Barcelona have completed their business in the latest transfer window and the La Liga and European champions' squad is now "closed", president Josep Bartomeu said on Thursday.
Barca have brought in Turkey playmaker Arda Turan and versatile Spain defender Aleix Vidal since winning the treble last term and Bartomeu indicated the club would not be buying or selling any more players before the window closes at the end of next month.
Neither Arda or Vidal will be available to coach Luis Enrique until January, however, as Barca have been banned by Fifa from registering new signings until then after they broke rules on the transfer of foreign Under 18 players.
Bartomeu’s comments, made as he joined up with the team in San Francisco on their pre-season tour, suggest Barca’s Spain forward Pedro, who has been linked with a move to English clubs Chelsea or Manchester United, will be staying.
“We have a complete and balanced squad and Luis Enrique is happy with the players he has,” Bartomeu, fresh from victory in Saturday’s presidential election, told reporters.
“We need all the players because this season the team has a chance of winning all the competitions we are playing in,” he added.
Barca had not received an official approach for either Pedro or Adriano, Bartomeu said, amid reports the Brazilian fullback is poised to join Italian side AS Roma.
Barca won their opening pre-season friendly match against LA Galaxy this week 2-1 and play further friendlies against United in suburban San Francisco on Saturday and Chelsea outside Washington DC on July 28.
They return to Europe to play Serie A club Fiorentina in Florence on August 2 before their first official match of the 2015/16 season, the European Super Cup against Europa League winners and La Liga rivals Sevilla on August 11 in Georgian capital Tbilisi.
Barca then play Athletic Bilbao over two legs for the Spanish Super Cup before they get their bid for a sixth La Liga title in eight years underway against the Basque club on the weekend of August 22-23.
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
if you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals (more at www.hertz.com/etihad). A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
The specs: 2019 Audi A8
Price From Dh390,000
Engine 3.0L V6 turbo
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy, combined 7.5L / 100km
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
