How Cruyff stopped Barcelona from selling Guardiola

Former coach of Barcelona, Johan Cruyff, stopped the club from getting rid of Pep Guardiola to a second division club, after he took over at the Camp Nou.

The now Manchester City coach was regarded as a liability by Barca coaches and they were willing to sell him before Cruyff intervened.

He later went on to become one of the best players of the successful Barca team, that won four consecutive league titles from 1991 and 1994. They also won the European Cup in 1992.

But Cruyff in his autobiography, which he wrote before he died in March this year, tells of how he was almost rejected.

“Barca wanted to get rid of him,” Cruyff writes.

“They considered him scrawny, bad defensively and ineffective in the air. What nobody saw was that he had the basic qualities to go far: he had game intelligence, speed in his execution, technique. If I hadn’t been at Barcelona, for sure he would have been sold to a Segunda Division club.”

Cruyff promoted Guardiola to the Barca first team in 1990 when he was only 19.

“I told him that above everything else, you have to be the boss, the one that makes the decisions and is responsible for the consequences. In that sense, Pep followed the same path and guidelines that I did,” he stated.

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Lyon confirm Barcelona approach for Umtiti

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed Barcelona have made an approach for Samuel Umtiti, but has stressed a transfer is still far away at this stage.

Recent reports from Spain suggested the 22-year-old is on the verge of signing a five-year deal with Barcelona, with the Catalans keen to bring in a replacement for Borussia Dortmund-bound Marc Bartra.

However, Aulas has insisted Barcelona have not followed up on their initial approach yet.

"Barcelona have approached us about Umtiti about 10 days ago," Aulas told Eurosport.

"But there are no negotiations taking place yet. Samuel is not on the verge of leaving the club."

Meanwhile, Umtiti's agent and brother Yannick was also adamant the transfer is by no means a done deal yet.

"I do not know where the information that it is already a done deal is coming from," he stated.

"There has not been contact with Barcelona yet. We are not negotiating about a transfer to Barcelona."

Umtiti, who was added to the France squad for Euro 2016 to replace the injured Jeremy Mathieu, has a contract with Lyon until June 2019.

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Albiol wants Valencia return - sporting director

Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch revealed Napoli defender Raul Albiol is keen on a return to Spain.

Albiol, 30, has been with Napoli since 2013 following a four-year stint at Real Madrid.

However, the Spain international is interested in a return to boyhood club Valencia, where he joined the youth academy at a young age.

"The situation is in Napoli's hands," Pitarch told Radio CV.

"The player wants to come, but he has a [one-year] contract left over there."

Pitarch also spoke about the tough transfer window ahead for Valencia as the club look to bounce back from a disappointing season.

"If we don't let players leave then it is difficult for us to approach any signings," he added.

"I hope big players can come, but it's all dictated by what's on the market. If players don't leave, then it's complicated.

"The best thing would have been if many players had their contracts ending, and we didn't have to pay certain contractual charges."

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Barcelona to appeal UEFA fine over estelada flags

Barcelona have vowed to appeal UEFA's decision to give the Catalans a EUR150,000 fine for displaying estelada flags during Champions League matches in 2015-16.

The Spanish champions' fans showed the estelada flags - an unofficial flag typically flown by Catalan separatists to express their support for an independent Catalonia - on more than one occasion throughout the 2015-16 campaign.

UEFA, however, considers the banner to be a form of ideological, political and religious propaganda, which is forbidden by European football's governing body, and therefore slapped Barcelona with a fine.

The Camp Nou side feel displaying estelada flags falls under the freedom of expression, though, and are ready to take legal action.

"Barcelona announce that the club has received notice of the sanction imposed by the UEFA Disciplinary Committee following the display of estelada flags at the Camp Nou at Champions League matches in the 2015-16 season," a statement on the club's official website reads.

"The club has been handed a EUR150,000 fine, of which EUR50,000 is suspended if the events are not repeated in the next two years.

"The club will appeal this sanction and will take all legal measures in order for the punishment to be revoked.

"Barcelona consider the punishment to be totally unjust and against the exercise of the freedom of expression."

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Alaves secure La Liga promotion

Manu Garcia and Raul Garcia scored the goals as Alaves beat Numancia 2-0 to secure promotion from Spain's Segunda Division.

The Basque club will play La Liga football for the first time in 10 years next season.

Alaves were two goals to the good at half-time to put the Estadio de Mendizorroza in party mood.

Leganes are well placed to join Alaves in the top flight next season, in second place with one match to play, but Gimnastic Tarragona are lurking just a point behind.

Alaves could have a say in who joins them in promotion, as they travel to Gimnastic on the final day, while Leganes head to Mirandes.

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Bartra confirms he can leave Barcelona for €8million

Marc Bartra has confirmed that his release clause at Barcelona has dropped to EUR8million as a result of a lack of appearances this season.

The 25-year-old played just 13 times in Barca's successful defence of their Liga title, with Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu all preferred by head coach Luis Enrique at the heart of the defence.

Bartra announced at a Spain media conference on Saturday that the release clause stipulated in his contract, reported to have been worth EUR40m, has now been reduced due to his lack of playing time.

The defender has been heavily linked with a move away from Camp Nou, with Premier League side Tottenham among the teams rumoured to be interested, but he says his next move lies in the hands of his agent and former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, who runs the agency to which he is signed.

"It's in the hands of Carles Puyol and my representative," Bartra said.

In the meantime, Bartra says his focus is on Spain's preparation for Euro 2016, with a friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina taking place in Switzerland on Sunday.

"I'm happy to be here, the boss called me and to be at the Euros is a dream for which I have been preparing for over a year," he added.

"Players change, there are some who have had a lot of titles, others who just started, and there's always a good atmosphere."

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Ter Stegen: Barcelona season a success

Marc-Andre ter Stegen feels Barcelona's 2015-16 campaign has been a success despite their premature exit from the Champions League.

The Catalans won La Liga and the Copa del Rey, but their European campaign came to end in the quarter-finals as Atletico Madrid prevailed.

Nevertheless, Ter Stegen is pleased with Barcelona's recent trophy haul.

"We did not only win La Liga and the Copa del Rey. 

We also won the Club World Cup and the European Supercup at the start of the season," Ter Stegen told the official DFB website.

"And we can win the Spanish Supercup at the start of next season. We have won seven trophies over the past two seasons and we can still win an eighth piece of silverware. I'd say that is a very good achievement.

"You have to be realistic. It is impossible to win the Champions League each season, even if that is of course what you want. We were beaten by Atletico Madrid and we all know they are a difficult opponent. 

Games against Atletico are always special.

"Of course, we would have liked to progress, but we have to accept how things went. We have another shot at silverware next season."

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'There are many regrets' - Galliani on Torres' time at Milan

Adriano Galliani has admitted to having "many regrets" about Fernando Torres' unhappy six-month spell with AC Milan.

Torres returns to San Siro with Atletico Madrid for Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid and is expected to be named in Diego Simeone's starting line-up.

The experienced striker has enjoyed a something of a renaissance with Atletico this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions after rejoining his boyhood club on an 18-month loan from Milan last January.

Torres is under contract with the Serie A club until the end of next month, but will almost certainly not return to Italy, where he scored just one goal in 10 league appearances between August 2014 and January 2015.

And Galliani told Mediaset: "There are many regrets, we had not done very well and he wanted to return to his favourite team.

"I'm happy for him, he's a great guy and a great player."

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Judge Zidane on next season - Seedorf

Clarence Seedorf believes Zinedine Zidane's success at Real Madrid should not be judged solely on the outcome of the Champions League final.

Zidane took over from Rafael Benitez at the Santiago Bernabeu in January, mounting a concerted La Liga title charge that ultimately fell just short as Barcelona triumphed again.

But Madrid can end their season with some silverware by defeating city rivals Atletico at San Siro on Saturday.

After just five months, it is a quick turnaround in fortunes for the club, who struggled to impress during Benitez's brief reign.

But Seedorf, a four-time winner of the Champions League and the only man to do so with three different clubs, believes Zidane's performance as a head coach should be judged over a longer period of time.

"Success is only based on results for the world," he told Omnisport. "For me, success is what he will do from next year.

"I'm not going to judge him as a coach for these five months. It's great for him, he's achieved the final and improved on what the situation was.

"But I don't judge coaches just for good results, so hopefully next year he will have the possibility to start the season and we can really see the hand of Zidane."

Seedorf, who lifted the trophy with Real in 1998 after defeating Zidane's Juventus in the final in Amsterdam, believes there is little to choose between the two sides.

"It's a really balanced match. Of course I have Madrid in my heart but also I know that Atletico Madrid is a really strong team, so let's see," he said.

Clarence Seedorf was speaking for Nissan, the global automotive sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, ahead of the Champions League Final in Milan.

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Galliani denies Benzema talks but won't rule out Kovacic deal

AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has denied holding talks with Real Madrid over Karim Benzema, but would not rule out a move for team-mate Mateo Kovacic.

Benzema's future at the Santiago Bernabeu has been the subject of recent speculation, with new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly monitoring his situation with a view to making a bid.

The revelation from Robert Lewandowski's agent on Friday that the Bayern Munich striker has held talks with Madrid has cast further doubt on Benzema's future, while Milan have also been linked with an offer should a takeover from a Chinese consortium be completed.

Galliani, however, says Benzema remains highly valued by the Madrid hierarchy and has never been considered a realistic target.

"We never talked about Benzema with Real Madrid or his entourage," he told Mediaset Premium. "He's very much admired by the coaches, directors and president of Real Madrid, so we never thought of reaching him."

Galliani would not dismiss the idea of a bid for Kovacic, however, with the midfielder having struggled to force his way into Zinedine Zidane's plans since he took charge in January.

"Kovacic? We'll see," Galliani said, before adding: "I am not here to talk about the market."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also been linked with a return to Milan as he weighs up his options following a decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract.

Galliani has repeatedly stressed that the Sweden star's wages would be a major stumbling block for any potential deal and he maintains that meetings with the striker's agent, Mino Raiola, are unlikely to solve the problem.

"I always have meetings with Raiola - we have a good rapport and he represents four or five Milan players," he said. "The problem is not meeting Raiola, but paying Ibrahimovic."

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Lewandowski Held talks with Real Madrid; Agent confirms

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The Bayern Munich star has opened the door to a move to Spain after insisting that "contracts are not the holy relic" with reports suggesting he will be offered a six-year deal.

The agent of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed that the player has held talks with Real Madrid.

Poland international Lewandowski, who scored 30 league goals in the 2015-16 campaign to help Bayern claim their fourth Bundesliga title in a row, has long been linked with a switch to Madrid and suggested back in April that he could move to England or Spain one day.

And the former Dortmund star's agent has now revealed that the Champions League finalists have been in contact with Lewandowski's camp, with Bayern aware ofthe situation.

Cezary Kucharski told German news magazineSpiegel:"Real Madrid contacted us a few weeks ago, we listened to everything they said.

It's a big and exciting club. We have informed FC Bayern that we've held talks with Madrid."

Lewandowski himself added:

"Contracts are not a holy relic in football. You can like this attitude or not but it's the truth. Sometimes you have to think about if it is meaningful to try out a new impulse."

Reports in Germany suggest that Zinedine Zidane's side,who face Atletico Madrid in Saturday's Champions League final, are ready to offer Lewandowski a six-year-contract worth up to €25 million a year.

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Espanyol announce Galca exit

Espanyol will begin the search for a new head coach after announcing Constantin Galca will leave the club at the end of June.

The Romanian took charge in December when Espanyol were 12th and needed a final-day win against Eibar to secure safety.

"RCD Espanyol thank them [Galca and his assistants] for their professionalism, dedication and meeting the goals set at the end of the season," a club statement read.

"In a complicated season, Galca and his assistants reached the goal of keeping the first team in the top flight of Spanish football, while always showing  a firm commitment to the club.

"RCD Espanyol wishes them every success in their professional future and other sporting challenges that may confront them in the future."

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Zidane happy to fulfil Ancelotti's prophecy

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane is hoping to emulate one of his predecessors Carlo Ancelotti in Saturday's Champions League final.

Zidane was assistant to the Italian when Madrid saw off city rivals Atletico 4-1 following extra time in Lisbon to lift the European Cup for the 10th time two years ago.

Now, Zidane is in charge - having taken over from Rafael Benitez in January - and Madrid stand on the brink of a second title in three seasons.

Atletico provide the opponents once again at San Siro and Zidane fondly recalled a chat between himself and Ancelotti prior to the 2014 showdown.

"When the match begins I'll be more tense, but that's usual. It's part of the coaching job and I like it," the Frenchman said.

"I like this kind of pressure. I've experienced it as a player, but as a coach it's completely different.

"Carlo Ancelotti used to tell me that often, before the final in Lisbon he said to me 'I hope you get to experience this some day as coach' and, well, here we and I keep thinking of Carlo."

Zidane sees an improvement among his players in recent months, but says that will count for little once Saturday's game kicks off against a difficult and stubborn Atletico side.

"I think we're a bit better in every dimension, but in a final that's meaningless really," he said. "I'm happy because we've done a huge job in the meantime and I really, really believe in hard work.

"The players have done an amazing job, now we have a final ahead of us. We just have to give our all and tomorrow we'll see what happens but we know we're ready.

"They [Atletico] do well against everyone, not just Real Madrid. We know how they're working, there's a good reason why they're in the final. They're doing a really good job and the same applies to us. 

"Tomorrow there's a match on and let's see who wins it."

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Vela staying with Sociedad - agent

Carlos Vela's agent has played down suggestions he could leave Real Sociedad for MLS and insists he will remain at Anoeta.

Vela struggled for form last season with only five goals in La Liga as Sociedad stuttered to a mid-table finish under the guidance of first David Moyes and then Eusebio Sacristan.

It was a rare off campaign for the Mexico striker who had scored 51 league goals in his previous four seasons.

Vela's poor strike rate in 2015-16 has led to speculation about his future, however his agent Eduaro Hernandez insists he intends to stay at the club.

"Carlos Vela stays at Real Sociedad," he is quoted as saying by AS.

"The MLS is pure speculation, nothing, and Vela stays at Real."

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Ronaldo wants Morata back at Madrid

Former Brazil star Ronaldo believes Alvaro Morata should seek to return to Real Madrid from Juventus and prove himself at the Liga giants.

Spain striker Morata was sold to the Serie A heavyweights by Los Blancos in July 2014 and returned to haunt his former club that season, scoring at Santiago Bernabeu as Juve knocked the holders out of the Champions League semi-finals.

Madrid retain a buy-back option on the 23-year-old, meaning they can reacquire his serves in this off-season or before the start of 2017-18 for a fee of up to EUR30 million.

Juve chief executive Giuseppe Marotta this week indicated the club will attempt to keep hold of their prized asset, while Madrid have been tipped by some to re-sign Morata before selling him on at a higher price.

Ronaldo, though, who won La Liga once during a five-year spell at Madrid between 2002 and 2007, believes Morata should aspire to become a Bernabeu regular.

"In Madrid there is a lot of pressure," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Players who play for Real must know this and avoid thinking about it. It's the only way to perform well in a unique team. 

"If I was Morata? I'd leave Juventus for Real Madrid for sure. All players want to play for the biggest club in the world."

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Mascherano opens up on Juventus rumours

Javier Mascherano acknowledged talk of a potential Juventus switch as just a "rumour", but the Barcelona defender could not guarantee his future with the Catalan giants.

Mascherano has been heavily linked with a move to Italian champions Juventus in recent days as the club look to strengthen their squad for the Champions League. 

The Argentina international, who joined Barca in 2010, has two years left to run on his contract at Camp Nou.

However, when asked where his future lies, Mascherano was not able to give a definitive answer. 

"There will come a day where everything has to end," the 31-year-old told TyC Sports.

"I don't know if it will be now, in one year, or in two or even three. 

"I always analyse everything, and it's obvious that at this point [the Juventus talk] is just a rumour. 

"I am at Barcelona, and I am very grateful to the club. As for the future? I don't like to hang on to anything."

When asked if he is considering a return to play in Argentina in the future, Mascherano said: "I have considered many times I would not return, because I have the sensation I wouldn't do it. 

"I am a person who always sees the negatives more than the positives, and that makes me maintain my alertness. I've never slept on my laurels. 

"I always have the sensation that there won't be any more games for me in the future."

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Messi set for court appearance on June 2

Lionel Messi will testify in court on June 2 as he attempts to prove his innocence against tax fraud charges.

The Barcelona star and his father have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth EUR4.1million dating back to a period between 2007 and 2009 and has had his trial date scheduled between May 31 and June 3.

Spanish agency EFE has now confirmed the Argentina international will take to the stand on June 2.

Messi had been set to avoid a trial on the grounds that father Jorge Messi was apparently responsible for his son's tax obligations.

However, the state attorney later opted to overrule the advice of prosecutors and ordered both to appear in the Eighth Court of Barcelona.

The Copa America in the United States starts three days later with Argentina's opener against Chile slated for June 6.

Argentina boss Gerardo Martino has said previously his leading player would be available.

Martino told Continental Radio: "I think we should have no problem with his presence at the Copa America Centenario.

"If he suspected that there might be a problem, we would've said."

Argentina face Chile, Panama and Bolivia in Group D of the tournament.

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Ronaldo open to working under Mourinho again

Cristiano Ronaldo hopes Jose Mourinho can bring the feel-good factor back to Manchester United - and revealed he would have no problem working with his fellow Portuguese in the future.

Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and a Champions League at Old Trafford before moving to Real Madrid for what was then world record £80 million fee in 2009, linking up with Mourinho when he took over at Santiago Bernabeu a year later.

The pair won one La Liga crown together but reportedly had a strained relationship prior to Mourinho leaving the club in 2013.

The former Chelsea boss is now set to take over at United, following the disappointing reigns of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, and Ronaldo is hoping he can improve the club's fortunes.

He told Spanish television station La Sexta: "If that's what the club want then I wish him [Mourinho] well.

"I hope he's the person to put United back on track as it pains me to see how they've been in recent times."

As for linking up with Mourinho again, Ronaldo added: "One has to know how to be forgiving. We've had our problems, as one does with the wife or the kids, that's part of life.

"At the same time I'd have no problem in working with him again."

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Ronaldo open to working under Mourinho again

Cristiano Ronaldo hopes Jose Mourinho can bring the feel-good factor back to Manchester United - and revealed he would have no problem working with his fellow Portuguese in the future.

Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and a Champions League at Old Trafford before moving to Real Madrid for what was then world record £80 million fee in 2009, linking up with Mourinho when he took over at Santiago Bernabeu a year later.

The pair won one La Liga crown together but reportedly had a strained relationship prior to Mourinho leaving the club in 2013.

The former Chelsea boss is now set to take over at United, following the disappointing reigns of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, and Ronaldo is hoping he can improve the club's fortunes.

He told Spanish television station La Sexta: "If that's what the club want then I wish him [Mourinho] well.

"I hope he's the person to put United back on track as it pains me to see how they've been in recent times."

As for linking up with Mourinho again, Ronaldo added: "One has to know how to be forgiving. We've had our problems, as one does with the wife or the kids, that's part of life.

"At the same time I'd have no problem in working with him again."

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Reborn Torres returns to Milan to complete Atletico's greatest tale

The last time Fernando Torres crossed the touchline at San Siro, he was being hauled off in the Milan derby. On Saturday, he returns for the Champions League final, and the chance to realise a boyhood dream against the old enemy. Comeback tales do not get much grander.

Written off by most when he left Chelsea - and by everyone else when AC Milan could find no use for him in a miserable six-month spell - Torres' swansong is now in full voice. He has scored 10 in his last 13 starts and boasts his best goalscoring run in league football for six years. 

A goal against Barcelona and an assist versus Bayern Munich in the previous two rounds have earned his side a shot at vengeance over Real Madrid, even if they did come at the cost of a red card and a missed penalty.

His return to Atletico Madrid in January last year looked for all the world like a nostalgia trip - a chance for the Vicente Calderon to bid farewell to 'El Nino', club captain at the age of 19. Few predicted that 18 months on he would be set to start club football's biggest match and writing his side's greatest ever story.

Torres has won Europe's biggest prize before, but it's easy to forget. A yellow card at the end of a 36-minute spell as a substitute summed up his contribution in the final of four years ago. He didn't take a penalty in the shoot-out, and as Chelsea team-mates celebrated in front of incredulous fans in Munich, he walked off on his own before telling reporters of his frustration.

"I was not in a good place. I did not feel I was being treated well at the time - I felt lost," he reflected when asked about his memories this week.

"My career is going so well at the moment, and I feel so at home and full of confidence that I do not want to relive those days."

Chelsea's crowning achievement felt like the beginning of the end for Torres. A man described by Jamie Carragher as the most gifted forward to play at Anfield in a decade astonishingly went on to score fewer league goals in four years at Stamford Bridge than he managed in his first season alone with Liverpool. The body was slowing down, Carragher reckoned - and the mind was wandering.

"We knew when Torres left Liverpool in January 2011 that Chelsea were not getting a £50 million striker," he wrote in a revealing Daily Mail column in 2013. "Injuries had started to take a toll on him and he had lost a yard of pace.

"His attitude dropped alarmingly. You could tell from his body language in a pre-match warm-up what type of performance you were going to get. If Fernando was going through the motions, a few of us would look at each other and say: 'Here we go again'."

Described as "an outsider" by Carragher, Torres has always been introspective. 'The Kid', as he is nicknamed, has his name tattooed on his arm in a language from The Lord of the Rings. He married long-term girlfriend Olalla Dominguez Liste in 2009 at a ceremony in El Escoril, the district where they both grew up, in front of just two guests.

In a bid to halt his alarming decline, he turned - unsurprisingly - inwards. And he hated what he saw.

"I had team-mates who didn't care if the team won or lost because they were not playing," he said just weeks after Chelsea's Champions League win. "I never wanted to be like that. [But] one day I discovered that I was, that it didn't matter if we won or lost if I was not playing."

Torres, desperate to shed this apathetic Doppelganger, jumped at the chance to return to Atleti, but an awful barren run in front of goal between September and February left even the most romantic fans scratching their heads at what England had done to their hero.

But this time, Diego Simeone's infectious positivity kept his head from dropping. On February 6, Torres scored his 100th goal for the club against Eibar, and never looked back. Instead, crucially, he looked around at his team-mates.

"When I spoke to him I said I didn't want him to return as a club idol," said Simeone. "We needed him to be a team player." Torres now trumpets the same call:  "We're nothing if we're not a team. We die for each other. For us, every game is a war."

Saturday will be one battle he won't fight alone. And the man with the Tolkien tattoo might just get his fantasy ending.

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