..::Football III::..

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Liverpool agree deal to sign Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen

Brendan Rodgers is close to completing his second signing of the summer after Liverpool announced they have agreed a deal in principle to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can.The 20-year-old made 29 appearances for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last season, scoring on three occasions.

The Frankfurt-born midfielder moved to the BayArena from Bayern Munich in 2013 and is set to become Liverpool's second signing following the capture of Rickie Lambert from Southampton.It is understood that Can has already signed his contract and will be officially unveiled as a Liverpool player on July 1, subject to all the relevant paperwork being completed.

A statement on Liverpool's official website read: "Liverpool FC have today agreed a deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen to sign 20-year-old Emre Can, subject to documentation being completed."Can is understood to have had a £9.75m release clause effective for foreign clubs and it is reported Bayern will receive £1.2m as compensation for waiving their buy-back option on the midfielder.

The deal appears to have been agreed on Wednesday night after Leverkusen chief executive Michael Schade confirmed they had received an offer from Liverpool earlier in the day."Until Tuesday, it was a rumour," Schade told German newspaper Bild on Wednesday."Now I can confirm that an official offer from Liverpool is received by mail."Schade wished Can every success in the Premier League in a statement on Bayer Leverkusen's official website on Thursday.

"Emre Can has developed very quickly at Bayer 04 Leverkusen over the past 12 months," he said."We wanted to keep Emre at Leverkusen but the release clause is part of his contract. So we wish him all the best and lots of success in his time in the Premier League."

The potential acquisition of Can will give Liverpool manager Rodgers greater options next seasons with the club competing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in five years.The versatile Germany U21 international is capable of operating in a number of positions across the midfield and defence.

Can, who is also eligible to represent Turkey at international level due to his ancestry, had emerged as a target for Liverpool over the past few months.
He has played under former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia during the Finn's tenure as manger of Bayer Leverkusen.

 

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Liverpool la ikmanata ikmanata deals tika karagannawaAth LVG thama silence neh!
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Nigeria can reach World Cup quarter-finals - Babangida

Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida has tipped the Super Eagles to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup this year.

The African side have been drawn in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran and begin their campaign against the latter on June 16.
Babangida was a part of the team that reached the second round at the 1998 World Cup in France and he believes the country can reach the last-eight of the competition this time around.

"I have absolute confidence in the ability of the Super Eagles to qualify to the second round and go as far as the quarter-final of this World Cup," he told Goal.
"Don’t forget that we are the African champions and we are expected to do well in this competition."The former Ajax player added that the surprise exclusion of midfielder Sunday Mba was due to indiscipline.

"As regards to Mba’s case, last week I was in Lagos and I told a friend of mine that, if it is the Keshi I knew very well, Mba won’t make that list as a result of coming late to camp, especially coming to camp when the coach was already rounding up as regards to the players he wanted to pick for the World Cup.

"So I think Mba should be blamed for not making the list that ordinarily he ought to have, based on his previous heartwarming performances at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he emerged as the tournament revelation from Nigeria.

"I was very disappointed to hear that Mba did not make the final cut for the World Cup.

"I am also happy that players like the team captain Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie made the list while I also felt disappointed that we couldn’t take the seven players dropped to the World Cup because they are all good players.

"Right now I believe that we are set for the competition and the Eagles will definitely do well in Brazil."

 

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Arsenal opt out of Fabregas race as Chelsea & Manchester City launch bids

Chelsea and Manchester City have tabled €35 million bids for Cesc Fabregas, Goal understands.

The Premier League big-hitters have made identical moves for the Barcelona midfielder and now appear to be locked in a straight fight to sign him this summer.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admitted on Thursday that his club were closely monitoring the situation of Fabregas, who has been told he can leave the Nou Camp this summer.

City also want to lure the 27-year-old back to the Premier League and have followed up their interest with a formal move amid growing uncertainty at the club over the future of Yaya Toure, who has made it clear he is not entirely happy at Etihad Stadium.

But Arsenal have rejected the opportunity to match Chelsea and City's bids, and will not be re-signing their former captain this summer.

Under the terms of the buy-back clause in Fabregas' Barcelona contract, the Catalan club had to inform Arsenal of any bid for the player and give them the opportunity to match it.

Manager Arsene Wenger was keen on a reunion with Fabregas but does not want to pay more than €30m for the player.

Arsenal are in the market for a €37m-plus attacker this summer and, given the squad overhaul that is expected to take place, are reluctant to spend more than €74m on just two players.

Mourinho went public with his interest in Fabregas when speaking at a Yahoo event in Belgium on Thursday.

"I think he is eager to leave Barcelona and very motivated by the idea of returning to England. I think that is pretty clear.

"After that, whether he signs for us or someone else is not a question for today, tomorrow or before the World Cup. We are interested to see how the situation evolves."

Chelsea are in the market for a central midfielder after agreeing to sell David Luiz to Paris Saint-Germain for an initial €49m and releasing Frank Lampard.

It was revealed in April that Barcelona would listen to offers for Fabregas this summer as they looked to free up funds to reshape their midfield.

Barca and their new manager Luis Enrique are looking to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke and have already reached an agreement to sign Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla for €20m told Fabregas he can find a new club.

The Barca academy graduate is at a crossroads in his career as he enters the final two years of his contract with the Catalan club in July.

Fabregas was jeered by home supporters during Barcelona's 2-1 home victory over Athletic Bilbao in April and became a scapegoat for fans towards the end of last season.

 

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Koscielny: Arsenal need a top striker

Laurent Koscielny has called on Arsenal to bring in four new players over the summer, including a striker to challenge Olivier Giroud.

France striker Giroud scored 22 goals in all competitions for Arsene Wenger's side in the 2013-14 season, but supporters at the Emirates Stadium have been vocal in their belief that the club need further attacking options.

And Koscielny, who signed a new long-term deal at the club in May, believes a forward who can contribute 30 goals per season is required if the north London outfit are to challenge for honours moving forward.

"We need to recruit a very, very good striker, because it's important for us, for competition for places, because Olivier needs that to become even better," he told reporters.

"Having a striker who scores more than 30 goals a season can help us win the Premier League. Compared to the squads like Manchester City, even [Manchester] United or Chelsea, you can see there's a certain difference."

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis has revealed the club are already in deep conversations regarding potential targets, though it has been reported they aren't willing to match the €35 million bids of Chelsea and Manchester City for Cesc Fabregas.

Koscielny, though, is hopeful a midfielder will be added to the squad, as well as replacements for the departing Bacary Sagna and Lukasz Fabianski .

"We'll need a goalkeeper, a right back, a midfielder and a striker. It's important to have a minimum of these four players so that we'll be better able to challenge over the course of a whole season against teams like Manchester City, Chelsea or United.

"Winning the FA Cup can change things and lead to other players coming."

 

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Benzema Arsenal target 1kakAth Real Madrid walin enna deida kiyana 1kanam sure karanna baha​

 

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Alex targets Champions League as AC Milan move edges closer

Brazilian defender Alex says he wants to take AC Milan back to the Champions League, having undergone a medical with the Serie A.

The Paris Saint-Germain player has spent the last two seasons in the French capital, where he played 70 league games, scoring six goals.

Speaking ahead of his medical, the defender told Milan Channel that he wants to help the club get back to the highest level and admitted PSG team-mates Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke highly of the club.

"I'm very happy to be here, everything is wonderful. I want to take the club back to the Champions League.

"I can't wait to get out onto the field with this shirt. Ibrahimovic and Thiago told me great things, that this club is number one in many respects."

The Rossoneri are reported to be interested in Alex's PSG team-mate Jeremy Menez, but the Brazilian insists he doesn't know if the Frenchman will join.

"I have not spoken to Menez, but I know that there is a mutual interest. I hope everything goes well."

Alex moved to Paris in January 2012 for €5 million from Chelsea, where he had won the 2009 FA Cup as well as a league and cup double in 2010.

The 31-year-old, who featured in the 2008 Champions League final while with the Blues, then went on to win Ligue 1 with PSG in both of his seasons at the club, in addition to the Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions last term.

The stopper has 17 international caps for Brazil, but has not played for his country since 2008, and was not named in their final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Former Chelsea team-mate David Luiz, meanwhile, has previously confirmed his move to French capital, where it seems he will now replace his countryman.

 

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Schalke lead race to sign Inkoom

Schalke 04 are in a pole position to sign Ghana international Samuel Inkoom, Goal can reveal.The Gelsenkirchen club are looking for an alternative in the right-back position and have now targeted the Ghanaian player.

The Bundesliga club sent scouts to watch the 25-year-old during the Netherlands-Ghana friendly and are now considering a summer swoop for him.

However, Jens Keller's side have to contend with Everton and Olympiakos who are also rumoured to be interested in the Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk player.
The former Basel player, who featured for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup, can also play on the right side of midfield and as a winger and is expected to cost around €4 million this summer.

 

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Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out of Mexico friendly

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of his country's friendly with Mexico on Saturday through injury.

The Portuguese Football Federation announced on Thursday that the forward has been ruled out of the World Cup warm-up game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with tendinitis and a muscle injury in his left leg.

Raul Meireles and Pepe will also miss their country's penultimate friendly before the team heads to Brazil.

The Seleccao face the Republic of Ireland in New Jersey in their final warm-up game, before taking on Germany in their Group G opener on June 16.

Ronaldo led Madrid to the Champions League title last month despite being troubled by leg injuries late in the season.

Portugal will also face the United States and Ghana in a tough looking group in Brazil.

The match with Portugal, meanwhile, is Mexico's final friendly before facing Cameroon in Group A on June 13.

El Tri will hope to bounce back from a poor showing in their 1-0 defeat against Bosnia on Tuesday.

 

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FA confirms Oxlade-Chamberlain knee injury

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's World Cup is in doubt after damaging his knee ligaments during England's 2-2 draw with Ecuador.

The Arsenal man's ankle was caught by midfielder Carlos Gruezo, but it was the way in which the youngster landed on his knee that caused his withdrawal on 63 minutes.

The 20-year-old was scheduled to undergo a scan following the game to assess the damage, but the Football Association have not confirmed an injury timescale for the player.

"Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sustained a medial knee ligament injury during the World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador in Miami on Wednesday," an official Football Association statement read.

"The England medical team are continuing to monitor and treat the injury."

The former Southampton winger took to Twitter after his diagnosis, and revealed he remains positive about recovering for the tournament in Brazil.

"Gutted to have picked up an injury yesterday. I'm staying positive and getting to work with the medical team on recovery..Fingers crossed!" he wrote.

England begin their Group D campaign against Brazil on June 14 before taking on Uruguay and Costa Rica in their remaining first round fixtures.

 

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Official: Roma sign Keita

Roma have announced the signing of former Barcelona star Seydou Keita on a one-year deal.

The 34-year-old, who has 88 international caps for Mali, spent the last five months with Valencia in La Liga after moving from Chinese team Dalian Aerbin.

During his time with Los Che he made 11 league appearances, scoring one goal - the club's fastest ever in a match, coming after just nine seconds against Almeria.

Keita spent four years at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, making 119 league appearances and scoring 16 goals, before joining Dalian Aerbin.

The midfielder started his career with Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1 before moving on to Lorient and Racing Club de Lens, where he played over 200 times before joining Sevilla. After one season in Andalusia, he was transfered to Barca for an estimated €14 million.

His contract with Roma will expire on June 30, 2015.

 

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Argentina 'strong and unified' - Messi

Argentina star Lionel Messi says his side are 'strong and unified' ahead of the World Cup.

Only hosts Brazil are more favoured to win the tournament and Messi feels his team's serious approach to warm-up matches can hold them in good stead.Argentina play a final friendly against Slovenia on Saturday before opening their World Cup campaign with a Group F clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 15.

"Yes, it is just a friendly and we are very close to our trip [to Brazil] but we are going to play with all we have," said the 26-year-old."No one wants any [injury to] occur, we are all being very careful of that, but we still all want to win, do our best, play seriously and I believe we have done that.

"I believe we have a very strong team, very unified and more than that we also have really great players."

Meanwhile, Messi's Barcelona and Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano echoed his thoughts and said that coach Alejandro Sabella had drummed into the squad the importance of gaining pre-tournament rhythm.

"Our minds are on the World Cup, but you have to keep playing," he said."The team has to function well together… if not we will play poorly in our first game."

 

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Low: Germany can stop Ronaldo

Germany trainer Joachim Low says his side can nullify the threat of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo when the two sides face off at this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Die Mannschaft take on Paulo Bento's men on June 16 before fixtures against Ghana and USA in a tough-looking Group G.

"Portugal are a great team and Cristiano's a fantastic player, but we've got the players and methods to stop him," the 54-year-old told reporters.

Low also explained his side's decision to play Armenia in their final warm-up match before the World Cup, as well as giving some team news ahead of the fixture.

"We deliberately chose to play Armenia as they play a similar counter-attacking style to Portugal," he added.

"Roman Weidenfeller will be playing. Manuel Neuer will not play ... but he will be fit to face Portugal in Brazil."

"[Philipp] Lahm and [Bastian] Schweinsteiger will be given some playing time. Both have trained individually over the last few days."

 

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Ibrahimovic: No one will ever be better than Ronaldo

Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes football will never see a better player than former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo.

Ronaldo - dubbed 'El Fenomeno' during his glittering playing career - won 13 titles at club level as well as two World Cups with Brazil in 1994 and 2002.

Ibrahimovic has faced the likes of namesake Cristiano Ronaldo during his own stellar career to date, but he insists the World Cup's record goalscorer remains the greatest he ever played against.

"The best opponent of my career? I've played against many, many good players, so I don't know who to keep. But I would say Ronaldo, 'El Fenomeno'. Why? Because he was my idol and because, as a football player, he was complete," he told Sports Illustrated.

"There will never, in my view, be a better player than him."

Ronaldo, who scored more than 350 goals in just over 500 club games during a career badly affected by injury problems, retired from football in 2011.

 

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England must shackle 'world's greatest playmaker' Pirlo, warns Scholes

Former England star Paul Scholes warns that the Three Lions must put pressure on Andrea Pirlo in their World Cup opener against Italy.

Hailing the Juventus midfielder as "the world's greatest playmaker", the Manchester United legend feels that Roy Hodgson's side must learn from their mistakes in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, when the Azzurri progressed on penalties.

Scholes sees Danny Welbeck as a good candidate to start the game in Manaus in order to make life difficult for Cesare Prandelli's key man.

Writing for the Paddy Power Blog, the 39-year-old said of Pirlo: "He's the world's greatest playmaker – the complete footballer.

"Give him time and space and he will destroy you. He's such a clever player and is so composed. If surrounded he'll lay it off. If he's got room he's devastating.

"Even though England's Euro 2012 game against Italy finished 0-0, we paid nowhere near enough attention to him. Roy Hodgson seems to have underestimated him, which surprised me given Alex Ferguson's tactics against Pirlo previously.

"In 2010, before United played AC Milan in the Champions League, Sir Alex gave very specific instructions on how to take care of Pirlo.

"Man-marking him was a huge part of our pre-game plan - I played against Pirlo when Milan beat us 3-0 at San Siro in 2007. We didn't man-mark him. He destroyed us. We learned and it was painful. Park Ji-Sung was the perfect man for Pirlo in 2010 and never gave him a kick [as United beat Milan 7-2 on aggregate].

"For Manaus, we need an English Park Ji-Sung - one England player designated to man-mark him. Looking at the squad, Danny Welbeck (a good defender who can nick the ball well) could be an option and would be a bold decision, one which gives England a creative outlet and saddles Pirlo with defensive work."

Being vexed by Park in 2010 left a mark on Pirlo, who wrote in his 2013 autobiography that Ferguson's tactic caused him to lose respect for the Scottish great.

"Even Sir Alex Ferguson, the purple-nosed manager who turned Manchester United into a fearsome battleship, couldn't resist the temptation," fumed the Italy international.

"He's essentially a man without blemish but he ruined that purity just for a moment when it came to me. A fleeting shabbiness came over the legend that night.

"The midfielder must have been the first nuclear-powered South Korean in history. Even though he was already a famous player in his own right, he consented to being used as a guard dog, willfully limiting his own potential."

 

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Giggs hints at future United managerial role

Ryan Giggs has hinted that he will one day become full-time manager of Manchester United after a four-game spell as interim boss last season.

The Welshman was asked to take the reins for the end of the 2013-14 campaign after the club sacked David Moyes.

United, however, decided the time was not right for Giggs to have the role on a permanent basis and instead appointed current Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal as Moyes' successor, with the 62-year-old set to take over at Old Trafford after the World Cup.

Giggs subsequently retired from playing and accepted the position of assistant manager.

The 40-year-old is looking forward to working with Van Gaal, and believes his brief managerial stint will stand him in good stead should the club embark on another managerial search in the future.

"It's been a whirlwind and I wouldn't change it for the world," said Giggs, speaking in an ITV documentary.

"It was just a brilliant experience, one that I thoroughly enjoyed and will be all the better for next time it happens.

"I met Louis and the meeting went really well. I liked him instantly and I'm looking forward to working with him and learning from him."

Giggs, who won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League medals as a player at United, also admitted that he broke down in tears after United's final game of the season with Southampton as he thought his lengthy association with the club was coming to an end.

He added: "We got off the plane at Manchester Airport and I was saying goodbye to the players, thanking them.

"Potentially saying goodbye to a lot of players for the last time, a bit of the staff, and I'm not an emotional person. Well, I didn't think I was.

"My car was parked right outside and I thought, 'I need to get in my car here'. I could feel myself getting emotional.

"So I get in my car and I just went, started crying, started getting really emotional and I think it was just a mixture of what I've just said, saying goodbye to people for maybe the last time, and the pressure that I put myself under.

"It sounds stupid now, but it's just not me, it's just not me at all."

 

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Liverpool agree deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Emre Can

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Emre Can.

The 20-year-old midfielder's move to Anfield is now subject to the final documentation being completed.

Liverpool have long held an interest in the former Bayern Munich star and held negotiations with Bayer throughout May, making a breakthrough in talks towards the end of the month.

The fee for Can - who made 29 Bundesliga appearances last season - is believed to be £10m (€12m), the value of his buyout clause, and Leverkusen are likely to use the money to launch a bid for Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

Once the deal is official, Can will become manager Brendan Rodgers' second signing of the summer transfer window following the acquisition of England striker Rickie Lambert, while the club retain an interest in Sevilla's Alberto Moreno and Southampton's Adam Lallana.

 

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David Villa to play for rebranded Melbourne City

The influence of Manchester City on Melbourne Heart has become more apparent with confirmation David Villa will join the A-League club, who have formally been rebranded 'Melbourne City'.

Villa, who is in camp with Spain ahead of the World Cup, will complete a guest stint with Melbourne City before linking up with New York City as they make their MLS debut in 2015.

The 32-year-old striker became the first player to sign with New York City on Monday, after announcing he was leaving Atletico Madrid the day earlier, and will join Melbourne City on a 10-game contract to keep fit in the second half of this year.

With City having purchased Heart in January, Thursday's announcement underlined how different the Australian club's future could be with Abu Dhabi ownership, who also control Premier League champions Manchester City.

Villa scored 13 goals for Atletico as the Madrid-based club won their first La Liga title in 18 years last season, while he also started in the Champions League final defeat to Real.

The former Valencia and Barcelona forward is Spain's all-time leading goal-scorer with 56 strikes in 94 appearances and will be a key man for Vicente del Bosque, as the Europeans attempt to defend their world title in Brazil.

As part of their re-branding to Melbourne City, the team will wear predominantly white shirts next season encorporating some blue, having been blocked from changing their home colours to all sky blue following objections from Sydney FC.

 

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Torres would welcome Fabregas at Chelsea

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres says Cesc Fabregas would be a “good signing” for the club, with the midfielder set to leave Barcelona this summer.

Goal understands Manchester City are preparing a £30 million bid for the Spain international with former side Arsenal also interested in the Spain international.

Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Fabregas and Torres feels he would do well if he opted to return to England with a move to Stamford Bridge.

"Big players are always good signings. We know Cesc, he knows the division and was always among the top players when he was at Arsenal," Torres told Movistar.

"He likes to play good football and will offer ball control, cutting edge, goals. If he's made to feel important, like a leader - like when he was at Arsenal - he can drive the team on and he's a type of player Chelsea don't have right now."

Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique has claimed that a deal for Fabregas to leave Camp Nou has already been done and Torres feels he is not fully appreciated by the the Catalan giants.

"Cesc is such a great player and he simply is not being valued at his level in Barca,” he added.

"In any other team he would be a regular starter. So it is a difficult situation for him, but he will resolve it and I hope he does so by remaining in Barcelona."

 

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Pique: Fabregas exit a done deal

Gerard Pique has criticised Barcelona for the way they have treated team-mate Cesc Fabregas and has seemingly confirmed the midfielder will be sold this summer.

Fabregas has failed to cement himself as a favourite among the Camp Nou faithful since he re-joined the Catalans from Arsenal back in 2011.

This summer, Fabregas has been linked to a move back to England, with Manchester City, the Premier League champions, having already prepared a €37 million bid for the Spain international, while the Gunners are also interested.

And Pique appears to have confirmed that the 27-year-old has already agreed a deal to leave the club during a press conference with the Spain national squad.

The defender was captured by microphones speaking to Spain boss Vicente del Bosque alongside him and, despite shielding his mouth from the watching press, appeared to state: "We have to defend Cesc a little. He told me it's done. He's off, €33m he said to me."

Speaking to the press openly, Pique later said he is eager for Fabregas to ignore offers from other clubs, though he admitted his treatment at Barcelona has been unjust.

"I really like Cesc and I know he is going through a tough time because the club don't appreciate him as much as they should," the defender said.

"He is one of those players who would be first-choice at any other club in the world, the star of the team."Despite that, he is finding it harder at Barca. I don't know what he is going to do; we haven't spoken about that.

"I hope he stays, because if you look at his stats this season, he is our highest-scoring midfielder and the one with the most assists. Of course I want him to stay with us."