Friends of Forza Futbol 6.30

On today's episode of Friends of Forza Futbol, we give a proper shout-out to all our friends who have been with us on the Forza Futbol Virtual Spanish Pub.

On the World Stage: 

• If you are looking for some great candid pics and great coverage of the Copa America, step on by Futbolita where our friend Ash has some very interesting shots of Mano's boys. You can see Robinho clowning around, Lucas Leiva on a horse (He's on a horse!) and Alexandre Pato clapping at Thiago Silva. Boy, he's special. 
• Over at Global Footbal Today, Alicia writes about the inflated worth of English Premier League players and why that came about. Some interesting points, especially about the effect that the Big 4 clubs in England have on pushing fees and salaries in England, and therefore effecting every other league in Europe, Neat domino effect. 
• Over at La Celeste Blog, the preparations for Uruguay's Copa America is covered. Just a note, La Celeste is one of the best blogs on Uruguay and its players; no better site to follow la celeste.
• At Vaishali's Blog, she reviews the last bits of the season, she mentions her television and radio work, and she puts us right there on her blog. She mentions her appearance on our show. Nice.

In Spain 

• At Glasgow Sports Analyst, our friend Kieran writes about Spain and their addiction to winning. How much has changed for La Roja in just three years. Perennial underachievers for many, many years, they changed their approach and are now winners up and down.
• For anyone looking for the best coverage of La Liga Adelante, our friend and colleague Arch Bell writes a column about Segunda for our sister site La Liga Weekly. For his year end Segunda Awards, try this link.
• At Spanishfootball.info, our friend Gary from MadridAtleticos writes an in depth look at David DeGea as he signs for Manchester United. The Cat in the Hat, as we call him here, will be a great addition at Old Trafford. 
• Just to give a little more traffic Gary's way, try that MadridAtleticos link if you want to read coverage of the restructuring of Atletico Madrid and a very good interview with Gil Marin from ElMundoDeportivo.
• As for news sites, there is no better site on Los Che, Valencia CF than our friend Kyle's Locos 4 Los Che site. For the latest transfer news and contract talks from Mestalla, turn your browsers here.
• Last but not least this week, is from one of our favorite blogs: Oooh Betis! from our favorite pepino Adam Boyle. Read Tap Dancing, about the headline that Sevilla's Sports Daily Estadio Deportivo wrote about the tap-water being shut off at Er Beti (i.e. no more signings until players can be sold). Fun stuff from Joe Meemo.

Barcelona Bulletins 6.27

Sport.es
Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas: Cesc is Here: On Vacation: He arrived yesterday in Barcelona and he does not expect to return to London. Cesc Fabregas arrived yesterday evening to spend part of his vacation with family and with the objective to sign with Barca. 35 million: Arsenal has put a price on him and it looks good to Wenger. Thiago Alcántara: ¨I don´t want to leave. I want to triumph with Barca.¨ The club hopeful that the club does not include him in any operation. Alexis: Manchester City offer 43 million euros. The English club pressure Udinese to sell them the forward.
Reaction: If Barcelona gets Cesc, loses Aléxis Sanchez and promotes two of their canteranos like Thiago and Jeffren instead, isn´t that a step forward, even in this media-driven transfer window? I think so. I still like Giuseppe Rossi more than Sanchez.

ElMundoDeportivo.es
Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas: Cesc arrives to stay: Cesc arrived yesterday in Barcelona to wait for an accord between Barca and Arsenal. Key Week: the supporters have backed Thiago after the U-21 Euros, they´ve have rejected Aléxis, and Bojan should ratify his exit.

Reaction: new format here. I decided to split the posts in the Summer. So you´ll get two for the price of one on Mondays. What do I think? I don´t see the need to bring in Sanchez, a starter for Udinese and a diva to a certain extent despite what people say that he´s like off the pitch, on the pitch he´s the sort of player that usually does not do well in a possession game that involves everyone. He´d do well in a more direct system. I like Rossi, but he replicates some of what Cesc does when he plays off the striker and clogs the middle. If you ask me, they should concentrate on Juan Mata who is already familiar playing in the system and is comfortable linking with Villa, Iniesta and Xavi.

Morning Papers 6.21

As.com
Real Madrid: Neymar: Santos Now has Madrid´s Offer: Luis Álvaro de Oliveira, the club´s President:¨After the Copa Libertadores, if anyone wants to talk with Neymar, they can do it then.¨ Cristiano: ¨We´ll take Barca off their perch this year¨ Barcelona: Barca offer 27 million plus a player for Alexis. President Pozzo says though, that he´s worth 50. League: The LFP wants the club´s books opened in execution of the financial fairplay rules that UEFA are implementing in 2014.
Reaction: One point at a time. Barcelona+Udinese. It´s a negotiation. They´ll settle. Alexis wants Barcelona. Pozzo wants his value. Neymar may well become a great player, the next Messi if that´s what he´s being billed as, but right now (to me) he´s no better than Robinho was coming out of Santos in 2005. `Binho was the next Pele, remember? He´ll have a lot to learn and, much like Canales, he´s far from being the sort of player that Mourinho likes. He already has one flashy player who rarely tracks back. As for what Cristiano said, it´ll take more than Nuri Sahin and Fabio Coentrao to knock Barcelona off their perch. They´re getting better too.

Marca.com

League: Bankruptcy: Football Crumbles: 21 clubs have attached themselves to the Ley Concursal. A strike, is a real threat. Real Madrid: Adidas also wants Kun Aguero at Madrid. The President of Santos:¨After the Copa Libertadores, if anyone wants to talk with Neymar, they can do it then.¨Atletico Madrid: Manzano insists that Negredo is his preferred number 9.
Reaction: Backwards this time. Three reasons for Manzano: Negredo might be your ¨9¨, but the boy wants to stay in Sevilla, he´s too expensive or at least Del Nido will value him that way, a quite frankly the third choice Gregorio. If you were Luis Enrique or Joaquin Caparros (and from what I´ve heard Caparros had the job for an hour or so until he backed down) then you might have had some sway. It doesn´t surprise me that Adidas wants Kun at Real Madrid. It´s not a secret that agents and shoe companies drive the market. Another thing that doesn´t surprise me is that football in Spain is in a financial crisis. What surprises me is that Marca is finally covering it like this with a headline.

Around La Liga 06.07

Valencian Community:
Valencia: ex-Real Madrid midfielder Dani Parejo is about to be signed straight-away from the grasp of Getafe Club Dubai. Fun to say that. Are they going to change the Burger King logo by the way?

Villarreal: In a weird bit of musical chairs, ex-Valencia keeper Cesar Sanchez has signed with Villareal as Almeria's former keeper Diego Alves is taking up Cesar's role with Los Che. Does this mean that Villarreal's keeper Diego Lopez will replace De Gea at Atleti with the youngster finally travelling to Man Utd.? I'm tired just typing that.

Levante: a local businessman, Eduardo Jarque, has come forward with a proposition, acting as a mediary with funding coming from "English money", to buy Levante for 70 million euros and eliminate the 68 million euros in debt that saddles the club. He even wants to compete for Europe and tried in vain to contact former coach Luis Garcia-Plaza from accepting his deal with Getafe Dubai Club. Love saying that. 

Andalusia: 
Real Betis: with Ghanaian keeper Razak Brimah not continuing with Real Betis, the club are studying an offer for either Fabri who is owned by Real Valladolid but is playing his time with Recreativo Huelva and/or Keylor Navas who plays for Albacete.

Sevilla: Marcelino Garcia Toral was publicly unveiled as Sevilla FC's new coach and offered these words, "We have a duty to fight for Champions League qualification and to get third place in the Liga. We have a real chance to do it and we are optimistic."

Malaga: Joaquin, Valencia's right winger, has one year left on his contract with Los Che who are baulking at extending his deal. Malaga are keen on signing him but are negotiating the 7 million euro price-tag. He would prefer to stay but would like a better deal this late in his career.

Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: with the former Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique formally accepting the AS Roma job in Italy, the lead candidate to walk the plank at the Vicente Calderon is not Athletic Bilbao's Joaquin Caparros, but former Sevilla and Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano. Manzano is a tough disciplinarian. I wonder who cracks first. This would be his secon term in charge at Atleti.

Real Madrid: how credible are the Kaka-maicon swap between los blancos and Inter Milan? At this part of the silly season nothing seems implausible. More likely is the Fabio Coentrao rumor from Benfica who are trying to inflate the transaction and Lassana Diarra stating the obvious that his future lies in England. A center-midfielder with few ball-skills and a penchant for dirty play? Perfect for the Premier League.

Getafe: Luis Garcia-Plaza is the hot-ticket item in La Liga. He took the lowest payroll into permanency for at least another year (the yo-yo is stalled) but now takes over at a club with a much higher payroll and higher profile. How successful will he be? He won't be able to hide any-more. His paymasters expect a spectacle now.

Rayo Vallecano: another Lass, this time promising striker Alhassane Bangoura Lass who plays for Rayo and made his debut for Jose Ramon Sandoval is in Real Madrid's sights, as he is for Udinese, Villarrealand Sevilla FC whose new coach Marcelino knows him very well as his son Sergio plays in the Rayo Vallecano youth team.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: the Jose Angel signing is officially dead. Barcelona have opted instead for negotiating with Jose Enrique of Newcastle Utd. if the Daily Mail are to be believed. In the end I still think the player makes it to the Camp Nou. Clubs are inflating prices to cheat Barca. As well they should, but in the end when the transfer window looms I think they'll settle.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: the club have asked the regional government in Cantabria and their previous ownership group to step in if current head Ahsan Aly-Syed of WGA does not meet his financial commitments (13.5 million euros owed to players and a tax debt of 9 milllion euros). Racing are unable to take legal action against Ali. We've said it here before. This is no surprise.


Pais Vasco: 
Athletic Bilbao: if Caparros does leave Athletic, either to the unlikely choice of Atleti or to some other club willing to spring for such a higher rated coach, the Daily Mail in England have tipped Wigan coach Roberto Martinez to take over. If that isn't strange enough for you, former Barcelona forward Sparky Hughes who left Fulham FC in a tizzy would be the next likely candidate. Enough Premier League nonsense for you?

Real Sociedad:with French boss Philippe Montanier arriving at Anoeta, rumors are flying that David Trezeguet and former txuri-urdin midfilder Nihat Kahveci are likely to sign.

Navarra:
Osasuna: former Espanyol and most recently CD Tenerife defender Marc Bertran Vilanova has signed with Osasuna for three seasons.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: Mexican  coach Javier Aguirre is looking at bringing in countryman Efren Juarez. The little used Celtic midfielder is a full international and could land for around 3.5 million euros.

Catalunya:
Barcelona: the rich get richer. The club have apparently come to terms with highly touted forward Chilean Alexis Sanchez for around 3 million euros. His current club Udinese have not yet agreed to the deal but it is looking more and a fait-accompli.

Espanyol: President Daniel Sánchez Llibre has stated that as of July 2nd, he will be stepping down. Vice-President Ramon Condal looks the likely candidate to take over.


Mallorca:  
Real Mallorca: Valencia coach Unai Emery has stated he needs a central defender and a left-back. Mallorca players Ivan Ramis and Gonzalo Castro are in the mix.

Around La Liga 5.31

Valencian Community: 
Valencia: Vicente Guaita has extended his contract with the club until 2016. Whether that means that he will be a starter or will continue to backup Cesar for one more year is still to be determined.

Villarreal: Signed for 7 million euros from FC Twente in Holland last summer, the yellow submarine are interested in Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic from Werder Bremen. The troubled player has been in the news for brawling in public, criticizing the Bundesliga club openly and by claiming in an interview that he could love no woman in the world more than he loves football. Step aside Balotelli, we have a new winner.

Levante: coach Luis Garcia is trying desperately to get out of his contract with Levante, as newly rich Getafe Dubai Club have offered him a contract.

Andalusia: 

Real Betis: coach Pepe Mel has signed a three year contract extension with the club until the 2013-2014 season.
Sevilla: Racing coach Marcelino Garcia Toral has emerged as the number one candidate for the vacant Sevilla FC position. An offer is on the table, now the ball is in Racing´s court if they are going to retain the Asturian´s services.

Malaga: the club have apparently offered 35 million euros to sign Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore. Signing the Argentine ahead of every other one of his suitors would be a coup for the club´s Arab owners.



Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: It might be the dysfunctional management structure or the fact that he is a life-long madridista but Rafa Benitez has turned down the offer to become the next Atletico Madrid coach in wait for a better opportunity in England. Former colchonero icon Diego ¨El Cholo¨ Simeone is apparently still in the running as is Gregorio Manzano lately of Sevilla.

Real Madrid: there will be no move for Sergio ¨El Kun¨ Agüero. Atleti have remained firm in their desire not to sell to their rivals. It is doubtful that this is a Mourinho move as he has been adamant that he would like fellow countryman Fabio Coentrao in his defense.
Getafe: Michel will not continue as Getafe coach. The split is apparently amicable. Now the search for his replacement continues. Luis Garcia of Valencia is front-runner.
Rayo Vallecano: the community of Madrid have come out en-masse in support of Rayo Vallecano for their success in returning to the first division. An homage was given today, Tuesday, by the mayor and a group of city functionaries.

Galicia:
Deportivo La Coruna: replacing Miguel Angel Lotina will be Jose Luis Oltra, one of the only coaches with a worse record last season than Lotina.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: negotiations between Sporting and FC Barcelona for  Sporting left-back Jose Angel have broken down completely apparently because negotiations were leaked to the press.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: with Marcelino headed for Sevilla on a one-year contract, former Hercules coach Esteban Vigo looks likely to spurn offers from Almería and Xerez and stay in the first division with Racing as his replacement.

Basque Country: 
Athletic Bilbao:  Presidential elections are crazy, but challenger Josu Urrutia does not count on Joaquín Caparros as his coach. Instead he has four names to sit on the bench at San Mamés: Andre Villas-Boas of Porto, Marseilles coach Didier Deschamps and former Barcelona coaches Frank Rijkaard and Louis Van Gaal.
Real Sociedad: Valenciennes coach Philippe Montanier has been offered the role to become the next coach at Anoeta and replace fired Uruguayan coach Martin Lasarte.

Navarra:
Osasuna: the Iranian duo of Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei will continue at the Reyno de Navarra stadium.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: coach Javier Aguirre has signed a contract extension with Real Zaragoza until 2012 with an option year on top.

Catalunya:
Barcelona: Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi and his agent are negotiating with the blaugrana, and his price-tag apparently is in the 20-30 million euro range. Pep Guardiola is still pushing for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas but the price-tag is too high.

Espanyol: AC Milan are apparently sending defender Didac Vilá. Fulham have offered a 10.5 million pound offer for striker Pablo Osvaldo which has been rejected. Espanyol want 17 million for the Italo-Argentine.

Mallorca:
Mallorca:  Cameroon striker Pierre Webo is likely to join a club in England, with West Brom, Newcastle and Sunderland as likely candidates.

Pics of the Day: La Liga

The new Olympic Stadium, the future new home of Atletico Madrid. My favorite part? I love how the arrows tell you where to park your car. Hospitality is in the details my friend.

Real Betis chairman Bela Lugosi er Manuel Ruiz de Lopera is said to have used the club for his personal gain. From the very beginning? Wow. The Spanish courts sure are good.

Racing captain Pedro Munitis will try his luck in training for the decisive match against Sporting despite the fact that he has one leg.

Gossip And Rumors

Laurent Blanc to Juventus? Other rumors are Antonio Conte or Ciro Ferrara. -Calcio Mercato

Geona have signed Crespo and Quaresma is close to signing for Geona as well. -Calcio Mercato

Roma is ready for a take over. -Calcio Mercato

Ezequiel Lavezzi may leave Napoli. -Channel4

Martin Jorgensen Renews Contract With Fiorentina -Goal.com

La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that Leonardo will be presented as the new manager of Milan. -La Gazzetta dello Sport