Guardiola rejects to sign Rafinha and Mongongu

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has rejected the transfers of AS Monaco central defender and Congo international Cédric Mongongu (20 - picture) and Schalke 04 right back defender Rafinha (23).

Both players reportedly had been put forward by the club earlier this week as alternatives for the transfer of Shakhtar centre-back Chygrynskiy. After the rejection by Guardiola, Barcelona would have decided to make a new attempt for the Ukrainian defender.

Catalan sports paper Sport and El Mundo Deportivo both confirm that Chygrynskiy is the only defender Guardiola wants to sign before the end of the summer transfer window. If that transfer would not be possible, the Catalan coach would prefer to give the youth players a chance.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Rafinha was offered to Barcelona by Brazilian sports marketing agency Traffic through players' agents Marcos and Naor Malaquías. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would have been in favour of the option to sign the Brazilian right back.

Read more:
Bid for Schalke right back Rafinha
New contacts with Shakhtar on Chygrynskiy
Three central defenders offered to Barcelona

Three central defenders offered to Barcelona

In recent days, three players have been offered by their representatives to FC Barcelona's technical staff, reports Catalan sports newspaper Sport.

The players include Arsenal central defender and Cameroon international Alexandre Song (21), Monaco central defender and Congolese international Cédric Mongongu (20), and Toulouse defender Mauro Cetto (26).

Song has a number of factors counting against him, including the fact that he is cup tied to Arsenal and that he is likely to miss time this winter due to the African Cup of Nations. None of the players appear to be strong options for Barcelona, but the coaches will consider each in the coming days nonetheless.

Read more:
Barcelona considering bids for Evans and Kompany
Three possible alternatives for the centre-back
Chygrynskiy accepts that he will not leave