Barcelona close on David Villa & Fabregas

[Helios Creed]

anyone believe we did have a deal in place to buy him a while back,(presumably for £20-25m) which Parry screwed up and then bought Keane in a panic, thus pissing Rafa off, as reported at the time?

[dww]

anyone believe we did have a deal in place to buy him a while back,(presumably for £20-25m) which Parry screwed up and then bought Keane in a panic, thus pissing Rafa off, as reported at the time?

It seems unlikely given Villa's statements indicating he wanted to stay in Spain. I think if we did have a deal for a Valencia player it would have been more likely to be Silva.

[dom9]

Or did he mean Ibrahimovic?

[Baracus]

http://www.marca.com/debate/2010/05/...ciones929.html

Best Barca Player this year

Barca need better more defenders.

[Shaggy]

LMAO! Chygrinski!

[Broner]

Despite the arrival of Villa, i reckon Ibrahimovic will stick it out another year there.

Aslong as they stay clear of Torres, eh.

[Helios Creed]

Or did he mean Ibrahimovic?

No, the source said Villa and he'd been reliable in the past.

I'd love to know if it was true. What a cock-up that would be.

[dww]

Interesting article about Barca's tactics this year here: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/05/...ics/#more-2994

I wonder what changes the new recruits will bring to the pattern of their play.

[pondus]

Zlatan to Arsenal as part of the Fabregas deal surely?

[MrMichael]

anyone believe we did have a deal in place to buy him a while back,(presumably for £20-25m) which Parry screwed up and then bought Keane in a panic, thus pissing Rafa off, as reported at the time?

Personally I think that was just another unprovable internet rumour that sounded more credible than most as it played on a number of our existing prejudices; Parry being a clown, Rafa wanting tables but getting bought lampshades, the length of Keane's stay etc.

Myself I'm not sure I buy it.

[Bender]

David Villa deal done £34.2 million and there also linked with a £70million deal for Torres

[Shaggy]

[Roboklopp]

MAte posted a YouTube link to that Zlatan song on me facebook last night...

[Bender]

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of David Villa after the striker passed a medical at the Nou Camp on Friday.
The Spain star has signed a four-year deal after the Catalan side agreed a £34.2m fee with former club Valencia.
The 28-year-old is Barcelona's first summer capture, with Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas also said to be a target.
"Anybody would be happy to come to a club like this - as everybody says, this is the best team in the world," Villa told Barcelona's website.
"I'm very happy and proud to be here."
Barcelona also have the option of extending Villa's contract by another 12 months as well as negotiating a huge buyout clause of 200m Euros (£174.39m).
The man from Asturias, in the north of Spain, is a regular in his country's first team and will be highly fancied to make a big impact at the World Cup.

I want everyone to know that it has been a great source of pride for me to wear this shirt
David Villa on his five seasons at Valencia
He scored 107 goals in 166 league matches for Valencia, earning his reputation as one of the deadliest strikers in the world.

[Vermilion]

Personally I think that was just another unprovable internet rumour that sounded more credible than most as it played on a number of our existing prejudices; Parry being a clown, Rafa wanting tables but getting bought lampshades, the length of Keane's stay etc.

Myself I'm not sure I buy it.

Parry impressions now too...