By Stephen Tizzard

Morocco News Tribune

Barcelona, Spain | Brazilian club Santos FC has asked for 50M euros for 55 percent of Neymar’s rights. This is what Globoesporte from Brazil assures us citing a source in the club: “If 50 Million euros is paid to us for our part, then an agreement is reached with the others, we can start to negotiate ” said the source said from Santos which is located in the Vila Belmironeighbourhood.

The remaining 40 percent belongs to DIS and 5 percent to a group of businessmen linked to el “Peixe”, the club’s nickname. Both have yet to put a price on the player but judging by the way Santos has assessed him, the final price would be around 95 Million euros.

While Odílio Rodrigues, vice president of Santos is in Madrid “for personal reasons” he has met up with both Barca president Sandro Rosell and emissaries from Real Madrid – with the whites being very interested in torpedoing any existing agreement between Santos and the Catalan club.

Santos say they have no interest in selling the player before the 2014 World Cup which is hosted on Brazilian soil and does not fear losing money from a possible move or for the titles that the club has reaped with Neymar or the increase in followers since he became the star of the Brazilian club.

However, Santos knows full well that Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior wants to leave in June and the apparent composure and filtration of prices and percentages by the club are just pure negotiation tactics.

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By Stephen Tizzard

Morocco News Tribune

Barcelona, Spain | Barcelona’s Cristian Tello is a highly coveted player who is on the radar of several European clubs who are realising his fantastic potential and excellent football and who only has a 10M euro clause.

Liverpool remains one of the keen favourites to acquire Tello’s services for next season.

The Anfield club tried to secure Tello last summer when it considered the possibility of the Catalan giants letting him go on a loan deal and the English club would have no problem at all paying 21 year old Cristian Tello’s buyout clause.

The player has no intention of moving from FC Barcelona and is waiting for the club to communicate their intentions.

If Isaac Cuencastays at Ajax of Amsterdam, then it looks highly probable that Cristian Tello will stay at Barcelona.

Tello is a young star who has come through the ranks and made the first team. Although not a regular first team player, Tito Vilanova knows just how valuable the young man is. He is only 21 years old and has lots to learn at Barcelona and it makes sense to keep him if Cuenca stays at Ajax as predicted.

On the other hand, there’s nothing like going abroad, whether on loan or transferred to learn your craft better. Tello would be a good asset to Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers knows it. Tello can play both as a forward and winger which is a real bonus for a club.

With Cristian Tello in the Liverpool squad to add youth, Rodgers can start the rebuilding of a great squad and put the Anfield team back on the map.

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By Stephen Tizzard

Morocco News Tribune

Barcelona, Spain |Barca defender Carles Puyol might be willing to leave FC Barcelona at the end of the season to join Italian giants AC Milan according to the Barcelona local TV station BTV on their football magazine La Porteria.

The Barca captain, currently recovering from a knee operation renewed his contract until 2016 just a few short months ago and always has always declared his undying love for both the club and its city, Barcelona.

Coincidentally, it was Paolo Maldini, Puyol’s idol who played for the Italian giants throughout his entire career. The Italian defender notched up an impressive 647 appearances for the club from 1985 – 2009.

According to the same program, Carles Puyol has also put his home in Barcelona up for sale.

How much Barca fans will read into this we do not know. But given Puyol’s age, he’s 35, he may be looking for a change of surroundings before he finally hangs up his boots.

Although it’s a noble thing to do and stay at the club you’ve been brought up in, I feel that a player needs to test himself in other leagues before throwing in the towel for good.

That’s why I have always taken my hat off to players like Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and Barca’s own Victor Valdés, who stated that he wanted to “experience new cultures”. I think that deep down every player worth his salt would love to try a different league, if only for personal growth as a professional footballer, Puyol is no different.

As with a lot of statements, it may be a false rumour but then again a lot of these rumours turn into solid truths.

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By Stephen Tizzard

Morocco News Tribune

Barcelona, Spain | Ex Barca coach Pep Guardiola received a diploma from the mayor of the City of Buenos Aires in Argentina as Distinguished Visitor” and a book about the Colón Theatre, which happens to be one of the most important opera houses in the world. Then he answered questions from some of the 120 children from three primary schools in Buenos Aires.

When asked if he will return to Barca, he replied, “My time at Barcelona is over. One is born; he grows up and becomes an adult. That’s it”.

Proud of what he lived through in Barcelona: “I have had a wonderful relationship with those I worked with”.

He spoke highly of the players at Barca: “The players who I coached love what they do. They have never lost the passion that they’ve had since childhood.”

The key to success at Barca: “Everything went well at Barca because I coached the most professional amateurs I have ever met”.

Pep Guardiola reflected: “You are where you are because you win with the big clubs. Otherwise you get a kicked out”.

He declined to talk about the German team Bayern Munich: “It would be wrong to talk about Bayern. When I’m there, I’ll start talking about it.”

He enjoys his work: “You become a coach because you think your teams can play well.”

Guardiola left the club at the right time: “When you make the decision to leave a club, it’s better than when the decision is taken for you. I was very happy at Barcelona.”

Speaking about Brazil 2014, Pep said: “Spain are favorites to win the World Cup.” And the rivals to beat are: “Germany and Brazil, although Argentina are also candidates.

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By Stephen Tizzard

Morocco News Tribune

Barcelona, Spain | Real Madrid went crashing out of the Champions League last night to German outfit Borussia Dortmund. Despite two late goals by the whites from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema, it wasn’t enough as they lost by 4-3 on aggregate.

The last 15 minutes of the game was frantic with Real Madrid pushed up high into the visitor’s half with just three defenders at the rear to fall back on. It was a brave effort but came far too late as Borussia gave another exhibition piece of football on how to suppress the Spanish team.

Jose Mourinho wasn’t pleased either with one of his favourite referees, Howard Webb. Webb failed to blow up for a handball by Mats Hummels on the edge of the box, opting to play the advantage which eventually came to nothing.

After the match, Mourinho spoke about the possibility of leaving Real madrid for West London club Chelsea:

He said: “It’s difficult to make a decision because I like this club.
“I like the president and we have built a team that is ready to do big things.
“I haven’t made a decision yet because I have a contract and I respect the club and the president.
“It’s why I want to win the Copa del Rey final and finish second in the league.
“I want to sit down with my president, my friend, and decide the best for me. At the end of the season I will speak.”

Tonight we have the other semi final between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich and if anyone can turn around a four goal deficit, it will be Barca, make no mistake.

Barca’s Dani Alves reckons that the Catalans have to be two goals up at half time to be within a chance of reaching the final.

Alves stated: “We must be 2-0 up at half-time, that’s a minimum requirement.
“We’ll give it everything. For us this match is like the final itself and we are obliged to give 200 percent.
“If we score quickly it will help us because that will get Bayern thinking and nerves could set in.
“We are a team that increases its level of performance in our very worst moments and now we need to be at our very best.
“Bayern might be a big team — but so are we. And if the Germans arrive here relaxed in any way at all that will be a big error. Now is the moment for revenge.”

Barca have Leo Messi who is 100% fit and up for this clash and if Barca ever needed a miracle from the little man, then tonight’s the night.

Barca know however that Bayern are a superb team and that they will have to throw everything at Bayern in order to be in the final. The match kicks off at 20:45 tonight at the Camp Nou and the atmosphere will be amazing. Expect to see one of the best matches this season tonight.

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