move to Barcelona, according to reports.

It has been reported by the Manchester Evening News that City were confident of fighting off competition from Europe's biggest clubs for the likes of Pogba and Raheem Sterling.

However, they may have to expand their search for a long-term replacement for Yaya Toure, with Pogba's heart seemingly set on a move to the Nou Camp.

"Playing with Messi would be a dream come true. He's the best player in the world," the Frenchman told AS.

they can agree to sign players but not register them so come January they may appear at barcelona, there were rumours that several players would be signed and loaned back to the ban ended which i would be surprised if the other clubs agreed ti

they can agree to sign players but not register them so come January they may appear at barcelona, there were rumours that several players would be signed and loaned back to the ban ended which i would be surprised if the other clubs agreed ti

looks like Aliex Vidal will join barca from Sevilla and should be confirmed on Wednesday

What is the point of a ban?

They've signed Arda and Aleix Vidal and put a bid for Pogba.

So from breaking the rules they cop essentially a 6 month freeze where they can't move players but they can sign them.

I hate Barca and hate Madrid.

What is the point of a ban?

They've signed Arda and Aleix Vidal and put a bid for Pogba.

So from breaking the rules they cop essentially a 6 month freeze where they can't move players but they can sign them.

I hate Barca and hate Madrid.

It's impossible to stop a club signing players or having agreements in place.

What is the point of a ban?

They've signed Arda and Aleix Vidal and put a bid for Pogba.

So from breaking the rules they cop essentially a 6 month freeze where they can't move players but they can sign them.

I hate Barca and hate Madrid.

They can sign them but they can't register and play them untill 2016. I'm a bit surprised a player like Arda Turan is ok with that actually, not playing for that long.

I get that. But what's the point of the punishment? It's a 6 month freeze, not a ban.

The punishment is in no way a punishment as it's not affected Barca in the slightest.

Hate how Madrid get a bad rep in Spain and Barca is seen as some kind of 'people's club'. I remember the pro-barca arguments well:

1. Barcelona don't wear a sponsor on their jersey because they are a pure football team
2. Barcelona don't spend big money
3. Barcelona use their academy to bring through young players the way it should be done.

Like some kind of hipster equivalent to a club.

Finally glad to see the charade is over. They wear an oil rich sponsor on their shirt, they spend more money than 99.9% of football clubs and their academy is full of illegally purchased players for which they make no apologies or take no punishment for.

This entire thing has been handled disgracefully, hit them were it hurts and ban their youth teams from competing for a year and block any new youth players coming through. Maybe then people will realise that Barca is not the place for a young footballer to be. 

The punishment is in no way a punishment as it's not affected Barca in the slightest.

Hate how Madrid get a bad rep in Spain and Barca is seen as some kind of 'people's club'. I remember the pro-barca arguments well:

1. Barcelona don't wear a sponsor on their jersey because they are a pure football team
2. Barcelona don't spend big money
3. Barcelona use their academy to bring through young players the way it should be done.

Like some kind of hipster equivalent to a club.

Finally glad to see the charade is over. They wear an oil rich sponsor on their shirt, they spend more money than 99.9% of football clubs and their academy is full of illegally purchased players for which they make no apologies or take no punishment for.

This entire thing has been handled disgracefully, hit them were it hurts and ban their youth teams from competing for a year and block any new youth players coming through. Maybe then people will realise that Barca is not the place for a young footballer to be.

Starting a team made of Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Pedro, Messi with Montoya, Rafinha, Dos Santos, Bojan, Thiago, Tello, Sergi Roberto as backups isn't a charade, they are players who were in the academy since they were 10 years old. Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Alba, Montoya, Fabregas are catalan players, Iniesta is also catalan by adoption, played for Catalonia several matches.

You're letting the hatred make you blind, they played several years without a sponsor when all the big teams were full of sponsors on their shirts.

Also Sergi Roberto, Sergi Samper, Munir are looking to be great prospects. This club shouldn't be blamed for giving youngsters a chance to shine. Yes maybe they poach young players too, but all the clubs are doing that, mostly poaching players from Barca themselves.

Starting a team made of Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Pedro, Messi with Montoya, Rafinha, Dos Santos, Bojan, Thiago, Tello, Sergi Roberto as backups isn't a charade, they are players who were in the academy since they were 10 years old. Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Alba, Montoya, Fabregas are catalan players, Iniesta is also catalan by adoption, played for Catalonia several matches.

You're letting the hatred make you blind, they played several years without a sponsor when all the big teams were full of sponsors on their shirts.

Also Sergi Roberto, Sergi Samper, Munir are looking to be great prospects. This club shouldn't be blamed for giving youngsters a chance to shine. Yes maybe they poach young players too, but all the clubs are doing that, mostly poaching players from Barca themselves.

Look at the team now:

Bravo - Bought

Alba - Released at academy level before resigning for big money
Pique - Spent 4 years developing at United before being resigned, does not count as a 'pure' Barca youth product because of this.
Mascherano - Bought for big money
Alves - Bought for big money

Rakitic - Bought for big money
Iniesta - Barca youth product
Busquetes - NOT a Barca youth product, they signed him when he was... 18ish and he played less than 2 seasons with the youth team. He was developed at a host of other clubs before Barca.

Neymar - Bought for huge fee
Suarez - Bought for huge fee
Messi - Barca youth product

No rage blinding it. They don't have a lot of players that develop all the way through their youth academy. Most are bought in from clubs all over the world and we've seen the legalities of those signings are seriously questionable.

There is no doubt that they have a great academy, as you say players like Samper, Roberto and Munir are looking very good, however the foundations on which it is built on are rotten to the core and shouldn't be held up as a shining light in football as it will be forever tarnished by the dirty deeds done to get some players there in the first place. The lack of respect for the rules and blatant disregard for their punishment given them no reason to stop doing this and start looking for loopholes around it instead just like they've done with their "punishment" here.

The transfer of Neymar was as dirty as they come too yet no fallout seems to have come from that. They seem to be on a pedestal and think no one can touch them, a team like that is dangerous for football.

It's because alot has changed since Laporta left Barcelona's presidency in 2010. He was the football idealist, alongside his advisor Cruijff, and Guardiola. As soon as Laporta left, Txiki Begiristain resigned, and Guardiola's departure is also said to be related to all this. And shortly after ofcourse the first shirt sponsor in the club's existence. But, Laporta is running for presidency again this month, with the support of Cruijff and Guardiola. And he's promised things like, Unicef back on the shirt again instead of a shirt sponsor. Abidal as the new technical director. More emphasis on youth, restore La Masia to it's former glory, and the Barcelona B team too which relegated this season. Will be interesting to see what will change if he wins.

Also, oddly enough there's a clause in Turan's transfer, that if the next president doesn't want him he can return to Atletico for a few million less.

The punishment is in no way a punishment as it's not affected Barca in the slightest.

Hate how Madrid get a bad rep in Spain and Barca is seen as some kind of 'people's club'. I remember the pro-barca arguments well:

1. Barcelona don't wear a sponsor on their jersey because they are a pure football team
2. Barcelona don't spend big money
3. Barcelona use their academy to bring through young players the way it should be done.

Like some kind of hipster equivalent to a club.

Finally glad to see the charade is over. They wear an oil rich sponsor on their shirt, they spend more money than 99.9% of football clubs and their academy is full of illegally purchased players for which they make no apologies or take no punishment for.

This entire thing has been handled disgracefully, hit them were it hurts and ban their youth teams from competing for a year and block any new youth players coming through. Maybe then people will realise that Barca is not the place for a young footballer to be.

Being more of a people's club has alot to do with their history. Barcelona being the Catalan club, and Real the royal club. And Real was supported by Franco during his regime, and he went to great lengths to guarantee their success. Like for example his interference with Alfredo Di Stefano's transfer to Barcelona, who most now should know as being a Real Madrid legend instead. It was during this time that Real grew to be the succesful club that we know, and won 5 European Cups in a row.

But I agree, Barcelona's been just as bad lately as any of those clubs. Especially the youth thing is appalling. I read Real Madrid and Atletico are being investigated for the same thing.

Being more of a people's club has alot to do with their history. Barcelona being the Catalan club, and Real the royal club. And Real was supported by Franco during his regime, and he went to great lengths to guarantee their success. Like for example his interference with Alfredo Di Stefano's transfer to Barcelona, who most now should know as being a Real Madrid legend instead. It was during this time that Real grew to be the succesful club that we know, and won 5 European Cups in a row.

Sid Lowe's book "Fear and Loathing" dispels a lot of these myths re: Franco and Real, or at least dispels some of the exaggerations and hyperbole about it. I highly recommend the book. It's very even handed on both clubs.

The Di Stefano transfer in particular has more to do with Barcelona only agreeing a deal with River Plate and not Millonaros, who also had claims on the player. The Spanish FA ruled, bizarrely I add, that Di Stefano could alternate seasons between Real and Barca, which Barcelona refused and enabling Real to permanently sign Di Stefano for the fee they paid River Plate.

Sid Lowe's book "Fear and Loathing" dispels a lot of these myths re: Franco and Real, or at least dispels some of the exaggerations and hyperbole about it. I highly recommend the book. It's very even handed on both clubs.

The Di Stefano transfer in particular has more to do with Barcelona only agreeing a deal with River Plate and not Millonaros, who also had claims on the player. The Spanish FA ruled, bizarrely I add, that Di Stefano could alternate seasons between Real and Barca, which Barcelona refused and enabling Real to permanently sign Di Stefano for the fee they paid River Plate.

And you think all this was just a coincidence under a dictator regime? I've read about this stuff also years ago, trying to find more about this online is hard but I did find this: 

Perhaps nothing epitomized the backroom politics of the Franco regime better than the protracted battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the signature of Alfredo di Stéfano. (For more about Di Stéfano’s career, CLICK HERE.)  In the constant arms race to dominate Spanish football, both teams became interested in Di Stéfano after his dazzling performances for Millonarios captivated Spain during a friendly tournament in Madrid.  Barcelona reacted quickest, and through Catalan lawyer Ramon Trias Fargas, they easily reached a transfer agreement with River Plate, who was still di Stéfano’s official employer according to FIFA.

However, this agreement was conditional on the consent of Millonarios.  Franco therefore sought to disrupt Barcelona’s advances through Barcelona’s “chief scout” Josep Samitier, a notorious playboy who Franco frequently bribed with favors elevating his lifestyle.[ii]  At Franco’s indirect suggestion, Samitier entrusted the Millonarios side of the deal with Joan Busquets, a director of Millonarios’ Colombian rivals Santa Fe.  Busquets deliberately lowballed the negotiations with his rivals, allowing Real Madrid to reach an agreement with the Colombians.[iii]  For his part, Barcelona’s president Marti Carretó did quite little to control the matter, leading to suggestions by Trias Fargas that Carretó too was a “government stooge”.[iv]

Of course, Franco did not control FIFA, who ignored the unsanctioned Colombian league and approved Barcelona’s deal, even allowing di Stéfano to play for Barcelona in two friendlies.[v]  He did, however, control the State. When Barcelona were near to a deal, the Spanish government passed a law outlawing the purchase of foreign players, putting control of the matter once again in Franco’s hands.[vi]  Demonstrating the farcical nature of its new law, the State then brokered a deal itself, whereby di Stéfano would alternate yearly between the two clubs.

https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/spain/franco-gets-his-man/#_edn2

And you think all this was just a coincidence under a dictator regime? I've read about this stuff also years ago, trying to find more about this online is hard but I did find this: 

Perhaps nothing epitomized the backroom politics of the Franco regime better than the protracted battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the signature of Alfredo di Stéfano. (For more about Di Stéfano’s career, CLICK HERE.)  In the constant arms race to dominate Spanish football, both teams became interested in Di Stéfano after his dazzling performances for Millonarios captivated Spain during a friendly tournament in Madrid.  Barcelona reacted quickest, and through Catalan lawyer Ramon Trias Fargas, they easily reached a transfer agreement with River Plate, who was still di Stéfano’s official employer according to FIFA.

However, this agreement was conditional on the consent of Millonarios.  Franco therefore sought to disrupt Barcelona’s advances through Barcelona’s “chief scout” Josep Samitier, a notorious playboy who Franco frequently bribed with favors elevating his lifestyle.[ii]  At Franco’s indirect suggestion, Samitier entrusted the Millonarios side of the deal with Joan Busquets, a director of Millonarios’ Colombian rivals Santa Fe.  Busquets deliberately lowballed the negotiations with his rivals, allowing Real Madrid to reach an agreement with the Colombians.[iii]  For his part, Barcelona’s president Marti Carretó did quite little to control the matter, leading to suggestions by Trias Fargas that Carretó too was a “government stooge”.[iv]

Of course, Franco did not control FIFA, who ignored the unsanctioned Colombian league and approved Barcelona’s deal, even allowing di Stéfano to play for Barcelona in two friendlies.[v]  He did, however, control the State. When Barcelona were near to a deal, the Spanish government passed a law outlawing the purchase of foreign players, putting control of the matter once again in Franco’s hands.[vi]  Demonstrating the farcical nature of its new law, the State then brokered a deal itself, whereby di Stéfano would alternate yearly between the two clubs.

https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/spain/franco-gets-his-man/#_edn2

This only looks at the Di Stefano transfer in a vacuum. A few years before, the very same Samitier arranged for Laszlo Kubala to sign for Barca when Real wanted him. Kubala, of course, was ineligible to play professionally because Hungary listed him as a deserter, but Samitier used his connections in the FA and the Franco regime to not only get rid of Kubala's ban, but also to allow him to play for the Spanish national team. Kubala was quoted in one of Jeff King's books as saying, "Franco personally cut through the red tape and signed the decree that meant that I could play for Spain too."

This only looks at the Di Stefano transfer in a vacuum. A few years before, the very same Samitier arranged for Laszlo Kubala to sign for Barca when Real wanted him. Kubala, of course, was ineligible to play professionally because Hungary listed him as a deserter, but Samitier used his connections in the FA and the Franco regime to not only get rid of Kubala's ban, but also to allow him to play for the Spanish national team. Kubala was quoted in one of Jeff King's books as saying, "Franco personally cut through the red tape and signed the decree that meant that I could play for Spain too."

Kubala was only banned for 1 year though by FIFA, and didn't play in his first season with Barcelona because of it? Di Stefano ended up playing for Spain too. Spain national team was very important to Franco, oddly enough he build a great team and then in 1960 denied them to play the first ever European Championships, which they were favourites to win. But to comment on the rest, initially Atletico was actually closer to Franco's regime, if only because they were aligned with the Spanish air force. It wasn't untill the 50's really that Franco got involved with Real. He basically saw Real and the national team as part of image building for the country.

But I think I'm on the same page with Simon Kuper on this when he said: It is silly to think that Real Madrid was a fascist team, he argues, or that Franco rigged games and paid off refs. He didn’t need to, but he created the environment in which Real Madrid, the team of the capital, could thrive.

Just look into how Catalonia and the Basque country were treated during Franco's regime, do you think that he would have stood still when Barcelona, who was Catalonia's crown jewel in terms of football and not only that, which was and is the most cherished and viewed sport in Spain, was about to sign the best player in the world ? Clearly he did everything he could to make sure Real Madrid remained the best club in the country and in the world. I don't even want to start with how they won so many titles in his regime, how referees were threatened with torture if the result wasn't in Real's favour, how other teams played with fear at Bernabeu, it wasn't even necessary to put pressure on the referees and so on, they all knew what to do, because Real was Franco's team, the message was there for all involved.

Shouldn't be forgotten that josep sunyol the president of Barcelona was murdered by fascists in 1936 and the use of Catalan and Basque was prohibited under Franco, football was seen as a way of expressing peoples feeling and beliefs, after the recent cup final the government took great exception to the booing of the national anthem, former Barcelona youth team player olegeur was booed for his Catalan nationalist beliefs. Whichever way you look it does show that sport and politics do mix

Shouldn't be forgotten that josep sunyol the president of Barcelona was murdered by fascists in 1936 and the use of Catalan and Basque was prohibited under Franco, football was seen as a way of expressing peoples feeling and beliefs, after the recent cup final the government took great exception to the booing of the national anthem, former Barcelona youth team player olegeur was booed for his Catalan nationalist beliefs. Whichever way you look it does show that sport and politics do mix

That's not just why Oleguer was booed though, it also had to do with an article he wrote in defense of the release of an ETA member, who was convicted of killing 25 people. He was even criticised for it by people from his own club, among them the then president Laporta who is very much for an independent Catalonia.

Kubala was only banned for 1 year though by FIFA, and didn't play in his first season with Barcelona because of it? Di Stefano ended up playing for Spain too. Spain national team was very important to Franco, oddly enough he build a great team and then in 1960 denied them to play the first ever European Championships, which they were favourites to win. But to comment on the rest, initially Atletico was actually closer to Franco's regime, if only because they were aligned with the Spanish air force. It wasn't untill the 50's really that Franco got involved with Real. He basically saw Real and the national team as part of image building for the country.

But I think I'm on the same page with Simon Kuper on this when he said: It is silly to think that Real Madrid was a fascist team, he argues, or that Franco rigged games and paid off refs. He didn’t need to, but he created the environment in which Real Madrid, the team of the capital, could thrive.

Yep, Kubala was signed in 1950 but didn't play until 1951. And you are correct about Atletico Madrid, then called Athletic Avacion until the lates 40s.

From everything I've read, Franco wasn't even super keen on football the way supporters are. I always put his interest in the game to being akin to how politicians use any sport to further their agenda/propaganda. Lowe argues those 5 European Cups essentially made Real the "national" club team, hence Franco's liking of them, but had Barcelona won those, they would have become the national team despite the Catalonia factor. I'm not sure I can totally side with that, but I don't think it's terribly far from the truth.

Shouldn't be forgotten that josep sunyol the president of Barcelona was murdered by fascists in 1936 and the use of Catalan and Basque was prohibited under Franco, football was seen as a way of expressing peoples feeling and beliefs, after the recent cup final the government took great exception to the booing of the national anthem, former Barcelona youth team player olegeur was booed for his Catalan nationalist beliefs. Whichever way you look it does show that sport and politics do mix

Yeah this is a good point. But people tend to forget too that at the same time, Real Madrid president Rafael Sanchez Guerra was arrested and tried by the Franco regime as well before escaping to Paris in exile.

Just look into how Catalonia and the Basque country were treated during Franco's regime, do you think that he would have stood still when Barcelona, who was Catalonia's crown jewel in terms of football and not only that, which was and is the most cherished and viewed sport in Spain, was about to sign the best player in the world ? Clearly he did everything he could to make sure Real Madrid remained the best club in the country and in the world. I don't even want to start with how they won so many titles in his regime, how referees were threatened with torture if the result wasn't in Real's favour, how other teams played with fear at Bernabeu, it wasn't even necessary to put pressure on the referees and so on, they all knew what to do, because Real was Franco's team, the message was there for all involved.

Yes and no. During the Franco regime from 1939-75, Real Madrid had 27 major honors, Barcelona 18, not counting their 3 Inter-Cities Fair Cups which was more or less the predecessor to the UEFA Cup. Barca won more trophies than Real during the 1940s and early 1950s. Before the takeover, Barcelona only won 1 league title while Real had won 2.

However, the Di Stefano transfer changed the fate of Real into the super power they are today. The signing of Puskas and the subsequent strike partnership he formed with Di Stefano sealed it. Then you have the ye-ye generation of the 60s, and the foundation of huge success you can build on is immense.

But it's not as if Barca were a bunch of misfits. Kubala and the original Luis Suarez were no slouches. They sacked a very good and successful coach in Helenio Herrera. Their inability to capture an inkling of the European success Real enjoyed prevented them from becoming mega huge like they are today.

That's not just why Oleguer was booed though, it also had to do with an article he wrote in defense of the release of an ETA member, who was convicted of killing 25 people. He was even criticised for it by people from his own club, among them the then president Laporta who is very much for an independent Catalonia.

that's true, the Spanish have a very strange relationship with history especially with the Franco years, a lot will tend to adopt the forget the past and don't dig up, which they take very literally when it comes to sensitive matters like the bodies of murdered people who have never been dug up and given a proper funeral, there was a case a while ago where i think fans of a team objected to someone taking over as a coach or sporting director as he was a keen pilot whose hero was a francoist pilot and war hero, it may have been salva but my memory maybe playing up. Franco jumped on the rm to court popularity. One of the main criticisms aimed at laporta is his insistence on the Catalan nationalist beings very open part of his agenda. Not sure how much attention was given to uefa sanctioning Barcelona for singing the song related to nationalism and the display of the Catalan flag at the cl final, the same song is sung at the 17th and 72nd minute of every home game.

Just reading that Barca are close to a deal for Pogba.  They should just engrave the trophies now and save time. Must be nice to be a Barca supporter. Unlimited funds and still able to get players while being under a transfer ban, which I dont understand.

Just reading that Barca are close to a deal for Pogba.  They should just engrave the trophies now and save time. Must be nice to be a Barca supporter. Unlimited funds and still able to get players while being under a transfer ban, which I dont understand.

It just shows the attraction that the club has. A player is effectively happy to have half a season suspension just to sign for them. Probably only two teams in the world can do that; Barca and their fellow La Liga rivals - Madrid.

Imagine if we went for a player but he couldn't play for half a season, they'd think we were taking the piss.

Just reading that Barca are close to a deal for Pogba.  They should just engrave the trophies now and save time. Must be nice to be a Barca supporter. Unlimited funds and still able to get players while being under a transfer ban, which I dont understand.

i know several Barcelona fans and they are not really happy with the club overall at all. The court cases regarding neymar/tax, the links with Qatar, the transfer ban, the decline of la masia etc, the recent election was basically decided by the conservative  60 years old plus socios who just see results on the pitch and voted for the status quo, where the younger age groups were the ones who were the ones who voted for laporta and the idea that the club needs to find it's values again