Marseille denies Gudjohnsen interest

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (30) with a move to Olympique Marseille (read more here), Marseille president Pape Diouf has denied the interest in an interview with Monaco radio station RMC:

"There is no contact at all with Gudjohnsen."


Read more:
Greek, Turkish and Russian interest for Gudjohnsen
Barcelona planning six transfers
Marseille and Galatasaray in for Gudjohnsen

Lyon president opens door for Benzema

Asked about the future of Olympique Lyon forward and French international Karim Benzema (21) who has been linked with several European top clubs, among which Barcelona (read more here), Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has suggested in an interview with French sports paper Le 10 Sport that the striker could leave in the summer:

"There are potential buyers and there are products for sale. Letting a player go is a strategic decision and we'll take it a the right time and place. We have been approached by an English club, one that recently joined the top players on the transfer market. The offer was phenomenal. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United are also interested. But at this moment, he's a Lyon player."

In an interview with Monaco radio station RMC, Aulas also commented on the future of Benzema: "He just signed a great contract until 2014 but nobody believes that he will stay until that date. We could receive offers but it's better to be envied than to be pitied. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United are interested. He's with us now, we'll see what happen later. He's a great guy and the best ambassador for Lyon in the world."

Read more:
Benzema postpones decision on future
Cash plus Abidal bid for Benzema on the table
Benzema not a transfer target anymore

French battle for Thuram coming up

French football weekly paper France Football claims that French Ligue 1 club Monaco is considering to offer Barcelona central defender and French international Lilian Thuram (36), whose contract with Barcelona expires in June and will not be renewed (read more here), a one-year deal. Olympique Marseille would also be following the player.

French sports paper L'Equipe claims that Paris Saint-Germain is also interested in Thuram but hopes the defender will accept a serious salary reduction in the last stage of his career. Thuram would be willing to listen to an offer from the club.

Asked about his future, Thuram said at a press conference on Monday that he indeed thinks about continuing next season: "I'm considering to keep on playing after the European championships. One of my possible destinations is a French club. But everything remains possible."

In an interview with Monaco radio station Radio Monte Carlo yesterday, Thuram seemed more clear on his future: "I hereby confirm that if a club still wants me, I will be a football player next season. A return to France is certainly not impossible. I was raised in the Paris region, so Paris Saint-Germain of course means something to me. I remember how I went to see their games at the Parc des Princes when I was a boy."

Read more:
Arsenal considering Thuram offer
Thuram to sell energy drinks
Thuram wants to keep on playing

Abidal linked with Liverpool

Unconfirmed rumours in England and Spain have been linking Barcelona left back defender and French international Eric Abidal (28) with a summer move to Liverpool.

With Liverpool left back defender John Arne Riise on his way out (probably to Newcastle), Liverpool is looking for a first class left back defender to replace him. And with a possible transfer of Sevilla right back defender Dani Alves, Barcelona could consider to move current right back defender Gianluca Zambrotta (31) to the left, which is the favourite position of the Italian. This could make a transfer of Abidal possible if a club would be willing to pay a price between 10 and 15 million euro°.

Asked about all the transfer rumours concerning his team-mates, Abidal is reported to have said in an interview with Monaco radio station Radio Monte Carlo on Wednesday that he is relaxed and just waiting to see what will happen: "It does not worry me. There is change in all clubs and it is correct that we did not have an entirely successful season. For now I'm here, if ever the club chooses to sell me, we'll see. At this moment this is not the case and I feel settled here. So I think I'll be here next season."

pep's opinion:
normally I don't do unconfirmed rumours (meaning: nobody seems to know where it's coming from), but this was a nice one...


Read more:
Benitez waiting for Barcelona bench
Sylvinho accepts renewal offer
Gerrard flirting with Barcelona

Ronnie's week --- 1. Milan - Ronaldinho

While last week a deal seemed close, this week's events, which this blog brings to you in three parts, lead to think that the transfer of Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28) to Milan will not be agreed upon between all parties shortly.

1. Milan - Ronaldinho
Everybody agrees that Milan still wants Ronaldinho and that Ronaldinho still wants Milan. For Milan, the transfer of the Brazilian star could move the attention away from the disappointing season that even could get worse if the team doesn't qualify for the next edition of the Champions League.

On Monday evening, Roberto de Assís, brother and agent of Ronaldinho, drove from Milan to Arcore in the north of Italy in the car of AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani. In Villa San Martino, Roberto was the surprise guest at the dinner where family, close friends and staff members of Milan president Silvio Berlusconi celebrated his election victory.

Roberto offered Berlusconi a congratulation gift: a shirt of his brother with "a very affectionate message", as Berlusconi told that night to Monaco radio station Radio Monte Carlo. Asked if Ronaldinho will join Milan in the summer transfer window, the Milan president said: "For the time being, only his brother has arrived. But I have very high hopes."

Ronaldinho indeed would have set his mind on playing together with his compatriots Kaká and Pato. A move to Inter Milan or Manchester City, two clubs who also have contacted with Roberto, is a this stage not even considered.

On Wednesday, Berlusconi repeated to Italian television channel Sky Italia that Ronaldinho made clear to him that he wants to sign for Milan and gave three reasons for that: "First, this club is the world champion. Second, there are three Brazilians playing in the team. And third, the whole world knows how good we treat our players."

The next Italian prime minister insisted that Milan's prestige is decisive in the decision of the player, and not the economic conditions of the offer: "We're possibly paying a little less than some other teams but we can afford that since we can guarantee him more glory."

The latter is contradicted by a report of Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, which claims that Roberto closed on Wednesday a super deal with Milan: Ronaldinho would sign for five years and receive a record salary of 12 million euro° a year. Milan would be convinced that Ronaldinho could get back on his top level and lead the club to new trophies.

2. Ronaldinho - Barcelona
(you can read this part here)

3. Barcelona - Milan
(you can read this part on this blog the day after tomorrow)


Read more:
Ronaldinho agent met with Milan and Inter
Everybody wants Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho agent stirs things up