First Roma signs Barcelona B coach, Luis Enrique, as their new boss and it looks like 20 year-old striker Bojan is next to sign with the Italian side on a five-year deal.

While Barcelona says no agreement has been reached yet, they have stated that there is indeed a chance Bojan will depart from Camp Nou.

“We have received an offer but it is still being studied and evaluated,” Barca’s board spokesman, Toni Freixa, told the club’s official website.

“Obviously, if we were prepared to receive this offer and consider it, it is because there is a possibility we could go through with it.”

Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini, on the other hand says that the deal is set in place to be signed.

“The negotiations are going well and we hope to conclude the deal soon,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We reached an agreement with Barcelona and with the player last night.”

Bojan has climbed his way through Barcelona’s youth academy, but has seen limited time on the pitch due to the number of attacking options Barca has.

Currently, Bojan is on duty with the Spanish national team at the European U-21 Championship in Denmark.

Source, Image Source

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has welcomed back his playmaker, Kaka, who has been sidelined following knee surgery.

Mourinho also touched on the disappointing end to hit-man Gonzalo Higuain’s season, who is set to undergo surgery.

“Against Getafe, Kaka will not be a starter,” the ‘Special One’ affirmed in a pre-match press conference. “For the moment, I will give him 15-20 minutes.

“He is a fantastic professional, who has worked incredibly hard with a trainer who has been close to him throughout the journey. When he returns, we will welcome him.

“There is no doubt Gonzalo will need to be operated. Some people had spoken about a recovery without surgery. Now, he has changed his mind and he will need to undergo an operation.

“It is a shame because Higuain is a fantastic person and we will lose him for the remainder of the season.

“Kaka was missing from our side for six months, and we were able to create a certain squad. Now, we must create another minus Higuain. The formation must adapt to the circumstances, and we must create an equilibrium knowing that we have many matches still to play.

“Certain players will need to provide cover in roles that are not their own, with another system of playing. For me, it is a new challenge with little time to teach it.

“Between now and our match in Lyon [against Lyon in the Champions League Round of 16], we will play 14 times,” he concluded.

Source, Image Source

However he’s never had any shortage of interest around Europe, we’re surprised it’s taken this long for something a little more concrete to be mentioned.

Mourinho has reportedly informed the 29-year-old he can leave in the transfer window and a clutch of clubs are chasing the former Lyon ace.

Liverpool were mentioned as suitors back in the summer, but January is thought to allow Aston Villa and Everton to jump the line. The Villa boss is allowing Steve Sidwell to sign for West Ham United and also worked with him in Lyon. As for Everton, cash is a little tight but they are in desperate need of a ball winning midfielder to add some competition and cover.

It’s also thought that Turkish rivals Besiktas and Galatasaray could be sniffing around for his services.

He should prove to be a bargain, and would jump at the chance for first team opportunities.

Source, Image Source.

Arsenal’s Carlos Vela just may have one foot out the door and headed in the direction of La Liga at the end of the season.

It appears as though Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is ready to let go of Vela, who ha struggled to find his groove in the Premier League.  With Valencia showing interest, Spanish football is likely on the horizon for the 21 year-old Mexico international.

There had been rumors of Vela moving to Espanyol, however, sporting director Ramon Planes ruled his club out of the running yesterday.

Valencia’s budget to begin rebuilding the club clearly allows them to work with Arsenal, who are looking to get around €7 million for Vela.

Source, Image Source

Giuseppe Rossi’s agent has revealed that unless a big-time offer comes in, the Villarreal striker is set to stay put.

Since summer, there has been rumor that the 23 year-old hit-man would return to his adopted country of Italy.  However, Rossi’s agent, Silvio Pastorello, says the only way his client will make a move to the Serie A is for some big-time money.

“We are currently working on a contract renewal with Villarreal,” Pastorello revealed to Radio Sei. “His return to Italy will be difficult unless one of the big Italian sides are prepared to spend the money for one of the best Italian players.”

During the summer of 2009, there was chatter linking Rossi to Juventus.  Obviously, there is no word yet of a big spend coming Rossi’s way.

Currently, Villarreal sit in third place in the La Liga standings with 33 points.

Source, Image Source

Sheikh Al-Thani bought the Primera Liga outfit in the summer and he is now showing he is keen to invest and provide new coach Manuel Pellegrini with the players he wants.

Board member Jose Carlos Perez, a close aide of the owner, confirmed the deal is in place, saying that Baptista has agreed on a deal until 2013, ”He has signed for two-and-a-half years and the transfer is €2million with Roma.”

He will be officially unveiled on January 1st along with Martin Demichelis from Bayern Munich, also Atletico Madrid duo Ignacio Camacho and Sergio Asenjo will be making the move.

Source, Image Source.

Good news, Inter supporters… at least for now. According to Maicon’s agent, Inter Milan’s star right back is not leaving the club in the January transfer window.

As of late, there has been a lot of chatter from both the Spanish and Italian press linking the Brazilian international to La Liga’s Real Madrid.

Despite Madrid boss Jose Mourinho’s interest in reuniting with Maicon, his agent Antonio Caliendo says the 29 year-old defender isn’t going anywhere.  However, it has been reported that Maicon is just as interested as Mourinho to ink a deal.

“You can never say anything with absolute certainty, but it seems difficult to me that a player of this level can change teams in the January transfer window,” Caliendo told Marca. “To buy a player of this class you need very well planned negotiations.

“Cases like that of Ronaldinho are very rare. He wants to leave to be able to play. Only in special cases like this can everything be resolved in little time.”

Perhaps, the addition of Brazilian Leonardo as Inter’s new manager will help provide Maicon with a brighter future in Milan.

Source, Image Source

Madrid are thought to be wanting to recoup around 8 million for the centre back, which could spark a bidding war between Liverpool and Arsenal. Both are extremely short of centre back cove and Liverpool has been credited with a link with him before when Rafa Benitez was still in charge.

The defender is a proper ball playing stopper and could be well suited to the Premiership.

Source, Image Source.

After some time off due to injury, Brail international Kaka is back in training and looking forward to his days at Real Madrid.

On los Merengues’ official website, Kaka said: “I am fine here and I’m not thinking of leaving the club.”

Kaka has revealed that a goal to play in Real Madrid’s first match of 2011 against los Azulones is indeed possible.

Mourinho is set on getting his star playmaker back into form.  Since returning to practice, Kaka has been training with the club in an attempt to get him back to his normal form.

Currently, the second leg of the Copa del Rey where Madrid will face Levante is Kaka’s scheduled return date.

Source, Image Source

Mourinho said of the situation as his ‘greatest frustration of 2010.’ 

“I believe that I will never coach a national team because it’s a question of mentality, of personality,” Mourinho told the Portuguese media.

“I am a coach who works every day, is ready to play three times a week if necessary. But at that moment, I was motivated to do it.”

While we feel he could do a really good job with the players at his disposal, the weekly press conferences would be missed. Without doubt, Mourinho will go down as one of football’s true legendary coaches.

Source, Image Source.