Transfer of Chygrynskiy not excluded

Asked if the transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) was excluded this summer, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola said at a press conference that he couldn't confirm that:

"I don't know if he will come. We'll see what will happen, I don't know. Is he as good as people say? There are other players on the market, he's not the only option, but I'm getting paid to make decisions, more than to coach.

I decide who plays, who doesn't, who comes, with whom I work and which staff I have. You have to make decisions and it's often difficult, but that's my job."

Dimitri Seluk, the agent of Chygrynskiy, meanwhile said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that there will be a last attempt to reach an agreement on the transfer of the Ukrainian centre-back next Friday when the two clubs will compete for the European super cup in Monaco.

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Ibrahimovic asks for extra training sessions

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona player Zlatan Ibrahimovic has asked for extra training sessions.

The Swedish striker would be aware that it will not be easy to adapt to Barcelona's 4-3-3, the movements he has to make and the way the ball circulates, and that he will have to make an extra effort if he wants to adapt to the system.

Ibrahimovic would therefore have asked Guardiola and the assistant coaches for more training sessions and, following the example of former Barcelona centre forward Henrik Larsson, he would also plan to watch a lot of videos to adapt quicker.

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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.

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Bid for Schalke right back Rafinha
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Three central defenders offered to Barcelona

Left back Monreal unaware of Barcelona interest

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona earlier this summer (read more here), Osasuna left back defender Ignacio Monreal (23) has said at a press conference that he has never been personally contacted:

"I heard about it when I was on the beach. I joked about it with my friends. I didn't know anything, only what I read in the papers. It's nice to hear they could have been thinking about me, but you shouldn't give it too much importance."

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Guardiola clarifies Eto'o statements

Asked about his statements last month about his wish that then Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o would leave the club (read more here), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has said at a press conference that he could be misinterpreted:

"Maybe I didn't explain myself well that day. I will repeat what I wanted to say. It wasn't a matter of 'feeling' between Samuel and I. Footballwise there was no problem and I felt very comfortable working with Samuel Eto'o, also on a personal level.

There has been said that it was a matter of 'feeling' but that's not the case. I said that the 'feeling', what I felt after winning those trophies last season, was that it would be better to change some pieces. That was the reason. I probably didn't explain myself very well, so I would like to clarify that because it might seem as if I didn't have a good relationship with him. While I liked to work with him. I wasn't something personal or something sporting. I hope to have make things more clear."

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Eto'o: "I've defended the shirt as my life"
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