Ibrahim Afellay to transfer to Barcelona
November 16th 2010 16:50
News from espn.com
Barcelona-bound Netherlands midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has described his move to the Nou Camp as a dream come true and insists he is happy to play wherever Pep Guardiola asks him.
Afellay's current club PSV Eindhoven and Barca announced on Monday they had reached an agreement for the transfer of the 24-year-old when the transfer window opens in January.
Barca are yet to agree personal terms with the player, but the Catalan giants hope to do that in the coming weeks.
Although the transfer is not yet finalised, Afellay, who is on international duty with Holland, spoke enthusiastically about the possibility of playing for the Reigning Spanish champions.
"Barcelona are fantastic, a great club and a great team. No player would say no to Barcelona,'' he was quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.
And Catalan-based newspaper Sport, quoted Afellay as saying: "I've never been to the Nou Camp, neither as a fan or as a player and it's a dream for me to play there, I'm very eager to make my debut at the Nou Camp.
"I really enjoy watching Barca on TV. Everybody does because they play very attractive football and are very nice to watch.''
When asked what position he sees himself playing in Guardiola's team, where he will be competing with the likes of World Cup winners Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets for playing time, the midfielder said: "The truth is that I don't mind where I play, if it's in the centre of the pitch, in attack or on the wing. I will play where the coach needs me.''
Former Barca midfielder Mark van Bommel backed his fellow Dutchman to be a success at the Nou Camp.
"He's technically very good and very quick,'' Van Bommel told www.vi.nl. "His technical and physical qualities enable him to play in many different positions. He is two-footed so he can play left, right and in the centre.''
Van Bommel is also confident the system employed by Guardiola will benefit Afellay, adding: "The Dutch team plays a bit like Barcelona and Afellay knows how a good 4-3-3 system works. With Lionel Messi, Xavi and the other Barcelona players Afellay will easily adapt to that team.''
| 47 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
