Cicinho open to offer from Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), AS Roma right back defender Cicinho (29) has said in an interview with Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport that he would listen to a concrete offer despite being happy at Roma:

"The first thing that I want to clarify is that I have never expressed to anyone, let alone to Roma, my desire to return to Brazil. I'm feeling very well in Rome, I'm happy with how things are going, certain problems I had in the past have been solved, so at this moment everything is ok. Even for my family. My son is now enrolled in a school here in Rome.

So I don't understand where some rumours are coming from. I have now spent five years in Europe and I don't have any problems at all. I just said that my dream is to return to Brazil in the future and to end my career there. Right now I'm totally focused on recovering from my injury and returning to the pitch in a Roma shirt. The recovery is going well, I am ahead of initial schedule. I am putting everything in to be available for the squad for the second league game against Juventus.

I have never heard anything from Barcelona, I know about it from reading the papers. Of course, I would be a hypocrite if I said, if this was all true, that interest from the club that won the last Champions League would not make me happy, but for now there is nothing. If this would become more concrete and Roma wants to sell me, then we can talk about it again, but, I repeat that I am happy with Roma."

Read more:
Transfer Cicinho could be closed in coming days
Looking for a right back defender
Cicinho prefers to return to Brazil

Caceres set for Juventus medical tests

Italian sports papers Il Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport claim that Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (22) will undergo today the medical tests at Juventus prior to his transfer on loan.

The player would have arrived in Italy yesterday, where he and his agent Daniel Fonseca had a dinner with Juventus sports director Alessio Secco. The Uruguayan centre-back is quoted by Tuttosport as saying that he's excited about the move: "I want all this to be closed soon, I can't wait to be a Juventus player. I'm living a dream. I'll take Barcelona's winning spirit with me to Juventus."

Read more:
Total deal on Caceres loan to Juventus

Hleb has deal with Stuttgart

German sports weekly paper Sport Bild claims that Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) has found a personal agreement with German club Stuttgart.

Hleb would sign a one-year loan deal with his former club. Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport confirmed earlier today that Hleb had yesterday decided to reject the offer of Inter Milan and to join Stuttgart instead. Hleb would prefer to return to Germany because he doesn't want to live another year with language problems, as happened last season in Barcelona.

Read more:
What is happening with Hleb?

Ibrahimovic agent in Barcelona

Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that Mino Raiola, the agent of Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27), is in Barcelona to close the final contract deal between the striker and Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo meanwhile claims that Barcelona doesn't plan to make an offer of 75 million euro if the Inter-Eto'o deal wouldn't go through, like Italian media reported this afternoon. Barcelona is waiting until all parties have found an agreement to then finalize the whole operation. A Barcelona source told Spanish news agency EFE that the 75 million euro plus Hleb is not an option at all.

The player's agent Josep Maria Mesalles is at this moment again in Milan to hold talks with Inter officials, that started at 5:15 pm this afternoon. Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that the last point to be solved is the exit bonus of around 4-5 million euro. The paper thinks that a deal will be found because of the good relationships between both presidents.

Read more:
The contract of Ibrahimovic
New Ibrahimovic offer: 75 million plus Hleb on loan

Deal Inter-Eto'o will be announced soon

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claims that a new meeting between Inter Milan officials and Josep Maria Mesalles, the agent of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28), started at 3 pm this afternoon. The meeting is expected to last for two hours.

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Inter president Massimo Moratti will meet with Mesalles at 4 pm. The official announcement on a deal would be near. Inter and Eto'o would sign a five-year contract worth 10,5 million euro (plus incentives) a year. The Cameroonian striker would already be in Milan and once there's a formal deal, Eto'o is expected to undergo the medical tests tomorrow.

The paper also claims that Barcelona will in the end pay 50 million euro° plus Eto'o plus a one-year loan of Hleb (with Barcelona paying the entire salary) for Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27).

Toure rejects first renewal offer

Asked about the renewal of the contract of Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) (read more here), the player's agent Dimitre Seluk has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that the first offer falls short:

"The offer they have made is not very good for us. I remind you that when Touré signed for Barça, he got the promise that he would get a pay rise after the first year, a promise that wasn't kept."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the offer is that far from what Touré's agent is asking that an exit could be possible (read more here), also because Barcelona has set a limit they don't want to pass.

When Seluk asked for a pay rise earlier this year baecause Touré is one of the least paid players of the squad, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola met with Touré urging him to postpone this type of discussions until the end of the season but promising him at the same time a renewal in the summer. Barcelona has now made Touré a first offer but sources close to the negotiations said that the meeting between Seluk and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain was rather negative.

The agent would have made clear that Touré, who has a contract until 2011 including a buyout clause of 90 million euro°, would have an attractive offer from Arsenal, while Liverpool and several English clubs have shown interest. The Catalan sports paper and Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claim that Inter Milan would want to include Touré in the transfer of Inter striker Ibrahimovic.

Read more:
Barcelona could consider to sell Toure
Manchester City prepares summer bid for Toure
Barcelona wants to renew the contract of Toure

Inter asks record transfer fee for Ibrahimovic

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Inter Milan is asking a record fee of 80 million euro° for Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27).

Because Barcelona president Joan Laporta couldn't offer more than 25 million euro° plus Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (28) for both Ibrahimovic ànd Inter left back defender Maxwell (27) during Thursday's meeting with Inter president Massimo Moratti, Barcelona's bid was soon rejected (read more here).

Inter could be willing to accept players in return, but the cash part of the deal cannot be less than 50 million euro. The transfer fee Real Madrid could have paid for Kakà makes Inter stand firm. Real Madrid and Chelsea would meanwhile be preparing to enter the race for Ibrahimovic.

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Inter prefers to be paid in cash, but could accept to include players in the deal. Inter Milan manager José Mourinho would prefer Barcelona attacker Andrés Iniesta (25) but realizes that it's highly unlikely Barcelona will let the former youth player go. Two other possibilities that are mentioned are: Eto'o plus 40 to 50 million euro or Barcelona defensive midfielder Yaya Touré (26) plus 60 million euro.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Inter rejected a bid of 40 million euro plus Eto'o. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Inter asked 40 million euro plus Eto'o, while Barcelona, that is not interested in Maxwell, offered 25 million euro plus Eto'o. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Inter asks a transfer fee of 65 million euro.

Read more:
Meeting with Inter on Ibrahimovic: A reconstruction
1 Ibrahimovic - 2 Forlan - 3 Villa - 4 Benzema

Guardiola asks Barcelona to sign Ibrahimovic

Italian sports paper La Gazzeta dello Sport claims that Barcelona wants to sign Inter Milan forward and Swedish internacional Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) this summer after Barcelona manager Joseph Guardiola has asked president Laporta for the striker.

With Inter Milan having put a price tag of 70 million euro° on Ibrahimovic, Barcelona could offer Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (28) plus 30 million euro cash. It is expected that the player's agent Mino Raiola will meet with both Barcelona and Real Madrid soon. Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Inter has three options to replace the Swede if he leaves: Eto'o, Drogba and Tévez.

Asked about his future and about Barcelona, Ibrahimovic praised the team in an interview with Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet: "I told you before that I am not the type of player who stays in a club for twenty years. Wherever I will go to, I want to win though. Barcelona has played fantastic, attacking football this season. It looks like the game that will be played in 2015. Other could need five years to catch up."

Asked about the rumours linking Ibrahimovic with Barcelona, Raiola said in an interview with Italian television channel Radio Radio Tv that he didn't yet talk with anyone: "Looking at the past season, Guardiola is apparently an intelligent person. So I can imagine that he will know, like everybody does, that Zlatan is the strongest player in the world.

I didn't meet with Barcelona or with any other club to start negotiations. Those who want to sign Ibrahimovic should come to Milan, because the rights on the player are owned by Inter. It's not impossible that Zlatan could make a symbolic gesture when he wants to move to another team but it's also clear that when you go from Ferrari to McLaren, your salary won't be cut in half."

Read more:
Pre-agreement with Ibrahimovich
Barcelona to pay 60 million euro for Ibrahimovic

Barcelona following Belgian talent Witsel

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Barcelona is following Standard de Liège midfielder and Belgian international Axel Witsel (20).

When the player was fifteen years old, he would already have received an offer to join Barcelona, but preferred back then to stay with Standard.

Witsel has a contract until 2013 and his Belgian club would ask at least 10 million euro for the player. Real Madrid, Ajax and Arsenal are also said to be following the midfielder.

Read more:
Barcelona is following Dutch League striker
Barcelona interested in Serbian striker Jovanovic
Barcelona looking for left back in Dutch league


Watch a video of Witsel here:

Barcelona monitoring Maxwell situation

Italian sports paper Corriere dello Sport unconfirmedly claims that Barcelona is monitoring the situation of Inter Milan left back defender Maxwell (27) (read more here).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would recently have intensified the contacts with the player and knows about the proposal the Brazilian received from Inter to renew until 2013.

Asked about the renewal negotiations, the player's agent Mino Raiola meanwhile said in an interview with Italian television channel Radio Radio that talks are well underway but that nothing has been signed yet: "We have not yet signed a renewal and there are no new appointments scheduled at this moment. What I can say, however, is that the relationship between Maxwell and Mourinho has definitely improved."

Read more:
Maxwell one of two candidates for left back spot
Barcelona plans at least four summer transfers
Maxwell could be included in Eto’o deal

Possible package offer for Buffon and Trezeguet

Italian sports site Sportmediaset meanwhile claims that Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31) is the first name on Barcelona's target list in case the club wouldn't find a renewal agreement with Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (28) (read more here).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would already have been in contact with Silvano Martina, the agent of Buffon, to hear more about the situation of the goalkeeper (read more here).

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Barcelona would be waiting for the right moment to try to close a deal and could make a bid of 50 million euro°. The paper also claims that Barcelona could make Juventus a package offer for Buffon plus Juventus forward David Trezeguet (31), while the Italian club could ask to include Barcelona players like Samuel Eto'o (28), Yaya Touré (25) and Andrés Iniesta (24) in the deal.

Asked about the statement of Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli that Buffon could be for sale if a good offer comes in, Buffon's agent Martina said earlier this week in an interview with Italian radio staion Radio Kiss Kiss that the goalkeeper is not looking for an exit:

"Buffon won't leave Turin, unless a crazy offer comes in because every player is on the market. All I can say about what the papers are writing is just that there's no truth in that. Gigi has a contract until 2013 and feels at home here. He just renewed his contract for five more seasons last year, so there's nothing that indicates that he wants to leave. If we receive an offer we will nevertheless evaluate it and discuss it with the club."

Read more:
Barcelona speaking with Cech and Buffon
Agent Trezeguet hints at Barcelona move
Barcelona sounds out Juventus goalkeeper Buffon

Barcelona sounds out AS Roma striker Vucinic

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport unconfirmedly claims that Barcelona is interested in AS Roma forward and Montenegro interntional Mirko Vucinic (25).

Although no concrete offer has yet been made, Barcelona would have sounded out Vucinic, who could be a candidate to replace Barcelona forward if the latter leaves. Inter Milan would also be interested in the Montenegran striker, while Roma has yesterday held talks with the player’s agent Alessandro Lucci.

Read more:
Barcelona interested in Roma defender Juan
Eto'o wants to continue after 2010
Barcelona asked for now Roma player Menez


Watch a video of Vucinic:

Inter wants to include Adriano in Eto'o deal

Italian sports paper Il Corriere Dello Sport claims that Inter Milan is preparing a bid for Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) at the end of the season.

To lower the expected asking price of 35-40 million euro°, Inter would be considering to include Inter Milan forward Adriano (27) in the deal and offer Barcelona a transfer fee of 20-25 million euro° plus the Brazilian striker.

Read more:
Ronaldinho and Adriano: The trouble kids exchange
Maxwell could be included in Eto’o deal
Inter and Juventus rival for Deco

Inter and Juventus ready to join race for Eto'o

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that, besides AC Milan (read more here), also Inter Milan and Juventus are closely following Barcelona forward and Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o (27), whose contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2010.

Inter and Juventus plan to make a bid next summer although it's not excluded they could already move during the January transfer market.

With the three Italian top teams ready to enter the race for the Cameroonian striker, the paper claims that Inter and Juventus could start with an advantage because the relationship between Eto'o and Milan player Ronaldinho wouldn't be excellent.

Read more:

Eto'o only considering four teams

Eto'o first choice striker for Milan

Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o until 2012

Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Juventus is very much interested in Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) and is ready to contact the player's agent Josep Maria Orobitg soon if the Catalan player doesn't sign a renwal.

British tabloid The People claims that also Arsenal is set to make a move for Busquets if he fails to agree a new contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season.

Spanish news agency EFE claims that Barcelona has held on Thursday a third meeting with Orobitg. After Barcelona had rejected a first renewal proposal put forward by the player's agent, the positions would now have come a lot closer, especially regarding the salary.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo confirms that progress was made during a meeting on Thursday morning between Orobitg and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general football director Raül Sanllehí. Busquets will sign a five-year deal, but there are still minor differences about the split of the salary in a fixed part and incentives.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that there's a principal agreement for a five-year renewal (read more here). Busquets would get a serious pay rise. The fixed part would already be agreed upon, but there's still no deal on the incentives. A new meeting next week should resolve the last issues.

Asked about Thursday's meeting, Busquet's agent said to the paper that it has been a key meeting: "There are still some little details left but it's true that we are a lot closer now and I think that we can close everything very soon. Now it's just about some minor issues but those shouldn't block the renewal.

Contracts can be very complex, with a lot of conditions and the incentives are becoming more and more important. Everything is ok but we just need to agree on some things. Both parties are totally willing to reach an agreement and I'm sure it's just a matter of time. When both want the same, and there's no doubt about this here, a deal can only be a matter of time."

Read more:
Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona
The Arabic tattoo of Busquets
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Inter could move for Marquez

Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Inter Milan is monitoring the situation of Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29) (read more here).

The player, who is represented by Jorge Mendes who is also the agent of Inter manager José Mourinho, would be willing to leave Barcelona and the interest of city rivals AC Milan could make Inter move soon.

Italian football site Il Reca claims that Inter manager Mourinho has given his permission to start talking with Barcelona. Inter would want to sign Marquez, whose contract with Barcelona expires in 2010, on a one year loan deal with the option to buy the defender for 5 million euro° next summer.

Read more:
Inter thinking about Marquez
Deco and Marquez represented by superagent

Guardiola convinced Marquez to stay

New bid for Trezeguet coming up

Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Barcelona is preparing a new bid for Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30).

New Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have asked the club to make a new attempt to get the French striker and Barcelona could soon propose a new deal offering the Italian club between 20 and 25 million euro°. Juventus will now seriously consider accepting the offer so they could use the money to buy a new and younger centre forward.

Read more:

Trezeguet offers himself

Trezeguet would accept Barcelona offer

Deal between Ajax and Oleguer to follow soon

Barcelona to offer Eto'o in Trezeguet deal

Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Barcelona is still interested in Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30), despite the fact that Juventus has clearly expressed that the club is not willing to sell the French striker.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would now be ready to offer Juventus a swap deal including Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (27). In return the Trezeguet would come to Barcelona, who also would receive an additional amount of money from the Italians.

Read more:

Barcelona insisting for Trezeguet
Eto'o wants to talk with Guardiola

Vice president confirms Trezeguet off the list

Milan announces Zambrotta transfer

AC Milan has announced on its official website late last night that the club has signed Barcelona full back defender and Italian international Gianluca Zambrotta (31). No further details on the transfer were given. The news has not yet been confirmed by Barcelona.

Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Milan has paid 8 million euro° for the defender. Zambrotta would sign a three-year contract and will earn 4 million euro a year.

Read more:

Top meeting with Milan to close Zambrotta deal

Deal on Zambrotta close
Zambrotta doesn't exclude Juventus return

Lazio considering Thuram offer

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Lazio Roma president Claudio Lotito is thinking about a transfer of Barcelona central defender and French intenational Lilian Thuram (36).

Lazio is considering to offer Thuram a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Thuram could be willing to think about accepting the the offer since he would like he idea of ending his career in Italy, where he played ten years for Parma and Juventus

The contract of the French defender expires in June and will not be renewed, for which he can leave for free this summer. Thuram has already stated he wants to keep on playing (read more here).

Read more:

French battle for Thuram coming up

Arsenal considering Thuram offer

Thuram wants to keep on playing