Puyol agent casting doubts on renewal

Asked about the contract renewal of Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (31) (read more here), the player's agent Ramon Sostres has said in an interview with Italian football site Calcio Mercato that the player is in doubt about his future:

"At this stage, Puyol's renewal talks have stopped. He has received a very good offer but the player now first wants to see how things go with the squad. Barcelona has now signed Chygrynskiy for the positions of centre-back, where they already had Piqué and Márquez.

We saw what happened last season when Puyol played on the right, on the left and in the centre. In the semi-final of the Champions League against Chelsea he played very little. I think he must be the only captain that is not used in such an important game. The player's doubts are exclusively related to the sporting side, the financial aspect is not an issue here.

Now the player has to think long and hard about his future and decide whether that future will be with Barcelona or with another team. We will see about that later. Milan? The club seems to have some trouble at this moment. I was surprised by the transfer of Kaká. But they stay one of the most important clubs and one of those that Puyol likes. Only time will tell, it's still too early to comment on these transfer rumours.

The renewal offer is on the table but at this moment there are no further talks. We will see what will happen during the season although we are not expecting him to leave at this point because he is very attached to Barcelona. Is there a new meeting planned? I'll meet Txiki soon to talk about Iniesta and it's possible we also talk about Puyol.

But I repeat that it's not a financial problem but exclusively a football issue. The relationship with Guardiola is fine. Pep likes the player a lot, which is normal because I think it's one of the few footballers in the world who can play at all defensive positions.

But in the centre the coach wants players who are good with the ball and so it is possible that he prefers Márquez, Chygrynskiy or Piqué. The coach nevertheless knows he can count on a player who is always available for whatever needs. He is 31 years old and at that age, no team can give him any assurances. We will see what happens, time can change many things."

Read more:
Puyol considering Barcelona exit

Sylvinho signs contract with Manchester City

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Manchester City is close to a deal on the transfer of former Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (35), whose contract with Barcelona expired this summer and was not renewed (read more here).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo meanwhile claims that Sylvinho and Manchester City have already reached an agreement. The Brazilian left back would have signed yesterday a one-year contract with the English Premier League club.

Manchester City officials reportedly contacted Ramon Sostres, the player's agent, last Wednesday when the club was in Barcelona to play the Joan Gamper Trophy game. On Thursday, the main conditions of the contract would have been agreed upon and both Sylvinho and his agent would have travelled yesterday to Manchester to close the operation.

Read more:
Fluminense and Corinthians want Sylvinho
OFFICIAL: Sylvinho will leave
Sylvinho looking for European club

Puyol calm about contract renewal

Asked about the renewal of his contract that expires in 2010 (read more here), Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (31) told journalists that he's not worried about it:

"I'm very calm about the matter. I'm not in a hurry. We're having some important games ahead now. I'm only thinking about winning the Super Cup against Athletic.

I leave the negotations in the hands of Ramon Sostres, my agent. He'll do what he has to do. Although I'm sure we'll find a solution before the end of the season."

Read more:
Renewals for Puyol, Marquez, Iniesta and Messi
Puyol doesn't see renewal problems
Pique reveals dressing-room secrets

Contract renewal Iniesta close

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona wants to renew the contract of Barcelona attacking midfielder and Spanish international Andres Iniesta (25).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would therefore yesterday afternoon have met with the player's agent Ramon Sostres.

The club wants to close a deal as soon as possible and after this first meeting things would look good and an agreement could be found quickly. Barcelona has offered the player a pay rise, which will make Iniesta earn a similar salary as Barcelona player Xavi, and an extension of his contract with one more year, until 2015.

Read more:
Contract renewal for Iniesta coming up
Renewals for Puyol, Marquez, Iniesta and Messi

Two-year extension offer for Puyol

Spanish news agency EFE claims that Barcelona has offered Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (31), whose current contract expires in 2010, a contract extension for two years, until 2012.

Barcelona would have informed Puyol's agent Ramón Sostres about the club's intention during a meeting last Thursday. A Barcelona spokesperson told the news agency that the negotaiatins are well-advanced but that there's no deal yet.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona wants to keep the same fixed salary but that the personal and team incentives could be higher. The first meeting would have been extremely positive and an agreement could be found soon.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that it was just a first contact and that Puyol and his agent will now analyze the proposal. Barcelona would offer the Catalan defender the same salary as he is receiving now. If Puyol accepts the offer, a deal can be closed soon, although the agreement will in any case not be made public before Puyol returns from the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Read more:
Renewal talks with Puyol to start soon
Milan wants Puyol to replace Maldini
Puyol wants to retire at Barcelona

Bojan will not leave on loan this summer

Catalan sports papers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport both claim that Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18) will not leave on loan in the summer.

With the permission of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and according to the wish of the player (read more here), the club would have decided on Wednesday that Bojan will stay with the team next season. Barcelona would have informed the player's agent Ramón Sostres about the decision during a meeting yesterday.

Sport claims that Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar would have been the last club to have asked for the player, with new AZ manager Ronald Koeman having discussed a possible loan with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain.

El Mundo Deportivo claimed earlier this week that Deportivo had given up on Bojan (read more here) but that Barcelona was considering to include the loan of Bojan in an offer for Atlético Madrid striker Forlán.

Almería sports director Alberto Benito said two days ago in an interview with local televisión channel Interalmería Televisión that Almería would give a loan another try (read more here): "Our president is very interested in Bojan. We know it will be very difficult but the president has a great relationship with Joan Laporta and I can assure you that we will try to sign him."

But the sports director gave up on the player in an interview with Madrid sports tabloid As today: "Our interest in Bojan was real. It's a young and motivated player who could have fit in in the team. But if Barça doesn't want him to leave, we cannot do a lot about that. It's a shame, also because it's very hard to find born strikers."

Read more:
Bojan has received almost twenty loan offers
Chelsea considering Bojan transfer
Zaragoza and Shakhtar interested in Bojan

Renewal talks with Puyol to start soon

Barcelona sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (31), whose current contract expires at the end of next season, will be offered a contract extension that would include a lower salary.

Barcelona could possibly offer Puyol a lower fixed salary and higher incentives. Although the club is aware they should move carefully, they are nevertheless confident that a deal could be found because of the will of the player and the good relationship with his agent Ramon Sostres. Both the player and the club would like to reach an agreement soon.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the renewal of Puyol is at this moment one of the priorities of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and that the club wants to start negotiations with his agent as soon as possible. Puyol would be offered a new two-year contract.

Asked about the renewal of his contract, Puyol said in an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that he's not in a hurry: "I'm very calm about it. I have one year left and I'm not worried. Now I will play with the national team and we'll see what will happen and how things will evolve. I don't know about the plans of the club because I didn't yet talk with them. When we've talked, we'll see.

My wish is to stay here and I'll listen to what the club wants. If they think I still can add things to the team, then I'll stay. To start and finish your career here is a very nice idea, but it's also something very difficult. Physically, I still feel very good and I'm motivated but I cannot say for how many years I will keep on playinh football."

In an interview with the club's oficial media, Puyol added: "I think it's very difficult to become the 'Maldini of Barça' and to continue here until I'm over 40 years old. But I want to stay here as long as I possibly can and I will fight for that."

Read more:
Puyol wants to retire at Barcelona
Milan wants Puyol to replace Maldini
Puyol: "Tattoos are one of my passions"