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Barça Interested In Livorno Keeper:

According to Catalan daily ‘Sport’, 24 year-old Livorno goalie Marco Amelia is being tracked by Barça with a view to a summer arrival at Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona had previously been linked with Ustari, but the Albiceleste is being held in check by current club Independiente as the Argentines look to bump up the price.  

Given the Saviola situation with a player who arrived for an over-inflated fee, Ustari has been put on hold and Amelia – also a reserve keeper at the recent World Cup – is now the target.  

The player’s agent admitted that he is aware that the player is being tracked, but not just by Barcelona as the Chés look to replace an ageing Cañizares.   

“We know that there are clubs that have been closely following Marco and have turned up to observe him, even in training, above all Barcelona and Valencia", explained Carlo Pallavicino.  

Amelia is a keeper who stands out for his sheer physical presence – he’s 1.90m tall and weighs 88kgs – and is having what’s considered his real breakthrough season to stardom.  

The player had previously represented Roma (2000/01 – part of the Scudetto-winning squad), Lecce (2003/04), Parma (2004) and current club Livorno (2001/03 & 2004-6) where he scored a memorable headed goal against Partizan.

Milan To Put Ronaldinho On Plastic?

It’s no secret that Berlusconi would love to see Ronaldinho in a Rossonero shirt, and the key to landing the stratospherically expensive Brazilian could be a credit card.

According to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ (The Sports Gazette) Silvio Berlusconi’s right-hand man Adriano Galliani let his plan slip during the launch of a new AC Milan credit card: Carta Viva Milan.

Galliani commented, with his habitual poker face firmly in place and peering over his rims, "with this card we can buy Ronaldinho, because the Mastercard network also exists in Spain, so we can pay in installments."

With various reporters wondering whether this was a sardonic aside on the recent storm of reports that Milan were going to shell out a fortune to Barcelona for the number 10, Galliani proceeded.

"We can really sign Ronaldinho – if the eight million Milan supporters sign up for and use this card."  Ronaldinho’s contractual rescission penalty is fixed at 125 million Euros – although this sum has a half life and will decay progressively as Dinho approaches 2010.

In the wake of the Calciopoli penalty and the recent trophy drought, Milan aren’t in a solid enough financial position (not to be confused with Berlusconi’s personal wealth) right now to commit to such a huge quantity – unless the fans essentially chip in by using the card.

It's an increasingly common fund-raising tactic that allows supporters to know that the exorbitant interest rates they pay will at least go towards their own clubs. The income from the new card is expected to enable Milan to go the extra financial mile and acquire otherwise unattainable targets.

In Barcelona the news was taken with a pinch of salt.  Club VP Ferran Soriano laughed off the suggestion that Ronaldinho could be ‘carded’ in such a way.  "It’s a joke – every month there’s something new about how somebody is going to snatch Ronaldinho away", he responded.

Marquez, Zambrotta, Deco Out Of Bilbao Clash, Eto'o Returns:

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has dropped Rafael Marquez following his poor display against Liverpool on Wednesday. However, Samuel Eto'o and Edmilson return to the squad for Sunday's game against Athletic Bilbao.

There have been a number of changes in the Barcelona squad following the Liverpool defeat, though Marquez is the only one left out as a result of a technical decision.

His header that went all of two yards, and straight onto Craig Bellamy's foot, seems to have earned him the chance to watch from the stands and reflect.

Deco and Zambrotta miss out due to suspension, while Juliano Belletti is injured.

Samuel Eto'o returns to the squad for the first time since refusing to come one against Racing Santander two weeks ago.

However, Saviola, Gudjohnsen and Ezquerro all remain in the squad. Midfielder Edmilson also returns after serving his time following his shocker against Valencia.

Barcelona rest Eto'o for King's Cup quarter-final

MADRID, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will be rested for Barcelona's King's Cup quarter-final, second leg against Real Zaragoza on Wednesday.

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"We have spoken with the medical staff and the player and we all agree it is best that he isn't included in the squad. It's a shame but that's the way it is," Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard told a news conference on Tuesday.

Barca trail the tie 1-0 from the home leg. Eto'o scored on Sunday in his first start with the side after four months out with a knee injury, in the 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. All three goals came in the first half and he was substituted in the 66th-minute, after having clearly lifted the side. Club doctors carried out tests on Eto'o's knee on Tuesday and said his recovery continued to be "positive" but warned against forcing the pace. The Primera Liga leaders visit second-placed Sevilla on Saturday, travel to face Liverpool in a Champions League clash on Tuesday, and then host arch-rivals Real Madrid the following weekend. Of Wednesday's other three matches only the Seville derby appears to be in the balance, after Sevilla and 2005 Cup winners Real Betis drew 0-0 at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Jan.31. Although Sevilla are second in the table, 20 points ahead of 14th-placed Betis, the city derby is a leveller as was proved in the league clash at Betis's Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium earlier this month, which also ended goalless. The possibilty of penalties looms large. Both sides have drawn three of the four league games since the first leg, without scoring. Sevilla will also have an eye on Saturday's top-of-the table clash with league leaders Barcelona. Second division leaders Valladolid, the only non-Primera Liga side left, have home advantage but a 4-1 deficit to work on against Deportivo Coruna. In-form Getafe, who knocked out Valencia in the previous round, travel to face a goal-shy Osasuna with a 3-0 first-leg lead.

Ronaldinho determined to shake off fat jibes

MADRID, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Ronaldinho has admitted he was keen to prove wrong critics who said he was overweight, after his side's 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Photos of the 26-year-old showing a roll of fat around his waistband after he had taken off his shirt at the end of Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Liverpool, have sparked a heated debate about the Brazilian's weight and form

Newspapers in both Madrid and Barcelona made comparisons about Ronaldinho's apparent loss of fitness by publishing photos of the forward taken in 2003 and 2004 in which he appeared to be leaner and more muscular. But having put on a scintillating display in the Nou Camp on Sunday, the Brazilian stripped to the waist at the end of the match and jokingly challenged pitchside photographers to snap him. 'I don't have anything to hide. I always change shirts with the other players,' Ronaldinho told reporters. 'Over the last week photos have come out insinuating I'm fat but I feel fine. I have always looked after myself and am in better shape then ever. With everything that has been said recently I was motivated to play even better.' In the first half against Bilbao, Ronaldinho was involved in the build up for the second goal, scored by Xavi, and set up returning Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o for the third. After the break, only the woodwork prevented Ronaldinho from adding to his 16 league goals this season. The photos of a shirtless Ronaldinho on the front of Monday's newspapers were more flattering.

RONALDHINO MORE LIKE 'LETS DRIVE A HINO' OR 'DRUNK ON VINO' HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS GET THE JOKE. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK?

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JESUS LOVES ME AND U IF U WANT HIM TO!
MAN U 4 EVER CHELSEA NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!

you should try stand-up comedy

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Marquez needs to know he's on probation after his performances in key games like Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool & Sevilla especially that costs Barcelona dearly in competitions.

If Barcelona get Xabi Alonso, Marquez may see some bench time increase. 

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JOGO BONITA!

Barca also have first refusal on Fabregas since he was brought into Arsenal from the Catalan youth system

If Fabregas chooses to go to Spain it's gonna be Barca not Real! But for now while he's at Arsenal for a few years so presently Xabi or De Rossi seem to be the best options. A good deep midfielder is all they need..Pirlo would be great but he wouldn't leave Milan.

If Barca had to have either Kaka or Ronaldinho in their team which one would work better?

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I don't think Barcelona  would be looking in Fabregas' way anytime soon, he wouldn't have gotten play then and he wouldn't get much play now...we have better players for what he does.  Deco, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Ronaldinho unless he wants to continue investing in bench time.

If Barca had to have either Kaka or Ronaldinho in their team which one would work better?

It is extremely hard to measure that especially since currently Ronaldinho has won World Player of the Year twice at Barca a Champions League and two la liga titles with one more on the way alongside the spanish cup ( Copa del rey) trophy.  At Ac Milan, Kaka lost the Champions League final after being 3-0 up against liverpool, no league titles, no italian cups...perhaps it is bad luck, but clearly even Ronaldinho's bad luck still have a very good chance of winning two trophies this season, while Milan most likely will not win anything.  Kaka plays very similar to Messi, so in more ways than one, it would take alot for Kaka to be more effective than Ronaldinho, especially as Ronaldinho sets up more goals for Messi, Eto'o, Guily etc than Kaka for Oliveira, Gilardino etc.

Another note, that gesture that Dunga is putting over is absolutely not funny.  First he gives Ronaldinho, some funny #20 or something and now the disillusioned #7 rather than the mythical#10 he so rightfully deserves and earned as shown playing for Barcelona.  Nobody except Brazil's rivals are smiling and not all either.

The best player to fill Barcelona's midfield talent is someone like Gattuso, Makelele, Viera - aka sort of proficient in defensive midfield duties similar to what Edgar Davids did the first season he came and left.

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JOGO BONITA!

Of course, Everyone knows that there is no shortage of talent at barca's disposal. But the problem is when they lost in europe, the rumours surrounding their players are higher than never before which menas atleast a couple of their stars are oughta leave at the end of this season.

Moreover, I don't think they will win the la liga either. The fight is on, I won't even be surprised if capello walks away with the trophy at the end. In this season, most of the barca players look a sort of tired / less moticated to my eyes.

Why do you think will at the end this season? What will be the effects of ronnie's departure to milan, if happens?

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But why, there are not many if any top clubs that do that nowadays...it isn't logical business especially since Barcelona won the Champions League with those stars last season.  And Deco, Eto'o, Messi and Ronaldinho where the pivotal factors.

Those players who teams can look forward to getting are outside those in case Barcelona look to improve their squad.  Marquez, Motta, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen, Saviola, Ezquerro, Belletti, Gio, Sylvinho - those are the core transferable players.

Fair enough as far as La Liga is concerned, all indications seem to point to Barcelona winning or coming second, which means, only one of Sevilla, Valencia and Real Madrid can take that spot since they all play each other, but I'd put my money on Barcelona taking the league by 5 points.  But no surprise if Capello wins, just a shame.

If Ronaldinho ends up at Ac Milan next season, put that same money on Christiano Ronaldo at Barcelona to compensate.

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JOGO BONITA!