Welcome back, Messi!

After the two match final that was Argentina World Cup qualifier matches, Messi is back in Barcelona and ready to play. The player arrived to Barcelona at 15:00h, Barcelona time, on a private plane. He didn't commented on Maradona remarks to the press in wich he says that: "For those who didn't believe in this team, for those who treated me like shit, today we are in the World Cup."

Messi, when answered if he was willing to play on Saturday against Valencia, he replied:

"It depends on the coach, but I'm ready'

He was also happy that Barça had brought him back on a private plane:

"It's important to arrive before schedule, thanks to the club I have days to rest"

Related links:

- Messi arrival to Barcelona (video) at Sport.es

Piqué scores first goal in a historic match (Bosnia 2 - Spain 5)

Spain just made history winning Bosnia in a 2 -5 and becoming the third national team to have won all the Word Cup qualifier matches, after Brasil in 1970 and Germany in 1982.

Even though Xavi, Villa and other were watching at home, due to their respective injuries,  Spain didn't have much trouble and after scoring twice on the first half, with Piqué scoring the first of them, had an easy second half, conceding two goals at the end of the match.

Bosnia 2 - Spain 5 - Full Highlights

Related links:

- Spain World Cup qualifier at Fifa.com
- Inspired Negreo completes perfect 10 for Spain (Reuters)

Barça and Manchester City reach 'temptative agreement' over Robinho

This just in. According to catalan newspaper Sport, 'all that stands between Robinho and a winter switch to Barcelona is the approval of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour'.

The contracts are prepared, and Sport articles points out, an agreement between the player and Barça is nearly ready. Robinho will earn the same as in Manchester City, about 6.2 millions of euros.

The transfer fee that Barça offers is 35 millions of euros and it only awaits City's owner Mansour approval.

About the player's performance, Barcelona believes the player has matured and he's  ready to show he's real value giving Barça even more bench depth.

(via Goal.com)

Barça Weekly Digest 1 (5th Oct to 11th Oct)

Today I start a weekly digest all things Barça. This will be a compilation of the best blog posts and also the most important news on Barcelona's world. Lets start.

Biggest news of the week is Barça wanting Robinho and Fabregas:

- Robinho could be a January target for Barça (The Independent)
- Fabregas nears Barcelona switch (ExtraFootie)

What about Barça players on their national teams? It was a WorldCup qualifier week:

- Diego Forlan relishes Uruguay's 'battle of life and death' with Argentina (Daily Telegraph)
- World Cup Debate: Should Fabregas Be One of Spain's Untouchables? (Goal.com)

Next weekend Valencia plays against Barça at Mestalla Stadium, being a WorldCup week there hasn't been much talk:

- We can beat Barcelona - Valencia's keeper Cesar (Goal.com)
- David Villa makes progress in race to face Barça (Goal.com)
- El regreso por lesión de Xavi a Barcelona crispa el entorno de la selección (Xavi's injury related coming back to Barcelona irritates national's team entourage (Lavanguardia.es)

That's all. See you next week.

Third generation Cruyff makes his debut for FC Barcelona

Joshua Angoy Cruyff

He's the son of Johan Cruyff's daughter Chantal and former Barça's goalkeeper Angoy.  Joshua Angoy Cruyff, who played at Europa team until last month, made his debut against Mataró and seems to prefer playing on the left of defence. This is the third Cruyff to play at FC Barcelona, after, the great Johan Cruyff -his grandfather- and Jordi Cruyff, son of Johan, now 35, who still plays at Valletta, a Maltese soccer team.

(via NRC Handelsblad)

Related links:
-Johan Cruyff profile (Wikipedia)
-Jordi Cruyff profile (Wikipedia)

Ibrahimovic gets his own Barça toon

These days, you're not considered fully as a Barça player if you don't have your own 'toon' (just joking, of course). So it happens that Ibrahimovic just got his. Enjoy the not-so-great animation.

Ibrahimovic ja té el seu toon

Related links:
- Barça toons, huge video playlist (youtube.com)

FC Barcelona 2 - Dinamo Kiev 0 (Champions League)

Barça is leader of its group and easy win, with first goal by Messi and second by Pedro, here are the goals:

1 - 0 (Messi)

2 - 0 (Pedro)

Related links:
- Barça too good for Dynamo (Goal.com)
- El Barça vende al Dínamo de Kiev y ya es líder (Lavanguardia.es)

FC Barcelona vs Dynamo Kiev: What are the odds?

Tonight Barça plays its second Champions League match. It's been doing very well since now, and we hope this match won't be an exception. Anyway, I've been looking at some betting online pages to see what chances do we have, at least by the opinion of the gamers:

At oddschecker.com we can check many sites at once, we can see the odds of Barça winning are quite high as many sites offer 1/8  to 1/10  in this case, but a huge 18/1 to 20/1 in case of Dynamo winning. Odds of a draw are from 7/1 to 9/1. Here is a table with some of the offerings:

Bookie offers on FCBarcelona vs Dinamo Kiev

Anyway, I always bet on Barça winning, no matter the chances :) Good luck tonight!

Related links:

- Oddschecker.com

Malaga 0 - FC Barcelona 2 (la Liga)

One goal from Ibra (38') and one from Piqué (55') gave Barça another victory in La Liga. Malaga didn't get even a chance to make a goal. It's the begginning of the season and things haven't changed a lot. Barça is winning all his games and playing great football. I wonder if they'll be able to keep this pace for the whole season. As Pep Guardiola said yersterday: "...if we lose any player, here are more, and if we lose those, we have the second team, there's always a solution." He's maybe the best coach for the best team, as he seemed to be right in the last decisions, like changing Et'o for Ibrahimovic or using junior's team players like Pedro.

Historically, those are the matches that Barça wouldn't win, apparently easy away matches that got difficult in the end. These days, that big team - big loses comple is gone and away matches are no problem at all...

Málaga CF 0-2 FC Barcelona Highlights

Related links:
-La racha de Ibrahimovic y Piqué da el triunfo al Barça (La Vanguardia)
-Malaga 0-2 Barcelona: Ibra & Pique score as blaugrana win (Goal.com)

Marketplace: Cáceres to play at Nou Camp this season

A 16.5 millio euros transfer, Martín Cáceres a central defence from Uruguay, will be playing for Barça the next four years. Although he's been transfered from Villareal (a team in wich he never got to be), this season he played at Recreativo de Huelva.

At 21 years of age, he's played four times for his national team and will be playing with Uruguay the next World Cup qualifiers.

Another buy, we are still expecting some sales.

Jose Martin Caceres

Related links:
-El Villareal confirma el traspaso de Martín Cáceres al Barça (lavanguardia.es)
-Martín Cáceres at wikipedia.