Rosell visits Tito in New York

Sandro Rosell travelled to New York on Wednesday to see Tito Vilanova who remains in the US city undergoing a course of medical treatment. The President was accompanied by Vice-president Jose María Bartomeu and the club has stressed that the trip has been planned for several weeks, meaning that it has nothing to do with the Milan and Real Madrid defeats. That being said, it is now even more important.

Tito Vilanova also received a visit from Zubizarreta and his coaching team just a few weeks ago. Barça had suggested at the time that Sandro Rosell would also travel to New York to see the coach, although no-one imagined then that it would follow two huge blows for the team in the Champions League and Copa del Rey. The primary reason for the visit, according to club sources, is on a purely personal level. The second, is football-related. Barça has already begun work on next season.

The Milan and Real Madrid defeats could bring some decisions forward, such as the signing of Neymar. It is no longer even an open secret. The only question remaining was whether Barça would make a move to sign him this summer or wait another season and that seems to have vanished: it will be this one. Rosell and the Vice-president will work out with Vilanova what the team's next moves will be. The aim is that the coach's illness will not affect the normal operations of the club and, at this point in the season, Barcelona is conscious of that fact that it needs to get to work. Tito Vilanova will remain in New York at least until mid-March.