The Ibrahimovic deal is all set to go through, subject to his medical on Monday.

Be interesting to see how he goes, he's often flattered to deceive on the big occasion for me, though playing in a better team under constant pressure might get that out of him.

He's never even flattered for me. I've always felt short changed watching him. I've seen him have one good game, it was in Euro 2004 for Sweden. Never scored a goal in the knockout phases of the CL.

Just doesn't do it for me, at all.

The English media were doubting Messi's ability, because he'd never scored against an English side look what happened in the Champions League final. Then I heard someone mention the lesser known fact that Ronaldo had never scored against a Spanish side, but I reckon he'll be a massive star in La Liga.

Anyway I know what you're saying about Ibrahimovic, but he definately has the ability to succeed at the top level just needs the application and he has the potential to be the best striker since the original Ronaldo. Only time will tell I guess. Inter will feel they have done well out of this deal, and rightly so as Eto'o is a big game player. But Barca were going to lose him on a free next summer anyway, so they are essentially just paying a cash fee for a world class striker.

I think Inter will think they've done exceptional business. Yes, he fired them to successive Seria A titles, Manucho would've done that.

There's just something missing with him for me, he doesn't impose himself like say a Drogba, so he's not that sort of frontman, he's not quick enough to be a Torres, he's not the best in the air for his size, he takes pot shots from any angle or distance, he's just, he's the kid at school who was pretty good, you called him a 'ball hog' & your Grandad told you he'd never make it as he wasn't willing to work hard, play for the team etc. You'd tell your Grandad to "Fook off, mind your own business, go & cut your ear hair."

For me, there's a top tier of strikers in the world, Eto'o, Torres, Drogba, Villa, he isn't in it.

Agree with you there JWP, at the moment he can't be ranked in the upper echelon of the worlds top strikers which you've mentioned there. He's currently I would say in the second tier along with the likes of Henry, Luis Fabiano, Pato and Benzema.

I just think he has all the ability in the world, and this move could be making of him. Playing in Italy he's been out of the spotlight, and Sweden have been poor in recent tournaments which has hardly helped. Put him in the current Barca side and I think we'll see the best of his game, with his amazing skill, ball control, link up play and shooting ability in evidence.

He'll either be the most expensive flop in history, or fulfil his potential and become the best striker in the world.

Friendly result Sunday Sunderland 2 Atletico Madrid 0

During the whole 'Italian Football Corruption' fiasco, I was finished with him when it came out how he engineered his move from Ajax etc.

Most folk would say all footballers are all 'Me, Me, Me', I think he does it better than most.

Utter .

Good to see Atlético's tradition of comic defending looks set to continue, judging by the goal Arshavin just scored in the Emirates Cup.

Awful news news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 191861.stm RIP

Awful news news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 191861.stm RIP

Any word on La Liga TV coverage yet for the coming season?

Still Sky, surely?

No, still not sorted in the UK, and ESPN has won the rights to show it in the States.

Given the track record of the administrators of Spanish Football expect it to be finalised about 15 minutes before the season kicks-off - I'll always remember the start of the 07/08 season when SKY were supposed to be showing the Madrid derby, but had to switch games about 10 minutes before kick-off.

I hope ESPN gets it to add to their vast amount of European football already on show. I don't have Sky so it'd be great if ESPN gets it.

The first weekend's schedule has been announced anyway...

Real Madrid-Deportivo (Sábado 29 a las 20:00 horas).
Zaragoza-Tenerife (Sábado 29 a las 22:00 horas).
Mallorca-Xerez (Domingo 30 a las 17:00 horas).
Racing-Getafe (Domingo 30 a las 17:00 horas).
Osasuna-Villarreal (Domingo 30 a las 17:00 horas).
Málaga-Atlético (Domingo 30 a las 17:00 horas).
Athletic-Espanyol (Domingo 30 a las 17:00 horas).
Valencia-Sevilla (Domingo 30 a las 19:00 horas).
Almería-Valladolid (Domingo 30 a las 21:00 horas).
Barcelona-Sporting (Lunes 31 a las 22:00 horas).

I'm hoping to fit in Betis' first game in Liga Adelante (against Cordoba) on the Saturday night and the Malaga-Atlético games, if the heat in Andalucia doesn't kill me.