..::Football III::..

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Lyon president lodges complaint over Gomis deal

Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michael Aulas has filed an official complaint with the French Professional Football League (LFP) against clubs who "derailed" Bafetimbi Gomis's move to Newcastle.

The France international was believed to edging toward a move to the Premier League outfit this summer after both clubs agreed a €10 million fee for the striker.

However, Aulas revealed the deal could still go "haywire" this week as negotiations continued to stutter, and he has now involved the LFP in an attempt to root out those who he claim have tried to scupper the deal.

He told L'Equipe: "I am disappointed because the deal was not finalised with Newcastle and I'm pessimistic over the transfer now.

"I filed a complaint because certain clubs were unsettling certain players. Some offered dishonest proposals to try and derail the deal.

"I will let the committee settle it."

Aulas went on to confirm that the 28-year-old, whose current deal expires next summer, would remain at Stade Gerland if his future is not clarified by the end of the transfer window.

He added: "Gomis will be reintergrated into the squad if he is not transferred."

The Magpies have since secured a deal to sign QPR striker and fellow Frenchman Loic Remy on loan until the end of the season, casting further doubt over a deal for Gomis.

 

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Vidic confident of fitness after playing full 90 minutes in friendly

Nemanja Vidic is confident he will be fit for the start of the Premier League season after playing the entire 90 minutes in Manchester United's 1-1 friendly draw with AIK.

The Serbian had not featured under David Moyes during the Red Devils' pre-season encounters, having last gone the distance in a match on May 12, prior to the end of the previous campaign.

And now the 31-year-old has declared that he hopes to be fit for the Old Trafford outfit's opener against Swansea City on August 17 after turning in a full shift in Sweden.

"I am pleased that I have 90 minutes under my belt," he said to MUTV following the draw. "It's a long time since I've played a full game.

"I am pleased with that and I hope that after this game I can pick up my fitness and I will be ready for the beginning of the season."

Vidic went on to say that whilst he felt he and his team-mates gave away too many opportunities in the stalemate with AIK, he remains confident they will be ready once competitive football arrives.

"AIK worked very hard and they made some trouble for us," he continued.

"We allowed them too many chances and we have to improve our shape in defence. We can work on that and I think we will be fine."

 

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Robben: We won't change the world under Guardiola

Bayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben has stressed there have been no dramatic changes at the club since Pep Guardiola's arrival this summer.

The former Barcelona boss became the most high-profile appointment of the past season when it was announced he would replace Jupp Heynckes at the Allianz Arena for 2013-14, but Robben insists there has been no major upheaval at the club despite the fanfare which heralded the Spaniard's arrival.

"It’s quite funny how much of a spectacle was made of the new head coach. The pre-season preparations were nothing out of the ordinary," he told the official Bundesliga website.

"There’s no point exaggerating and thinking we’re all of a sudden going to change the world.

"There were a few small alterations, but that always the case under a new head coach. It was the same under [Jupp] Heynckes and [Louis] van Gaal.

"At the end of the day, we’re still playing football and concentrating on our own qualities as players."

Guardiola continued to experiment with his system in the 5-0 DFB-Pokal victory over BSV Schwarz-Weib Rehden on Monday, in which the Netherlands international was handed several different roles throughout.

However, while admitting he was content being deployed in any position, Robben admits he hopes to be used from the right in the coming campaign - a role he feels is his most effective.

"During the first half [against BSV Schwarz] I was predominantly operating on the left of midfield, but it’s ultimately up to the coach where we play," he continued.

"I think I’m at my best on the right wing, but have no problem whatsoever playing in different positions. It’s okay with me."

The Bavarians begin the defence of their Bundesliga crown on Saturday by hosting Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Allianz Arena.

 

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Suarez tells Liverpool: Keep your promise and sell me

Luis Suarez has urged Liverpool to honour their agreement and allow him to leave for a Champions League club this summer.

The Uruguay international has been the subject of two recent offers from Arsenal, who bid £40 million for the striker plus an additional £1 in order to trigger a release clause Suarez insists exists in the contract extension he signed 12 months ago.

Liverpool rejected the offer, but Suarez is adamant the club told him he would be able to move if the Anfield outfit failed to qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

"Last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we failed to qualify for the Champions League the following season I'd be allowed to go," Suarez told The Guardian.

"I gave absolutely everything last season but it was not enough to give us a top-four finish – now all I want is for Liverpool to honour our agreement."

Suarez also indicated he is ready to take his case to the Premier League in an attempt to make the move happen.

He continued: "I have the club's word and we have the written contract and we are happy to take this to the Premier League for them to decide the case but I do not want it to come to that.

"I don't feel betrayed, but the club promised me something a year ago just as I promised them that I would stay and try everything possible to get us into the Champions League.

"They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that. And it is not just something verbal with the coach but something that is written in the contract. I'm not going to another club to hurt Liverpool."

Though he stopped short of specifically mentioning a desire to move to Arsenal, Suarez gave Arsene Wenger's side encouragement that they might yet secure his services by revealing he saw no problem in moving to another Premier League club, despite previously citing the intrusive English media as reason for him to seek a move abroad.

He added: "Right now the Premier League is the biggest and most important league. My record shows that I'm not the kind of player who wants to change clubs every season and I would have no problem playing in England for many more years.

"If we are just talking about the level of the football and the way the supporters are then it is an incredible league. Any player in the world at the moment would like to play here.

"It is not as if I am asking to move to a local rival. And I would not consider moving to a club outside the Champions League."

 

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Ashley Cole relishing Ronaldo battle ahead of Chelsea meeting with Real Madrid

Chelsea's Ashley Cole is excited at the prospect of facing off against Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo once again.

The Stamford Bridge outfit will take on the Spanish giants in the Guinness International Champions Cup final on Wednesday evening in Miami as the two sides vie for pre-season silverware.

And the England international, who will take on Los Blancos for the first time in his career in the showpiece event at the Sun Life Stadium, is looking forward to taking on the Portugal star as well as seeing former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is now head coach at the Bernabeu.

"Real Madrid will be a huge test for us, they're obviously one of the best teams in the world and I've had some good games with Cristiano Ronaldo down the years, so I hope this will be another exciting match," Cole told Chelsea's official website.

"It will be great to catch up with Carlo Ancelotti, who is a great guy. We loved working with him at Chelsea and hopefully he can have a good first season in Spain."

Juan Mata is also eagerly anticipating the midweek contest in the United States, having started his career with Madrid before signing with Valencia in March 2007.

"It will be very special for me to play against Real Madrid, a very important team to me in my career," he said.

"I hope the fans will enjoy the game in Miami, which I think will be very exciting, and that we can lift the trophy in the final to make them happy."

Eden Hazard added: "It's a big game for me as I'm a young player, and it's very exciting. Real Madrid is a massive club and they have a number of quality players with the likes of Ronaldo and Kaka.

"This will be the first time I've played against them and it will be a big game, not just for the players but also the fans, and hopefully we can win the match."

 

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Liverpool boss Rodgers reiterates Suarez is not for sale

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is not for sale amid continued interest from Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger's side have made no secret of their desire to bring in the controversial 26-year-old, whose future with his current employers has appeared uncertain since the final weeks of the 2012-13 Premier League campaign.

But the Reds boss has now reiterated his desire to hold on to the Uruguayan hitman despite the Gunners' best attempts at prising him away from Anfieldy

"There's been a lot of speculation over the summer but there's no change in any of it really," he told Irish radio programme Off The Ball.

"Luis is a player that we value very highly, as I'm sure everyone can imagine. We've had two offers from a club that are nowhere near that valuation of Luis that we see fit to even consider.

"At this moment in time he's back training with the team and my focus is preparing the group for our first game of the season."

Rodgers also commented directly on Arsenal's £40 million plus £1 bid for the former Ajax striker made in late July, a move that was designed to trigger the release clause in Suarez's contract, claiming to have been surprised rather than angry at the move.

"There's no anger," he continued. "You have to stay calm. It was something that came into the club and I was made aware of it and it was very quickly dismissed. It was a surprise, because Arsenal are a wonderful football club in their own right and one that have always done things in the correct way.

"So to get that offer in writing, in that fashion was a big surprise."

 

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Bento: Nani needs to prove himself again

Portugal boss Paulo Bento says Manchester United winger Nani must recover his top form if he is to re-establish himself as an automatic starter for the national team.

The 26-year-old spent more than half of the domestic campaign sidelined through injury last season, limiting his involvement within the Seleccao set-up and allowing the likes of Wolfsburg winger Vieirinha to impress in his absence.

The former Sporting Lisbon ace has been included in the squad to face the Netherlands on August 14, but Bento has warned the attacker that he must be prepared to work hard in order to regain a regular starting-berth.

"He will now have to put in a bit of effort to recover what was once his - the role of playing nearly every time," Bento told a press conference.

"That did not happen in the last few matches. He needs to do his bit and then we will see what we will do.

"He has had to cope with Vieirinha who did extremely well in our recent matches against Azerbaijan, Israel, Russia and Croatia.

"We still called him in for the Netherlands match because he has great quality and potential."

Nani was handed his debut at international level in 2006 by Luis Felipe Scolari and has subsequently been capped 60 times.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bayern open door to Luiz Gustavo exit

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed the club are willing to negotiate the sale of Luiz Gustavo to Wolfsburg this summer.

The Brazil international has been heavily linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena during the off-season, with Dieter Hecking's men thought to be leading the race for his signature.

The player himself recently confirmed he was open to leaving the treble winners as competition for places in midfield hots up, and Rummenigge admits they would be open to negotiating terms for a transfer with their fellow Bundesliga outfit.

He told Kicker: "If Wolfsburg agrees personal terms with Gustavo, we will then negotiate.

"If Luiz leaves the club, we will not buy another player."

However, a number of other clubs - including Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal - are also rumoured to be keen on the 26-year-old, and the midfielder's agent, Roger Wittmann, revealed there will be talks with every potential suitor.

"If Bayern allows it, we will talk with every big and serious club out there, including Wolfsburg," Wittmann added.

Gustavo, whose current deal expires in 2015, joined the Bavarians in 2011 and has made 100 appearances throughout his two-year stay with the club.

 

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Real Madrid the right club for Bale, says Tottenham youngster Falque

Tottenham youngster Iago Falque believes Gareth Bale possesses all the qualities to succeed at Real Madrid.

The Wales international continues to be the subject of protracted negotiations between the London side and the Spanish giants regarding a potential transfer record move to the Santiago Bernabeu, with Los Blancos president Florentino Perez and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy set for talks in Miami.

And now the Spanish midfielder, who joined the White Hart Lane outfit permanently in January 2012 before going on loan to Almeria last season, has spoken of his belief in Bale's ability to flourish in Carlo Ancelotti's squad.

"It will depend on how he adapts, and other factors, but he has every attribute to triumph at Real Madrid," Falque told radio programme El Larguero.

"He also has a lot of hunger because he still hasn't won the Ballon d'Or, and players like him never lose their ambition.

"I think Madrid is the right club for him because their style of play suits him perfectly, much more than Barcelona's would do."

The former Juventus man went on to note Bale's massive development over the past two campaigns and praised the 24-year-old's attitude despite his rise in stardom.

"When I arrived at Tottenham Bale was a good player, but in the last two years he has improved a lot, especially in his ability to score goals," he continued.
"Bale is a relaxed guy, very independent and very quiet. I don't think fame has affected him very much, he's quite a normal guy, he's not arrogant at all.
"I don't see much of him but he seems more serious now than in the past."
Falque also acknowledged, however, that Levy's tough negotiation tactics will make it tough for the Spanish giants to prise the attacker away from White Hart Lane.

He added: "Every time I've gone on loan my agents have negotiated with Daniel Levy and it's not easy at all. Levy believes that Bale is worth that amount of money, and he always puts a high price on his players.

"The club doesn't need to sell Bale to balance the books."

 

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PSG must keep improving - Lucas Moura

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lucas Moura believes the team must continue to improve as they look to challenge both domestically and on the continent next season.

The French giants have managed to lure Edinson Cavani to the club this summer, while retaining the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva - both of whom proved instrumental in les Parisiens securing their first Ligue 1 title in 18 years.

The emergence of big-spending Monaco has prompted suggestions that Laurent Blanc's side could struggle to retain their crown in 2012-13, but 20-year-old Lucas Moura believes the team are capable of surpassing their success of last term.

He told PSG TV: "Our team is very strong, full of great players like [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, [Edinson] Cavani, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi and Thiago Silva. These are players of the highest level.

"Our goal is to win as many titles as possible and do better than last season."

The reigning French champions begin the defence of their title with a visit to Montpellier on August 10, and the Brazil international is relishing the challenge of facing the 2011-2012 champions in the curtain-raiser.

He added: "Montpellier will be a good test to see if the team is fit and well prepared.

"They're a great team and it is a long championship so we do not want to lose points this early."

 

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Alba: Messi will always be No.1

Barcelona defender Jordi Alba says Lionel Messi will remain the heartbeat of the team despite the arrival of Neymar this summer.

Debate has raged over whether the Argentine ace will be compatible with the €57 million-man from Brazil, with club icon Johan Cruyff previously suggesting the Blaugrana should cash in on Messi rather than attempt to accommodate the attacking duo.

Alba, however, believes Neymar will have no trouble adapting to Barca's system - including the role of Messi as the undisputed main man.

He told AS: "He [Neymar] is a guy who has adapted very quickly to the Barca style.

"He is very eager, but Messi is number one and always will be for as long as he wishes."

Meanwhile, the Spain international took a moment to praise the impact of newly-appointed coach Gerardo Martino and revealed the Argentine has stuck to the club's template for success.

"He's a great coach who is instilling very positive things," he said.

"I think the style is the same. Everything works pretty much the same as before."

Barcelona will kick off their new Liga campaign with the visit of Levante on August 16.

 

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Selling Rooney to Chelsea would be 'suicide' for Manchester United, warns Bosnich

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes the club would be committing footballing "suicide" if they were to let Wayne Rooney join Chelsea.

The Red Devils rejected a second bid from Chelsea for the striker on Sunday, understood to be worth £25 million plus add-ons to take the deal to just under £30m.

Bosnich says the Premier League champions were right to reject the offer and should avoid selling the unsettled forward to the Blues if they can.

"Manchester United shouldn’t sell Wayne Rooney to Chelsea, who are one of their biggest rivals. From the club’s perspective that would be suicide," he told talkSPORT.

The former Australian international believes manager David Moyes should instead sanction a move to Arsenal as the north London side pose less of a direct threat.

He continued: "Rooney can hurt them if he goes to Chelsea. If there was a choice between Arsenal and Chelsea, the lesser of two evils would be Arsenal.

"It’s very difficult to sell one of your best players to a club that can hurt you.

"Manchester United have come out very clearly and said they don’t want to sell Wayne Rooney. But if a player is not happy at a club then you are best off selling him."

Despite Manchester United signalling their intention of holding on to the England striker, Bosnich sees a summer move to be inevitable.

"It’s quite obvious he’s not happy. He was unhappy last season at not being a starter and when he was dropped for the Champions League tie against Real Madrid there were going to be problems," he added.

"David Moyes has come in [as manager], they have a history together, both good and bad, and he was willing to let bygones be bygones, but I think Rooney wants a new challenge."

 

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Bayern Munich: No more summer signings

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has made it clear that the club do not intend on making any more signings this summer.

The Champions League holders have already secured the services of Jan Kirchhoff, Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, with a number of reports suggesting Bayern were in the market for Chelsea defender David Luiz.

However, Rummenigge has reaffirmed what Pep Guardiola said last week: that the player is not a transfer target for Bayern, and they will not be making further additions to the team.

"We will not make any more signings. The team looks exactly as we want it right now," Rummenigge was quoted as saying by Bild.

"We deliberately brought in Gotze - as well as Thiago - as we believe he is the biggest talent in Germany and Europe in his age group."

Die Roten kicked off their defence of the DFB-Pokal with a comfortable victory over Schwarz-Weiss Rehden, with Thomas Muller getting amongst the goals on Monday.

 

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Chelsea move would be a step down for Rooney, warns Wilkins

Ray Wilkins has warned Wayne Rooney that leaving Manchester United to join Chelsea would represent a step down and has urged the striker to remain at Old Trafford.

The Premier League champions have already rejected two bids from Chelsea, the second of which was worth £30 million, with Jose Mourinho keen to add the 27-year-old to his squad before the transfer window shuts.

Wilkins represented both clubs during his playing career but thinks Rooney would be making a mistake if he moves to Stamford Bridge and believes he should battle to establish himself under new Red Devils boss David Moyes.

“It shouldn’t end this way, it’s getting horrible,” Wilkins told talkSPORT. “I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it again. Once you leave Manchester United there’s only one way you’re going.

“Man United are in the top three biggest clubs on the planet, therefore they will always buy and buy and buy because they always want to be successful.

“If you want to win things then there’s no better club to be at than Manchester United.

“So what if you’ve got a bit of competition with Robin van Persie, it’s healthy. He should stand up to the plate and show these people what he's made of. He’s got so much wonderful football left in him."

Wilkins thinks Moyes should only consider selling Rooney if a foreign club makes an offer, although he has conceded he would love to see him play for Chelsea.

“If I was David Moyes there’s no way I would sell him to anyone in England,” he added. “I’m sorry – he’d have to go abroad.

“I would love him to join Chelsea though. I would love nothing more than to see Wayne Rooney wearing that blue shirt.

“I just think he’s ready for his second coming, he’s 27-years-old and if for some strange outcome he stays in England, then Wayne is ready to start again.

“Man United would be crazy to do that though, they shouldn’t sell him to one of their closest rivals.”

 

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Kalou set for Lille stay

Salomon Kalou has revealed he is set to stay at Lille despite reported interest from several Premier League sides.

The 28-year-old enjoyed an impressive debut season with les Dogues, netting 14 goals in 28 Ligue 1 appearances after joining on a free transfer following his release by Chelsea.

But despite being trailed by several Premier League sides, including West Ham and West Brom, Kalou is eager to stay in France and work under recently appointed Lille boss Rene Girard.

"Rene Girard is a coach who can help me progress," the Ivorian told Voix du Nord.

"Under these conditions, I do not see why I should go for something elsewhere."

The Hammers had been confident of completing a €4 million deal as Allardyce sought to bolster his attacking options, while the Baggies were interested in reuniting the forward with Nicolas Anelka at the Hawthorns.

 

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Bayern don't need Lewandowski, says Hitzfeld

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes Bayern Munich do not need Robert Lewandowski.

Last year's first choice striker Mario Mandzukic has struggled to secure regular first team action at Bayern during pre-season following the arrival of Guardiola and Hitzfeld thinks a similar scenario would have been on the cards for Lewandowski in the Bavarians' 'false nine' system.

"Bayern do not need Lewandowski in normal circumstances. They already showed last season how strong they are," Hitzfeld was quoted as saying by TZ.

"I really liked Mandzukic a lot. He fought himself into the team and brought a winner mentality with him. If Mandzukic is not going to play as a real No.9, then how is Lewandowski going to get playing time?

"Lewandowski is a real No.9 as well, he's no [Lionel] Messi. That's what I'm wondering about. Do you really need Lewandowski in [Pep] Guardiola's system..."

The Poland international, 24, was widely expected to join Bayern this summer, but BVB eventually vetoed the move and refused to let their star striker follow in the footsteps of Mario Gotze and join their arch-rivals.

Lewandowski's contract with Dortmund runs out in the summer of 2014, though, and he still seems destined to make the move to Bayern next year.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City receive Aguero injury boost

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is expected to return to training by the end of the week after overcoming his knee problem earlier than anticipated.

The 25-year-old is yet to feature in a single pre-season game under new manager Manuel Pellegrini after being diagnosed with muscle and ligament fatigue to his knee and his return to training will mark a welcome development in his battle to be fit for the start of the upcoming Premier League season.

The attacker has been plagued by knee problems in recent months, suffering an injury during last season's opening fixture which saw him struggle throughout the campaign to hit the heights of his debut year.

But the Argentine is making good progress in his most recent recovery according to the club's medical staff.

Aguero's last appearance came in a 5-3 win over Chelsea at Yankee Stadium in New York at the end of May.

Elsewhere, defender Matija Nastasic (ankle) has been sidelined for an expected four to six weeks after being stretchered off in the Barclays Asia Trophy final win over Sunderland last month.

 

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Neymar downplays health problems

Barcelona attacker Neymar has insisted that his health issues will not cause him any problems during pre-season as the Spanish champions continue their preparations for the 2013-14 campaign.

The Brazil international was diagnosed with anaemia - a low red blood cell count - which can cause excessive levels of tiredness in players, following routine blood tests this summer. leading to worries about his fitness ahead of the new season.

Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta already stated at the weekend that the club are not concerned, though, and Neymar, who had his tonsils removed a month ago, has now stressed that he is feeling fine, too.

"I am feeling just fine," the attacker told reporters in Thailand.

"I have already improved after my tonsil operation and I have no problems in training. I am getting better."

The 21-year-old then went on to say that he has high expectations as the start of the 2013-14 season edges closer.

He added: "I have high expectations for myself and the team. I hope to have a good performance in the next season. We will try to work as a team to win honours."

Barcelona's first official match of the season is their Liga opener at home against Levante on August 18.

 

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Mata committed to Chelsea after Mourinho talks

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata insists he will be staying at the club this summer after speaking with new manager Jose Mourinho.

Mata's future at the club was cast into doubt earlier this summer, with the Spain international demanding talks with the Portuguese coach at one stage, as exclusively revealed by Goal.

And Mata has revealed that he did hold a meeting with Mourinho to clarify his status with the Blues, but remained "relaxed" regarding his role at the club.

"I was so relaxed about all the speculation about me leaving," he told reporters. "I spoke to the club and spoke to the manager who said I was very important to them. So there’s nothing to say about it.

"It’s always very good to hear you are important to the club. Everyone wants to feel they are important.

"So I’m very happy. I’m training with the new manager and we want to improve on last season."

Mata has been named Chelsea’s player of the season for both their last two campaigns and was one of Europe's stand-out performers last term, scoring 20 goals and registering 28 assists.

However, he acknowledges that competition at the club is growing as the likes of Oscar and Eden Hazard, who both arrived last season, are now ready to show their true worth.

"We just have to be focused," he continued. "There are 25 players in the squad and it is not down to us who the club will sign. We are happy with the squad we have at the moment.

"When you are playing more and more with your team-mates, you get more of a connection. Players like Hazard and Oscar came last season and this summer there is [Kevin] De Bruyne and [Andre] Schurrle. All we need is the connection.

"I’m really looking forward to starting the season with him, we’re all really excited. Jose did a great job here a few years ago and I think we can do it again."

 

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Alba: Messi will always be No.1

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Barcelona defender Jordi Alba says Lionel Messi will remain the heartbeat of the team despite the arrival of Neymar this summer.

Debate has raged over whether the Argentine ace will be compatible with the €57 million-man from Brazil, with club icon Johan Cruyff previously suggesting the Blaugrana should cash in on Messi rather than attempt to accommodate the attacking duo.

Alba, however, believes Neymar will have no trouble adapting to Barca's system - including the role of Messi as the undisputed main man.

He told AS: "He [Neymar] is a guy who has adapted very quickly to the Barca style.

"He is very eager, but Messi is number one and always will be for as long as he wishes."

Meanwhile, the Spain international took a moment to praise the impact of newly-appointed coach Gerardo Martino and revealed the Argentine has stuck to the club's template for success.

"He's a great coach who is instilling very positive things," he said.

"I think the style is the same. Everything works pretty much the same as before."

Barcelona will kick off their new Liga campaign with the visit of Levante on August 16.