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Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has told the club's hierarchy that he still wants the Gunners captain, but the Catalan giants are set to ditch plans to sign the 23-year-old because they see the asking price, which equates to £44m, as being too high.
Experienced shot stopper Jose Pinto is on the verge of signing a contract extension with Spanish champions Barcelona until the summer of 2012, El Mundo Deportivo reports.
FC Barcelona are once again at the quarter final stages of the Champions League and although some of the team are well familiar with making it this far, for others it could be the first time they’ve got to the last eight.
Cruyff is of the belief that the 29-year-old Spaniard possesses many qualities besides deadly finishing which justify his continued position in what is regarded as one of the deadliest attacking line-ups in world football. "Just as Xavi is not in the field only to give assists, Villa is not only there to finish plays," the Dutch maestro added.
The Blaugrana have reportedly scouted the 20-year-old midfielder on more than one occasion this season and they are impressed with the potential of the Uruguay international. Ramirez came through the ranks of the Penarol youth academy and joined his current club in the summer of 2010.
Scotland are still looking for an elusive win over Brazil after a Neymar double gave the South Americans a well-deserved win in their friendly match at the Emirates Stadium.
Mourinho claimed he was on the verge of accepting the job in 2007 after Steve McClaren was sacked following England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008. But the Portuguese had a last-gasp change of heart and decided to stay in club management.
The Spain international had been linked with Tottenham, but has said he has no intention of following Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, who rejoined old club Sao Paulo, out of Sevilla. Negredo, 25, joined Sevilla from Real Madrid for a club record €15million (£13m) in the summer of 2009 and is the club's leading scorer in the league this season with 11 goals.
The 29-year-old left the Italian club last January and signed a loan deal with the Spanish outfit which was renewed in summer 2010, and will expire at the end of the current campaign. Atleti have an option to make the move a permanent one, but it seems coach Quique Sanchez Flores is reluctant to retain the player.
Valencia are eager to add some more depth to their midfield in the summer transfer window and los Che supposedly consider the 21-year-old to be the perfect addition to their roster. However, Unai Emery's side face stiff competition from Real Madrid in the race for the Spain under-21 star.
Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have registered their interest in Rubin Kazan full-back Cristian Ansaldi, according to the player's agent. Ansaldi, 24, has been linked with a number of top clubs around Europe after some impressive showings in Russia, and he made his debut for Argentina in 2009.