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Pep Guardiola lavished praise on "out-of-form" Argentine star Lionel Messi, hinting that he will start against Mallorca. Also hinted is that Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique will start alongside him, considering the feature on the official website. Elsewhere, humorous claims that Cristiano Ronaldo would not be a star in Germany. Sure...
Messi knows very well what we all think, all of the coaching staff, the people that look after him, and the other players," Guardiola told the club's official website. "We are all delighted with what he does, has done and will do. And of course nothing that we have done would have been possible without him.
Piqué, Messi and Cesc, who all played together for the youth team ten years ago, have played just 27 minutes of football on the same pitch this season. With all three on the field, the team has scored one goal and conceded none.
The blue and claret shirts of the current La Liga leaders have a familiar look about them but, rather than belonging to Spanish giants Barcelona - champions for the last three seasons - the apparel is that of modest Levante. With seven wins and two draws, the Valencia-based side are one point ahead of Real Madrid - having inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Jose Mourinho's men at home last month - and another point clear of third-placed Barca.
This Saturday at 12.30, a strategic collaboration agreement will be signed between FC Barcelona and the company Intersports, owned by Beijing City Council, to promote the image of the club to the Chinese market.
German league boss claims the Portuguese attacker would not be as good in the Bundesliga as he is in Spain's Primera Division, and heaped praise on Bastian Schweinsteiger
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is lining up a move for Real Madrid's £7million-rated midfielder Esteban Granero. Wenger is understood to be preparing a January bid.
Kaka has claimed a place in the Brazil squad for the first time since the 2010 World Cup ahead of the international friendlies against Gabon and Egypt.
The Ligue 1 giants have received some disappointing news from their medical staff as the creative winger will miss at least the club's next three encounters through injury