FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.06.2010 16:14

New president to take office on 1st July

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Sandro Rosell will be formally invested as the new president of FC Barcelona on 1st July.

The FCB Director General, Joan Oliver, told reporters on Monday that the handover between the current Board and the newly elected team led by Sandro Rosell was going smoothly. He also talked about the state of the transfer market and expressed his delight at the promotion of Barca Atletic to Second Division A.

As regards the transition of power to the Board elect, he said: “The meetings we are having are organized around transferring information and the atmosphere is completely normal. We’re trying to make the process as favourable as possible for the Club”. He revealed that a couple of meetings had already taken place between he two teams.

Yaya Touré deal at an advanced stage

On the sporting front, Mr Oliver explained that the negotiations surrounding Yaya Touré were at an advanced stage but had yet to be finalized: “We’re trying to do this properly and without haste. We’re trying to make it the best operation for the Club independently of when it happens”.

Cesc Fabregas

As regards Cesc Fabregas, Mr Oliver emphasized that the ball was very much in Arsenal’s court: “Whether or not Spain go any further in the World Cup doesn’t affect the situation. It’s not a question of us making another move. The question is whether or not Arsenal modify their position”.

Promotion for Barca Atletic

Mr Oliver also congratulated the director of football, Txiki Begiristain, the head of youth football, José Ramon Alexanco, and reserve squad head coach, Luis Enrique, on the promotion of Barca Atletic to Second Division A. In fact, the various youth teams have won an astonishing total of 13 titles this season and Mr Oliver stressed: “These results are unique in the history of the Club”. He also confirmed that the objectives of the reserve squad would remain unchanged: “We won’t change the policy. It works well and the movement of players up to the first team has been exemplary and we won’t endanger that. However, the decisions about next season will be taken by the new people in charge. But the purpose (of the reserve team) has to be to develop players for the first team”.

He also confirmed that Luis Enrique had been offered a contract extension three months ago but had preferred to postpone discussions until the end of the season.