Long ago, P.J. O'Rourke in his book A Parliament of Whores said, "You can't get rid of poverty by giving people money."

I just can't help myself relating it to Manchester City.

The transfer window is closed. And, Manchester City, backed by big bucks, have spent near to £120 million in this single summer transfer window and around £200 million overall since last summer.

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The international break is over and we resume with the real football. I have stated before FIFA needs to address the international football calendar. We cannot have a stop start season, any rhythm that teams have is disrupted. I would prefer a break in October or 2-3 weeks and another in March, allowing all internationals to be crammed into these periods.

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France 1-1 Romania:
France managed a 1-1 draw in Paris, which means that their hopes of automatic qualification are looking dull. William Gallas and Bacary Sagna started for Les Bleus in defence, and did very well, with Gallas' header even setting up France's first goal.
Spain 5-0 Belgium:
Visitors Belgium were crushed by an in-form Spain, as Thomas Vermaelen in Belgium central defence did not impress. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool's squad has clearly been weakened by Rafa Benitez's failure to adequately replace Xabi Alonso over the summer. As a result, the team is struggling. It didn't need to be this way though - there were players available Liverpool could have (and should have) signed. Here are three of the best candidates, all of whom were within the club's budget. Click to continue reading...

A familiar name to Arsenal fans resurfaces at VfB Stuttgart and shows a bit of magic for his new side against Romanian side Timisoara

Hleb has been in the news for his obeisance to Arsene Wenger and regreting his move away from Arsenal. "For me, leaving Arsenal was not a good move.

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Didn't see this coming!

Barcelona director of football Txiki Begiristain has said that the Blaugrana might not make any further signings this summer, but 27-year-old Liverpool winger Albert Riera is now a target, according to Sport.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola has said that he wants to make further additions to his squad, but it appears that Begiristain will make the final call.

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Things are starting to get interesting.

Arsenal is rediscovering their identity. They have like-minded players on the pitch who "see it early"

Rosicky, Eduardo, Cesc, Arshavin, Nasri, Sagna, Clichy, Walcott, and Van Persie. That is a lot of talent.

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REAL MADRID had a tough time negotiating with Liverpool FC forXABI ALONSO but managed it finally. FC BARCELONA got ZLATANIBAHIMOVIC in a complex 3 way deal initially with Samuel Eto´o& Hleb in the operation.SFS has managed to get its hands on theEXECUTIVE Master of Business Administration guide to"Negotiation". Click to continue reading...

Will Vieira re-sign for us? I suspect, unfortunately, not, I think it is now fairly clear that this little gem of a rumour was used as part of the promotion campaign to sell tickets for the Emirates Cup; what better rumour to put out than the return of the prodigal son, our very own Patrick Vieira.

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Manchester City are spending their way into the Premier League top four. Paradoxically, the club most amenable to their ambition is Arsenal, whom they wish to supplant. The Gunners sold City striker Emmanuel Adebayor for £25m. Less than two weeks later, they are prepared to sell them defender Kolo Toure for another £14m, as the 28-year-old Ivorian has been turned by the £100,000 per week wage offer.

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Zlatan is introduced to the Blaugrana faithful.

It's done and dusted; Stevie Wonder's lyrics convey it best. Ibrahimovich is a member of Barcelona FC. The Swede was met by 50,000 people at the Nou Camp after signing a five year deal that will keep him in Catalonia until 2014.

Zlatan Ibrahimovich made it clear that only Barca could have lured him away from Internazionale which had been his home for the last three seasons.

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The first training of the season with Barca's full squad took place today, with all the first team players attending except Hleb, who is awaiting his loan out to Inter Milan. Most of the youth players have rejoined the B-team, except for Muniesa, Jonathan, Jeffren and Fontas, who continue training with the senior squad (remember that Sanchez and Pedro have aleady recently been confirmed as part of the first team). Click to continue reading...

It is a deal that is a big as Ronaldo and Kaka both going to Real Madrid. Champions League holders Barcelona sent Samual Eto'o over €43 million plus the services of Aliaksandr Hleb to Inter Milan for forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

With Eto valued at 20million euros, plus the news that Inter will have the chance to buy Hleb for an initial 10million euros once his season-long loan spell is concluded, that values this trade at around €73 million.

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FC BARCELONA Coach Josep GUARDIOLA gives his views on Zlatan,Hleb & the future of Barça in his clear, smart & sensible gentemanly manner as always: Click to continue reading...

They Think It's All Over... thinks that Barca's recruitment of Zlatan Ibrahimovic will prevent them from recapturing the majestic form of last season. Click to continue reading...

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be the happiest man alive once he has completed his move to Barcelona from Internazionale, the Swedish striker said.

Ibrahimovic arrived in the Catalan capital and was due to undergo a medical on Monday before signing his new contract with the European champions.

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In spite of Jose Mourinho's accusing silence, caused by the fact that Max Moratti didn't meet his demands in the transfer window, it seems that the Portuguese is perfectly aware that he will benefit from the summer transfer window.

According to Italian press, the statements that this is not the team he had hoped for and that it will be very hard to fight reinforced Juventus in Serie A, not to mention the Champions League are not only an alibi.

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Uno, Mourinho, tecnico della compagine nerazzurra, lo ha detto chiaramente (che non rientra nei piani dell'Inter), l'altro, il gigante francese Patrick Vieira, è pienamente a conoscenza di come andranno le cose (non avrà un ruolo da protagonista), dunque meglio incominciare a valutare le offerte per poter trovare l'ambiente adatto dove rinascere a nuova vita. Click to continue reading...

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Head coach Pep Guardiola fielded a "B" team against Tottenham Hotspur in the first round of the Wembley Cup on Friday. During the match Guardiola was able to get 22 players on the field as starts Messi, Henry, Valdes, Marquez and Hleb watched from the stands.

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FC Barcelona website has reported that Zlatan Ibrahmovic will be arriving at Barcelona on Sunday for Medical. At the same time FC Barcelona has given permission for Samuel Eto and Hleb to got to Milan for Inter Medical. In the end of the deal the only team which could be smiling has to be Inter as they got a quality striker and a good player plus some around 48 million Euros of cash to play with. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Internazionale's Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the striker to sign for the European champions.

"There are agreements in principle with the player and with Inter and the documents are being drawn up," Barcelona's sporting directo Begiristain told Barca TV.

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Reports are emerging from Spain that Samuel Eto has finally agreed to a 9 million Euro a year deal with Inter. There has been no confirmation from both the clubs but the players agent was recently quoted - that a deal is imminent. The whole saga of Eto - Ibra swap has taken some crazy twists recently. Click to continue reading...

I like the first one:

• Landon Donovan getting some serious Serie A interest.
  
• Inter Milan to get Hleb on loan?
  
• David Beckham and Tottenham/City or more likely Milan.
  
• Aston Villa is looking to buy.
  
• Crouch snubs Sunderland.
  
• Chelsea re-signs Drogba, Malouda too.

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A new & dramatic twist (click) to the Inter Milan – Samuel Eto´o– FC Barcelona – Ibrahimovic – Hleb transfer operation. Asmentioned in the below post INTER MILAN & SAMUEL ETO´O havean agreement & everything looked set to be shut in hours, theonly problem is with FC BARCELONA who refuse to pay the 10M€that Eto´o asks for in order to give up his year of contract. Click to continue reading...

So, Barca abandoned the the chance to sign the fantabulous David Villa for fifty million euros, to chase after Ibrahimovic for an initially reported deal of 4o million, Eto'o, and Hleb and loan. We thought that was ridiculous, but arguments were that the club doesn't want to pay too much in cash, and they are set on getting rid of Eto'o. Click to continue reading...

Inter boss is not satisfied with the transfer window; Moratti said to him no to ask for excuses and the Portuguese is looking up north, where fiercely reinforced Juventus are set to get back what they rightfully deserve. Mourinho is avoiding press in Los Angeles, where the team is on preparations but knowing him, the Portuguese won't be quiet for much longer.

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After some long much deserved rest, FC Barcelona has started their pre-season tour. FC Barcelona will be first seen competing in the Wembley Cup against Totenham on friday 24th July. Guardiola has picked a 28 man squad for the trip to London. The squad contains 17 from senior squad and 11 from the youth and reserve teams. Click to continue reading...

JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images

Head coach Pep Guardiola and his team arrived in London today in preparation for their match Friday against Tottenham in the first of two matches at Wembley. 17 players from the first squad and 11 from the youth academy and reserve team made the trip. The biggest surprise for fans coming out to see Barcelona play in London will be Lionel Messi.

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Let's do it:

• Pep thinks it's time for Eto'o to leave Barcelona.
  
• Barca also defends a potential move for Zlatan.
  
• Luis Fabiano to Milan dead?
  
• Real Madrid is looking good to Xabi Alonso.
  
• Hleb regrets leaving Arsenal.
  
• TFC offers Julian de Guzman.

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FC Barcelona midfielder Alexandr Hleb has expressed his regret in leaving Arsenal, so he says in an interview with The Dail Mail: 'Arsene Wenger was like a father to me', he praised Arsenal's headcoach. Hleb left Arsenal last summer. With Barcelona he won the Champions League last summer, the La Liga & Copa del Rey. Click to continue reading...

Joan Laporta has confirmed yesterday that the club has agreed on principle with Inter about a deal which will see Zlatan Ibrahmovic moving to Barcelona for exchange of Eto and some cash. There are rumours flying in plenty for sometime and the latest rumours suggests that Barca will give 40 million plus the service of both Eto and Hleb on loan. Click to continue reading...

The Spanish media is all over this. Inter get Samuel Eto'o, Hleb on loan and €40 million in cash.

Wait! Samuel Eto'o who was running neck to neck with Diego Forlan for the Pichichi and was Barca's top scorer this season is at a conservative estimate half the value of Zlatan Ibrahamovic?

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Las negociaciones "han empezado bien" dice Massimo Moratti, Presidente del Inter de Milan y aunque la especulación es al por mayor, muchos ya empiezan a dar por hecho el traspaso de "Ibra" al conjunto catalán.

Si bien Joan Laporta criticó el "modelo galáctico" del Madridismo, no le quedó más remedio que entrarle al ruedo, aunque de forma más discreta, pero de igualmente con tintes derrochadores.

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Arsenal get their pre-season friendlies underway tomorrow with the traditional curtain raiser at Underhill when they face Barnet.

Wenger will take a mixed squad of first team players and reserves. Saturday could see the return of Rosicky as well as a welcome return from injury for Eduardo and Gallas.

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Even though David Villa was on the verge of joining Barcelona, the Catalans seem to have been fed up with Valencia's demands and they have rekindled their interest in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Barca now offer €35 million plus Eto'o and Hleb, and Inter president Moratti believes a deal can be done.

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