According to Cadena Ser Radio in Spain Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal captain and star midfielder, has struck a verbal agreement with Barcelona to join the Champions League Champions next season.
“There is a firm agreement between Barca and Cesc Fabregas even if it is only verbal,” the Spanish station reported without citing its sources.
“Several meetings have taken place and, following those meetings, Cesc told Barca that he wanted to rejoin them from next season,” it added.
Cadena Ser said the deal would be subject to agreeing a fee with Arsenal.
The reigning Spanish champions have neither confirmed nor denied the report.
Fabregas, a 22-year-old Spanish international, is Arsenal’s top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions this season and is under contract with the Gunners until 2014.
But his future has once again been the subject of much speculation this season and media reports have consistently linked him with a return to La Liga.
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Barcelona have started talks with their star striker Lionel Messi to upgrade his current contract. “Relations between the two sides are very good,” club president Joan Laporta said.
Messi’s entourage “knows that Barca want the player to feel good here… We are proud to have him in the team because he is the best player in the world.”
The negotiations are continuing “at a good pace,” he said.
The 22-year-old is under contract with Barca until 2010. His salary is estimated at eight million euros per year.
Coach Pep Guardiola said meanwhile said that the arrival of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will help keep Messi on his toes, and that’s what he needs.
“If Leo isn’t under pressure, he gets bored,” he said.
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Barcelona outclassed Manchester United last night by beating them 2 - 0 in the UEFA Champions League final played in Rome, Italy.
Goals from star forwards Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi gave the Catalans a deserved victory and denied United from becoming the first team to retain the title since the European Cup became the Champions League in 1993.
It gave the Spaniards a unique treble having already won their domestic league and cup and meant they repeated a feat United achieved in 1999, which Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson had then claimed would never be matched.
It crowned a marvellous debut season for his Barcelona counterpart Pep Guardiola, who at 38 becomes the youngest coach to take European club football’s greatest prize.
For Thierry Henry it ended years of frustration especially when his then team Arsenal lost to Barcelona in the 2006 final.
“Finally I have won it! I have been waiting for so long for this moment,” said the France great, whose daughter celebrated her birthday as well on Wednesday.
“The last five minutes were the longest of my life. Even if we were 2-0 up we were playing the best team in the world (referring to the world club championship title United won earlier this year).”
Barca overcame early jitters to dominate large parts of the game as the English club never managed to get their usual high tempo game into gear.
In a clash billed as the match of the century pitting the best two teams in the world - with each one boasting one of the best two players in the world - only one played to their full potential.
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Didier Drogba could face a lengthy ban from European football after confronting Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the match where Chelsea lost to Barcelona last night in the second leg of the Champions League semi final.
A stoppage time goal from Andres Iniesta earned Barca a 1-1 draw on the night and on aggregate and sent the Catalans into a final meeting with Manchester United at the end of this month on the away goals rule.
Chelsea had legitimate grounds for complaint after being denied at least two good penalty appeals by the referee - who was still considered good enough by UEFA to officiate at last year’s Euro 2008 championships - but that will not be regarded as any excuse by UEFA when they come to judge Drogba’s conduct.
Ovrebo had to be escorted from the pitch by a platoon of stewards with Drogba apparently bent on a physical confrontation.
To compound his intimidating behaviour, the Ivory Coast international then turned to a television camera and screamed into it, describing the official as a “f-ing disgrace.”
Chelsea are also likely to be in hot water with UEFA after infuriated fans threw flags at the officials and the Barcelona bench on the final whistle.
However, Drogba is unlikely to be punished by his club as manager Guus Hiddink said he understood that emotions after such a match run high.
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Petr Cech was outstanding as Chelsea held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp. And so becoming the first side in 50 games to restrict the Spanish side from scoring on their home ground.
Cech produced several fine stops to keep the Blues in the tie as Guus Hiddink’s men defended superbly throughout ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge a week on Wednesday.
After a cagey opening 30 minutes, in which Barcelona enjoyed plenty of possession but could not break down a solid visiting defence, the game suddenly sparked into life.
Thierry Henry cut in from the left and fired straight at Cech before testing the Blues stopper again with a much fiercer effort moments later as Barca finally began to create some openings.
But it was Chelsea who should have broken the deadlock in the 39th minute when Rafael Marquez’s weak back pass allowed Didier Drogba a free run on goal but the striker’s half volley was well saved by Victor Valdes, who was also equal to the Ivorian hitman’s follow up.
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Update: Final whistle blows - Chelsea have managed to keep out Barcelona in the Champions League semi final.
Hope you’re sitting comfortably. Chelsea face off with Barcelona tonight in the high anticipated Champions League semi final clash - kick off will be in a few minutes, Soccer Pitch will blog the goals as they are scored!
Prediction - Soccer Pitch predicts a draw (Ed - We got lucky)
Kick off!
0-0 12:15
Barcelona enjoying lots of possession and looking dangerous - early scare for Cech
0-0 37:15
Yaya Toure booked for fowl play - Barca hovering in Chelsea territory
0-0 39:02
Huge opportunity for Drogba against the run of play - Jorquera saves twice
0-0 Half time
0-0 52:34
Rafael Marquez off injured - Carlos Puyol on for Barca
0-0 55:01
Barcelona have all the possession but some how Chelsea is managing to contain them
0-0 59:02
“Danger signs are starting to mount again for Chelsea” - Commentator
0-0 69:10
Strong Eto’o dribbles the Chelsea defence only to be denied by Cech, Barca dominating still.
0-0 70:40
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