Lozano Returns to Barcelona

Spanish international, Demetrio Lozano, will play for F.C. Barcelona next season. Lozano has signed for four seasons with the Catalonian club and he will return nine years after his first stay at the club. Lozano played for Ademar Leon, Barcelona, THW Kiel and Portland San Antonio as well. He was called up for Spain almost 200 times, winning the 2004 World Cup in Tunisia. Lozano spent the last three seasons in Pamplona, where he won an Asobal League title and played in a Champions final against Ciudad Real. He left Portland together with Danish goalkeeper Kasper Hvidt, who will also play for Barcelona.

Happy to play in the Champions League

With an EHF wildcard, Barcelona will play the next edition of EHF Champions League. It is really good news for the Catalonian club and the players. “All handballers want to play and win the best competitions, so we are very happy. Barcelona is the club that won the highest number of titles and our presence can give even more prestige for the tournament,” Lozano told eurohandball.com.

The next CL will be very strong with four teams from Spain and Germany. “It could be one of the strongest editions of Champions League. The German and Spanish league is very competitive, but we cannot forget other teams like Zagreb, Veszprém or Celje. It’s always very difficult to win a title such as the Champions League, but this time it will be even more difficult.”

Barcelona: great project

FC Barcelona signs a group of important international players, such as Lozano, Kasper, Gull, Garabaya or Noddesbo for next season. In addition, Manolo Cadenas will be the new coach, replacing Xesco Espar.

Cadenas was in Ademar Leon for the last twelve seasons, winning a Spanish League and two Cup Winners’ Cup titles. The new coach and Lozano met each other in Leon ten years ago.

“I have known Manolo for a long time. He has a very strong character. He is one of the best coaches in Spain that he proved in Leon. Barcelona have signed very important players, in addition to a good group remaining from last season (Romero, Barrufet, Nagy, Fernandez…). Now, we have a roaster to fight for all the competitions”.

For Lozano to return to Barcelona was a difficult decision. He will leave Portland and Pamplona, where he spent three good years. “I am 32-year old. I must think carefully about every step in my life. My family and I were very happy these three seasons in Pamplona, but the offer of Barcelona was really good. They gave me a very important goal. Barcelona is a great club and offered me a contract of four years. I must think about the future and this is a very secure option”.