Víctor Sánchez leaves Barça

C Barcelona and Víctor Sánchez have reached an agreement to rescind the player’s contract.

FC Barcelona retain the right to buy back the player until the winter transfer winter in 2012, as well as a percentage of any further transfer payment.

Víctor Sánchez played at Xerez two seasons ago, where he made 25 appearances and moved onto Getafe last year, where he played 27 games. Sanchez made 14 appearances with the first team in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons.

Zubi celebrates successful first 12 monthsZubi celebrates successful first 12 months

he Club’s Sporting Director of Professional Football, Andoni Zubzarreta can look back on his first year in the post with great satisfaction , with the 3 titles for the 1st team, a 3rd spot for the B team and a treble for the Youth team.

One of new President Sandro Rosell’s first decisions was to replace Txiki Begiristain with Andoni Zubizarreta and divide the football section into two parts: professional and academy. Zubi was to be the man in charge of the first team, B team and Youth teams, working hand in hand with Narcís Julià and Albert Valentín. The ex-Barça keeper, who recently renewed his contract until 2013 has worked with enthusiasm, commitment and discretion and enjoyed a year of great success.

New signings

Guardiola’s team had finished the 2009/10 season with four titles and really set the bar high. Small changes were needed and the squad remodelling was to be carried out with two main ideas: the economic conditions and the need for any new signings to easily adapt to Barça’s style of play.

Andoni Zubizarreta made his first move by bringing in two players - Adriano and Mascherano. Two versatile players who fit into the Barça philosophy, whilst Chygrinski , Ibrahimovic, Touré, Marquez and Henry all moved on.

Contract renewals

Once the season had begun, it was time to renew the contracts of the backbone of the team which was making history and one by one, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Seidou Keita, José Manuel Pinto and the two masterminds behind the team Guardiola and Tito Vilanova passed through the President’s office to sign up for their contract renewals. The sporting directors and Club Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu were also quick to snap up Ibrahim Afellay in the winter transfer window.

Two trebles

All that work has brought the Club plenty of titles this season: the first team taking the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga and in brilliant style the Champions League, the B team coming third in the Second Division and the Youth A team also winning a treble. Zubi has put in a great first season and continues to work for new success in the future

Masia shows its Masia shows its worth

he Club’s coaching directorate have always defended the need to prioritise home grown talent and give the youngsters a chance to shine and last week’s contract extension for Thiago Alcántara is the latest example of this policy.

he Club announced last Wednesday that they would be extending the contract of the latest gem to come from La Masia –Thiago Alcántara - a uniquely talented midfielder. Barça have always looked after their young promises, but the arrival of Pep Guardiola and the presence last year of Andoni Zubizarreta, has meant a big increase in the number of La Masia graduates making it through to the first team.

Squad can be “stretched” with B team talent

Zubi made it clear when he was named Sporting Director that the first team squad could be “stretched” with the addition of players from the talented B team and last season 11 players under Luis Enrique’s orders figured for the first team: Fontàs, Nolito, Sergi Roberto, Víctor Vázquez, Thiago, Miño, Bartra, Sergi Gómez, Jonathan dos Santos, Oriol Romeu and Montoya. This is the largest number of B team players who’ve been in the first team for many years.

Fontàs in for Abidal

One of the toughest moments of the season for the Club was Eric Abidal’s illness, but the coaches knew that in Andreu Fontàs they had a more than satisfactory replacement whilst the Frenchman made his recovery and the youngster played six league games in all, as well as the Champions League match against Rubin Kazan,when he scored. Once again, the Club showed that instead of searching in the markets, they could choose from their own youngsters and be just as successful.