Agents Vidic dismiss Barcelona rumours

Asked about the rumours linking Manchester United central defender and Serbian international Nemanja Vidic (27) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Paolo Fabbri said in an interview with British sports site Setanta that the player won't leave this summer:

"Nemanja Vidic will stay in Manchester. I don't think we will have any surprises in the short term. We are not planning to move. This week, on Monday and Tuesday, we were at Manchester United to speak with David Gill, for other reasons, but we also spoke about Vidic.

Vidic is supposed to stay there. A move is not possible unless some Arab makes a crazy offer! But in a normal situation, Nemanja will stay there. Barcelona and many other teams can be interested in Vidic - that is another story. Three or four Italian teams would be pleased to have the player. But he is under contract. His deal has been already extended until 2012."

Another agent of the Serbian defender, Silvano Martina, said the same in an interview with Italian sports site 24 Ore di Sport: "No, there's no chance that Vidic leaves Manchester. Despite losing the Champions League final, he is at a great club with a lot of ambition, that has reached the final of the greatest European competition for two consecutive years now. This season, he also won the Premier League."

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Vidic offers himself to Barcelona
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Barcelona looking to sign Vidic this summer

All parties deny deal on Ibrahimovic

Inter Milan yesterday put out an official statement on its website denying a deal with Barcelona on the transfer of Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27):

"During the transfer window, a headline in a newspaper is enough to transform groundless rumours into truth.

This is what has happened today after the article published in Barcelona newspaper El Mundo Deportivo about a presumed deal between FC Internazionale and the Catalan club. Besides being completely unfounded, the presumed deal seems remote from any logic, even to the eyes of neutral observers. The report is, therefore, groundless."

Asked about the rumours linking Ibrahimovic with an exit, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti nevertheless told the club's official television channel that Inter could sell players this summer if a good bid comes in: "Soon, and with calm, we will reach a solution. We are not forced to sell or buy. We have a strong team, with players who have shown they care about Inter, like Ibrahimovic who in his three years with us has done his duty as a great professional.

So I think we can continue like this unless there are situations where we can close a good deal for the club. With the current economic climate it is obviously necessary to sell as well, but I am not pushing in one direction or another. We will see what happens in the summer transfer market, we will try to create a strong team next year too because our objectives won't change."

The player's agent Mino Raiola commented on the rumours in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero: "There's no deal with any club that's not Inter and we're not allowed to talk with another club. It's normal that presidents of two clubs talk with eachother like happened last week.

Moratti also likes Messi and they're talking about him too. Ibrahimovic hasn't a preference for any team. The club that wants him should talk with Inter first and then they should offer us a sporting and an economic project. The two are important. His fee? I think Ibrahimovic is worth the same as Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo together.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta also denied that there’s a deal in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio. Asked about his future, Ibrahimovic meanwhile unconfirmedly said in an interview with Swedish television channel TV4 that he knows more about his future: “I know where I will play next season, but I keep it for myself. And I’m feeling comfortable with that.”

Read more:
Deal with Inter on Ibrahimovic
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o
Meeting with Inter on Ibrahimovic: A reconstruction

Barcelona Atletic will play friendlies in Ireland

From 31 July until 5 August, Barcelona Atlètic will have a training camp in Ireland.

During their stay, Barcelona's reserves will play two friendly games: on Saturday 1 August against Irish champions Bohemians and on Monday 3 August against Irish Premier League club Dundalk.

Barcelona Atlètic will start the pre-season on 20 July. From 22 to 29 July, they will have a first training camp in the Catalan city of Seva, during which they will play a first pre-season friendly against local Catalan club Tona. After their return from Ireland, Barcelona has also scheduled friendly games on Saturday 8 August in Barcelona and in the weekends of 15-16 and 22-23 August. The league starts on Saturday 29 or Sunday 30 August.

Read all Barcelona Atlètic news here

No talks with Benzema

Asked about the rumours linking Lyon forward and French international Karim Benzema (21)with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Karim Djaziri has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that there hasn't been any contact with Barcelona lately:

"Nobody has called me, so all talk about Benzema possible joining Barcelona is just speculation. I think Barça will first talk with Samuel Eto'o before looking for another striker."

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Benzema is still an option for Barcelona

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."


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