Deco To Chelsea? What About Lamps?

Apparently Deco would like to play for Chelsea. At least that's what he told The Sun... Over, and over, and over again. In the same interview, the 29 year-old Barcelona midfielder provided all of the following statements. More accurately, he produced the following different versions of a single statement:

• "The Premier League is absolutely on par with La Liga- and playing there absolutely appeals to me."
• "The English league is a possibility and it would definitely be somewhere I'd like to play."
• "There's no doubt that you can compare Manchester United and Chelsea to Barcelona."
• "They are both huge clubs and playing for clubs like that would always be an attractive proposition."
• "The idea of working with Jose again appeals to me." (Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was Deco's manager on the 2003-04 Champions League winning Porto side)

That's not an interview, but a contrived, articulate tantrum. In Deco's defense, however, I can kind of see why he felt the need to do this- this may his best opportunity to dictate the next chapter of his career. It has been widely rumored that Deco could be on his way out of the Nou Camp in the summer transfer window, with Newcastle United having been mentioned as one possible destination. Staying at Barcelona could be the worst-case scenario for Deco, as his diminishing role at the club, along with club management's desire to overhaul the 2006-07 side that collapsed in the final weeks of the La Liga season and failed to win any hardware, hardly combine to create an ideal situation.

With that said, a Deco-to-Chelsea deal would create a whole new series of questions:

• With Deco's arrival at Stamford Bridge, what is the status of Frank Lampard, whose fiancée just happens to be of Catalan decent, who is still awaiting a new long-term deal the likes of which was given to team captain John Terry?
• Would Deco be brought in to serve as a replacement for Michael Ballack, who has been a disappointment at Chelsea and may be a possible target for Real Madrid?
• Despite repeatedly expressing his desire to stay at Arsenal, could Deco's departure free up both money and a place in the team for Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal's all-world playmaker?

Deco has been a joy to watch at Barcelona and is undoubtedly one of the most gifted midfielders in the world. However, if he's not happy at Barcelona, both the club as well as his performance on the pitch are likely to suffer. Whether the potential shuffling of prominent midfielders opens the door for Fabregas joining former Arsenal teammate, Thierry Henry, at the Nou Camp remains to be seen- it is, without a doubt, a long shot. And while hope springs eternal for such a move, the more realistic scenario of a simple swap of attacking midfielders between Chelsea and Barcelona could benefit each club significantly.

Given their similarities in age and quality, Deco and Frank Lampard likely carry similar values on the open market, making a potential Deco-for-Lampard swap plausible, without either club having to shoulder a large financial burden. Also, Deco proclamation of his strong desire to play at Stamford Bridge creates the perfect resolution to Chelsea's problem of what to do with Lampard, who is in hot pursuit of a new, big-money deal.

Finally, we have Mr. Lampard's personal life. In this instance, he's not a millionaire footballer, but a guy who presumably does not want to de dumped by a woman he loves, and with whom he already has a family. Lampard’s fiancée, and the mother of his two daughters, Elen Rives, was recently rumored to have broken off the couple's engagement. What better enticement could he give her to reconcile than making the move to her homeland?

This may all be idle speculation that culminates in nothing except me looking like I may need to institutionalized. Who knows? But you must admit that it makes at least a little sense all the way around.

Milito Passes Medical Exam, Signs Contract

Gabi Milito passed his medical examination at Barcelona and has signed a 4-year contract that will pay him €4 million ($5.5 million) per year. The contract includes a buy-out clause of €90 million.

Upon arriving in Barcelona, Milito tol Barca TV "It's a privilege to be here" and that FC Barcelona were “always option number one” and that his arrival in Barcelona comes “at the best moment of my career”.

With regard to his knee, in which Milito tore a ligament in 2001, Barcelona's team doctor said “Since then he’s worked on the muscles and done specific training that has permitted him to play quite normally during the last few years. At present he has to keep working on the knee but he’s fit to play top flight football”.

After Huge Success with Barça, Giuly Departs for Roma

FC Barcelona has agreed to the transfer of Ludovic Giuly to AS Roma for an up-front fee of €3.2 million ($4.4 million), with an additional fee of €1.2 million fee to be paid if Roma qualify for the UEFA Champions League each of the next three years. Giuly, who spent the past three seasons at the Nou Camp, will reportedly sign a 3-year contract that will keep him at Roma through 2010.

Giuly joined Barcelona for €7 million in 2004, after seven years with AS Monaco, where he reached the final of the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League, and was a member of sides that won the French league title in 2001, the League Cup in 2003.

Giuly was vital to Barcelona’s 2004-05 La Liga championship, scoring 11 goals (second on the club to Samuel Eto’o’s 24), despite an injury-plagued season that only saw him play 29 league games.

In Barcelona’s magical 2005-06 season, Giuly captured another Spanish title side, as well as the second Champions League title in the club’s history. Though he was off the pitch even more than in the previous year, scoring seven goals in just 23 games in all competitions, Giuly was one of the keys to Barça’s European glory, as he managed the club’s lone semifinal goal against A.C. Milan.

It dod not take long to determine that the 2006-07 season would be his last in Barcelona, as Giuly started just 15 matches, scoring just 3 league goals. Combined with his declining, the promotion of Lionel Messi from the club’s youth side (which seems to have worked out well) sealed Giuly fate at the club.

As Ludovic Giuly says farewell to the Nou Camp, fans of the Blaugrana must collectively express our sincere gratitude to the pacey Frenchman with whom we’ve two league championships and one Champions League title.

Barça Agrees to Milito Transfer Terms

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to acquire center back Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza, where he spent the past four seasons, for €20.5 million ($28.3 million). Milito, currently participating in the Copa América with Argentina’s national team, is scheduled to travel to Barcelona for a medical examination at the conclusion of the tournament, after which he will sign a contract and be presented as a Barcelona player.

Of Milito, Txiki Begiristain said “We know him well… He has played in the Spanish league for four years at a very high level. He is a leader both on the field and in the dressing room as well as being a great professional with so many qualities. He is aggressive, quick, strong in the air and has a good left foot." At the conclusion of the club’s search for a new central defender, the club has no doubt that it has added the right player.

Gabi Milito started his professional career in 1997, at 17 years of age, in his native Argentina, with Independiente. Milito’s career was nearly jeopardized by a serious knee injury in 2001 which kept him out of action for nine months. However, Gabi returned to action triumphantly, helping Independiente to the 2002 Argentine Apertura title. In his time with the Independiente (1997-2003), Milito played 123 games and scored three goals.

Milito was thought to be headed to Real Madrid following the 2002-2003 season, however, the deal fell apart when Madrid’s doctors refused to sign off on the state of Milito’s knee in the aftermath of the 2001 injury. As a result, Milito wound up going to Real Zaragoza, where he was a member of that season’s Copa del Rey winning side; the victory was likely made infinitely sweeter for Milito, as Zargoza beat Real Madrid in the final.

Gabi Milito has been a fixture for Argentina on the international scene. He was a member of Argentina’s 1999 Under-20 team, and has appeared 32 times for Argentina’s senior team, taking part in the 2005 Confederations Cup, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the current Copa America.

Milito Likely to Join Barca Defense

With FC Barcelona looking to solidify the center of the defense, it has been heavily speculated that the club will look to add AS Roma star and captain of the Romanian national team, Christian Chivu- but he may not be the leading candidate to line up next to Carlos Puyol, with Real Zaragoza center back and Argentina international Gabriel Milito emerging as the likeliest addition.

When asked about Barcelona’s reported interest in Gabriel Milito, Begiristain confessed that a deal with Milito is "the closest and we are working on that", but added that "there are alternatives", presumably referring to Chivu. Begiristain also said that Milito himself "had the desire" to join FC Barcelona, though he also added that "We are continuing to try and close a deal and, from there, we hope that everything goes well."

Milito, a strong, disciplined center back, looks to be fantastic fit for FC Barcelona. In addition to being a force in front of his keeper, in classic Barça style, Milito possesses strong technical skill and, though not an accomplished goal scorer, is capable of moving forward and supporting the attack. By adding Milito, Barcelona will certainly be adding an anchor on the pitch, but Milito’s attitude and leadership could prove to be as valuable to the team.