Bodyguard of Messi is football hooligan

Argentinian sports paper Olé reports today that the bodyguard of Barcelona player Lionel Messi is a football hooligan.

The Argentinian football federation would have appointed Ariel Pugliese (picture below, behind Messi), better known under his nick name Gusano ("Worm"), to act as bodyguard of Messi during his stay in Argentina ahead of the international game against Brazil next weekend.

Gusano would be one of the leaders of the ultras of Argentinian second division club Nueva Chicago, who has been linked with (although not yet accused of) the murder of Marcelo Cejas, a fan of a rival team, in 2007 and who has been involved in several acts of violence and financial fraud.

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Independiente wants Milito on loan

Argentinian sports paper Olé claims that Argentinian first division club Independiente is interested in Barcelona central defender Gabriel Milito (29).

Independiente president Julio Comparada would have talked with Milito's agent Eduardo Gamarnik one month ago and the club wants to sign the defender on a six-month loan.

Sources from the Argentinian club are quoted as confirming the offer: "Which better place than this club is there for him to continue his recovery. Even if he plays little, he can still use this six months to recover fully before returning to Barcelona. The gates of the club are always open for our champions and Milito has a winning mentality that can have a positive influence on the team."

Asked about the rumours, the player's agent told the paper that it won't be easy to reach an agreement: "I don't close the door for anyone, but it's not very likely. The plan is that he starts the pre-season with Barcelona. If he's fit, Barcelona wants him with the group. So it won't only depend on what the player wants."

Milito suffered a right knee injury on 29 April 2008 during the second game of the Champions League semi-finals against Manchester United last season. The predicted recovery time was then being estimated between six and nine months.

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Barcelona following Argentinian striker De Federico

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona, Huracán forward Matías de Federico (20) has said in an interview with Argentinian sports paper Olé that he knows about the presumed interest:

"I’ve read that Barcelona has asked for videos of my games but I have to stay calm about it because there’s nothing concrete. At this moment I’m only thiking about Huracán and what I can do here.

People have compared me with Messi but he’s an extraordinary player. I admire him a lot and I’m not anywhere close to him. I dream about being like him but that’s still far off."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain checked on some Argentinian talents during his stay in the country over the last days.

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Watch this video of De Federico:

Youth: Cooperation agreement with River Plate

Argentinian sports paper Olé claims that Barcelona has signed a cooperation agreement with Argentinian club River Plate last week.

A delegation of Barcelona, headed by Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona board member Albert Perrín, signed the agreement last week.

The deal includes the transfer of FC Barcelona Juniors Luján central defender Sebastián Hernández (14) to River Plate, with his transfer rights from now on being shared by River Plate (60%) and Barcelona (40%), and the chance for the best youth players to come and test in Barcelona. Barcelona would be planning to sign similar agreements with other Argentinian clubs like Boca Juniors, Racing Club, San Lorenzo, Lanús, Vélez Sársfield and Huracán.

Begiristain is quoted by the paper as defending the system the club is setting up in Argentina: "We're in contact with River and other important clubs who are interested in our boys and who want to help them to make progress. That's a good thing beause they stay here, with their family and friends, in their own country. Playing with River is something prestigious and I think that our model is unique. We don't want to compete with the big Argentinian clubs but to work together with them."

read more about FC Barcelona Juniors Luján here

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Palacio only wants to move to Spain

Argentinian sports paper Olé claims that Boca Juniors and the player have rejected a formal 14 million euro° offer from Lazio Roma for Boca Juniors forward and Argentinian international Rodrigo Palacio (26).

Boca wants a higher transfer fee and the player, who has been linked with Barcelona over the last weeks (read more here), would have let his club know that he only will accept to leave for a Spanish club (read more here).

Although Palacio is not really pushing for a move to Europe, Boca Juniors nevertheless thinks now is the time to sell the player because of his age and the fact his salary of 650 000 euro° is weighing on the club's budget.

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