..::Football IV::..

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Roma coach Spalletti warns suitors off Premier League target Manolas

Roma head coach Luciano Spalletti insists that Kostas Manolas is happy at the club and will not be sold in the transfer window.

The Greece international has been linked with a number of Premier League sides, with his agent claiming that Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea were all monitoring his situation in the Italian capital.

However, Roma president James Pallotta said last week that there was no reason for the centre-back to leave as he was enjoying life at the Stadio Olimpico.And Spalletti has echoed those comments, saying Manolas will not be sold even though rumours in the media have created "problems".

"I think it's easy for those of you [journalists] who are here in close contact with the team to see that there's no pressure," he said. "Manolas is a good player, like many others, and it's normal that other clubs should be interested in good players. But the lad's intentions are very clear - there's no pressure there.

"When people start talking about pressure it creates problems even when there isn't actually any. Manolas is staying at Roma."Despite his stance on Manolas' future, Spalletti remains on the look-out for potential reinforcements in defence before the start of the season.

"We already have a very well-equipped squad but obviously if opportunities arise we'll try to improve it," he said. "We'll probably see if we can bring in another defender but that would be above and beyond what we already have here - which is a well-rounded squad."

Serie A champions Juventus appear set to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for a fee in the region of €94million, having already bought Miralem Pjanic from Roma for €32m as part of an extensive recruitment drive.

Spalletti expects Juve to remain a fearsome opponent irrespective of Higuain's future, or that of Paul Pogba, who remains heavily linked with a world-record move to Manchester United.

"Juventus will become what they already were before: an extremely good team," he added."They will remain an excellent team regardless of whether or not they sell Pogba and whether or not they sign Higuain.

"Juventus have sold top players in the past who they then replaced. Napoli will do likewise and so will Roma, as we've sold some players. The wheels of the transfer market need to keep turning and that means there are always opportunities."

 

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Barcelona announce record revenues for 2015-16

Barcelona returned record revenues of €679million during 2015-16, according to the club's financial results for the season.

The LaLiga champions released the figures on Monday, with the overall revenue mark "representing a substantial increase of the figure originally budgeted for this area".Barca returned a net profit of €29m after tax and believe they are on course to hit the marks of a strategic plan that targets revenue of €1billion in 2021.

The strategic plan includes the "Espai Barca" renovation project for Camp Nou and its surrounding area.Barcelona also announced the board have approved a one-year extension of their deal with main sponsor Qatar Airways.

 

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'Ancelotti the perfect man to lead Bayern'

Few coaches understand the need for the right balance as well as Carlo Ancelotti. After two weeks of training with him, I fully believe that he is the perfect man to lead Bayern Munich right now.

He’s an Italian who has coached in Milan, London, Paris and Madrid, winning national and international titles. He knows how to speak to the players and it’s obvious that he’s excited to be here - and that makes us feel great.

I hope that our American friends will pick up on that good feeling while we’re on this tour; it was certainly promising to see so many Bayern shirts at the airport when we arrived. I can’t wait for the game in Chicago and then it’s on to Charlotte and New York! Being a professional footballer means that I always have football on the brain. When I’m watching the news, for example, no matter where in the world the story is, I’ll still recognise kids wearing Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid or Bayern shirts.

It’s important to think about those kids when we go on tours like this trip to the US. All those young Ronaldos, Riberys and Neymars, be they in India, Africa or America, show how important football is all over the world.

For a big club like Bayern, with fans across the globe, it means that we have an obligation to them. When we do tours like this, many people decry the burden of a 10-day trip with long flights and three matches in three different cities - and, of course, it’s exhausting. But I’m convinced that nobody who has seen the excitement in Asia or Africa during the International Champions Cup would question the immense meaning of the tournament.

Fans are the most important thing in football and, nowadays, they really are everywhere. They watch all of our games on TV or online. I can’t pretend that every fan who wants to see us play can do so even when we go to their country but it means a lot just to see that we’re real, that we’re really there. These games are played in places that they recognise and it makes them feel closer to us.They’re not the only ones who benefit from it. We get the chance to learn new things and get to know new cultures and ways of living.

It’s also a valuable opportunity for us to reflect on what we want from ourselves and think differently about what we do. Before we left for the States, we played a small game in Landshut. Only three days later, we’ll be facing AC Milan in Chicago. That’s the balancing act that we have to do as we develop our identity as a team.

 

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Emery wants new striker at PSG

Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery is on the hunt for a new striker to complement Edinson Cavani.

The Ligue 1 champions saw record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic depart at the end of the season before signing a one-year contract with Manchester United.
Cavani has spent much of his three-year spell at Parc des Princes playing in a wider role to accommodate Ibrahimovic as a central striker, despite the Uruguay international's frustrations, particularly last term under Laurent Blanc.

The former Napoli star is expected to lead the line under new head coach Emery, but the 44-year-old is eager to recruit more options in attack to take some of the pressure off Cavani's shoulders."Cavani has played on the left a lot, he has to feel like he will be a centre forward, but we're short on other players like him in attack," he told L'Equipe.

"It's very important for me to think carefully without pressure. If Cavani is injured, for example, we'll need a player capable of playing for PSG."Sevilla striker Kevin Gameiro has been linked as a possible option, along with Gonzalo Higuain, although the Napoli striker is expected to join Juventus in the coming days.

Another option at Emery's disposal is Jean-Kevin Augustin, who finished as top scorer at the European Under-19 Championship this month, firing France to the title with six goals."He brought us a lot during this tournament," coach Ludovic Batelli was quoted as saying by L'Equipe after France beat Italy 4-0 in the final.

"But it's not up to me to say whether he should play at PSG this season. The door to a higher level is going to open at some time – that's certain."From this Euros, I'll remember above all that he's a talented, smiling and attentive player."

 

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Juventus 2-1 Tottenham: Pochettino's men go down to Italian champions in Melbourne

Medhi Benatia scored his first goal for Juventus as the Serie A champions ran out 2-1 winners against Tottenham in the International Champions Cup in Melbourne.The centre-back looped home a header after Paulo Dybala had put Juve in front with just six minutes played against a youthful Spurs side at the MCG.

Mauricio Pochettino's team enjoyed plenty of possession, particularly in the second half, but struggled to make any headway against an inexperienced Juve defence who did well to keep debutant Vincent Janssen quiet.

Miralem Pjanic impressed for Massimiliano Allegri's side but missed a superb chance for a third goal, and Erik Lamela gave Spurs hope of a comeback when he halved the deficit with 23 minutes left.

But Juve held on and looked largely in good shape, despite still missing the players involved at Euro 2016, including reported Manchester United target Paul Pogba.
The Old Lady broke the deadlock early on as errors in the Tottenham rearguard undid their promising early work.

Dominic Ball lost possession to Roberto Pereyra, and after Cameron Carter-Vickers failed to win the ball back with a slide tackle, the Argentinian picked out Dybala in space in the area, who lashed home into the bottom corner.Dybala came close to a second on 13 minutes, latching onto a loose ball before letting fly from 25 yards, forcing Michel Vorm to tip the ball over the bar.

But when the resulting corner was cleared only as far as Pjanic, the midfielder clipped a fine cross towards former Roma team-mate Benatia, who rose highest to loop a header back across goal and into the right-hand corner of Vorm's net.

Youngster William Miller was a bright spark for Spurs in a disappointing half, and the 20-year-old felt aggrieved not to win a penalty when he went to ground under pressure from Benatia and Pol Lirola, although the contact was minimal.

Pochettino made four changes at the break and his side started the second half brightly, although Pjanic should have made it 3-0 when he raced in behind the Spurs defence following Hernanes' pass, only to balloon a shot over the bar from 12 yards out.

Lamela snatched a lifeline for Spurs, drilling low into the bottom-right corner after Victor Wanyama had done well to win back possession in Juve's half, and the Argentinian stung the palms of Neto when he side-footed straight at the Juve goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Shayon Harrison was denied a stoppage-time equaliser when Neto saved well low to his right after good work from Lamela, allowing Juve to hold on for the win.

 

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Lyon reject €35m Arsenal offer for Lacazette

Lyon claim they have rejected Arsenal's €35 million offer for Alexandre Lacazette.
A report in Le Progres suggested the Premier League side had tabled an offer worth €48m, but the Ligue 1 side have insisted the bid was significantly lower and has been turned down.

"Lyon categorically deny having received an offer of €48m from Arsenal for Alexandre Lacazette like Le Progres reported in this morning's edition," a statement from Lyon read."The club laments Le Progres' decision not to contact the club before publishing this false information, which causes confusion on the day OL publishes its annual financial figures.

"The reality is that Arsenal have tabled an offer of €35m, which Lyon have not acted upon for one reason. OL will hold on to Alexandre Lacazette because he is irreplaceable and one of the key figures in Bruno Genesio's squad."

Arsenal are keen to add another striker to their squad to provide competition for Olivier Giroud and they have seemingly earmarked Lacazette as the ideal addition.
Arsene Wenger has said Arsenal are ready to "spend big" if the right opportunity comes along, but their attempt to sign Lacazette seems to have stalled for now.

The France international, 25, had previously been linked with West Ham United, but Lyon appear to have no intention of letting go of the prolific attacker.63 - Alexandre Lacazette has scored 63 league goals in the last 3 seasons - the only PL player to score more was Sergio Aguero (67). Force.

Lacazette netted 21 goals in 34 Ligue 1 appearances last campaign to help Lyon to second place in the table, having scored 27 times in the French top flight the previous season.His contract with Lyon runs until June 2019.

 

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Donnarumma: I dream of AC Milan captaincy

Gianluigi Donnarumma says captaining AC Milan is a "dream" of his and hopes to remain at the club for a long time.Donnarumma went from an unknown teenager to Milan's first-choice keeper in his first season with the senior team in 2016-17, having debuted in October.

The 17-year-old's exploits have attracted the attention of some of Europe's biggest clubs, though Silvio Berlusconi has been quick to insist the Italian is not for sale.But Donnarumma – seen as the heir to Gianluigi Buffon's throne in the national team – has allayed fears of a departure from the San Siro.

"I really like the idea of renewing my contract and I also like to think I will have a lasting relationship with Milan for the coming years," he told the La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I've always been a Milan supporter and I must say the captain's armband is a dream of mine, a crowning achievement in my career path."Obviously though, one thing at a time."Milan endured another forgettable 2015-16 season in Serie A, finishing seventh, 23 points outside of the Champions League spots, as coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was replaced by Cristian Brocchi during the campaign.

Vincenzo Montella has since been appointed as head coach and the Rossoneri are looking to surprise this term, using Premier League champions Leicester City as their inspiration."I only say that the Milan that fell out of the European places can't been seen again," he added.

"The campaign will be hard, but if Leicester can make their mark…"Of new boss Montella, Donnarumma said: "He is excellent. He has so much desire, we're all doing well. He's the right coach to restart with."

 

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Manchester City near Sane & Gabriel Jesus signings

Manchester City are getting close to completing the signings of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, Goal understands.

The Premier League side are looking to bolster their squad ahead of their first season under Pep Guardiola, having already signed Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer.

City have long been chasing Schalke's promising youngster Leroy Sane and the Germany international has already requested a transfer from the Bundesliga side.Guardiola admitted this week that his club are interested in signing him, though he admitted it will be tough to convince the Gelsenkirchen team to sell.

And while the two sides are yet to reach an agreement on the fee for Sane, City are getting closer to striking a deal and are confident of snapping up the 20-year-old.

The Etihad Stadium outfit have been tracking 19-year-old Palmeiras striker Gabriel Jesus for some time, and his father confirmed on Monday that they are in advanced negotiations for him.The deal is not completed yet, but is very close and has been delayed somewhat by the complications due to the two sides being in different time zones.

The Brazil U23 international is expected to be signed and sent straight back to the Serie A side as he will not be eligible for a UK work permit.

 

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OFFICIAL: Juventus complete €90m Higuain signing

Juventus have completed the signing of Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for €90 million, it has been confirmed.

The Argentine striker has long been linked with a move to the Serie A champions, having already agreed personal terms earlier in July.The 28-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with Massimiliano Allegri's side, which will see him pocket €7m per year.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis had told Juve director Giuseppe Marotta that they would have to match Higuain's release clause to sign the forward, which was believed to be €94.7m, but that clause was only for the player himself to buy his way out of the club. The clause for any potential buyers was set at €90m.

Juve have matched that fee, which will be paid in two instalments of €45m, and have sent the contracts to the Lega Serie A, who have listed Higuain as a Bianconeri player.

Higuain, who scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A games last season, joined Napoli in 2013 and was tied to the club until June 2018. He follows the likes of Miralem Pjanic, Marko Pjaca, Medhi Benatia and Dani Alves in joining the Turin side this summer.

 

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Juve squad 1kanam pattama strong dannam​

 

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'Liverpool's €40m Joao Mario bid rejected'

The father of Joao Mario has claimed Sporting CP have rejected significant bids from Inter and Liverpool for the Portugal international.

The 23-year-old has been the subject of intense transfer speculation after his excellent performances in his country's surprise triumph at Euro 2016.And the midfielder's father has now revealed that a €35 million offer from Inter - potentially rising to €45m - and a €40m bid from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have been turned down by the club.

"Proposals for the boy don't come directly to me," he told Diario de Noticias."They go to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the Sporting president."I was informed, however, that the club said no to €35m plus €10m in bonuses from Inter and to €40m from Liverpool.

"Nothing specific has happened, my son is a professional and knows he has a contract with Sporting."At the same time, we're talking about a very valuable player for the club, who aspires to bigger projects during his career."I never said Sporting was not a project he liked. On the contrary, he's always shown an interest in their ... project."

A product of Sporting's academy, who was previously in Porto's youth set-up, Joao Mario scored six goals and registered 11 assists as Jorge Jesus' side finished second to Benfica in the Primeira Liga last season.

 

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Mourinho makes Man Utd train after stepping off plane from China

Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United squad went straight to the club's training ground for a two-hour session after arriving back in England from China on Tuesday.

The cancellation of Monday's International Champions Cup clash with Manchester City due to an unsuitable pitch in Beijing meant Mourinho wanted to give his players a work-out, and he put them through their paces between 0630 and 0830 local time.Afterwards, the Portuguese hailed the players for their commitment so soon after an 11-hour flight.

Mourinho told the club's official website: "They are a great group of boys and the intensity of the session shows they are very professional in their outlook."United's next pre-season friendly sees them travel to Gothenburg to face Galatasaray on Saturday before returning to Old Trafford for Wayne Rooney's testimonial against his former club Everton on August 3.

They then take on champions Leicester City at Wembley in the Community Shield on August 7 before opening their Premier League campaign at Bournemouth a week later.

 

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Ibrahimovic: I turned down Beckham for Mourinho & Man Utd

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to link up with David Beckham in the MLS to join Manchester United.

The Sweden international was heavily linked with a move to the United States after his exit from PSG, but ultimately opted to sign a one-year deal at Old Trafford, reuniting with former boss Jose Mourinho in the process.

And, speaking exclusively to Goal , Ibrahimovic has now admitted that he snubbed Beckham’s offer to play for his new Miami-based franchise, which has recently secured land for a stadium and hopes to join the league in 2018, such was his desire to play in the Premier League.

"David is a good friend of mine, and he has asked me to play for his (Miami) team," Ibrahimovic said. "For now, I want to achieve big things with Manchester United, but I have a lot of respect for the MLS, and anything is possible."

However, despite waxing lyrical about the ability of Jose Mourinho, Ibrahimovic has refused to rule out a move to America in the future."I am not ruling out the MLS," he added.

"Once I had decided to leave PSG there were many offers, but with Zlatan that is normal."I know that teams from the MLS were interested, but the opportunity to play for Manchester United, and of course to work with my good friend Jose Mourinho again, was impossible to turn down.”

The veteran striker, who has won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France, will turn 35 in October but maintains that he has no intention to retire in the near future.

"I would never rule out the MLS in the future. I have a contract with Manchester United, but I feel in great shape," he added."I feel as though I could play until I am 40. It is impossible to predict the future."

 

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Pato to Villarreal 'in the final stages'

Alexandre Pato's move from Corinthians to Villarreal is set to be finalised, according to the Brazilian club's director of football.The former AC Milan attacker joined Corinthians in 2013, and spent two years on loan at their Serie A rivals Sao Paulo, before a brief spell at Chelsea during the second half of last season.

Pato struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, making just two Premier League appearances, and is now on the brink of moving to LaLiga with Villarreal.

"It is in the final stages of the paperwork. In the next few hours, it could be one hour or five, the deal should be confirmed," said Corinthians' Eduardo Ferreira.
Ferreira did not reveal the fee Corinthians will receive and would not confirm if it will be paid in full or instalments.

 

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Neymar: I play for Messi, he's the man

Neymar does not believe it is a problem if Brazil are over-reliant on him in their quest for Olympic gold because Barcelona rely on Lionel Messi.

The five-time world champions are looking to end their quest for Olympic glory on home turf at Rio 2016 next month and Rogerio Micale's side will look to Barca superstar Neymar for inspiration.

The 24-year-old was not keen to proclaim his own importance but happily admitted he finds himself playing second fiddle to Messi on a weekly basis domestically."I've never liked talking about myself, but I'll give Barcelona's example," he told a news conference at Granja Comary.

"We have great players but will we deny we are dependent on Messi? Of course we depend [on Messi]."I'm not ashamed of playing for him or for the fact that he is the man."Messi is the best in the world, I want to depend on him."

Neymar was part of the Brazil squad that made their way the semi-finals of the World Cup on home soil in 2014, although he was sidelined through injury when a chastening 7-1 defeat from Germany abruptly halted their progress and sparked a vitriolic reaction from their supporters.The pressure will be ramped up on the Selecao once more this time around but Neymar is ready to handle such scrutiny and believes his young team-mates can do the same.

He said: "Winning is a very good thing. The pressure is part of the football, I'm here for that. It's part of the game this pressure when I'm on the field."They [the other players] are young, but we know our responsibility of playing for Brazil in our home country, in the Olympics.

"I'm not concerned with that. Fear takes away the will to win. I'm not afraid of losing. If we lose, may it happen with pride."

 

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Carlo Ancelotti: Bayern don't need to add players

While other managers at top European clubs are frantically seeking reinforcements before the summer transfer window closes, Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti says his squad is set.

Despite the departure of Mario Gotze and Sebastian Rode during the summer, the Italian tactician feels he has the squad he needs to contend for a fifth consecutive Bundesliga — and perhaps add the Champions League to the club's trophy cabinet for the first time since 2012-13.

"I think that we are covered in all the positions and we don’t need to add any players," Ancelotti said at a news conference Tuesday. "I’m really happy with the squad. We don’t need to buy another player because I think we are a good squad."

Ancelotti moved quickly to bolster his squad at the beginning of the summer, adding Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches from Benfica before the 18-year-old's breakout in a run to the Euro 2016 title. The club also brought former Bayern youth defender Mats Hummels back to Bavaria from Borussia Dortmund.

The manager also has said that forward Robert Lewandowski's presence in the squad is vital, though he's yet to see the Poland international suit up for his Bayern side. Ancelotti, who spent the last year taking a break from coaching after a stint with Real Madrid, responded that he'd seen enough of Lewandowski over the years to know what he's going to get out of the reigning Bundesliga Golden Boot winner.

"I have seen him play a lot of times. I’ve seen him score a lot of goals. He’s a fantastic striker," the manager said. "We need this player, so we are really happy that he’s here. He’s really important for us. He’s not the only player, fortunately.

"I think we are a fantastic squad, and we will be competitive the whole season."
While Lewandowski is not part of the squad for the Audi Summer Tour, Bayern begins its U.S. tour Wednesday with a match against AC Milan at Solider Field before taking on Inter and Real Madrid in the two subsequent stops.

 

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Wenger to keep Arsenal transfer plans 'secret' after Lacazette snub

Arsene Wenger says he will keep Arsenal's transfer plans "secret" after Lyon claimed they had turned down a €35 million Gunners bid for Alexandre Lacazette.

Wenger has so far made just two signings in the close season, bringing in 20-year-old Rob Holding following the arrival of Switzerland star Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach.

Lyon said on Tuesday they had turned down an approach for Lacazette and denied Arsenal had returned in recent days with a second offer, prompting Wenger to insist he will not go public on the pursuit of targets until any deals have been agreed.

"Lyon is responsible for their own statements," he told reporters. "On the transfer front, I think the best [option] is always to keep [it] as secret as possible. If we sign somebody, we will announce it. But I cannot tell you much more on that."

Wenger went on to praise the developing qualities of youngster Gedion Zelalem, and he expects the 19-year-old to play a part in Thursday's pre-season game against an MLS All-Star side.

"Last season he was on loan at Glasgow Rangers, where he did quite well," he said. "He is a player with top quality. He might take a bit longer to mature because he was physically a little bit behind on body structure but I'm sure he will be a great player."He [matured a bit slowly] physically but overall I’m convinced that he will make a great career."

 

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Wenger aiming to sign new Arsenal defender following Mertesacker injury


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will look to sign a new defender in the wake of Per Mertesacker being ruled out for “months”.

The former Germany international underwent surgery after suffering a knee problem in his side's 1-1 friendly draw against Lens on Friday.Wenger is now desperately short of defensive options ahead of Arsenal's Premier League opener against Liverpool on 14 August.

Laurent Koscielny is still on holiday following his Euro 2016 exploits with France, while Gabriel Paulista is currently sidelined alongside Mertesacker.

And although Wenger was unable to confirm how long Mertesacker will be out for, he did reveal the club will now dip into the transfer market due to a lack of fit and “experienced” defenders at his disposal."We have to look for an option to get a bit more experience," Wenger said.

"We will see some of our young centre-backs on Thursday as well. With Per being out, we are a bit short on the experience front and we are looking to bring somebody in."Wenger's men are preparing for a clash against the MLS All-Stars in San Jose on Thursday.

 

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Guardiola confident of more Man City signings

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is confident the club will sign the players he needs to deploy his style of play by the time the transfer window closes on August 31.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain is closing in on deals for Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Marlos Moreno, although the latter two will be sent out on loan, while Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Oleksandr Zinchenko have already been signed.

Guardiola has also highlighted the need for two new central defenders but has so far seen Athletic’s Aymeric Laporte turn down a move, while City’s pursuit of Everton’s John Stones has been protracted - despite the player setting his sights on the Etihad Stadium - and Juventus have attempted to price Leonardo Bonucci out of the market.The Catalan is confident that he will eventually have a squad capable of carrying out his demands, but has highlighted some stand-in options just in case.

"I think Fernandinho can play in 10 different positions, because he has the quality to play wherever,” Guardiola said at a press conference ahead of City’s game against Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup.

“He can play there [in defence], he is quick, aggressive, intelligent and strong in the air. He has the quality to create good build-up play and can play a forward pass, so I think he has the quality to play there.

“Fernando can also play there, but maybe he is not as quick as Fernandinho. “So at the end of the window, we will have to sew which players we have, but I think a lot of the midfield players we have here can play at the back, and when that happens the build-up play is much, much better. “We need to create good build-up play, with easy passes in midfield, to achieve good passes for our strikers further up the pitch.

“I think by August 31, we will have the right players to play the way we want.“Guardiola started working with the City squad at the start of July and has regularly stressed the need to get to know his new players.

That need for patience was a theme he returned to in Shenzhen on Wednesday, but he was keen to stress his gratitude to some “great human beings”."Up until now I can only say thank-you to the players, how they train, how they try to understand me and as soon as possible create a good environment with each other,” he added.

“Every manager, every trainer, every coach has his own ideas. For the coach, it's impossible to achieve something when the players don't want it. “They are great human beings, of course they are good players. We need time, and I'm sure in the beginning it will be difficult. In the beginning it will be tough to win the games, but I'm hoping as time moves on, and in a short period, we will be able to show we are good in the games.”

 

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OFFICIAL: Mascherano agrees new Barcelona deal

Barcelona have announced they have reached an agreement with Javier Mascherano over a new and improved three-year deal.

The Argentina international had been linked with a switch to Juventus, who have already signed full-back Dani Alves from Barca in the close season.However, director of institutional relations Albert Soler has confirmed that Mascherano has pledged his future to the club he joined from Liverpool in 2010.

"We don't have to talk about him," he said. "The club announces that we have reached an agreement to improve his contract in the next three seasons with a better one.

"It was one of the issues that we had left."The announcement was made as Barca presented midfielder Andre Gomes, who has joined from Valencia on a five-year deal for a fee that could rise to as high as €70million, depending on bonuses.

Mascherano made 51 appearances for Luis Enrique's side last season as they defended their domestic double.