Mourinho has been a scourge, says Barcelona vice-president

The Blaugrana chief has breathed a sigh of relief following Madrid's announcement that they will part ways with the 50-year-old at the end of the season

Barcelona vice-president Carles Vilarrubi has hit out at Jose Mourinho in the wake of the announcement that the Portuguese coach will leave Real Madrid this summer and believes his exit is a positive thing for Spanish football.

Madrid president Florentino Perez revealed on Monday evening that Mourinho will not fulfil his contract with the Santiago Bernabeu side and Vilarrubi is pleased to see the 50-year-old leave La Liga at the end of this season.

"I can speak out now. Mourinho has been a scourge," Vilarrubi told Catalunya Radio.

"Seeing him leave is a positive thing for Spanish football in my opinion because he had created a negative atmosphere."

Mourinho joined Madrid from Inter in the summer of 2010 and has been surrounded by controversy ever since, most notably when he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in August 2011 for poking then Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye during a touchline brawl.

He guided los Blancos to one Liga title, one Copa del Rey and one Spanish Supercopa during his three-year spell in charge of the club, but failed to steer them to Champions League glory.
 

Messi: Neymar move would be wonderful

The star feels the Brazilian would add a different dimension to Barcelona's play and believes Pep Guardiola will be a huge hit with Bayern Munich

Lionel Messi believes Neymar would make a "wonderful addition" to the Barcelona squad should he opt to move to Camp Nou.

Speculation has intensified in recent weeks over where the Santos star will be plying his trade next season, with Barcelona currently attempting to negotiate a deal despite the player's insistence he will remain in Brazil until 2014.

However, should such a move materialise, Messi feels the starlet would add a different dimension to Barca's attacking threat.

"I do not know if he will end up at the club or not. However, it is true that he is a player who would bring a very different dimension to the team," he told Qatar Alkass. "Of course he would be a wonderful addition."

The Argentina international then looked ahead to next year's World Cup in Brazil and insists he wants to taste glory at the tournament irrespective of what it could mean for his reputation in the history of the game.

"All I care about is winning the World Cup," he said. "I won't be thinking about whether it will mean I am the best player ever or not."

The 25-year-old also praised former coaches Frank Rijkaard and Bayern Munich-bound Pep Guardiola, a man who Messi believes will be a huge hit and Bayern and wherever he chooses to go in future.

"He [Rijkaard] was the one who believed in me when I was 17," the Argentina skipper added. "It was one of the most important times of my life working under him, and Pep told me I was the best player he has ever coached.

"He will succeed at Bayern. He will succeed anywhere he goes because his understanding and reading of the game is like nobody else's."

Jose Mourinho to leave Real Madrid

Blancos president Florentino Perez has confirmed the Portuguese coach is set to end his three-year spell in La Liga following a trophy-less season in the capital

Jose Mourinho will leave his role as coach of Real Madrid at the end of the current season, the club have confirmed.

President Florentino Perez revealed at a press conference on Monday that the former Inter, Chelsea and Porto coach's time in charge at the Bernabeu is coming to an end by mutual agreement once the 2012-13 season has reached its conclusion.

“The club and coach believe the time is right to bring our relationship to an end,” said Perez.

“I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work over the last three years. The team has improved over his time here and I would like to wish him all the best.

"Everything is relative. From where we have come, we have taken a big step but we were lacking a little extra."

The announcement comes after a disappointing spell saw Madrid knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals and suffer defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, while Barcelona marched to the Liga title.

"The achievements of this season have not been sufficient for the demands of a club such as Real Madrid or a coach like Mourinho.

"Every coach has his personality. Has he made mistakes sometimes? Sure. He himself recognises that, but the level of pressure he is under is not normal. There have also been times when he has passed the limits of what is normal.

"The time is right to go our separate ways and once again I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work."

Perez admitted the subject of Mourinho's future has been on the club's agenda for some time, but insisted a final decision has only been reached now.

"We have come to this decision just now, although its something that has been at the back of our mind for some time.

"We have no pre-contract signed with any manager. This is something we have to look at over the coming days."

Once the league season has reached its end, the outgoing Mourinho is expected to return to England in the summer and take over at former club Chelsea, although the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Manchester City are outside contenders for his signature.

Alves open to PSG or Monaco move

The Barcelona star says he would consider a switch to one of the two Ligue 1 financial behemoths at the end of the season

Barcelona right-back Dani Alves has revealed that he would consider joining either Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco in the Summer, should one of them make an offer.

Last summer the Brazilian confirmed that les Parisiennes enquired about his services, but a move was not possible at the time due to an exorbitant transfer fee demanded by Barca.

However, Alves has now stated that he would be open to leave the Catalan giants at the end of the campaign, should a new offer from Ligue 1 come his way.

"I am a Barca player and very happy here, but I never close the door to Paris or another club," the 30-year-old told Canal+.

"Paris are a very ambitious young club, with a great desire to claim a place in the world of football. They recruit great players to make something beautiful in football.

"They lack a little continuity but they are on the right track. Some media stars and other high quality players have joined already."

He also did not rule out a switch to Monaco, who have been linked with the likes of Radamel Falcao and Carlos Tevez since securing their return to France's top flight.

Mourinho: "This was the worst season of my career"

Goal.com Mourinho was brutally honest with how he feels this campaign has gone for Madrid, even if he did feel that Atletico were "lucky" to win the Copa in a match in which he was ordered to the stands

The Portuguese did not hesitate to write off the campaign as the least successful of his life to date but insisted Atletico Madrid were "lucky" to have triumphed

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has described the 2012-13 campaign as the "worst season of his career" following a 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

Joao Miranda's extra-time header sent the Portuguese's side to defeat at Santiago Bernabeu on Friday and signalled Mourinho's first campaign without a major trophy in over a decade - excepting the Supercopa success over Barcelona back in August.

Speaking after the game, the 50-year-old admitted the last year has been a blot on his CV when placed in the context of his own high standards.

"This was the worst season of my career. For many coaches it would be a good season but for me it is the worst," Mourinho told reporters.

"I always showed up in the press room every time we drew or we lost. This year's campaign was a failure but my first two seasons were successful."

The coach, who was sent to the stands midway through the second half, claimed in his post-match assessment that Atletico were "lucky" to lift the trophy after his side hit the woodwork three times and were foiled by a number of stunning saves from Thibaut Courtois.

"I don't think Atletico deserve to be champions but they won the title," he said. "We had two clear chances on goal, we hit the post three times. This is why I think it is unfair.

"Atletico's keeper was fantastic but he was also lucky tonight."

Mourinho's future has been shrouded in speculation for some weeks as rumours of a return to the Premier League with Chelsea gather pace, but he was tight-lipped with regards any potential move.

"I have a contract that is valid for three more years," he said. "I still haven't talked to the [Real Madrid] president [Florentino Perez] about my future."

Santos: Neymar only wants Barca

The Brazilian club's vice-president has confirmed the youngster's interest in a move to Camp Nou but is expecting a massive counter-offer from Real Madrid

Santos vice president Odilio Rodrigues has confirmed that Neymar has told the club he wants to join Barcelona.

The Brazil international has long been linked with a move to Camp Nou and is set to fly to Spain for talks with the Blaugrana in July after the Confederations Cup.

Other clubs, including the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, are reported to be monitoring the 21-year-old's situation at the Sao Paulo outfit but Rodrigues says the player is intent on a move to Catalunya.

"Neymar has told us that he wants to sign for Barca," Rodrigues told SER Esports.

"There are other proposals but he has a preference for Barca. There is no official Madrid proposal for Neymar, but we know that this offer will come."

Rodrigues has also claimed that Barcelona have not made a sufficient offer for the player, but stressed that negotiations are ongoing.

"We held conversations in Spain with the Barca board of directors and there are ongoing talks but nothing has been decided.

"I like to talk to Sandro [Rosell, Barcelona president] and Raul [Sanllehi, director of football], they are very pleasant people and I was very well received in Spain.

"But the negotiations need to continue because the first bid we were offered was not enough. We know that Madrid have a bid and will be presenting it soon, but I haven't talked to [club president] Florentino Perez.

"We know that the athlete's opinion is important. What we have to do is to find a way to unite the best offer with the player's interest."

Neymar's contract at Santos expires in 2014.

Beckham announces retirement

Goal.com The former England captain has decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career despite the efforts of Paris Saint-Germain to persuade him to play on for another year

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder David Beckham has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old only moved to the French capital on a short-term contract in January but the Parisiens were keen for the former England captain to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes for another season.

However, even though Beckham played his part in PSG ending their 18-year wait for a Ligue 1 title, the midfielder has now decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career this summer.

"I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," he said in a statement.

"If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy.

"I'm fortunate to have realised those dreams. Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love. However, I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead.

"I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back."

Beckham has established himself as one of the most recognisable faces in sport during a remarkable career that has spanned two decades.

He made his name at Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League with the Red Devils before joining Real Madrid in 2003.

Beckham lifted La Liga in his final season at the Santiago Bernabeu before shocking the footballing world by moving to LA Galaxy, with whom he won two MLS Cups. Perhaps more significantly, though, he played a massive role in boosting football’s popularity in the United States.

After two loan spells with AC Milan during his time in America, he eventually returned to Europe earlier this year with PSG, picking another domestic championship to become the first Englishman to win titles in four different countries.

In his homeland, though, he will probably best be remembered for his captaincy of the national team, and the trademark free kick against Greece which secured his country's qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

"I'm honored to represent England both on and off the pitch," he enthused. "I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from.

"I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed."

Beckham's final two outings are likely to come against Brest, at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, and away to Lorient, on May 25.
 

Xavi: Casillas has had terrible treatment at Madrid

The Barcelona star has been unhappy to see his Spain team-mate suffer such a controversial season at the Bernabeu, while also discussing his determination to keep playing

Barcelona star Xavi has labelled the treatment Spain team-mate Iker Casillas has received at Real Madrid this season as “terrible”.

The goalkeeper has been exiled from the first-team by Jose Mourinho and regularly criticised by the coach in public, with the Santiago Bernabeu boss preferring to select January signing Diego Lopez between the sticks.

Xavi has been dismayed to see his club rival and international colleague go through such a hard time and says it is not what a player of Casillas' standing deserves.

“I don't like to see an important player like Iker going through something like this,” he told a press conference.

“It is terrible and I don't like it at all. Not so long ago they were putting him forward for the Ballon d'Or and now he's being discarded.

“He's my friend, he is a role model for a lot of people, he is captain of Spain's national team - he doesn't deserve this. I don’t know if Mourinho will continue [at Real Madrid] or not.”

Xavi’s long-term fitness is often an issue debated when Barca’s squad is analysed but the iconic midfielder insists he is still as keen as ever to play regularly - both for club and country.

The 33-year-old added: “Physically, I am prepared to keep going - that's why I signed a three-year contract extension.

“I haven't left the national team and I want to be with Spain for the Confederations Cup and World Cup 2014. I want to keep performing to a high level and I see myself being able to do so.

“I enjoy playing every three days - that's how you can build up rhythm and form. I want to be with Spain for the Confederations Cup and I want to win it.

“There are a lot of games to get through but that's because of the way the calendar is. At the end of the season, your legs are tired.”

The Camp Nou club’s latest Liga title was Xavi’s seventh in a star-studded career that has also seen him win three Champions League medals.

Ronaldo: If we play well, we will win Copa del Rey

The Portuguese believes that los Blancos are in good form going into their mammoth derby clash and feels that victory is theirs for the taking

Cristiano Ronaldo is in no doubt that Real Madrid will prevail if they play to their full potential in Friday night's Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid.

Los Blancos have the benefit of home advantage for the tournament decider, as well as a remarkable record against their city rivals, whom they have not been beaten by in any competition since 1999.

Ronaldo also believes that in spite of their recent elimination by Borussia Dortmund at the semi-final stage of the Champions League, Jose Mourinho's men are in fine fettle going into this most important of Madrid derbies.

"We're very excited about this trophy and we want to win," the forward told his club's official website. "We know it's going to be a really hard-fought game against a rival from the same city. It's going to be a great show.

"Let's hope that Real Madrid can win. But if we go out on the pitch strong and we play as we know how, we're going to win."

However, Ronaldo also believes that Madrid's fans have a massive part to play in Friday's final, given that they will not be in the majority for once.

Consequently, the former Manchester United winger is hoping that the club's supporters will try to replicate the passion they display before and during their recent semi-final, second-leg clash with Dortmund.

"It was amazing," he enthused. "As long as I've been here I have never seen a reception like that. It was a really special, unique moment that none of us players will ever forget.

"I hope that the same happens on Friday because it motivates us to give our all when we hit the playing field. That's what we want.

"It's going to be a strange final because we're playing in our stadium but the fans will be divided 50/50.

"But that isn't going to take away our ambition to win this cup."

The Copa del Rey final is scheduled to kick off at 21:30CET.

Mourinho congratulates Barcelona on Liga success

The Portuguese trainer offered praise for the new Liga champions, before addressing Raphael Varane's injury and Pepe's exclusion from the team

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho conceded Barcelona deserved the title on Saturday, the night his men handed the Catalans their Liga triumph following a 1-1 draw at Espanyol.

Gonzalo Higuain's equalised after the visitors had fallen behind but los Blancos could not build on the Argentine's strike and prolong the inevitability of losing their league crown to the Catalans.

"First of all, I want to congratulate Barcelona, their coaches, their players, their fans," the 50-year-old responded to reporters after the match.

"I think the logical thing to do is congratulate them. Last year we won and spoke of a great title achieved, and now I think it makes sense and is the least we can do to give due importance to their achievement.

A portion of the trainer's praise stemmed from efforts to deflect attention away from Pepe, who was dropped from the side after criticising his compatriot's treatment of captain Iker Casillas.

"You are always talking about a player and it does not seem relevant. The league has a new champion and you're talking about a player. I'm the coach. I don't need to justify anything," Mourinho responded.

"From the first to the last day I'll always decide who plays. I have the option of sometimes sharing the reasons for my decisions and other times, not."

The issue was made more pressing with the news that defender Raphael Varane looks likely to miss the Copa del Rey final against neighbours Atletico next Friday, although Mourinho did not appear concerned.

"On Friday, you'll see who plays and that will always be my decision and responsibility. Half my medical staff say Varane will not make the cup final.

"Obviously he cannot be in a game that everyone would want to play, but let's not dramatise because we have solutions. There are alternatives."

Ramos: Casillas has had a tough time

The Spain centre-back has called for unity within the Real Madrid camp and admitted that his captain has suffered due to his time on the bench

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has admitted that Iker Casillas has had "a tough time" during his spell out of the first team.

The club captain sustained a hand injury in the Copa del Rey against Valencia in January, prompting the signing of Diego Lopez from Sevilla.

The former Villarreal man has since kept his place in the first team and Ramos says the Spain skipper has suffered due to his bit-part role.

"Casillas has had a tough time," the 27-year-old told reporters at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament.

"We look back at a long friendship and relationship. Companions are good for both Casillas and the coach, as we all strive for the same goals. It's important that we are united."

Jose Mourinho claimed recently that his biggest regret of his time at Real Madrid was not replacing Casillas sooner, prompting defender Pepe to urge his boss to show more respect for the Spain skipper.

I regret not signing Lopez earlier, says Mourinho

The Portuguese has taken a swipe at Iker Casillas by suggesting that he should have been replaced at an earlier stage and also took the time to praise Barcelona

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has confessed that he wishes he had signed goalkeeper Diego Lopez earlier during his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 31-year-old joined Madrid from Sevilla in the January transfer window to replace the injured Iker Casillas and has since made the spot between the sticks his own.

Mourinho has now made it clear that head had already set his sights on Lopez before, but eventually decided not to bring him in, a decision the Portuguese now regrets.

"Would I do anything differently if I had the chance to do the past three years over again? I should have brought in Diego Lopez after my first year. We didn't do enough to sign him. It's a real shame," Mourinho said at a press conference.

The Madrid coach then went on to discuss his future at Madrid and insisted that he has not made a final decision yet.

"I can only confirm that I will sit down with the president and Jose Angel Sanchez at the end of the season.

"You look around you and it seems that everybody is moving. There's Carlo [Ancelotti] at PSG, Bayern are changing coaches, Manchester City, Chelsea, there's speculation everywhere. Some changes will happen and others are just rumours..."

Mourinho also had his say on Barcelona's performances in recent years and labelled them the best team of the past 20-30 years.

"It's an honour to have broken the dominance of Barcelona at national level. On international level, I did it with Inter. They're still a fantastic team, probably the best of the last 20 - 30 years.

"Now they've had a couple of bad, surprising results and have become a bad team in the eyes of many..."

The coach was also questioned about Cristiano Ronaldo's future at the club and insisted that he hopes his compatriot will stay put for many more years to come.

"I hope that Cristiano and Madrid stay together for a long time. He has to think about himself and the club. He was not happy earlier this season, but he is now. He is 100 per cent focused on Madrid."

Tito wins all the comparisons with Pep, says Barcelona spokesman

The Blaugrana representative thinks highly of the club's current coach, while he has stressed Eric Abidal will not necessarily be offered a new deal

Barcelona spokesperson Toni Freixa has taken a minor dig at former first-team boss Pep Guardiola, claiming current head coach Tito Vilanova "wins all the comparisons, even the human aspect."

Guardiola guided the Blaugrana to an impressive 14 trophies during his four-year spell at the club's helm, yet Freixa is clearly more in awe of the qualities of his successor.

"Tito wins all the comparisons with Guardiola, even the human aspect," the Barca spokesman said in an interview with Radio Marca.

"When he was presented as our new coach, he said that he should not be compared with Pep as he would always lose those comparisons. I disagree, though, and believes he wins on each front."

Freixa then went on to discuss the future of Eric Abidal, who has an expiring contract with Barca, and stated that the Frenchman will not necessarily be offered a new deal.

"Barcelona will have to make a decision on his renewal solely based on technical parameters," Freixa added.

"He has been an example to follow, but the eventual decision about his future lies with the technical staff."

Abidal recently made his comeback after a 13-month spell on the sidelines following a liver transplant, and revealed it is the club's decision whether or not he would extend his current terms.

Messi: Bayern even stronger than last year

The Argentine is aware of the Bundesliga champions' strength and is relishing the prospect of a potential final against Real Madrid

Lionel Messi has stressed that Barcelona must be on top of their game against Bayern Munich if they are to reach the Champions League final at Wembley.

The Argentine attacker feels Bayern have been in impressive form so far in the 2012-13 campaign and believes they are even better than last year, when they lost the final to Chelsea on penalties.

"Any opponent in these semi-finals was going to be tough, but Bayern this year are very, very good. They have been playing at a very high level and scoring a lot of goals," Messi told The Times of India.

"After what happened at the end of 2012, when they lost the final at their own ground to Chelsea, I think they have even more desire to go for the title this time. And Bayern are stronger this year than last in my opinion."

The prolific attacker then went on to discuss a potential final against Real Madrid and admitted that a Clasico at Wembley would be something special.

"Right now, we do not speak of the final but only about Bayern," he said.

"And if we get to the final we do not care who we play as long as we are there again.

"But it is indisputable that a final at Wembley against Real Madrid would be a special game for many things and many people. If it is Real in the final it will be a great show, that’s for sure.

Champions League semi-finals

The Bavarians will host the Blaugrana in the first leg, while Borussia Dortmund will welcome Real Madrid to Signal Iduna Park

Bayern Munich will face Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League, while Real Madrid have been paired with Borussia Dortmund.

The Bavarians have claimed the continent’s top prize on four previous occasions and are desperate to atone for defeat in last year’s tournament decider against Chelsea.

However, to do so they will have to go through Barca, who are seeking their third Champions League title in five seasons. The two sides will first meet at the Allianz Arena before locking horns again in Catalunya a week later.

The other semi-final sees Madrid renew hostilities with Dortmund, whom they faced in this year's group stages, Jurgen Klopp's men upsetting los Blancos at Signal Iduna Park in October before picking up a precious point at the Santiago Bernabeu just a couple of weeks later.

However, los Blancos, who will host the second leg, are bidding for their 10th European Cup, while boss Jose Mourinho is hoping to became the first coach to lift the trophy with three different clubs, having previously prevailed with Porto and Inter.

Dortmund have made just one previous appearance in the final, in 1997, when they upset Juventus in Munich.

The first legs will be played on April 23 and 24, with the return fixtures to come on April 30 and May 1. The final, meanwhile, will take place at Wembley on May 25, with the winner of Dortmund's meeting with Madrid havi

Villa happy with Messi chemistry

The Barcelona star combined well with the Argentine during the 3-1 win over Rayo on Sunday and is happy with his relationship with his team-mate

Barcelona striker David Villa says he is happy about his understanding with Lionel Messi after his side's 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

The pair have been rumoured not to get along very well, but combined to great effect in the Liga clash, with each creating and scoring the Blaugrana's goals.

"The three goals were between Messi and me. I'm happy to participate directly with him on so many," the 31-year-old told Canal+.

Stand-in coach Jordi Roura added that the two players have a perfectly good relationship, despite rumours to the contrary over the years.

"People have always talked about this, but it seems absurd to me," the 45-year-old told reporters.

"Currently their relationship is the same as always, very good. I see no significance.

"I always said that Villa is very important for us and would have his moments. He plays good matches and scores."

Iniesta: Milan win was one of Barcelona's most complete displays

The Spain international was left delighted with the Blaugrana's display as they reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League

Andres Iniesta has hailed Barcelona's performance against AC Milan as one of the most complete in the club's history.

The Catalans recorded an impressive 4-0 win at Camp Nou to book their ticket for the quarter-finals of the Champions League after previously losing the first leg of the round of 16 tie 2-0 at San Siro, and Iniesta was delighted with Barca's comeback.

"To date it was one of the most complete games we’ve played. Hopefully this experience will help us in the future," Iniesta was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"The team played brilliantly and we achieved our objective. When you have that kind of unity between the team and the fans games can be very long for our rivals at Camp Nou.

"We had an obligation to try and fight back and that’s what we did. The feelings we transmitted on the pitch were fantastic. When we show our identity, we’re very hard to beat. At times things do go the way you had hoped."

Alba: I'll go nuts if I score at the Bernabeu

Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba has claimed that he would "go nuts" if he were to score at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid on Saturday.

The Spain international netted a consolation goal in the Blaugrana’s 3-1 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s men at Camp Nou on Tuesday, which saw them eliminated from the Copa del Rey.

"If I score at the Bernabeu, I would go nuts!" he told DiR.

With coach Tito Vilanova receiving cancer treatment in New York City, Barca have not been at their best in recent weeks, but Alba was quick to stress that they are still fighting hard for the 44-year-old.

"Tito is a great person, he’s very humble, but he's fights as hard as they come and we hope to have him back as soon as possible,” he added.

"We fight for him and for all of Barcelona. When we win, our victories are devoted to him."

Alba rejoined the Camp Nou outfit at the start of the season after leaving the club as a child, and he went on to admit that he never thought he would get the chance to represent the Blaugrana again.

"When I left La Masia at 16, I thought my time with Barcelona was over," he continued.

"At first I struggled a bit [on my Barca return], because I caught the flu and was pretty ill for two weeks, but after playing against Sevilla, everything went fantastically well and now I'm having a very good time, I feel great."

The full-back also defender Lionel Messi, who has been criticised in the past few weeks after failing to make an impact in the losses to Madrid and AC Milan.

"There are players that make a big difference in [modern football], but no one else is as good as Leo," he added.

"He's a pleasure to have as a team-mate, and he has treated me very well from the beginning, with great humility, and on the field he keeps proving he is the best."

Roura: I hope the referee doesn't ruin El Clasico

Barcelona stand-in coach Jordi Roura has called for the referee to "go unnoticed" during his side's Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

The game will be officiated by Alberto Undiano Mallecano, who also took charge of the final of the competition between the two rivals in 2011, and the 45-year-old is hoping he will not ignore any tough Blancos tackling.

"The numbers [with Undiano] aren't good. We still remember that he allowed many fouls in the cup final," he told reporters.

"We hope that their decisions do not mark the match and that they go unnoticed. Every Clasico is intense, hard. But we hope it won't run out of hand and that it stays within the sporting limits."

Lionel Messi has come in for criticism from certain parts of the media after allegedly insulting Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka, and Roura went on to defend his charge.

"Every player can improve, but looking at his numbers this season, I think the campaign by some media against Messi is out of place."

Barcelona have conceded a number of seemingly unnecessary goals this season, and Roura was quick to assure supporters that they are working to address the issue.

"We've analysed the goals we've conceded. Sometimes the opponent just did well, other times we've made mistakes. We need to focus more."

Barcelona and Real Madrid kick off at 21:00CET on Tuesday, having recorded a 1-1 first-leg draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg.

Mourinho: 'Barca should play football, not talk about!

The 50-year-old has challenged the Blaugrana to teach his side a "lesson" in the game when they clash on Tuesday, as opposed to complaining about officials

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes Barcelona should focus on football rather than talking about the referees ahead of the second-leg Copa del Rey clash at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona interim coach Jordi Roura voiced his reservations over the appointment of Alberto Undiano Mallecano as the referee for the Clasico, and the Blancos trainer feels they should concentrate on the game itself.

"I prefer to stay with the lessons we have received in the past from Barcelona. Lessons in sportsmanship, how to be in football. Not talking about the referees, not surrounding them, trying to get opponents booked," he sarcastically told reporters.

"And, of course, giving lessons on how to play football, they do that very well. They would be well advised if they humbly followed that line."

The former Chelsea boss is looking forward to the encounter as his side look to rescue their season with a Copa triumph.

"These are the games we like to play and I like going into with the players. We prefer games this dimension and this difficulty."

Brazilian star Kaka starred in Madrid's 2-1 victory at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, but Mourinho is not sure yet if the former AC Milan star will make an appearance.

"I do not know. Not that I would not want to say it. I have not thought of it. Normally I do not say it. This time I do not know. "

Puyol: We can be comeback kings

The skipper, Cesc Fabregas and Dani Alves have promised fans an improved performance in the second leg against Milan after their shock Champions League defeat in San Siro

Barcelona trio Carles Puyol, Cesc Fabregas and Dani Alves have all spoken of their disappointment at their performance during Wednesday night's loss to AC Milan.

The 2-0 defeat gives the Catalan side an uphill task to qualify for the last eight of the Champions League, knowing that an away goal from Milan would require four from themselves.

Puyol seemed particularly bullish about his side's hopes, citing that the home crowd will give them a boost in the second leg.

“It’s time to mount a comeback in front of our fans,” he told the club's official website.

“They were more aggressive, we have to improve in the return leg. We have to have confidence in this team, we can’t give up. We’re going to play at home in front of our fans, we aren’t going to give up.”

Fabregas spoke more about the physical aspects of the game, and admitted that Milan were far superior in that department.

He said: “We weren’t on our game physically, they were strong and it hurt us. We’re Barça and we have to play at the highest level, we simply didn’t play a good match."

Alves was equally frustrated with the outcome of the game, but was quick to compliment Milan's efforts.

“It’s not that we played terribly after the first goal. We didn’t play well in general and that’s largely due to how well our rival played. We have to improve," he added.

“This is a difficult result. We have to fight back, go for the return game and work hard.”

Champions League is Real Madrid's priority

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his belief that Real Madrid view winning the Champions League as their main aim this season.

The two sides are set to go head-to-head at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday evening.

And, with Los Blancos currently 16 points shy of Liga leaders Barcelona in Spain, Ferguson expects Jose Mourinho's men to be fully committed to earning the right result.

"I think their target is the European Cup,” Ferguson told the club’s official website. "They got a bad start in the league and were chasing their tail a bit because Barcelona's form has been incredible. I think Jose has set his targets firmly on the European Cup, no doubt about that.

"It can be harder for us but there's a bit of pressure for them too. At this moment in time we're involved in three things. Jose has still got the semi-final of the Copa del Rey, they play Barca next week and then again in a league game before we play them on the Tuesday at Old Trafford. So they've got a big programme themselves.

"It's always been important to them, the European Cup, and I don't think it (pressure) necessarily applies to Jose as I think he's done a great job there.

"He's really built up a terrific squad of players and could play two teams, like us. I don't think it applies to him but you never know in football.

"I don't think there's any secrecy in his own desire to win the European Cup as, don't forget, he'd be the only person to win it with three different teams so it's a fantastic challenge for Jose."

Mourinho has been widely tipped to replace Ferguson at Old Trafford upon his eventual retirement and the 71-year-old Scot is looking forward to facing his Portuguese counterpart.

"I think he's pitting his wits against me," he continued. "I think it's a great challenge - the two biggest clubs in the world and obviously it's a big game for us."
 

Juve hit with bans over ref rant

Conte, Bonucci and Chiellini among Juventus staff banned over Genoa protestations
Multiple Bianconeri personnel have been punished for their parts in an ugly exchange with officials in the aftermath of Saturday's Serie A encounter

Juventus coach Antonio Conte, defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, forward Mirko Vucinic and director Giuseppe Marotta have all been banned for criticising referee Marco Guida following his decision not to award the Old Lady a penalty against Genoa.

The Bianconeri were incensed when Guida and his assistants failed to whistle for handball against Andreas Granqvist in the dying seconds of the 1-1 draw at Juventus Stadium.

Sporting judge Gianpaolo Tosel has since decided to ban Conte and Bonucci for two games and hand the pair €10,000 fines, stating that their punishment was for "intimidating the referee and an additional official, insulting them and then reiterating the comments in the dressing room after the game".

Injured defender Giorgio Chiellini ran from the stands to confront the officials and as a result will now be banned for one game, while Vucinic has been handed an identical sanction for protesting despite numerous warnings.

Marotta, meanwhile, has been suspended from duty until February 18, while the club will also have to pay €50,000, in addition to the individual fines dished out.

The Turin giants travel to Chievo next Sunday before hosting Fiorentina six days later in Serie A.

Guardiola signed Bayern deal in December, reveals agent

Josep Maria Orobitg has said clubs offered the former Barcelona boss more money, but the Bavarians were the ideal option for the sought-after coach who has signed a three-year deal

Pep Guardiola’s agent has revealed the former Barcelona boss agreed a deal to join Bayern Munich back in December.

Guardiola stood down at the climax of the last campaign for the Blaugrana and has been on a year sabbatical, but on Wednesday afternoon it was announced he would return to football at the Bundesliga club.

However, Josep Maria Orobitg has said the ink on the contract dried weeks ago, while revealing the Bavarians were the best club to have bid for the Spaniard, despite having been approached by teams offering more money.

"[Guardiola signed] around December 20," the representative told EFE Radio on Wednesday evening.

“He chose Bayern because they were the best team of all the ones he had offers from.

“We went over the offers and Bayern are not the team which offered the most money.

“He chose them because of their organisation, and because of the potential he sees and because of their footballers.”

Orobitg claimed Roma and AC Milan were interested in Guardiola, but was quick to shoot down some of the rumours that had circulated about the former Camp Nou coach.

"There were contacts with clubs that were close, and others that were put on hold until a decision would be taken,” he added.

"Everybody was saying that there were offers, meetings which happened, meetings which didn't, trips that didn't exist ... a lot was written."

Despite Guardiola having signed prior to the Ballon d’Or - around the start of the Bundesliga winter break - the news has not become public knowledge until Wednesday, and Guardiola’s agent confessed the decision to make an announcement this soon from Bayern came as a surprise.

“It's all been signed for some time, [but] I didn't know that it was going to be announced [Wednesday] afternoon,” Orobitg explained.

"In fact, I was told at 12.00 and they said we'd only talk about what came out in the statement. It is a lie that there was a leak. They wanted to take the decision today.

“Yesterday, the club were denying it, but when a lot of people start to know it's impossible to keep up with it; then you've got to tell the sponsors and organise things. These are really serious people.”

Valdes tells Barcelona he will not renew his contract

The Blaugrana goalkeeper has told the club he plans to leave at the end of his current deal, after recently expressing his desire to experience "other cultures"

Victor Valdes has informed Barcelona he will not renew his contract when it expires in 2014, according to the player's representatives.

Camp Nou chiefs held talks with agents of the Spain international on Thursday and the Catalan club had hoped to persuade the goalkeeper to extend his lifelong association with the club.

However, it now appears certain the 31-year-old will leave at the end of next season following the release of a statement on Thursday evening.

"Victor Valdes' agents have told Barcelona, in the meeting held this afternoon, of the irrevocable decision from the player not to renew his contract, thus avoiding discussing future wage issues," his representatives told Spanish news agency EFE.

Valdes' contract expires on June 30, 2014, and he could well make a move away from La Liga after recently expressing his desire to experience "other cultures".

However, he had also revealed at the start of January his intention to retire at Barca, an opinion that has clearly changed since.

The current Liga leaders' sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta had thought that Valdes had every intention of remaining at Camp Nou.

Reports in the winter transfer window have linked Manchester United shot-stopper David de Gea with a move back to the Primera Division, having left Atletico Madrid in 2011.

The Blaugrana are yet to comment on the Valdes news, with a pre-match press conference due to be held on Friday ahead of their clash with Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Pique: Mourinho got away with murder 

The Spain international has claimed that the Portuguese coach's poor behaviour was excused all too often when his side were successful, but says Real Madrid can still win La Liga

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique believes Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's behaviour was excused by the public and press when his side were successful.

The Spanish champions sit in third place in La Liga, 18 points behind Tito Vilanova's men, and the Blaugrana defender thinks that prior to their current struggles, the Portuguese was given far too much leeway.

"I remember when Madrid were winning, and Mourinho got away with murder," the 25-year-old was quoted as saying by AS.

"He even came here and poked Tito in the eye. How many games was he banned for that? None.

"Now Mourinho has picked on [Iker] Casillas, threatened a journalist, and people are criticising him. Mourinho has always been like this, ever since he arrived. And he got away with everything."

Despite their bad league standing, Pique believes los Blancos are still in with a chance of regaining their Liga crown.

"I will still consider Madrid title rivals until it becomes mathematically impossible for them to win the league, there's too much history there and they are too great a side to rule out," he continued.

"Madrid have something in them that when they start to believe in themselves they can launch comebacks like you'd never believe."

In order to help stave off a Madrid revival, Pique warned his team not to become complacent in the final months of the season.

"We are used to receiving praise, we know how to deal with it. Pep told us: 'Praise can cause you more harm than good', and he's right. We should be pleased with ourselves but we need to keep on going."

Messi: I hope to win another Ballon d'Or

The Argentine magician has his sights set on yet more glory in 2013, but is unsure of whether he will be able to better what he has achieved in the last 12 months

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has said that it is unlikely that he will be able to reach the same dizzying heights he achieved in 2012, but admitted he is aiming for a fifth Ballon d'Or.

The Argentina star blew everyone away with a phenomenal year in which he managed to net 91 goals, breaking Gerd Muller's record for number of strikes in a calendar year in the process, which saw him pick up the Fifa award for a record fourth time.

And while Messi concedes it will be hard to top last year, he is determined to add more silverware and success.

“I hope to win another Ballon d'Or," he told France Football. "Let me enjoy my moment. We'll revisit this again in a few months.

"I try to move forward but it is very difficult. I'm not sure whether I can aim for 91 goals every year.”

The 25-year-old added that each award he has won over the years has meant something different to him.

He said: "Each Ballon d'Or victory doesn't spark the same emotion, but it's just as intense. Every one has made me happy.

"The first [I won] in Paris is unique to me. The second I did not expect. And it was an honour to equal [Michel] Platini and [Johan] Cruyff for the third."

The Barca attacker may be thinking about what the future holds for him as the Blaugrana aim for La Liga title while Argentina are preparing for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Messi has also taken time to reflect on what he has achieved so far, with the Champions League final of 2009 still firmly etched in the back of his mind.

He added: "When I close my eyes, and review my career, the first image is that of Rome, the end of 2009. [The Champions League final win over Manchester United] – my headed goal, the collective joy we experienced … The other records [I have broken] are memorable, but I do like to dream [about that header]."

Messi admits, despite being one of the best footballers in the world, he still struggles with public speaking and this year was no different at the Ballon d'Or awards.

He said: "I meant what I said, but I had nothing prepared and could not miss out Tito [Vilanova] and [Eric] Abidal. I would've even congratulated Cristiano [Ronaldo]."

Lionel Messi wins 2012 Fifa Ballon d'Or

The Argentina international has become the first player in history to win the prestigious prize four years in succession

Lionel Messi has won the 2012 Fifa Ballon d'Or ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta.

The Argentine attacker becomes the first player in history to win the Ballon d'Or four times in succession. He previously shared the record of three consecutive victories with Michel Platini, while Dutch duo Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten also won the prize three times.

Messi was unable to help Barcelona to the Liga title in 2011-12 as Real Madrid emerged victorious, while they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League, yet Messi's brilliance was enough to help him to individual glory.

The recognition comes after a year in which the 25-year-old broke numerous records, including the most goals scored in a calendar year.

Messi netted an astonishing 91 strikes over the course of 2012 to crush Gerd Muller's previous record of 85 goals in a year, scoring 79 for Barcelona and 12 more for Argentina.

I think Mourinho will stay, says Ronaldo

The 27-year-old insists that the current head coach is the right man to lead the Blancos forward, but added that he will not discuss his own contract renewal any further

The Portuguese boss has seen his future at the club shrouded in doubt of late, with a string of controversial decisions and a 16-point gap to Liga leaders Barcelona leaving his position weakened with los Blancos.

However, Ronaldo feels that his compatriot is not about to quit Santiago Bernabeu, and insists that he is the right man to lead the club forward.

When asked whether he thought Mourinho would leave, he told reporters at a press conference: "I do not know. It depends on his situation and the club. I would love him to stay because he is the right coach. He is a top coach for a top club. I think he is going to stay but everyone chooses their future."

Mourinho came under fire recently following his decision to drop club captain Iker Casillas for the defeat to Malaga, but Ronaldo believes that the coach's decision is final.

"For me, in football, nothing surprises me," he continued. "His [Casillas'] replacement was a technical decision that we must respect. Here the coach is the boss and he makes decisions for the benefit of the group."

Ronaldo's own future has been the subject of speculation lately, with the player seemingly embroiled in a dispute over the extension of his contract, but the 27-year-old insists that he is happy at the club and focused on winning trophies.

"That issue has already been spoken about. I will not talk any more about my renewal," the former Manchester United attacker added.

"The important thing is to win the next matches. We are fighting for La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. The important thing is being together.

"I intend to repay [my fans] in the best possible way, which is to play well, to give my best for the shirt and to be on top of my game to help Real Madrid."