║║ La Liga Season 2012-13 ║║

[Higuain]

La Liga wrap: Five-star Real hammer Valencia

21 January 2013

​

Real Madrid were at their scintillating best as they crushed Valencia 5-0 in the La Liga on Sunday.

All the goals came in the first half as a rampant Real swept aside an impotent Valencia at the Mestalla in what was their second victory over Mauricio Pellegrino's side in as many matches after their 2-0 Copa del Rey win last week.

Moments after missing a gilt-edged opportunity, Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho's side after stroking home Angel Di Maria's cutback in the ninth minute.

Di Maria then got himself on the scoresheet when Cristiano Ronaldo surged into the box before drilling the ball across the face of goals to give the 24-year-old the simplest of finishes.

Madrid scored their third immediately after play restarted with Ronaldo picking the ball up on the halfway line and storming into the box before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that beat Valencia 'keeper Victor Ruiz at his near post.

The Portuguese superstar then scored his second and Madrid's fourth in the 41st minute with Di Maria ending the scoring spree on the stroke of halftime as Jose Mourinho's side strolled to victory.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid made the most of Barcelona's shock loss to Real Sociedad with a 2-0 win over Levante at the Vincente Calderon.

Adrian Lopez fired the hosts ahead in the 32nd minute after he turned home a Javi Manquillo cross courtesy of a deflection off Levante defender David Navarro.

The game was made safe for Diego Simeone's side when Koke curled home a second from the edge of the area with an hour gone.

Atletico now sit eight points behind leaders Barcelona but their victory came at a cost with star striker Radamel Falcao limping off with a hamstring injury moments before Koke's goal.

The club later confirmed the Colombian had damaged his left hamstring but could not say how long he would be sidelined for.

Osasuna climbed off the bottom of the table with a vital 2-1 win over fellow relegation strugglers Deportivo la Coruna.

Goals to Sola and Nino were enough to get the home side over the line with Camunas scoring for Deportivo in injury time.

It wasn't enough though as Osasuna moved to within one point of safety while Jose Luis Oltra's side replace them at the foot of the table.

In the day's other game, Real Valladolid enhanced their chances of European action next season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Real Zaragoza.

 

[Higuain]

Morata: No problems between Cristiano Ronaldo & Mourinho
The promising youngster has downplayed the importance of last week's discussion between the Portuguese duo, and has stressed they will do their utmost to close the gap with Barca

Varane: Madrid were spectacular against Valencia
The young defender has hailed the Santiago Bernabeu side's display, and has insisted they have not given up on La Liga just yet despite being 15 points behind the league leaders

Xavi: It could be another historic year for Barcelona
The Spain international is dreaming of yet another trophy-laden season, while he expects Milan to pose a stern test for the Catalan giants in the Champions League

Real Madrid deliver best 45 minutes of the season as Mourinho's stars fight for common cause
The champions produced probably their best game of the season as they swept aside Valencia 5-0 at Mestalla. More importantly, the win was all about unity after recent tough times

Messi: It is crazy to compare me to athletes like Jordan, Bolt & Ali
The 2012 Fifa Ballon d'Or winner remains humble amid comparisons to some of the world's sporting greats, and has stressed that he is his own biggest critic

Di Maria: I silenced my critics
The Argentina international, who grabbed a double at the Mestalla, believes he has proved a point after he helped Los Blancos to an impressive victory over Valencia

Allegri: It's difficult to talk percentages on a Kaka move
The Milan coach is uncertain on whether or not he will be able to bring the Brazil international back to San Siro, but has admitted that he is excited by the prospect

Karanka calls for consistency following Real Madrid's 5-0 thrashing of Valencia
The Blancos assistant has expressed his pleasure at the team's performance in Sunday's Valencia rout, but hopes they can carry the form into their coming fixtures

Ozil: I want to end my career with Real Madrid
The Germany international has spoken of his happiness with life in the Spanish capital and says Blancos coach Jose Mourinho is the best in the world

Falcao limps off in Levante clash with hamstring injury
The highly-coveted striker could be facing a spell on the sidelines after having to be replaced in Atletico Madrid's La Liga clash at home against the Valencian outfit

Ozil: I want to be the best player in the world
The German midfielder is confident that he can fulfill his own expectations to become one of the stand-out players in world football

Pique: I'm not a dirty player
The Barca defender has protested against the treatment he has received from referees in La Liga this term, suggesting his punishments have been disproportionate to the fouls made

'We knew we'd suffer against Barca, but we didn't give in' - Montanier revels in Real Sociedad's triumph
The French coach praised his side's exceptional effort while admitting they enjoyed a "slice of luck" as the Basque outfit recorded a memorable victory against the Blaugrana

Valdes the villain in Barcelona's bad week
The goalkeeper's agents announced he will be moving on when his contract expires, a decision which left the Catalan club shocked and unsettled ahead of Saturday's first Liga loss

'Valencia have tried to stay out of refereeing row' - Valverde
Despite some controversial decisions in Tuesday's Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid, Los Che boss claims that his team have ignored the matter as the two sides meet again

Bielsa denies rift with Amorebieta
The Argentine trainer has quashed talk of any disputes with his players, and says there is a healthy atmosphere in the side's dressing room

Messi: Barcelona had to lose at some point
The in-form striker was quick to play down the significance of his side's shock defeat by Real Sociedad, while Pedro attributed the loss to Gerard Pique's sending-off

Marotta admits to 'advanced' talks for Llorente
The Old Lady's director has revealed negotiations are ongoing for the sought-after Spain international, while simultaneously ruling out the sale of Arturo Vidal

Vilanova frustrated by Pique sending off in Sociedad defeat
The 44-year-old was left frustrated by the Spaniard's red card which sparked a stunning comeback that ended their unbeaten run in La Liga

Herrera: Unity is key to Athletic Bilbao revival
The 23-year-old has issued a rallying cry following a terrible first half of the season that sees the club sat in 15th position ahead of their clash with Betis on Monday

Javi Martinez: Guardiola is an excellent coach
The defensive midfielder will be joined by his compatriot at the Allianz Arena next summer and hopes to see more stars from his homeland make the move to Germany

Simeone gave me confidence, says Diego Costa
The 26-year-old looked to be on his way out of Vicente Calderon following a series of injuries and loan moves, but is now a key member of the Argentine's squad

Galliani: Kaka's €5 million wage stalling AC Milan return
The Rossoneri vice-president believes a deal could be completed for the Real Madrid midfielder, but highlighted that there are still financial barriers to overcome

Pep will not sign anyone from Barcelona, says Guardiola's father
After announcing his return to football in the Bundesliga next season, the 41-year-old's dad has denied reports he will look to capture some of his former players

Guardado slams Real Madrid conduct
The winger has hit out at Blancos over their comments towards officials prior to matches and believes they have had an impact on the performances of the men in charge

Albiol plays down Ronaldo-Mourinho incident
The Spain international believes nothing should be read into a confrontation between the pair and stressed they are both natural winners who want the best for the club

Barcelona will find a good replacement for Victor Valdes, insists Vilarrubi
The 31-year-old revealed earlier this week that he will not extend his current deal with the Blaugrana, but they have little doubt that they will cope with the situation

 

[Higuain]

Celta Vigo complete loan signing of Pranjic
The Croatia midfielder joins the Liga outfit on a six-month deal from Sporting, with an option to make the move permanent in the summer

Roma playmaker Pjanic claims Barcelona interest
The 22-year-old has said the Blaugrana have been watching him in recent weeks, but stressed that any decision over a move is his current club's to make

Nagatomo 'honoured' by Real Madrid link
The Japan international is reportedly interesting the Liga champions, though the player insists he is focused on catching Juventus at the top of the Serie A table

Puyol signs Barcelona contract extension until 2016
The Blaugrana captain has opted to extend his stay at Camp Nou by a further three years, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Xavi, who have also penned new deals

Falcao denies meeting with Florentino Perez
The Colombia forward has refuted claims that he and his agent met with the Real Madrid president, while Miguel Angel Gil Marin has denied having any interest in the player

Fabregas: Valdes' decision must be respected
The midfielder believes the goalkeeper should be left alone after deciding not to extend his stay with the Liga leaders when his current deal expires

Soldado to miss Real Madrid clash
The forward picked up a thigh strain against Blancos in La Liga on Sunday and will not recover in time to face the same opponents in the second-leg of their cup tie

Stekelenburg will stay at Roma, says agent
The goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from the Giallorossi after losing his place in the side, but his representative has moved to quash speculation regarding his future

Khedira: Mourinho's support is vital
The Germany international has stated that the Blancos coach plays a big role in his good performances, and has warned not to underestimate Valencia in the Copa del Rey second leg

Cuenca gets medical all-clear
The young Barcelona attacker has been out of action since May 2012, but is one step closer to his comeback after he was give the green light by the club's medical staff

AC Milan and Real Madrid continue Kaka talks
The Brazil international's proposed transfer seemed to have hit the rocks due to "fiscal reasons", but the Serie A outfit have not given up yet believing the deal can be salvaged

Ricardo Costa apologises for Real Madrid defeat
Portuguese star is sorry for the humiliating defeat at the hands of Mourinho's side, but vows to bounce back in this week's Copa del Rey tie against Los Blancos

Barcelona had the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, says Laporta
Before his move to Manchester United, Barca could have signed the Portugal international but failed to due to financial issues, while they could have exchanged Ronaldinho for Kaka

Iniesta: I want to retire at Barcelona
The attacking midfielder is eager to remain at his current club for the remainder of his active career, and has admitted the Catalans have been struggling recently

Barcelona are still hungry, says Xavi
The 33-year-old believes the Blaugrana can triumph following last year's disappointment but says the team owe the fans nothing

Reina would be 'ideal' for Barcelona, says father
The goalkeeper's father has said his son would relish a move from Anfield to the Blaugrana, where he spent time as a youngster

'Valdes is the best goalkeeper in the world' - Iniesta
The shot-stopper recently announced his decision not to extend his Barcelona contract, and his midfield colleague has hailed his contribution to the team down the years

Marotta: Llorente will move to Juventus this summer
The Bianconeri CEO is confident that his club will be able to lure the Spain international in the summer having missed out on a January transfer for the player

 

[Falcao]

'Mourinho has a rift with the whole Real Madrid dressing room' - Salgado

The former Blancos defender has claimed the former Inter boss is on bad terms with every member of his squad, but is still confident they can challenge for La Liga

Jan 21, 2013 2:30:00 PM
By Chris Kvesa

Former Real Madrid right-back Michel Salgado believes that coach Jose Mourinho does not have a bad relationship with just Iker Casillas, but with every Blancos player.

The Portuguese trainer dropped the iconic captain for the Liga matches against Malaga and Real Sociedad, and is rumoured to have had fallings out with a host of squad members in recent months.

"I don't think Mourinho has a rift specifically with Casillas, but rather with the whole dressing room," the 37-year-old told Sport Express.

"I think the coach needs to make the first move and hold a meeting with everyone to discuss the situation and clear the air."

Madrid currently sit third in La Liga, 15 points behind rivals Barcelona, but the former Blackburn Rovers defender is adamant they still have a shot at the title.

"There are still four months to go: the season isn't lost yet. There is still enough leeway to get things back on track."

Finally, Salgado promised that he would soon return to the game, adding: "I'll be back as a coach very soon."

 

[Higuain]

Demichelis sets target on wounded Barcelona

The 32-year-old is hopeful his side can inflict a second successive defeat on the Blaugrana on Thursday in the Copa del Rey

Jan 21, 2013 11:25:00 PM
By Shane Callaghan

Malaga defender Martin Demichelis is hoping los Boquerones can capitalise on Barcelona's first league defeat of the season by eliminating the Catalan giants from the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

It will be the third time in less than two weeks that the two team's have met, with the tie finely poised at 2-2 after last week's first-leg clash at Camp Nou.

And the Argentine, whose side lost 3-1 in their Liga game against the Blaugrana, admitted he has been encouraged after Barcelona suffered a shock defeat at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

“As is the way with football, this same weekend Barcelona showed that they are not an invincible team and that even they can lose a two-goal lead," Demichelis told reporters.

"We have shown that in difficult situations and tough games that we are up for it. In football you never know, they might arrive angry and then it will be difficult to deal with them.

"Hopefully some doubt arises in them, though I do not think so because they are used to setting out to win every two or three days. Being able to eliminate Barcelona would be something with global significance."

Meanwhile, Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini has lamented the playing surface at La Rosaleda ahead of hosting the defending champions.

“It’s worse than ever," said the former Real Madrid coach.

"It is more than difficult to walk on. It does not affect just one or two players, [it affects] all of us, with rubber studs [and] aluminium."

 

[Higuain]

Barcelona defender Pique becomes a father

The baby boy, named Milan Pique Mebarak, was born on Tuesday night in a hospital in the city and is the Spain international's first child with pop star Shakira

Jan 22, 2013 11:40:00 PM
By Joe Wright

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has become a father for the first time.

Milan Pique Mebarak was born at 21:20 on Tuesday evening at Teknon hospital in the city, and is the Spain international's first child with his girlfriend of two years, pop star Shakira.

A statement on the singer's official website read: "We are happy to announce the birth of Milan Pique Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Pique, born January 22nd at 9:36pm, in Barcelona, Spain.

"The name Milan (pronounced MEE-lahn), means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification.

"Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth.

"The hospital confirmed that the couple’s first child weighed approximately 6lbs. 6 ounces, and that both mother and child are in excellent health."

The news is the latest in something of a 'baby boom' at Camp Nou: Lionel Messi's son Thiago was born at the end of 2012, while David Villa, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro are all to become fathers this year.

Pique has been dating Shakira since 2010, and the couple announced their pregnancy after Spain's successful Euro 2012 campaign in Poland and Ukraine.

The 25-year-old is suspended for Barcelona's meeting with Osasuna on Sunday after he was sent off in the defeat to Real Sociedad, so he will be able to watch the match alongside his partner and new-born son.

 

[Gonzalo Higuain]

Valdano: There is no conspiracy against Real Madrid
The Argentine has dismissed suggestions of a media campaign against the reigning Spanish champions, despite the club's denial of reports of a dressing room rift

Koke: Catching best-ever Barcelona will be difficult
The Spain Under-21 international feels winning the title might be a bridge too far for Atletico Madrid, while he has hailed Diego Simeone's role in their upturn in fortunes

Xavi: Barcelona must be more effective
The influential midfielder feels the Catalans can still improve their finishing, and has stressed that they are keen to return to winning ways in La Liga

Real Madrid return is best thing to happen - Diego Lopez
The former Blancos youth player is overjoyed with his return to the club he considers to be his 'home' after his transfer from Sevilla

Pellegrini wanted me and that is important, says Lugano
The Uruguay international is delighted with his move to La Rosaleda and is aiming to make a big impact on Costa del Sur

We are better than Deportivo but we must prove it - Valdez
The Paraguay international feels his side are superior to the Galicians though he has cautioned they must demonstrate that when they travel to El Riazor

Mourinho: We never saw real Kaka
The coach of Los Blancos does not think his team's 2009 signing from the Rossoneri has played at his best since joining the side and the Brazilian may be better off moving on

Real Madrid's Casillas could miss up to 12 weeks
Dr Manuel del Cerro confirmed the operation on the Spain skipper on Friday was a success, but revealed he faces a lengthy spell out of action

Bielsa 'happy & sad' about Llorente's deal with Juventus
The Athletic Bilbao coach is sure that the 27-year-old will continue to be fully committed to the club until the end of the season, while Ibai Gomez is happy to see the saga end

'Casillas is the heart & soul of Real Madrid' - Xavi
The Spain captain will be missing for around six weeks with a broken thumb, and the Barcelona midfielder is certain his club will miss him

Official: Atletico Madrid seal Insua deal
The Argentina international has moved to the Spanish capital on a three-and-a-half year contract after spending 18 months at Sporting Lisbon

De Gea would be tempted by Barcelona move, says girlfriend
Although the Spanish goalkeeper is "very happy" at Manchester United, his partner says that he would relish a return to Spain, especially if it were to play for the Catalan club

Messi is the best player in the world, says Blatter
The Fifa president is "proud" that the Argentine won the Ballon d'Or earlier in the month, and hinted that runners up could be given consolation prizes in the future

Isco set to sign new five-year deal at Malaga
The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this season, but the Andalusian club's director of football expects him to pen a fresh deal soon

Mourinho future was not discussed, says Sanchez
Real Madrid have again stressed there is no truth in reports claiming that a select group of players have demanded the sacking of the Portuguese

Barcelona breathe sigh of relief over Messi injury
The forward was unable to complete Thursday's cup encounter, but the Catalans have stated that his injury is nothing major

Busquets: Barcelona want to win every competition
The Spain international felt his side's victory over Malaga on Thursday could have been by an even greater margin and now has his sights set on yet more silverware

Wenger rules out move for Barcelona star Villa
The Gunners were said to be keen on Spain's all-time leading goalscorer, but as exclusively revealed by Goal.com, they have abandoned their pursuit for the striker

Mourinho's Madrid crumbling as Perez commences media war
The club president is fighting to save face and unify his team for the battles ahead on the pitch, but divisions run deep at the Bernabeu and the coach's unpopularity is soaring

Barcelona to meet Real Madrid in Copa del Rey semi-finals for seventh time
Both sides have already met on three occasions in 2012-13, and three more Clasicos are lined up over the next six weeks

Buffon has 'no regrets' over Barcelona snub
The Bianconeri skipper insists turning down the opportunity to join the Catalan giants in 2001 was the right one, despite the unrivaled success of the Blaugrana in recent years

Guardado upbeat despite Copa del Rey exit
Los Che's midfielder was pleased with the way his side acquitted themselves and believes they were unlucky not to get more out of their quarter-final encounter against Real Madrid

Falcao: I am not thinking about a transfer
The Colombia international has set his sights on winning trophies with his current club rather than considering his options amid interest from some of Europe's heavyweights

Official: Llorente to join Juventus in July
The Spain international will move to the Turin giants in the summer on a four-year deal once his contract with Athletic Bilbao expires

Florentino Perez denies rumours of Real Madrid players' Mourinho revolt
The Blancos president called a press conference to insist that there is no truth in the reports claiming the squad had demanded the exit of their coach in the summer

Simeone: There's more to Atletico than Falcao
The Argentine coach has stressed that the Colchoneros have adequate cover for the injured Colombian striker ahead of Thursday's cup encounter

Karanka: Real Madrid do not have aggressive players
The Santiago Bernabeu side have had five players sent off in their past six games, but they have insisted that their approach is not too rough

Casillas out of Manchester United clash with broken thumb
The Spain international will be out of action for an estimated six weeks after breaking a thumb during his side's 1-1 draw with Valencia on Wednesday

Casillas: We do not know yet how serious injury is
The shot-stopper had to be taken off during the first half of his side's 1-1 draw with Valencia due to a kick to the hand, and is unsure for how long he will be out of action

Juventus to confirm four-year deal for Llorente
Antonio Conte has won the race for the Spain striker, who will become a Bianconeri player on July 1 after seeing out the remainder of his contract with Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao's Muniain 'angry' with form
The precocious winger has denied claims he felt snubbed by coach Marcelo Bielsa in recent weeks, and has vowed his performances will improve in line with his fitness

Casillas withdrawn injured in Valencia clash
The Real Madrid skipper was kicked accidentally by defender Alvaro Arbeloa in a scramble following a corner, and had to be replaced by Antonio Adan in the Copa del Rey second leg

Xavi to sign new Barcelona contract on Monday
The experienced playmaker will put pen-to-paper on a two-year extension to his current agreement, following Carles Puyol in committing his future to the club

Malaga loan Lugano from Paris Saint-Germain
The Uruguay international has joined the Andalusians for the remainder of the season, with a view to making the deal permanent at the end of the campaign

Mourinho: La Liga out of Real Madrid's reach
The Portuguese coach believes it is impossible to retain the league title, and has stressed that PSG are not an option for him to move to

Abidal to get medical all-clear in February
The defender is currently undergoing examinations in hospital as part of the treatment following his liver transplant, but he remains on course to return to action soon

 

[Lionel Messi]

La Liga preview: Real Madrid, Mourinho under pressure

24 January 2013

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho faces an uncertain future after conceding the title to Barcelona this week.

Ahead of Saturday's home match with Getafe and just after Barca's first defeat of the season, Mourinho's words will spark further speculation regarding his future as Real struggle to close a 15-point gap.

"The La Liga title is impossible now. There is too big a gap. We have to focus on other goals like the Copa del Rey and the Champions League," Mourinho said.

"It does no good to obsess over these things. Obsession only makes things more complicated. Nothing will be easy. We need to stay calm and make the most of every opportunity."

Defeatist words from a man who does not readily concede defeat, but in his defence, Real would first have to close a seven-point gap to second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Mourinho has rebuffed talk of a move to the French capital to take over Carlo Ancelotti's job at Paris Saint-Germain, but talk remains rife of a potential move back to England.

Barcelona remain eight points clear of Atletico ahead of Sunday's match with Osasuna after losing 3-2 to Real Sociedad.

The loss broke a 23-game unbeaten run in La Liga dating back to last March's loss to eventual champions Real.

Gerard Pique received a red card before Sociedad fought back and will miss the clash with Osasuna.

Midfielder Xavi is set to sign a new contract on Monday and will join Carles Puyol in committing his future to the club after he signed a new deal until 2016.

In one of the other matches of the round, last season's Europa League finalists Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid clash at the Estadio San Mames on Sunday.

On Saturday, Celta de Vigo are at home to Real Sociedad, Levante host Real Valladolid in a mid-table battle, Real Zaragoza host Espanyol and Deportivo La Coruna will look to wrench themselves off the foot of the table against Valencia.

In the other games on Sunday, Rayo Vallecano take on fourth-placed Real Betis and Mallorca host Malaga, while on Monday Sevilla are at home to Granada.

 

[Lionel Messi]

​

 

[Lionel Messi]

Real Madrid complete Diego Lopez signing

The Liga champions have swooped for the 31-year-old to provide extra goalkeeping cover, after Iker Casillas was ruled out for up to 12 weeks following surgery on his hand

Jan 25, 2013 9:02:00 PM
Joe Wright

Real Madrid have completed the signing of goalkeeper Diego Lopez from Sevilla.

The Liga champions have been linked with a move for a replacement shot-stopper since Iker Casillas suffered a broken thumb in the Copa del Rey clash with Valencia.

With their club captain ruled out for up to 12 weeks following surgery on Friday afternoon, los Blancos have wasted no time in swooping for 31-year-old Lopez, who first joined the capital club as a teenager.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Real Madrid C.F. and Sevilla F.C. have reached an agreement for the transfer of Diego Lopez, who will stay with the club until the end of the 2016/17 season."

Real Madrid had previously been linked with Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler as they sought cover for the stricken Casillas.

Lopez will now provide competition for Antonio Adan ahead of this weekend's clash with Getafe.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Revealed: Barcelona use secret weapon in Neymar hunt

The Blaugrana hope flying full-back Dani Alves can convince his friend and Brazil team-mate to make the switch to Camp Nou, despite keen interest from the likes of Bayern Munich

Jan 25, 2013 8:45:00 AM

EXCLUSIVE
By Martin del Palacio Langer

Barcelona have deployed Dani Alves as their secret weapon in the battle to sign Brazil superstar Neymar.

The 20-year-old is the most wanted player in world football and the Catalan club are desperate to fight off competition from Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich as the race hots up for his signature.

The Blaugrana have already indicated they are willing to pay Santos' €60m release clause for their playmaker and have now launched a charm offensive led by Neymar's Brazilian compatriot Dani Alves.

According to Goalcom sources, the relationship between the pair is excellent, to the extent that Neymar treats the Barca right-back “like a big brother” and seriously considers his advice both on and off the pitch.

Alves has made it his personal mission to convince his Seleçao team-mate to join him at club level as well. Goalcom also understands that Alves recently called Neymar to tell him about his fantastic experience as a Barca player and, since then, has not stopped insisting that the team would be unstoppable if the Santos attacker were to join forces with players such as Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

Barcelona's courtship of Neymar has also involved club president Sandro Rosell who, over the last two years, has been trying to convince the mercurial youngster that the Camp Nou environment is best for his development.

As revealed by Goal.com in March 2012, Tito Vilanova's side remain in pole position to sign Neymar, but the deal is far from certain.

There is now a strong possibility that the player will run out his contract with Santos, which ends in 2014, as the playmaker's sponsors, who include the Brazilian government and the main Brazilian bank, want him to play at his best in the World Cup.

His backers believe that a move next summer could be a major risk in case he does not adapt quickly to the demands of the European game.

As a consequence, and under Fifa regulations, any club could snatch the player for free as early as January 2014. Given Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are also in the market, such a bidding war is a situation that Barca desperately want to avoid.

Neymar has also been quoted as saying that he would be interested in playing for Pep Guardiola when he takes over as Bayern Munich coach.

 

[Higuain]

La Liga preview: Valencia aim to stop Messi, Barcelona

31 January 2013

Table-toppers Barcelona will travel to Valencia in this weekend's La Liga action while Real Madrid are also on the road at Granada.

A 5-1 thumping of Osasuna on Sunday saw Barca return to winning ways in the league after their shock 3-2 loss at Real Sociedad.

Argentine forward Lionel Messi, who tops the La Liga scoring charts with 33 goals this season, struck four times in that victory and looks in ominous form ahead of Sunday's trip to the Mestalla.

After making a sloppy start to the season, Valencia have resurrected their season with four wins from their past five La Liga fixtures, with Roberto Soldado and Jonas scoring three goals each in that spell.

Soldado missed the club's 3-2 away win at Deportivo La Coruna last week with a thigh injury but Valencia are hopeful that the striker will return for their home clash against the Catalan giants.

The two sides have already met once this season, with Barcelona emerging victorious 1-0 thanks to a 23rd-minute goal from Brazilian defender Adriano Correia.

Valencia will have to defy recent history if they want to cause an upset, with the club unable to beat Barca in their past 11 meetings.

Second-placed Atletico Madrid are nine points behind Barcelona and will hope to make up ground with a home victory against Real Betis on Sunday.

Colombian forward Radamel Falcao has netted 18 league goals this season and has played a big role in the club's success.

Falcao is likely to miss the match with a hamstring injury though and with no-one else in Atletico's squad having scored more than four goals in the league, Real Betis will fancy their chances of claiming an upset win.

They sit fifth on the table but have failed to win any of their past four matches in all competitions.

Real Madrid remain a long way off the pace, trailing Barcelona by 15 points in third position on the table.

They are in good form, though, and will be expected to make light work of the lowly Granada, who sit just one place above the relegation zone.

Other matches of note see the fourth-placed Malaga host Real Zaragoza, also on Sunday.

Strugglers Osasuna and Celta de Vigo will clash while the bottom-placed Deportivo La Coruna travel to the out-of-form Getafe.

Espanyol battle Levante, Sevilla take on Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad meet Mallorca in other fixtures across the weekend.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Insua had 'no doubts' over move to Atletico Madrid
The Argentina defender has revealed he had no second thoughts about a move to the Madrid-based club and has praised coach Diego Simeone

Gourcuff set to stay with Lyon
The French side's chairman says the attacker will not be moving to Spain this month, despite reports that the club had agreed a loan deal for the 26-year-old

Spanish doctor Fuentes: I worked with footballers in 2006
The sports doctor has claimed that he not only worked with cyclists, but also helped athletes from several other sports

Atletico Madrid & Valencia chasing Toulalan, says agent
The 29-year-old Malaga midfielder is wanted by two of La Liga's top clubs, but his representative says he will likely stay at La Rosaleda until at least the end of the season

Rexach: La Liga struggles make Real Madrid more dangerous
The former Spain international has warned that the Spanish champions cannot be underestimated in the Copa del Rey and Champions League

Benzema: We do not have a bad relationship with Mourinho
The France international has dismissed suggestions that the team is no longer on speaking terms with their coach, and is looking forward to Wednesday's Clasico

Llorente out for two weeks with strained knee ligaments
The striker has not suffered major damage, but he will be missing for 14 days after an MRI scan revealed the full extent of his problem

Mourinho does not communicate with Real Madrid players, says Casillas' girlfriend
The TV presenter has revealed the internal problems inside the Blancos dressing room, stating that the atmosphere at the club "is not exactly good"

The door will always be open for Victor Valdes if he changes his mind, says Rosell
The keeper recently announced that he will not ink a new deal as he wants to move on, but the club remain hopeful that the 31-year-old will have a change of heart

Wenger: Barcelona reluctant to sell Villa
The Gunners are interested in the Spain striker but the manager says that there is no room for negotiation, also confirming that David Beckham will not be joining his side

Casillas no longer untouchable as Diego Lopez returns to Real Madrid
The club captain and symbol is sidelined with a fracture in his hand and could face a fight to reclaim his starting slot after the signing of his former team-mate this week

Giving Vilanova the Barcelona job was a brilliant decision, says Rosell
The Blaugrana supremo believes the coach has been a revelation in his his first few months at the helm after taking over from Pep Guardiola last summer

Nelson completes Palermo switch
The Portugal international has sealed his move to the Serie A side and will be unveiled to the public on Tuesday

Malaga's Saviola focused on Porto test
The 31-year-old has called for focus ahead of next month's Champions League clash and pays tribute to Manuel Pelligrini

Hutton poised to join Real Mallorca on loan
The 28-year-old Glaswegian does not appear to be part of Paul Lambert's plans, and is set to join Los Bermellones on loan until the end of the season

Isco signs Malaga contract extension
The talented midfielder has sealed a new deal with the Andalusians, which binds him to the club until 2016 and puts an end to transfer speculation regarding his future

Arsenal open formal talks with Barcelona to sign David Villa
Gunners' contract negotiator Dicky Law has been in Spain to negotiate a permanent transfer after the Catalan giants softened their stance on selling the striker this month

Xavi signs new Barcelona deal until 2016
The Catalan midfielder, alongside Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi, agreed to extend his current deal back in December, and has finally put pen to paper at Camp Nou

Abidal released from hospital after liver transplant tests
The Blaugrana defender has been discharged from the clinic on the back of a series of follow-up tests to his major operation and is expected to be back in training soon

I have not signed to replace Casillas at Real Madrid, says Lopez
The former Sevilla goalkeeper is happy about his return to los Blancos, and insists that he did not sign for the club to dislodge the club captain from his spot in the starting XI

Messi: Victor Valdes is the best goalkeeper in Barcelona's history
The 31-year-old was applauded by the Camp Nou crowd on Sunday, and the Argentine says his team-mate deserves the affection of the club's fans, despite his contract situation

Neymar: I do not know whether I will renew with Santos
The Brazil international has been consistently linked with a move to Barcelona, but has stressed that he is unsure where his future lies at this point

Sergio Ramos: I feel like a Real Madrid veteran
The Spain international is pleased to have developed into a key figure at the Bernabeu over the years, and is disappointed to be unavailable for Wednesday's game against Barcelona

Messi happy with Barcelona focus after joining 200-club
The 25-year-old was delighted the Blaugrana were not distracted by their impending Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday, while Jordi Roura heaped praise on the Argentine

Llorente to have MRI scan on knee injury
The Athletic Bilbao striker, who recently agreed to join Juventus on a free in the summer, will have the scan to assess a sprain picked up during training on Saturday

I'm not the finished article yet, insists Messi
The Argentine has won four successive Ballon d'Or awards, but believes he can become an even better player as he strives to win everything with Barcelona and Argentina

Karanka: Ronaldo's ankle treatment merely a precaution
The Real Madrid assistant coach has said that ice was applied to the Portuguese forward's ankle as a preventative measure, and his performance should cast aside any fitness doubts

 

[Lionel Messi]

Carvajal: Bundesliga much faster than La Liga
The Spain Under-21 international says the "rhythm" of the game is far different in Germany than his homeland, but says he is enjoying the challenge nonetheless

Friends reunited: Monreal follows Azpilicueta's path to London
The two full-backs came through the youth system at Osasuna before going their separate ways, but now the pair are back living in the same city after Nacho's move to Arsenal

Callejon: Real Madrid players receive racist insults
The versatile attacker fears that football could be fighting a losing battle against racism, after admitting that Blancos have to deal with the issue on a regular basis

I left Malaga because I want to play regularly, admits Buonanotte
The Argentine play-maker brought an end to his spell at Malaga to join El Grana in the hope of finding more playing time and more appreciation

Moyes confirms failed Everton bid for Negredo
The Toffees were prepared to pay €10.4m to sign the Spain international on transfer deadline day but a deal failed to materialise with Sevilla holding out for a higher fee

Gago happy at Velez Sarsfield move despite supporting Boca Juniors
The midfielder has spoken out after completing his loan move from Valencia to the Torneo Inicial champions until the end of the season

Alcaraz delighted at facing Real Madrid on Granada debut
The new El Grana boss is eagerly anticipating his first match in charge which sees his struggling side entertain the Spanish champions

Albelda set to leave Valencia
Los Ches' long-standing midfielder has told reporters that it his highly likely he will leave his club of the last 18 years when his contract runs out at the end of the season

Jordi Alba: I have scars from Essien challenge
The Barcelona full-back has revealed that the Ghanaian's challenge on him left a mark, but accepts that referees have a hard time during matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona

Neymar: I will not leave Santos for free
The highly-rated forward does not want to see his club end up empty-handed when he eventually makes the move from Brazil to Europe, with current deal running out in 2014

Messi called Karanka 'Mourinho's puppet' after El Clasico - Callejon
The Blancos attacker says that the 25-year-old Argentine waited around after Wednesday's Clasico in order to aim insults at Real Madrid's playing and coaching staff

Arsenal boss Wenger ‘delighted’ by Monreal signing
The defender sealed an €9 million move to north London on Thursday and his new manager is sure the Spaniard will add much-needed quality to the left-back department

Hierro: Varane has got it all
The France international has impressed and his fine form has not gone unnoticed elsewhere as the former Spain star had nothing but positive words to say about the 19-year-old

Jordi Alba sees long-term future at Barcelona
The 23-year-old wing-back has revealed he is thoroughly enjoying his time at the Primera Division leaders and intends to stay put for the foreseeable future

Gago confirms Velez loan deal
The Argentine is set to sign for the champions of his homeland until the end of the season after becoming dissatisfied with life in La Liga in recent months

Arsenal seal €9.3m Monreal deal
The Gunners have secured the services of the Pamplona-born defender on a four-and-a-half year-deal worth €70,000 per week, but could not tempt Barcelona into selling their striker

Sao Paulo's Casemiro joins Real Madrid Castilla
The Brazilian midfielder has joined the Madridistas' B team for the rest of the season on a short-term loan deal

Official: Ajax confirm Cuenca loan
The Barcelona youngster will spend the rest of the season at the Amsterdam ArenA as he looks to recover his fitness after missing most of the last year through injury

Arsenal in talks with Athletic Bilbao's Amorebieta & Malaga star Monreal
The Liga side recently withdrew their contract offer to the Venezuela international, with the Gunners poised to capitalise on the unrest as they look to shore up their defence

Negredo will not join Everton on deadline day - agent
The Spaniard has been the subject of interest from the Toffees and Tottenham, but his representative has dismissed rumours of a last-ditch move to England

The referee did not want to book Ronaldo, says Dani Alves
The Barcelona defender has claimed the referee was too afraid to caution the Portuguese during Wednesday's clash with Real Madrid for fear of seeing him suspended

Official: Emre leaves Atletico for Fenerbahce
The experienced midfielder will return to his former club after an unsuccessful six-month spell at the Europa League holders

Buonanotte leaves Malaga for Granada
The attacking midfielder's time with the Andalusian club has come to an end after two years, and he will continue his career at El Grana

Acquafresca completes loan move to Levante
The 25-year-old is on his way to the Primera Division on a temporary deal, though he could join the club on a permanent basis if he impresses between now and the end of the season

Everton lead Tottenham in race for €11m Negredo
The Toffees hope to push through a deadline day deal for the Sevilla striker as Spurs retain an interest in the 27-year-old, having so far only proposed a loan move

Iniesta: Barcelona leave the Bernabeu with bad taste in mouth
The Spain international has voiced his frustration after drawing Wednesday's cup match against their arch-rivals and felt they could and possibly should have won the game

Varane was sensational against Barcelona, says Butragueno
The promising youngster put in a man-of-the-match performance against the Blaugrana, earning praise from officials of both clubs in a hard-fought encounter

Xavi: We let Real Madrid escape
The influential midfielder was not impressed with his side's profligacy in front of goal, and believes they should have emerged victorious

The result could have been better for Barcelona, says Fabregas
The 25-year-old - who was on the scoresheet as the spoils were shared at the Santiago Bernabeu - believes Barca should have come away with more from their cup clash

Athletic Bilbao withdraw Amorebieta contract offer
The club had imposed a three-week deadline for the player to respond to the deal on the table, but after hearing nothing the Basque side have lost patience and acted accordingly

Arsenal don't need David Villa to finish in top four, insists Parlour
The former member of the Gunners' Invincibles believes the recent form of Olivier Giroud means it is not essential for Arsene Wenger to sign a new striker before the deadline

Fenerbahce announce Emre return talks
The Turkish giants have confirmed that they are in talks to bring the out-of-favour Atletico Madrid player back to the club he left in the summer

Ozil: Winning trophies with Real Madrid the best feeling
The Germany international has fond memories of his debut for the Santiago Bernabeu side, but has stressed that nothing beats picking up medals

 

[Lionel Messi]

La Liga wrap: Granada stun Real

3 February 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo's maiden own goal has handed Granada a 1-0 win and consigned Real Madrid to their fifth loss of the La Liga season.

Ronaldo put the ball into his own net for the first time in his professional career on Saturday as Granada continued their mid-season revival to move six points clear of the relegation zone.

Granada failed to register a shot on target for the entire 90 minutes, while Real did not manage to test the hosts' goalkeeper Tono until after half-time.

The hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute from a corner when Ronaldo got to ball first, only to flick it past Real's goalkeeper Diego Lopez into the net.

While Granada only had 28 percent possession for the match, they held on against Real with Tono denying Ronaldo on a couple of occasions.

The visitors' best chance for an equaliser came in the 84th minute when Tono burst off his line to thwart Jose Callejon and the ball spilled free but Karim Benzema could only shoot wide when presented with an empty net.

Granada have now moved to 14th in La Liga with 26 points, while Real remain third, 15 points behind leaders Barcelona, who will have the opportunity to extend that margin when they travel to Valencia on Sunday.

Espanyol also picked up a crucial win on Saturday as they defeated eighth-placed Levante 3-2 with Christian Stuani making the difference off the bench for the victors.

The Uruguayan forward replaced Samuele Longo at half-time with Espanyol ahead 1-0 in front of their home fans and while Levante equalised in the 47th minute, Stuani and Sergio Garcia combined to devastating effect to clinch the win for the hosts.

Garcia set up Stuani in the 67th minute to put Espanyol 2-1 in front and then the Uruguayan returned the favour two minutes later as the home team built a two-goal cushion.

Levante's Obafemi Martins ensured a nervous finish for Espanyol when he scored in the 87th minute but the Barcelona-based club held on for their third win in four games.

In other La Liga results, Getafe crushed Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 and Osasuna triumphed 1-0 against Celta de Vigo.

 

[Lionel Messi]

La Liga wrap: Barca held at Valencia, Atletico win
4 February 2013

A resilient Valencia held Barcelona to a frustrating 1-1 draw in their La Liga clash at the Mestalla on Sunday.

The hosts set out to deny Barcelona space from the outset and were rewarded on 33 minutes when Ever Banega controlled a poor Gerard Pique clearance and rifled the ball home.

However, Barca were handed a route back into the game when Valencia defender Joao Pereira clumsily brought down Pedro inside the box in the 39th minute.

Lionel Messi stepped up to equalise from the penalty spot and take his scoring run to 12 consecutive matches.

Both sides pressed for a winner in the second half, with Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes pulling off a stunning double save late on to ensure his side left with a point.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid overcame Real Betis 1-0 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon to move to within nine points of Barcelona.

A Diego Costa strike just after the hour was enough to see Diego Simeone's side over the line as they took full advantage of Barca's draw.

Meanwhile, Sevilla kept their European aspirations alive with a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano.

Ivan Rakitic scored in first-half injury time to send Sevilla into the break ahead but Vallecano levelled six minutes after play restarted when Alejandro Dominguez converted from the penalty spot.

The home side hit back just three minutes later thanks to Alvaro Negredo's 10th goal of the season, which proved to be the difference between the sides.

In the day's other games, Real Sociedad compounded Mallorca's relegation woes with a thumping 3-0 win, while Malaga and Real Zaragoza played out a 1-1 draw at the La Rosaleda.

 

[Higuain]

Karpin 'unaware' of alleged doping at Real Sociedad
The 44-year-old has denied using banned substances during his time with Sociedad and has refuted the sensational claims made by a former president at the Basque club

Iniesta looks to make amends for Barcelona shortcomings
The 28-year-old has revealed Barca will be aiming to make amends for last year's failure in the Champions League and La Liga, and says he will quit the club when the time is right

Alves: Atletico Madrid are our main rivals, not Real
The full-back is more concerned with Diego Simeone's second-placed side and believes it is dangerous to overlook their threat with Blancos cut adrift

Real Sociedad bought banned substances, claims ex-president
Inaki Badiola was in charge of the San Sebastian-based side in 2008 and claims he uncovered payments for illegal supplements between 2001 and 2007

'Barcelona are not just Messi' - Iniesta
The Spain international has stressed that football is not an individual sport and says the entire Blaugrana squad are responsible for the Argentine's continued brilliance

Llorente targets Champions League success with Juventus
The 27-year-old revealed he turned down a number of other offers in order to sign for the Serie A champions, and has set his sights on European glory

Both sides did enough to win, says Jordi Alba
The Barcelona full-back feels his side were suffering the effects of a hotly-contested Clasico encounter in midweek, but reserved praise for former club Valencia after the 1-1 draw

Xavi ruled out for Spain with hamstring injury
The Barcelona midfielder complained of pain in his right leg after his team's 1-1 draw with Valencia on Sunday evening, and joins Xabi Alonso as a high profile withdrawal

Varane withdrawal sees Yanga-Mbiwa called up to France squad
The Real Madrid centre-back has withdrawn from Les Bleus' latest side to face Germany due to a muscle injury, and the Newcastle United defender will replace him

Barcelona lacked intensity & freshness, says Roura
The Blaugrana assistant coach believes their Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid in midweek impacted on their 1-1 result with Valencia, but says the draw was a fair scoreline

Nolito delighted with 'dream' start at Granada
The recently signed Spaniard is very pleased with the fantastic beginning to life in Andalucia and says the result over Los Blancos went far beyond his and the team's expectations

Ramos: Real Madrid wounded by Granada defeat
The defender says he and his team-mates are hurting after the loss on Saturday night, but insists they will not give up on any competition

Groin problem rules Xabi Alonso out of Spain friendly
The midfielder has been replaced by Mario Suarez after needing medical treatment in the aftermath of Real Madrid's defeat to Granada

Llorente has 'clear conscience' over Athletic Bilbao exit
The Spain forward says he has no regrets over his conduct in sealing a move to Serie A, but is disappointed by the negative reaction he has received from supporters and the media

Real Madrid had no luck against Granada, says Butragueno
The Blancos legend has admitted that Jose Mourinho's men did not perform well enough at Los Carmenes on Saturday as they fell to a fifth Liga loss this season

The curse of Andalucia: Real Madrid go missing again as Barcelona effort takes its toll
Jose Mourinho's men have lost four times in Spain's southernmost province this term, lacking creativity and condition on Saturday after the extreme exertion of Wednesday's Clasico

Ronaldo: I knew that we would play Manchester United
The Blancos star has spoken of his excitement at facing his former club in the Champions League knockout stages, and is looking forward to "going home"

Granada boss Alcaraz 'unsurprised' by Real Madrid scalp
The newly-appointed coach reveals he always believed that a shock outcome against the Blancos could be on the cards but is keen to downplay the impact of the Liga minnows' win

Mourinho: I'm responsible for Madrid loss
The Portuguese coach was evidently unamused with his players' performances in their 1-0 defeat against Granada, criticising the efforts they put in over a poor 90 minutes

Pellegrini: Monreal sale a blow for Malaga
The Chilean coach has bemoaned his side's sale of one of their star performers, and said that it was representative of the club's financial status

Bielsa laments Athletic Bilbao's failure to beat Valladolid
Despite admitting his satisfaction at the draw, the 57-year-old trainer believed his men could have gone for the win had they possessed more conviction

Galliani: Real Madrid wanted €18 million for Kaka
The AC Milan CEO has revealed the Italian side were priced out of signing the Brazilian midfielder, saying that their desired figure was "unthinkable"

 

[Higuain]

Ronaldo is unfortunate to play in the Messi era, says Larsson
The Celtic legend has nothing but praise for the Portuguese, but feels the four-time Ballon d'Or winner is an even better player

Dani Alves: It is Neymar's decision if he joins Barcelona
The Brazil international has made it clear that he can only give his compatriot advice about his future, but that the attacker will have to make his own decision

Benat wants Real Betis future decided by June
The Spanish midfielder says that he is hoping to stay with the Liga outfit despite discussions over his contract at the club , and admits his form has been affected by the saga

Messi: I could end my career in Argentina
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner has extended his contract until 2018 with Barcelona, but says he has not ruled out ending his career back in his home country

Caminero: Falcao remains under contract and focused at Atletico Madrid
The Liga side's sporting director insists that now is not the time to discuss the future of their striker despite interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe

Ronaldo: Issue with Mourinho has been resolved
The Real Madrid attacker has denied any knowledge of whether his Portuguese coach will step down at the end of the season, and refused to discuss what goes on in the dressing room

Messi extends Barcelona contract until 2018
The Argentine attacker, who has been a Camp Nou player since 2000, signed a new deal on Thursday which ties him to the Liga giants for a further five years

Alba: New Messi contract great for Barcelona fans
The Blaugrana left-back also warned his Camp Nou team-mates of a tough month ahead, and highlighted the threat that Atletico Madrid are posing this season

Iniesta or Ronaldo more deserving of Ballon d'Or than Messi, claims Wenger
The 63-year-old thinks the Argentine is the best player in the world, but feels the award should have gone to a player who helped his team to a trophy

Pepe resumes Real Madrid training
The experienced defender is one step closer to making his comeback as he has joined his team-mates in training after a six-week absence

Cristiano Ronaldo: There is no doping in football
The Real Madrid attacker does not believe that football has a problem with drugs, and insisted that he has not fallen out with coach with Jose Mourinho

Westerveld says Sociedad injections were nothing to do with doping
The Dutch goalkeeper says that players regularly took injections at Anoeta but added that he believes they had nothing to do with doping

Ronaldo reveals Champions League dream
The Portuguese says winning the world’s biggest club competition with los Blancos is a dream of his, as the side look to claim their 10th European Cup this season

Falcao 'happy and satisfied' at Atletico Madrid
The Colombian striker has said that although he does have personal ambitions to add to his medal collection, he is only thinking about competing for titles with his current club

Ronaldo wants to wait until summer to discuss Real Madrid future
The forward says he has no desire to begin talks over his new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu until the end of the season and adds that his 'sadness' last year was not due to money

Barcelona will not rush things with Abidal, says Zubizarreta
The French defender has been out of action for nearly a year after undergoing a liver transplant, but he is slowly edging closer to his comeback

Khedira: We will give our all to win the Champions League
The Germany international has set his sights on glory in European club football's elite competition, but admitted that the Spanish title is out of their reach

Reina: Dropping Casillas was wrong
The Liverpool goalkeeper has insisted that his compatriot deserved better, and added that he wants the Real Madrid captain to return to fitness as soon as possible

Benzema: Real Madrid still have the Champions League to play for
The 25-year-old has called on his team-mates to be united as Los Blancos look to put their league form behind them and focus on having a strong end to the campaign

Ronaldinho tips Neymar to become world's best
The 32-year-old is backing his Brazilian compatriot to succeed Argentine striker Lionel Messi, while he also says he does not regret his decision to snub the Premier League

Miranda keen to take chance to impress with Brazil
The Atletico Madrid and Selecao defender thinks he can become a regular with his national team after impressing for Los Rojiblancos, while his team-mate aims to improve defensively

Del Bosque: I have never seen doping in football
The former Blancos coach, currently in charge of the Spain national team, says he has seen no evidence of doping in football following claims by the former Real Sociedad president

Tebas: Match-fixing must be admitted before it can be stopped
The vice-president of the LFP, who previously questioned the legality of some Spanish matches, is not surprised that Europol have found so many games that might have been fixed

Mallorca re-hire Manzano after Caparros exit
Los Bermellones have appointed their previous coach after sacking Joaquin Caparros who led the team on a poor run that has resulted in them dropping into the relegation zone

Only Messi and Ronaldo are better than Bale, claims Vertonghen
The Belgian believes that the Clasico superstars are the only players who top his flying Tottenham team-mate, with rumours of a move to Real Madrid remaining over the winger

Injury rules Song out of Cameroon game
The 25-year-old has a knee problem and will not travel with the Indomitable Lions for their game with Tanzania, while Samuel Eto'o is also ruled out

Messi to ink Barcelona extension until 2018 on Thursday
The Primera Division leaders recently already reached an agreement with their star player, and the attacker will put pen to paper later this week

Sabella: Messi more than a footballer
The Argentina boss has praised his captain's desire to improve his game, and is expecting a tough clash against Sweden on Wednesday

Lahm: I prefer Ribery over Cristiano Ronaldo
The experienced defender is eagerly anticipating Wednesday's international friendly as he prepares to take on his Bayern team-mate

Real hit back at doping allegations
The Primera Division outfit have issued a denial of involvement in 'irregular practices' in the wake of claims made by their former club president Inaki Badiola

Birthday boy Ronaldo has big decisions to make over his Real Madrid future
The Portuguese celebrates his 28th birthday on Tuesday, but it is likely to be a time of reflection ahead of what remains an uncertain future for the forward at the Bernabeu

Cuenca: Frank de Boer played major role in Ajax decision
The young striker is delighted to have joined the Dutch giants for the remainder of the season, where he hopes to learn off former Barca stars Frank de Boer and Marc Overmars

Copa del Rey semi-final second leg dates announced
The second installment of El Clasico and the other semi-final between Sevilla and Atletico Madrid in Spain's famous cup competition is scheduled to take place on February 26 and 27

Cristiano Ronaldo: I will play for Portugal whether or not I'm 100% fit
The Portuguese captain has revealed he is willing to take part in his country's friendly with Ecuador on Wednesday, despite fears he may be suffering from a slight muscle strain

 

[Higuain]

Pinto extends Barcelona contract until 2014
The veteran goalkeeper says he feels lucky to represent the Catalan giants after prolonging his stat at Camp Nou by another year

Thiago Alcantara: Playing with Iniesta a privilege
The young midfielder has nothing but praise for the 2010 World Cup final hero, and is satisfied with his playing time so far this season

Alonso: I never saw doping at Sociedad
The influential midfielder has stated that he never saw any banned substances during his time at Real, and has praised Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game

Iniesta makes football look easy, says Roura
Tito Vilanova's assistant had nothing but positive words for the attacking midfielder, while he was equally pleased with the team's performance

Malaga comeback delights Pellegrini
The Andalusians' boss was happy with a fine collective performance and praised his side's second-half display

Zubizarreta praises 'magician' Iniesta after Barcelona win
The Blaugrana sporting director singled out the playmaker for special praise following his performance in the 6-1 win over Getafe on Sunday morning

Valverde thrilled with late Valencia winner
The 49-year-old was delighted to see his side claim a hard-fought three points with an injury-time winner

Wenger: PSG will bid for Ronaldo if he leaves Real Madrid
The Arsenal boss has offered his thoughts on the future of the Portuguese attacker, suggesting that the French capital would be a likely destination if los Blancos let him leave

Simeone plays down Atletico Madrid home comforts
The Argentine coach has stated that despite their superior points tally at home compared to away from the Vicente Calderon, Atleti do not have a preference where they play

Taffarel: With Neymar, Barcelona will win everything
The ex-Brazil international has recommended that the Catalans make the Santos forward their primary transfer target, while casting his eye on replacements for Victor Valdes

Barcelona cannot afford to relax, warns Adriano
The Blaugrana full-back has called for his side to maintain their focus, as he believes that whilst the Camp Nou outfit have a healthy lead, they have not won La Liga yet

Aspas reveals Barcelona admiration
The 25-year-old striker has praised the Liga leader's style of football and admitted he faces a tough task to be selected by Spain

TV3 apologises for Real Madrid hyena video
The Catalan TV channel's controversial clip led to a storm of criticism and they have now acknowledged that they were wrong to produce the film

Modric: I will help Madrid to success
The Croatia international has so far been unable to replicate his Tottenham form in La Liga, but he has little doubt that he will find his feet at the Bernabeu

Beckenbauer advocates Barca style
The Germany legend feels the Mannschaft should experiment by playing without a recognised striker to mirror the system employed by Barcelona and world champions Spain

Valdano: Isco should leave Malaga
The former Argentina international and La Liga coach believes the recently capped Spain player needs to leave the Andalusians and find a bigger club to maximise his potential

Llorente's problems are affecting everyone at the club, says Aduriz
The former Valencia forward has lamented the state of affairs surrounding his fellow strike partner and says it has contributed to an "uncomfortable" atmosphere in the team

Valdano questions Mourinho's rotation policy of Benzema and Higuain
The former general manager of Los Blancos believes the Portuguese coach's constant chopping and changing of his two strikers explains their loss of form

Pique: Barcelona can win the treble
The Spain and Blaugrana defender thinks his club can win three major trophies and is surprised about Real Madrid's poor performances in the league this season

Mourinho has something different, says Xabi Alonso
The Spain international is still convinced that the Portuguese coach is "special" while also declaring he and his team-mates are fully behind their boss

Modric: Ronaldo will stay at Madrid
The Croatian midfielder believes the Portuguese attacker will not be leaving Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, despite rumours circulating that a departure is on the cards

Alexis: Barcelona goal drought makes me nervous
The Chilean attacker has failed to score in La Liga this season, and he has conceded he is troubled by his lack of success in front of goal this term

 

[Higuain]

Pires: Iniesta is Barcelona's best player
The former France international believes Tito Vilanova's side would not be the same force without their influential midfielder

'Messi is the best in the world' - Lamela
The young forward believes that his compatriot is the best player in the world, and hopes to join him in the Argentina side in the near future after some fine form with Roma

Simeone: I will become Inter coach
The Atletico Madrid boss has claimed that he will lead the Serie A giants in the future, having had a successful stint at the Nerazzurri as a player in the nineties

'I understand David Villa's situation' - Bojan
The Spaniard has expressed sympathy towards his compatriot's position at Barcelona, and will be looking to net against his former side when they meet each other next week

Piazon: Malaga was best option for me
The 19-year-old has spoken of his optimism following his loan switch to Spain, recognising it as a good opportunity to play first-team football at a high level

Xavi: Madrid try to depict Messi as the bad guy
The influential midfielder feels that the press and Real Madrid are trying to make the Argentina international look like a bad person

Ter Stegen not joining Barcelona, insists agent
The Germany international's representative has moved to deny reports linking the shot-stopper with a move to the Catalans

Barcelona's Villa re-admitted to hospital
The Spain international will miss the game against Granada as he has been taken to hospital for the second time in a week

Fabregas: I want to retire at Barcelona
The midfielder has ruled out a return to Arsenal as he is happy at his current club, and is eagerly anticipating the Champions League tie against AC Milan

Sevilla president admits €42m unpaid wage bill
The Rojiblancos have revealed that 11 players are owed salaries and will be paid in €3 million chunks, but the hierarchy have dismissed the prospect of a ban from Uefa competitions

'My children try to emulate Messi' - Song
The Barcelona midfielder has spoken out about the important role of sport in a young person's life, citing the example of his two sons

Ronaldo: I'd never join Manchester City
The Real Madrid forward insists his "heart is in Manchester United" but reiterates that he is happy to remain with the Spanish champions

Essien: I am enjoying every minute at Madrid with my daddy Mourinho
The Chelsea loanee is enjoying his time at the reigning Spanish champions and is pleased to be working with the controversial coach once more

Messi: I'm lucky to play alongside Iniesta
The prolific attacker has voiced his admiration for the 2010 World Cup final hero, and also had his say on the Barcelona philosophy

Laporta ordered to guarantee €23 million of Barcelona losses
The 50-year-old must stump up a large sum of money still owed by the club dating back 10 years ago

Maradona: Messi should take every free kick for Barcelona
The former Argentina international believes the Barcelona man is a fantastic player who dictates the way his team play, and also spoke of Roman Riquelme's move back to Boca Juniors

Mourinho: I won't replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United
The ex-Chelsea coach has ruled out taking over when his 71-year-old counterpart decides to depart Old Trafford, but will manage in England after he leaves the Spanish giants

Manchester United match will not define our season, says Mourinho
The Real Madrid trainer does not believe the round of 16 tie will prove to be the pivotal moment in the season, though, he sees it as the most important round of the competition

Villa released from hospital after kidney stone treatment
The Spain attacker spent a day receiving treatment but could now be available for the Liga match against Granada on Saturday as Tito Vilanova's side prepare to face AC Milan

Santon: Premier League better than Serie A and La Liga
The 22-year-old is enjoying life in England’s top-flight and is ready to snub a potential return to his native Italy, with AC Milan thought to be closely monitoring his progress

Ronaldo is a unique player, says Gento
The legendary attacker has praised the former Manchester United star, while fellow Madrid legend Pirri was equally positive about the Portuguese

Schmeichel: Mourinho will never manage Manchester United
Despite praising the Real Madrid boss' management abilities, the legendary goalkeeper believes the Portuguese coach is too controversial to take over at Old Trafford

Ancelotti: No coach would turn down Real Madrid
The former Italy international has stated that he would be tempted to join the Liga giants if they were to make a move for him in the future

Valencia look to copy Paris Saint-Germain route to the top by attracting a rich buyer
The Spanish side reached back-to-back Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, but have been forced to sell off their stars in recent years and cannot challenge for La Liga now

Ronaldo targeting Raul's Real Madrid record
The Portuguese has set his sights on becoming the club's greatest goalscorer of all-time

Villa admitted to hospital with abdominal pain
The 31-year-old is undergoing treatment for a renal colic infection and will miss his side's next Liga fixture

Klose almost joined Barcelona, says agent
The Germany international left Werder Bremen for Bayern Munich in 2007, but his representative has claimed that he may well have gone to Camp Nou

Paciencia quits as Deportivo coach
Fernando Vazquez will take charge of the Galician outfit for the rest of the season after the Portuguese decided to leave his post following the 3-0 loss to Granada on Saturday