Manchester City admits Ronaldinho talks

Manchester City executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid has confirmed in an interview with British news agency Reuters that Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28) is a transfer target of the English club: "We've had discussions with Ronaldinho but we'll see how that pans out."

The talks with Ronaldinho should be seen in a bigger plan of Manchester City to ensure Champions League football within the next two years and to enlarge the fan base both in England as in Asia: "What we will look to do in the summer is to further boost the squad, bring in top quality, internationally-recognised players. Superstars would help fill the stadium and help our global branding. We have the finance for an initial investment period, but we will need some returns at some point and that's where global branding comes in."


Read more:
Ronaldinho used Manchester City
Manchester City serious about Ronaldinho
Everybody wants Ronaldinho

Cesc not sure about Arsenal future

Asked about his future after his team's Premier League victory over Reading, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (20) spread doubts on his Arsenal stay in an interview with British television channel Sky Sports this Saturday afternoon: "My future? I really hope it belongs to Arsenal."

The Spanish international aired his disappointment about the end of the season with all trophies slipping away in the last weeks: "We are all disappointed for the season, how it finished. I think we did pretty well all season but at the end it was disappointing." Cesc, who recently has been linked with a return to Barcelona, clearly showed his impatience about winning trophies: "We don't want to always say 'next year, next year'. I think it is a mistake. We want to do it now."

Asked about the rumours that link several players of his team with a summer exit, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger reacted with an indirect but clear message towards Cesc: "You can go to Real Madrid and Barcelona, but you have no more guarantees to win trophies. It would be criminal not to believe we could do it because we were so close this year. From this season we should get the belief we can win trophies and come back to win the title. That is why I am so insistent that I keep this team together and that we try to come back and have a good go next year. We have a very young team with a great future."

Wenger added: "Fabregas is part of our future and I want this team to stay together and prove we can win things with style. "


Read more here:
Barcelona prepares Cesc bid
New Cesc agent on good terms with Barcelona
Barcelona has first option on Cesc

Youth: Dani Aquino (Murcia)

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is interested in Real Murcia forward Dani Aquino (17). The Spanish youth international is followed by all Spanish top clubs and foreign clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool. Although several of these clubs already wanted to transfer him last summer, Aquino stayed with Murcia, that was just promoted to the Liga.

Daniel 'Dani' Aquino is playing with Real Murcia since eight seasons. Last season he made his debute with the first team in the Segunda División. In January of this year, Aquino played for the first time in the Primera División. Dani Aquino is the son of former Argentinian professional football player Daniel Toribio.


Read more:
Youth: Gai Assulin
Youth: Jozy Altidore (Red Bull New York)
Youth: Miralem Pjanic (Metz)

Read all youth transfer stories here.

Ronnie's week --- 2. Ronaldinho - Barcelona

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
(this part was published yesterday, you can read it here)

2. Ronaldinho - Barcelona
After his time in Italy, Roberto de Assís, the brother and agent of Ronaldinho, arrived in Barcelona, where he met at his resquest with Barcelona officials on Wednesday afternoon to talk about the future of Ronaldinho and to inform the club about the negotiations with AC Milan.

The Spanish and Catalan media couldn't agree on the club persons he spoke with: president Joan Laporta, economic vice president Ferran Soriano, sports vice president Marc Ingla and sports director Txiki Begiristain were all mentioned as possible participants in the talks.

After the meeting, Roberto gave a short and vague comment to Catalan radio station COM Ràdio: "It has been a while since we saw each other, but everything is going well." Barcelona board member and spokesperson Alfons Godall didn't comment on the meeting and didn't even want to confirm that it actually took place.

The Catalan sports papers meanwhile report that one of the issues discussed and agreed upon during the meeting was that Ronaldinho will leave through the front door. There won't be mutual reproaches, that only could damage the image of the player and the club. And if the player recovers on time from his injury, Ronaldinho will be able to say goodbye to the fans wearing the blaugrana shirt.

It was supposedly Roberto who proposed the idea of a farewell match. Barcelona was open to the suggestion as they realize that Ronaldinho has been one of the greatest players in the history of Barcelona and the club doesn't want another star player to leave with a fight. The last home game of the season, on May 11th against Mallorca, could be the chosen day.

If Barcelona would qualify for the Champions League final in Moscow, Ronaldinho could play as a substitute. After the season the club will organize a last press conference where Ronaldinho would take his leave of the club, the fans and the city in the presence of president Joan Laporta, sports director Txiki Begiristain and manager Frank Rijkaard.

3. Barcelona - Milan
(this part will be published tomorrow)

Mourinho postpones return decision

Former Chelsea manager José Mourinho (45) says in an interview with British newspaper The Times that he enjoyed his time off since he left Chelsea last September but that he's now ready to return to the bench: "I had time to do things that I don’t have when I’m working. But now it’s enough. I will be somewhere next season. I’ve not agreed anything but it’s a good time for me for many reasons. I will come back with the same motivation as always."

Although the manager did not talk himself to any club, his agent has recently turned down a number of interesting deals, including international jobs. And while it first was thought that Mourinho wanted to make a quick decision allowing him to start preparing next season as soon as possible and avoiding the risk of being left without a top club (read more here and here), the Portuguese manager now declares that a decision should not be expected in the next few weeks: "I had some good options this month. Some good clubs and some good countries. But I decided to wait until the beginning of next season. That is right for me."


Read more:
Mourinho preparing to take over
Guardiola takes Mourinho's pole
Spain or Italy for Mourinho
Meeting with Mourinho
Mourinho waiting for Barcelona

Read everything:
The José Mourinho transfer story