FC Barcelona News: 8 September 2015; Claudio Bravo Strains Calf, Barca Named Club of the Year

Barcelona have been named European Club of the Year - Goal.com
Barcelona has been acknowledged as the European Club of the Year by the European Club Association (ECA) at a dinner in Geneva ahead of the organisation's General Assembly on Tuesday. The award was presented by ECA president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in recognition of the Camp Nou side's successes last season both domestically and internationally.

Claudio Bravo out with right calf strain | FC Barcelona
Analysis by FC Barcelona's medical personnel has revealed that first-team goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has suffered a muscular injury to his right calf. The muscle in question is Bravo's right soleus. He will be closely monitored over the coming days and his availability for this weekend's match at Atlético de Madrid will be determined based on how the injury evolves.

More Barça players trickle back in for training | FC Barcelona
Luis Enrique has been slowly getting back his international stars in recent days, including Belgium's Thomas Vermaelen, Croatia's Ivan Rakitic and Turkey's Arda Turan. The three players joined their first team cohorts on Field Two at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper after having played two Euro 2016 qualifiers each with their respective national sides.

First session of the week before game away at Atlético | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have returned to work. After a weekend off, the available first team players have trained at Pitch 2 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in preparation for the weekend’s game against Atlético Madrid. It was the first session of a week in which Luis Enrique will, little by little, welcome back the members of his squad who have been away on international duty.

Barcelona asking FIFA to ease restrictions on youth players - ESPN FC
Barcelona say they are asking FIFA to ease restrictions on some of their youth players connected to the club's one-year transfer ban. Last year, FIFA punished Barcelona for breaking rules regarding the transfer of youth players by banning the club from signing new first-team members during 2015.

Summer tour proves rising popularity of FC Barcelona in America | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona’s trip to the United States this summer, on which the team played matches in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, was a huge hit in every imaginable way. Charlie Stillitano, the chairman of Relevent Sports, the company that organises the International Champions Cup, had nothing but good words to say about the presence of the five-time European champions in his country in an interview with Catalan daily sports paper Mundo Deportivo.

Pique available against Atleti? | Football Espana
Barcelona could have Gerard Pique available against Atletico Madrid as they consider appealing his ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Pique is in the middle of a four-game caution for a sending off in the second leg of the Supercopa de Espana, having allegedly directed a foul-mouthed tirade at an official.

‘Pique wanted to quit after WC’ | Football Espana
Gerard Pique reportedly wanted to retire from international football after the World Cup but Spain Coach Vicente Del Bosque convinced him to stay on. Spain went to Brazil 2014 as world champions but were dumped out at the group stage and Sport reports Pique was ready to quit La Roja as a result.

Anti-Madrid & pro-Catalunya: How Pique became Spain's public enemy No.1 - Goal.com
Gerard Pique is a marked man. The Catalan center back is at the eye of another storm after he was booed by Spain fans on Saturday night and then caught on camera emerging from a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning. Despite returning to his best on the pitch, he continues to court controversy off it.

Sergio Ramos calls for Spain fans to stop booing Gerard Pique | Sky Sports
Sergio Ramos wants Spain fans to stop booing Gerard Pique and wants to see less time focused around the defender's political views. Pique was one again the subject of booing and whistling from Spanish fans during Friday's 2-0 win over Slovakia, forcing head coach Vincente Del Bosque to once again defend his performance.

The inside story of Messi v Tevez: An Argentine rivalry forged on the terraces - Goal.com
One found himself leading the group, the other was cast aside. It was the key moment in the already distant relationship between Tevez and Messi, and one which sparked a rivalry among supporters which has become one of the biggest talking points in modern Argentine football.

Barcelona to make Nolito enquiry - Goal.com
Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez says revealed the club will make an enquiry over the signing of Celta Vigo star Nolito ahead of the January transfer window. The Catalans are currently banned from playing their new signings, meaning offseason arrivals Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal will have to wait until the new year before making their debuts for the club.

Javier Mascherano says Argentina must adapt to Lionel Messi - ESPN FC
"Our style of play is based a lot on the characteristics of the players," the Barcelona defender told ESPN Deportes. "Barcelona are molded in such a way so that Leo can have the freedom to start in one place but finish in another. And the entire team adapts to his movement.

Source: Bostjan Cernensek http://ift.tt/1ERhndY