Fiorentina unaware of Barcelona interest in Frey

Asked about the rumours linking Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29) to Barcelona (read more here), Fiorentina sports director Pantaleo Corvino said in an interview with Italian television channel Sky that the club didn't hear anything:

"Barcelona didn't ask for Frey and our intention is anyhow to keep him."

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Agent Frey dismisses Barcelona interest

Italian television channel Sky claims that Barcelona is interested in Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29).

Barcelona reportedly could try to include Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (30) in a bid for the French goalkeeper, which would make Fiorentina willing to accept an offer. Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona might offer 12 million euro° plus Márquez.

Asked about the rumours linking Frey to Barcelona, the player's agent Carlo Pallavicino has nevertheless said in an interview with Tuscany regional newspaper Il Giornale della Toscana that the goalkeeper will continue at Fiorentina: "You always have that kind of rumours this time of the year, linking players to the big clubs. But I'm willing to bet that Frey, Mutu and Felipe Melo will not leave Firenze. Barcelona? I repeat: Seba won't move."

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Fiorentina goalkeeper Frey has been offered
Fiorentina interested in Marquez
Montolivo dismisses Barcelona rumours

Marseille goalkeeper Mandanda on shortlist

French football weekly paper Foot Transferts claims that Barcelona is interested in Marseille goalkeeper and French international Steve Mandanda (24) (read more here).

A Barcelona scout would have recently watched Mandanda in action. The report was positive and Barcelona would already have informed the player's entourage about their interest. Barcelona executives are expected to contact the French club shortly to hear more about the contract situation of the goalkeeper.

Mandanda would be part of a five-name shortlist of possible substitutes of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés that also includes Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (31), Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez (27), Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29) and Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo (19).

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Marseille goalkeeper Mandanda followed

Watch a video of Mandanda here:

Fiorentina goalkeeper Frey has been offered

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29) has been offered to Barcelona.

Frey’s contract at the Italian club expires at the end of this season and Giovanni Branchini, the player’s agent, has informed Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain about the situation of the Frenchman. Branchini and Begiristain would have a good relationship since the transfer of Albertini to Barcelona in January of the year 2005.

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Picture of the day: Frey
Looking for a goal keeper

Picture of the day: Frey

During last Sunday's Italian league game against Siena, Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey had troubles with the sun shining in his eyes and asked a ball boy if he could use his cap. When the fans saw it was a Barcelona cap, they informed the goalkeeper, who decided to take it off.

Looking for a goal keeper

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is looking to bring in a goal keeper who should put pressure on current first choice goal keeper Víctor Valdés (26) (read more here).

With substitute goal keeper Albert Jorquera (29) not expected to return before July, with the loan deal of Celta Vigo loan out José Manuel Pinto (32) not being made permanent and with a qualification round for the Champions League coming up, Barcelona doesn't want to take any risk.

Barcelona would have good scouting reports on a number of goal keepers amongst which Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04 - 22), Hugo Lloris (Nice - 21), Dudu Aouate (Deportivo La Coruña - 30) and Diego Alves (Almería - 22). Heurelho Gomes (PSV Eindhoven - 27) and Sébastien Frey (Fiorentina - 28) would have been offered.

Nicolás Lozano, journalist of Mexican sports site Medio Tiempo, claims that Club América goal keeper Guillermo Ochoa (22 - picture) could come to Barcelona because Rafael Márquez and Giovani dos Santos will leave: "And Barcelona needs a Mexican player in the squad because of marketing purposes."

Catalan sports paper Sport nevertheless claims that nothing will change: Valdés stays the number one with Jorquera as his back-up, Pinto will return to Celta and no new goal keeper will be brought in.

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How things stand: Goal keeper

Pinto wants to stay