The search for a central defender continues to be Barça’s most important business. Gabi Milito is the favourite of Barça supporters according to opinion polls in the local press. Milito’s agent, Eduardo Gamarnik, has said that FC Barcelona have not been in contact with him. The fact that Gamarnik is in Barcelona “on other business” makes me wonder about the truth of this. Gamarnik also stated that there is no agreement with Juventus for Milito. Other options for the central defender position include Deportivo’s Andrade, Manchester United’s Heinze and Oporto’s Pepe.

Six days after sacking Fabio Capello, Real Madrid have still not signed a new coach. Everyone expects that man to be Bernd Schuster, but there is a problem that is blocking Schuster from making the final signing. Schuster is currently coach at Getafe and he has one year left to run on his contract. There is a get-out clause in the contract of around €400,000 which would leave Schuster as a free agent. Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has stated he doesn’t intend to pay it, and that he will only talk to Schuster when he is free. Calderon also stated that Madrid are talking to 2 or 3 other coaches. To complicate matters a bit more, Michael Laudrup has declared that he has arrived at an agreement with Getafe to be Schuster’s replacement. So, will Schuster finally sign for Madrid? Who will pay Schuster’s get-out clause? If Schuster doesn’t sign, who will be Madrid’s next coach?