FC Barcelona defender and Brazilian international Dani Alves (26) is on the verge of receiving a medical clearance. The marauding right back recently gave an interview to catalan sports paper Sport. These are some excerpts:

Has the team let their guard down?

We are on the right path. Maintaining the level that we had achieved was difficult and it’s better that this slump has happened now than at the end of the season. It’s tough, but better now.

Does the current Madrid team motivate you more?

We motivate ourselves. We are competing in some very tough competitions and we always have to be at a high level. Real Madrid isn’t important to us.

The final in the Bernabeu isn’t important either?

After having won the Champions, you have to have some extra motivation to win it again. It’s more difficult than normal to win it again. It’s true that playing the final in the Bernabeu gives us extra motivation.

Would winning this year’s Champions in Madrid be the cherry on top?

It’d be very nice, one of the principal objectives, especially for the cules. We’re very motivated. We’ve won finals in Rome and Paris and now want to win in Madrid. Hopefully our luck will continue.

Is this Barca helping to bury the troubled past of the club?

In life, everything is possible. You only need to believe in yourself and do what is necessary to achieve it. I’m very happy that people have changed their way of thinking and behaving. Things are much better that way.

How have you been able to change things in just a year and a half?

By working hard, doing things well and trying to always improve. People aren’t naive. They see everything and even though people were scared when I said that they wouldn’t see the best version of me, I was able to become better by working hard.

Are you a better player now than in Sevilla?

I always say that in Sevilla I played without a clear position, even though I was a right back I didn’t have a specific role. Here, I’ve got a specific task and that gives me more energy to play to the best of my ability. In Sevilla, I had to do so many things that I lacked in certain areas. I’ve found equilibrium here. I hope to be able to enjoy that for a long time. Having the teammates that I have here in Barca is the best thing that could have happened to me. It’s a privilege and I want to take advantage of it for as long as possible.

How would you react if Txiki called you improve your contract?

I’d love it. They know that my family and I are happy here. I’ll do everything I can so that I am here for a long time. My first option will always be Barca.

Do you think you should get a better contract since many others have?

It’s not something that worries me. I’ve signed a contract and I’ll see it out as long as they let me. I’m very happy in Barcelona. Those that matter most are happy here too: my children, my wife..everything else is secondary, knowing that I have a contract, if they think I have deserved a better contract, I’m here to talk. I don’t want to demand anything because I’ve got a current contract and am happy. It’d be different if they came to me. As long as they want me, my first option is Barca.

Do you hope to have a long career in Barcelona?

Without a doubt. I’ve lived the happiest moments of my life here. I’ve won titles that unfortunately I wouldn’t have had the chance to win in Sevilla. I came to Barcelona during a rebuilding year. I’ve been a part of the new project and everything is going great. It’s very satisfying to know that you are a part of something that has changed the history of Barcelona.

You go against the idea that Brazilians reserve themselves for the World Cup.

I take my job seriously. It is like any other and I have to do my best every day.

FC Barcelona midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure (26) spoke at a press conference on Thursday about how extremely hard it is for the team to demonstrate the same form as last year.

“It’s much harder after winning six titles, we can’t make any mistakes any more. Everybody thinks we’re unbeatable, and that’s not true. We are human and teams are fired up when they play us”, said Toure.

“There are so many games, and after what happened last year, it’s not easy, there are difficult times in sport, and this is one of them. We don’t just have to think about beating Malaga and Stuttgart. We have to be at one hundred per cent and play easy, delicate football. But we are well prepared and focused on our objectives … however, both the League and Champions League are going to be very hard this time round”.

Speaking about Barca’s next challenge against Malaga, he said, “It will be difficult because they are a good team. We can’t waste this chance at home because we need three points to stay on top of the table.”

Toure also spoke about Dani Alves who is likely to return for the next game after missing three weeks through injury, “He is a very important player, a machine that is always ready to run. I hope he gets fit soon and to be able help us”. Thierry Henry got back to his goalscoring form against Racing and on him the Ivorian said, “He looks fine to me. He is a true professional, and is regaining confidence. He is working hard in training”.

Toure spoke in Catalan on Sunday, surprising many at the press conference, on which he said, “I am taking classes at home with my wife because it’s very important for me to be able to speak the language of the country”.

After the game in Stuttgart, Barça resumed training with 19 members of the first team and Marti Riverola of the youth team. Alves trained with the others, but Abidal and Keita worked out in isolation.

Because of the long journey back from Stuttgart, Barça could not train as programmed on Wednesday, but there was a session as usual on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

Alves on road to recovery

As on the day before the Champions League clash, Dani Alves trained at the same rhythm as his colleagues. The Brazilian has yet to get medical clearance, but seems to be well on the right track back from injury. He looked in good humour as the players went through the usual warm up drills.

Treatment for Abidal and Keita

The only absentees were Seydou Keita are Éric Abidal, who stayed in the gym for treatment. The Malian has been troubled with an ischiotibial injury since the game at the Calderón and the Frenchman damaged his thigh in Reus.

The team will train again on Friday morning at 11.00. The venue will be Sant Joan Despí, and the session will take place behind closed door. Afterwards, Pep Guardiola will be speaking to the press.

PIQUE 2015

The excellent center back will sign this noon his ampliated and improved new contract.

Gerard will enjoy a higher fee and a mega buyout clause.

Alves, here he comes! here he comes!

Feature MD: Sadurní – Valdés, they have the makings of cracks.

Basketball Barça qualifies instead of the champion in Athenas.

ALVES IS BACK

Barça needs him: 8 assists and 3 goals.

Pic: Dani dressed as a boxer in exclusive for Sport.

Piqué will sign today his renewal until 2015.

Basketball Barça makes a champion’s comeback. Panathinaikos 67 – 70 Barça.

FC Barcelona players defender Rafael Marquez (31) and midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos (19) have been convened by coach Javier Aguirre for Mexico’s friendly against New Zealand on March 3rd. Former Barcelona youngsters Giovani dos Santos (20) and Efrain Juarez (22) have also been called up.

Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre yesterday summoned nine Mexicans playing in Europe and nine players from the Mexican league, for the friendly against New Zealand in Pasadena (USA).

The friendly against New Zealand will be the second of four that Aguirre has scheduled to observe his players before finally revealing his squad for the World Cup. Mexico won the first friendly against Bolivia (5-0) and two other friendlies with North Korea and Iceland are still pending.

Mexico’s squad for the friendly against New Zealand:

Goalkeepers: Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara) and Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey).

Defenders: Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Carlos Salcido and Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Andres Guardado (Deportivo Coruna), Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona), Braulio Luna (San Luis).

Forwards: Aldo De Nigris (Monterrey), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray) and Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz).

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta will next week visit refugee camps in Rwanda which the club’s foundation and the UN have been financing for the past two years.

Laporta will visit the camps at Gihembe, Kiziba, Nyabiheke, which are home to a combined population of over 35,000 people, on Wednesday and Thursday, the European champions announced on their official website.

Barcelona said their charitable foundation had constructed sports facilities and care centres and helped train teachers at the camps.

“Laporta and his companions will be visiting camps hosting refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, created as a result of the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups”.

“When I was child I was a fan of Barcelona. I still like to watch their games.”

Mesut Ozil (21) ,Werder Bremen star and German international in an interview with UEFA answering the question “Who are your favourite team?“

The list of futbol draft awards 2010, for young Spanish players, has been revealed. 132 young players were selected for the award; Barcelona have 19 youngsters on the list. The list starts from a pool of 132 players, which is then drafted to 33, and then the best 3 players from each position are selected.

Defenders

The list didn’t include any Barcelona goalkeepers but constituted nine defenders. In the right back position there is Barca Atletic’s Martin Montoya (18) and Juvenil A’s Albert Dalmau (17), while for the left back position Juvenil A’s Carles Planas (18) was selected. For the right centre back position, Barca Atletic’s Marc Bartra (18) and Juvenil B’s Eduard Campabadal (16) were selected. For the left centre back position there was a place for Barca Atletic’s Marc Muniesa (17), Andreu Fontas (20), Juvenil B’s Sergio Ayala (16) and Barcelona loan-out player and Sporting Gijon defender Alberto Botia (21).

Midfielders

There were six Barcelona midfielders who made the list. For the defensive midfielder position, Barca Atletic’s Oriol Romeu (18) was the only player selected while Juvenil A’s Rafa Alcantara (16) and Sergi Roberto(17), and Cadet B’s Pol Calvet (15) were selected for the central midfielder position. Barca Atletic’s Thiago Alcantara (18) and Juvenil A’s Javier Espinosa (17) were the Barcelona players chosen for the attacking midfield position.

Forwards

Four Barcelona players were selected for the forward positions. Juvenil A’s Adria Carmona (17) and Juvenil B’s Gerard Deulofeu (16) were selected for the wing positions. The First team’s Bojan Krkic (19) and Juvenil A’s Ruben Rochina(18) were selected for the centre forward position.

Apart from Barcelona’s nominees, there are many other high-profile names such as Sergio Asenjo (20), David De Gea (19), Sergio Canales (18), Cesar Azpilicueta (20). Former Barcelona academy graduates Arsenal’s Fran Merida (20), Liverpool’s Daniel Pacheco (19), and Juventus’ Iago Falque (19) were also selected.

Last year Barca Atletic’s Marc Muniesa was chosen as the best central defender, Bojan Krkic for the CF position, while Sergio Busquets was selected for the right central midfield position. Many superstars like Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas have won this award before.

The Fútbol Draft trophies are the most prestigious Spanish awards for youth players between 16 and 21 years old. Juvenil B youngster Gerard Deulofeu is the youngest player on the list.

FC Barcelona central defender and Spanish international, Gerard Pique (23), announced today that he will sign a new contract with the team that will make him a Barcelona player until 2015. All major Spanish and Catalan news outlets are reporting that Pique will sign the new contract this Friday.

The five year contract extension, which will last until June 2015, will see Pique break into a new salary bracket; his buy-out clause will also be increased to nearly 100 million Euros. Pique’s previous contract was set to expire on 2012.

Pique rose through the ranks of the Barcelona youth system, but opted in 2004 to join Manchester United. After 4 years in England, he returned to Barcelona in 2008, and has been a pivotal member of the first team ever since. In total, 10 player contracts have been renegotiated this season, with Pique joining Touré Yaya, Valdés, Pedro, Messi, Puyol, Abidal, Iniesta, Márquez, and Jeffren with new deals.

Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, 22, has recognised the achievements of his club’s greatest rivals FC Barcelona. Interviewed for TV show Intereconomia, the Argentina international revealed his thoughts on who exactly is the best team in the world right now.

“Currently Barca is the best team in the world. Even though Real Madrid is the best team in history, Barcelona is currently the best in the world, much as I regret to say it.”

He went on to reveal which player he believes to be the best in the world at the moment, with his Argentina teammate earning the praises of Madrid’s current leading goal-scorer. “People like who they like but for me Messi, like it or not, is the best in the world. He won the Golden Ball award, and the best player award from FIFA so right now he is the best player in the world.”

Despite such high praise for the team from Catalunya and its leading star Higuain did state that Madrid’s squad is “spectacular,” and he hopes “to finish the season with titles still at stake.”

Real Madrid forward and Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo (25) doesn’t rate Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi (22) among the current top 3 football players on the planet.

Leo helped Barcelona to achieve a treble last season and besides the team’s success the Argentine international collected some of the most prestigious individual awards such as the Golden Ball and the FIFA World Player.

“Kaka, Rooney and Drogba are the best players in the world,” said Ronaldo for Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

Instead of acknowledging Messi’s indisputable talent, Ronaldo didn’t hesitate to praise the qualities of Messi’s teammate and Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (28) by saying : “Ibra is fantastic and is doing well at Barca. It is good for the League to have a player like him.”

According to Spanish tabloid El Mundo Deportivo , the football coach of France’s national team, Raymond Domenech (58), picked Barcelona striker and French international Thierry Henry (32) for the friendly game against Spain, despite his lack of playing time this season.

The clash against the current champions of Europe will take place next Wednesday, March 3 in Saint-Denis. “Titi” is one of the 3 players who made the list from the Primera Division. The other two are Sevilla defender Julien Escude (30) and midfielder Lassana Diarra (24) from Real Madrid. Barcelona left back Eric Abidal (30) and Karim Benzema (22) are left out due to injuries.

The complete French squad for the friendly against Spain :

Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille)

Defenders: Aly Cissokho (Olympique Lyon), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Julien Escude (Sevilla), Rod Fanni (Stade Rennes), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Olympique Lyon), Michael Ciani (Girondins Bordeaux) and Adil Rami (Lille)

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Yoann Gourcuff (Girondins Bordeaux), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon) and Benoît Cheyrou (Olympique Marseille)

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Loic Remy (Nice), Hatem Ben Arfa (Olympique Marseille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) and Louis Saha (Everton).

FC Barcelona loan out and VfB Stuttgart player Alexander Hleb (28), looks unhappy at his current team and has reportedly asked Stuttgart manager Christian Gross for more playing time.

Gross said during an interview with German sports site ‘Spox’, “You have to keep in mind I am looking at a player also with regard to the statistics and how much efficiency a player is giving to the team, and looking at things from these points of view I have to admit that Zdravko Kuzmanovic has given more to the team than Alexander has in the short spell I have been manager of this club.”

“He is an attacking midfielder and has one goal and one assist to his name,” added Gross explaining the reasons behind not giving Hleb more minutes.

Gross insisted though that he will give Hleb more playing time in the future, “This is relatively little. I am going to play him a full match if I am fully happy with his work-rate, his willingness to help the team in defensive situations and if he creates no unforced balls then he will play 90 minutes for sure.”

Alexander Hleb, whose loan deal with Stuttgart ends in June 2010, has a contact with Barcelona until 2012 and it is not yet clear whether he will return to Barcelona or not, with some rumors claiming that Barcelona want €10 million for the Belarusian international.

Catalan sports paper ‘Sport’ report that Sevilla FC winger and Spanish international Jesus Navas (24) is in the radar of European Champions FC Barcelona. Navas, who has become a top level footballer for all purposes, is reportedly attracting interest from some of the best clubs in Europe.

Jesus Navas, who has an existing contract with Sevilla until 30 June 2012, is a youth product of Sevilla’s academy and has been with the club since he was 15.

Navas has apparently impressed the Barca staff with his undeniable class, privileged physique, generosity in the effort, his ability to provide assists and his eye for goal, all of which have recently earned him a place in the Spanish national team.

Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido insists Navas is priceless and that he is not for sale, but Sport suggest that Del Nido knows his words are carried by the wind, as he had previously said the same for Reyes, Baptista, Sergio Ramos, Alves, Keita and Poulsen, etc.

Navas is said to be a versatile option for both the wings as well as the attacking midfield positions and is apparently seen as a great investment for the future. Real Madrid are also said to be interested in the winger. The transfer fee is expected to be around €35-40 million. Bahia is currently the agent of Jesus Navas.

FC Barcelona defender and Argentine international Gabriel Milito (29) recently gave an interview with Catalan sports paper ‘Sport’. Some excerpts:

Q : After a season and a half of missing the Champions League you finally returned. What do you remember about the game against Manchester United?

That it was a very important game, a semi-final, the first that I had played, a difficult match and an amazing environment. Now that I think about it, I remember being happy before the game but not so much afterwards.

Q: Did you realize immediately that you had such a devastating injury?

No. I didn’t think it was that bad at first. It felt strange but not until the end of the game. It was the next day, I think, that I realized it was something bad.

Q : During that time, what did you learn as a player and as a person?

That when you follow a dream, anything is possible. It was a difficult year and a half, full of complications. I never thought something like that would happen to me but it did. I always kept the hope of returning alive and I had the confidence and faith that it would happen.

Q : Since returning, have you noticed that the forwards have lost respect and try to do things that they wouldn’t dare try before?

I haven’t noticed but I’m prepared for whatever might be required.

Q : Do you demand more of yourself now than before to demonstrate that you’re ready to play?

Look, the difference is that now I’ve regained the old feeling of playing football and I look at the games in a different way. I enjoy playing much more now.

Q : Do you find the small details to be more important?

Exactly. I love being able to once again enjoy the things that didn’t seem possible before. I enjoy them more because I’m conscious of what it has taken to get to where I am. Things that you only value when you’re suffering, because if not, you don’t value them as much.

Q : Give me an example.

I enjoy everything. From the moment I arrive at the stadium, from when I enter the locker room, the warm up, the pep talk, things that before seemed routine. Now it’s like I’m doing them for the first time.

Q : Traveling to Germany and hearing the Champions League song must have been exciting.

Definitely. I thought about everything. What it took me to return from injury, and the fact that I was already there.

Q : Have you had a teammate have something similar happen to him?

In Zaragoza there were two friends but they both retired. One was Cesar Lainez and the other was Cesar Jimenez, who was injured by Figo. The first didn’t have a good recovery and the second was told that recovery would be difficult. Luckily, my case was different.

Q : Did you think of them during your time away from football?

My operation went very well. What happened was that I had a nagging pain that wouldn’t go away.

Q : Does being an elite athlete who has been injured for a year and a half become unbearable?

I’m afraid so. It must have been unbearable, and even though one always wants to keep work and personal life separate, I live for football and I suffer when I miss even one game. Imagine what happened after not being able to play for such a long time.

[b]Q : And you didn’t try and find a new hobby? I don’t know, did you start sudoku, crossword puzzles…hmm, something to fill the time?

No, no no! There wasn’t time for that. I was concentrated on recovering. I tried so hard and when things don’t go your way it’s hard to think of other things. The only thing that I allowed to distract me was my family, my children and my wife. They were always with me, as well as my family in Argentina. I’ll never forget the support of the professionals, like the doctor Ramon Cugat, who assured me that I’d be able to play again and also the physical therapists Emili, Lorenzo, the doctor and physical therapist of the national team.

[b]Q : What did they tell you?

They kept telling me that as soon as they pain went away I’d be ready to play. The pain finally went away and now I am perfect. No matter how strong you try and be, the pain is there every day.

Q : Did you feel like your profession went from footballer to physical therapy patient?

Pretty much. Now I know a lot about musculature, the bones in the knee and other things. I know everything, you can ask me whatever you want. When you have a problem like that the only thing to do is to face it and come out ahead.

Q : Guardiola has said, that when he was injured, he tried to cross the street one day on a red light and when he wanted to run to get to the other side the knee responded. Did something like that happen to you?

Yeah, he told me that story. For so long it was hard to do normal activities but when I started to run, luckily, the pain stopped.

Q : Well, let’s talk about football and forget about the injury. Was losing to Atletico Madrid as bad as people made it seem?

Not at all. We’re happy with the team. Losing one game shouldn’t sound the alarms.

Q : Well how do you explain the people’s reaction after the loss?

It could be that we are used to winning. It’s good that we get mad when we lose because we are winners.

Q : Having Real Madrid right behind you, do you have the sensation that this will be decided at the end?

In Spain, there are some very good teams, but the most regular are Barcelona and Madrid. Madrid is a good team and won’t give up.

Q : You’ve worked with Menotti, do you think he’s similar to Pep?

They are very similar. With them you know you’ve got the coach’s support. That is fundamental.

Q : Do you think you are good at translating the coach’s ideas to the players?

I’m just one of the team and I don’t feel more important than others. Furthermore, I just started playing again.

Q : You’ve always been more of a leader than others, right?

It’s an advantage of the defenders and the goalkeeper, that we are able to position ourselves and help our teammates.