David Villa signs for Barcelona in £34 million deal

[Elano]

Barcelona have signed David Villa from Valencia for 40 million euros (£34 million) as they continue to talk up a move for Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

Villa is due in Barcelona tomorrow to put pen to paper on a four-year deal with an option for a further year.

The 28-year-old spent five years at the Mestalla, scoring 107 goals in 166 league matches to become one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe.

But despite Valencia's well-documented financial worries he resisted potential moves to Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Villa was top-scorer for Spain as they won Euro 2008 and is expected to lead the line for his country at this summer's World Cup.

But the signing casts doubt on the futures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry at Barcelona, who won La Liga for the second successive season with a record 99 points.

Barca president Joan Laporta has hinted at a "lot of interest" in 32-year-old Henry, who signed from Arsenal three years ago, from Major League Soccer.

And reports have linked Ibrahimovic, 28, with a move away from the Nou Camp just one year after he signed a five-year deal after a 46 million euro deal that saw Samuel Eto'o head in the opposite direction to Inter Milan.

Laporta would only say of Ibrahimovic, who scored 21 goals in his first season, that the Sweden striker "has a contract with us and we are satisfied with him".

Meanwhile, Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain said the Catalan giants would "respect" Arsenal's decision with regards to their captain Fabregas, a product of Barcelona's youth system who has reportedly expressed interest in rejoining his former club after seven years in north London.

"It's great news that he wants to come here and I think that one day Cesc will have to come to Barca," Begiristain said.

"But what matters is Arsenal and what their decision is."

(inthenews.co.uk)

Ibrahimovic is headed to the premier league....

[Furor Teutonicus]

Now can get rid of your ex- hero,  the Ibrahimovic is a handicap for Barca's offense.

[7even]

Villa might be better than Ibra for Barca, but still not as good as Eto'o was.

That deal with Inter last year was probably the worst transfer ever. Eto'o and 55 Million € for Ibra - come on.

[IRAN iz Gangsta!]

whats the point of having all the good players in one team?   

thats what i dont like about futbol these days; every good player on the planet ends up in man u, chelsea, barca or real, sometimes bayern
obviously these teams are the ones winning, they need to raise competition....there are alot of good talent that get wasted on the bench at these teams also...

their forwards are gonna be messi, bojan, pedro, ibrahimovic, villa and more...hows all that gonna work out?

[K.Dub]

 

[Elano]

whats the point of having all the good players in one team?   

thats what i dont like about futbol these days; every good player on the planet ends up in man u, chelsea, barca or real, sometimes bayern
obviously these teams are the ones winning, they need to raise competition....there are alot of good talent that get wasted on the bench at these teams also...

their forwards are gonna be messi, bojan, pedro, ibrahimovic, villa and more...hows all that gonna work out?

LMFAO @ sometimes bayern 
there are only 2 really GOOD players in bayern.
but you don't have a clue about this sport 

[Furor Teutonicus]

whats the point of having all the good players in one team?   

thats what i dont like about futbol these days; every good player on the planet ends up in man u, chelsea, barca or real, sometimes bayern
obviously these teams are the ones winning, they need to raise competition....there are alot of good talent that get wasted on the bench at these teams also...

their forwards are gonna be messi, bojan, pedro, ibrahimovic, villa and more...hows all that gonna work out?

LMFAO @ sometimes bayern 
there are only 2 really GOOD players in bayern.
but you don't have a clue about this sport 

Only 2 really good players in Bayern? Ah, ok.  But you're right, they rarely sign really expensive players?

And how many really GOOD players play for Inter?

[Elano]

whats the point of having all the good players in one team?   

thats what i dont like about futbol these days; every good player on the planet ends up in man u, chelsea, barca or real, sometimes bayern
obviously these teams are the ones winning, they need to raise competition....there are alot of good talent that get wasted on the bench at these teams also...

their forwards are gonna be messi, bojan, pedro, ibrahimovic, villa and more...hows all that gonna work out?

LMFAO @ sometimes bayern 
there are only 2 really GOOD players in bayern.
but you don't have a clue about this sport 

Only 2 really good players in Bayern? Ah, ok.  But you're right, they rarely sign really expensive players?

And how many really GOOD players play for Inter?

i was talking about expensive players (like robben and ribery).
there are several good players in bayern,but just a few are "expensive players".

how many really good players play for inter ?
uh.... julio cesar,samuel,maicon,lucio,sneijder,eto'o,milito,cambiasso,motta,balotelli

[Furor Teutonicus]

^

yup, you're right about that. Ribery, Robben and Gomez were the only expensive transfers, and the last one was a flop.
It's not like they dominate the transfer market.

[Elano]

there were "only" 2 teams for david villa @ the moment: barca and real.
and he he wanted to remain in spain. i'm sure that he would have rejected an offer from teams like manchester city,for example.

[bez]

Sick signing. Id love to see Henry back at Arsenal for another season or 2.

[StreetsAllSalute]

i have a sneaky feeling we might go in for henry he's always talking up our fans and steven gerrard(even though he's probly off)


and as for barcelona they are going to destroy it next year...fabregas iniesta and xavi supplying villa messi bojan and ibra finishing

[K.Dub]

and as for barcelona they are going to destroy it next year...fabregas iniesta and xavi supplying villa messi bojan and ibra finishing

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6165415,00.html
 

[StreetsAllSalute]

and as for barcelona they are going to destroy it next year...fabregas iniesta and xavi supplying villa messi bojan and ibra finishing

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6165415,00.html
 

players said he wants to leave,barcelona have said its this year or never....a formal bids a formality...barcelona will probably wait until the world cups over

[13th Duke]

and as for barcelona they are going to destroy it next year...fabregas iniesta and xavi supplying villa messi bojan and ibra finishing

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6165415,00.html
 

players said he wants to leave,barcelona have said its this year or never....a formal bids a formality...barcelona will probably wait until the world cups over

Hernry is going so Villa will just take his spot in the attack (obviously not in terms of position as Henry played out wide and Villa will be much more central).

I can't see Ibra and Villa working too well together but maybe I'm wrong in saying that, I suppose we're about to find out.