Beating Mourinho extra motivation for Barcas Xavi

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Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has admitted that beating Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been an extra motivating factor for his side over the past three years.

Mourinho's exit from the Bernabeu at the end of the season was confirmed on Monday after a turbulent final season in which he clashed with a number of senior players and failed to win a major trophy.

"He is a controversial coach," Spanish international Xavi said.

"He has always been an extra motivation. I don't know if we will miss him or not.

"With Mourinho we have continued to win titles. In the three years he has been here he has taken the odd title away from us, but we have kept winning. This has to continue being our objective."

And despite Mourinho's relative success in winning the title last season and reaching three consecutive Champions League semi-finals, Xavi does not believe his departure will unduly influence Madrid next season.

"We are going to see what happens without Mourinho, but I am convinced that Madrid will continue winning titles with Mourinho or without Mourinho."

Meanwhile, Xavi was also asked about Brazilian international Neymar's potential arrival at Barca in time for next season.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to the Catalan capital for some time and with Barca representatives now in Brazil to close the deal it seems only a matter of time before he joins the Spanish champions.

"Neymar is a great player and he is said to be one of the world's stars. At the moment they are all rumours but he is a great player and I am sure he would adapt."

kca/dj

Es un entrenador polémico. Siempre ha sido una motivación extra. No sé si lo echaremos de menos o no lo echaremos de menos

Con Mourinho hemos seguido ganando títulos. En los tres años que ha estado aquí nos ha sacado algún que otro título, pero hemos seguido ganando. Ese tiene que seguir siendo nuestro objetivo

Vamos a ver qué pasa sin Mourinho, pero estoy convencido de que el Madrid va a seguir a ganando títulos con Mourinho o sin Mourinho

Neymar es un gran jugador y está llamado a ser uno de los cracks mundiales. De momento todo son suposiciones pero es un gran jugador y seguro que se adaptaría".

Vilanova insists Barca seat is safe

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Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova insisted Friday he would still be in charge of the newly crowned Spanish champions next season despite press rumours to the contrary.

Vilanova missed two months of the current season after heading to New York for cancer treatment.

He was replaced during that time by his assistant Jordi Roura.

But the 44-year-old says reports of his imminent professional demise are grossly exaggerated.

"I have nothing to clarify. I can repeat what I've already said louder but not clearer," said Vilanova. "I will be coaching Barcelona next season.

"Obviously when someone has been ill, as I have, there are certain routine tests to be done that will mean I will have to be absent a few days next season. But the club knows that and they believe in me."

Vilanova was diagnosed with cancer of the saliva glands in December, the second time he had contracted the illness.

Barcelona's form dipped during his absence, although they still cantered to the Spanish La Liga title.

Upon his return, Vilanova insisted he would honour his contract until the end of next season but press rumours suggest he will be replaced either by former Barca youth team coach Luis Enrique, who left the club for an unsuccessful year at the Roma helm in Italy last season, or Valencia's Ernesto Valverde.

Neymar paraded at the Camp Nou

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Spanish champions Barcelona's new signing Brazilian international star Neymar was paraded in front of 50,000 patient fans at the Camp Nou on Monday.

"I am very happy and excited to be a Barca player, it is a dream come true," said the 21-year-old.

However, he insisted World Player of the Year Lionel Messi will continue to be the key player in the Barca side.

"I am at something that is more than a club. I came here to help the team and Messi will continue being the best in the world."

Neymar arrived in the Catalan capital just after 1300 local time (1100 GMT) and after a brief photo opportunity at the stadium underwent a two-part medical, firstly at a local hospital and then at the club's training ground.

He was then transported back to the stadium where he officially signed the already agreed five-year deal that will keep him tied to the club until 2018.

According to Spanish media, the transfer was valued at between $51.7 million and $64.6 million.

Finally he came on to the pitch to entertain the huge crowd that had been awaiting his arrival by performing a series of ball skills as he donned the Barca shirt for the first time with Neymar Jr on the back, although he has not as yet been designated a squad number.

Vilanova hopeful of Valdes stay

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Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has said he hopes to hold onto goalkeeper Victor Valdes for at least the final year of his contract.

The Spanish international confirmed on Friday that he plans to leave the Spanish champions when his current deal expires in 2014.

And the 31-year-old was an unused substitute as Barca sealed their title triumph by matching Real Madrid's league record 100 points tally with a 4-1 win over Malaga.

"Victor didn't ask me to play the game. We spoke and we decided that (Jose Manuel) Pinto would play," Vilanova told a press conference afterwards.

"I said once the league was won the minutes would be shared around.

"Valdes is the only one who has said he is not going to renew his contract. If he stays I would be delighted and if he doesn't we will look for a goalkeeper. I think Victor has explained everything perfectly."

Valdes himself raised suspicions on Saturday that he could stay in the Catalan capital to see out the final year of his deal.

"We will see each other next year to together continue making Barca even greater," he wrote on his facebook page.

Vilanova meanwhile was delighted to have reached the century points mark and believes they have coped well with the emotional turmoil of both his own absence as he travelled to New York to receive cancer treatment and that of Eric Abidal, who returned to first-team action in April after successfully recovering from a liver transplant.

"It was important to reach the best points tally in the history of the club and equal the mark of Madrid last year.

"In general, with all the things that have happened during the season, it has been good. We have finished the season on a very good level overall."

Abidal made his final Barca appearance as he came on for the final 15 minutes against Malaga after announcing on Thursday he would be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

And Vilanova it was an emotional evening for everyone involved as his entrance was greeted by a huge ovation at the Camp Nou.

"It is something very emotional for us. It is hard to live through these moments without becoming emotional."

Valdes to see out Barcelona contract

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Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes confirmed on Friday that he will leave the club once his current contract expires in the summer of 2014, explaining that the mental exhaustion caused by the "responsibility and pressure" of his position was behind his reason to eventually move on.

"Being the goalkeeper at the club is a big weight to carry and I have felt it since I was very young," Valdes said in a press conference at the Camp Nou on Friday morning.

"It is a position that carries with it a lot of responsibility, there is a lot of pressure on you, and the demands I put on myself to make sure Barca win is a heavy weight to carry too."

The 31-year-old Valdes, who has been in the Barcelona first team for 12 years and who made his 500th appearance for the Azulgrana earlier this month, insisted that his decision to move on is "irrevocable" and that his mind was already made up when he rejected the offer of a new deal in January.

"I consider that my cycle as a Barcelona player will come to an end when my current contract expires in 2014," said Valdes, who nevertheless gave no details regarding possible interest in him from elsewhere.

"I understand that with 18 months' warning there should be sufficient time to find the best solution for the club and for the player, so that Barca keep on winning and so do I," he explained.

"In January, I said I could see myself playing in other leagues, getting to know something different and looking for different sources of motivation."

The Spanish international, in Spain's squad for the Confederations Cup, had been linked with a move to big-spending Monaco this summer.

Liverpool's Pepe Reina - formerly of Barcelona - has been linked with a return to the Camp Nou to replace Valdes, while Manchester United's David de Gea and Valencia'a Vicente Guaita are also said to be on their list of possible targets.

Puyol considering retirement after knee op

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Barcelona's talismanic defender Carles Puyol said on Friday he is considering retirement after a glittering career, but added he has never entertained the thought of playing for another club.

After a career in which he has won everything in both domestic and international football, Puyol has run into a spate of injury problems and at 35-years-old may decide to bring down the curtain on a glittering career.

But while he admits he has considered the possibility his playing days are up, he has not consider a move away from Catalonia, contrary to press rumours he might be heading to Italy.

"To go to AC Milan was something I never thought about. But did I think that I might not be able to continue, that yes," said the long-haired defender opponents would be happy to see the back off.

"I would like to go to the end of my three year contract and even extend it if possible. I always said I wanted to play until I am 40 but what would please me is to retire from the game at Barcelona."

A serious knee operation has kept the Spanish international out of action since Barcelona crushed AC Milan 4-0 in their Champions League second-leg to reach the semi-finals and he expects the recovery process could be a lengthy one.

"After the operation (March 15), the doctor told me I could play again in 45 weeks but he also told me to rest a lot longer maybe even four or five months. I realised after four to six weeks, I couldn't even walk." added Puyol.

"The idea is to continue to work hard and try to get back to 100 per cent so I'm ready for pre-season training.

Abidal set for emotional Barcelona fairwell

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Spanish champions Barcelona will pay a huge tribute to French defender Eric Abidal when he plays his final home match for the club against Malaga on Saturday.

"Once the match is finished, the first team players will reveal a shirt with 'Merci Abi 22' while 22 children will form a guard of honour to Abidal, his daughters and cousin Gerard," the club revealed on their website.

The French international stalwart, who wears the number 22 jersey at Barca, returned to full fitness in record time after undergoing a partial liver transplant donated by his cousin Gerard.

Abidal gave an emotional press conference on Thursday in which the 33-year-old explained he would have liked to continue his career at the Nou Camp after six seasons but has now accepted the fact he will play for another club next season.

Barcelona have also offered the inspirational defender a job as a technical director of their football youth system once his playing career is over.