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Captain Carles Puyol explains that he's working to "be fit for the preseason, and if I'm at 100%, even better". Puyol was clear that he’s ready to fight to keep on playing football as long as possible. "My future is at Barça. I have three years remaining on my contract and I want to play competitively until I’m 40, I’m going to fight for it," he said. He then went on to rubbish claims that he was interested in moving to another club: "I’ve only been focused on Barça. I would like to retire here."
The first team took to the training pitch this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s league match against Málaga. The men managed by Tito Vilanova were joined by Éric Abidal, who worked with the group. This Saturday, at 11.00, Barça will train one last time to prepare for their final competitive match of the season. In addition to Abidal’s return to training, the four players named to Spain’s U21 side were also present. Thiago Alcántara, Cristian Tello, Marc Bartra and Martín Montoya trained alongside their team-mates.
Pellergrini's reputation has grown since his move to Malaga in 2010 and ahead of his last game in charge of the Andalusians against Tito Vilanova's Barca, the Chilean has claimed the past few years could have turned out very differently for him and Guardiola. "Before Pep Guardiola took charge of Barcelona, I was very close to signing," he told Television Nacional de Chile.
The manager believes that Neymar will "adjust quickly" to La Liga. Vilanova reiterates that he'll stay on at the Club: "I cannot say it clearer, I cannot say it any louder. There is nothing to clear up. I will be Barça’s manager next season". The manager also says that Abidal will play against Málaga on Saturday.
Los Blancos will see a 30% increase over what current shirt sponsor Bwin paid. But the price doesn’t match up with the shirt deals for Manchester United and Barcelona, the second ($3.2 billion) and third ($2.6 billion) most valuable sports teams, respectively. The Red Devils will get an average of $80 million a year from Chevrolet beginning with the 2014-15 season, while Spanish rival Barcelona has a five year deal with the Qatar Foundation worth $44 million annually that begins next month.
Liverpool look destined to lose star player Luis Suarez after it emerged that Real Madrid have an agreement in place with the Uruguayan. Spanish sports paper Marca reports that there is an agreement in place between Real and Suarez over a summer transfer, and all that is left to push through the move is a £40 million release clause in the player's contract.
Chelsea teenager Kyle Scott is wanted by Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The central midfielder, 15, is yet to sign professional forms at Stamford Bridge and Europe’s elite are keen to tempt him away. Chelsea will no doubt want to keep the promising talent away from the clutches of their European rivals.