News and Headlines
BARCELONA, SPAIN- Barcelona's South America representative Andre Cury has openly professed the club's desire to recruit Santos forward Neymar, insisting the players are eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Although both parties have remained coy on the prospect of a deal for the Brazil international to move to Spain, Cury has suggested it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached.
Neymar has assured Santos he will see out his current contract and not leave Brazil until after next year's World Cup, although the club are attempting to secure his services on a long-term contract.
Cury told Radio Globo that Barcelona is "extremely interested in Neymar" and is confident the Catalan giants will make a serious offer in the summer.
"He is top of the wish list for planned signings and our players are aware of this," Cury said. "At Barcelona we do not usually sign many players, and he is our first choice. When he decides to leave Santos, we will be ready.
"But, if possible, we will start negotiations this summer. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are already awaiting him with open arms."
Cury continued his praise of Neymar by claiming the 21-year-old's arrival at the Camp Nou would relieve Lionel Messi of some pressure, similar to the Argentinean's influence after Brazilian attacker Ronaldinho left the club in 2008.
"Neymar coming to Barcelona will put an end to two types of overdependence: dependence on Neymar at Santos, as he would have left, and overdependence on Messi at Barcelona, as we would then have another player at his level," Cury added.
"In two or three years Messi will be able to pass on the Barcelona baton to Neymar, just like Ronaldinho passed it to him, even if this happened in a way that was not altogether pleasing to us - Ronnie left the club and we would have liked him to have stayed."
Neymar once again responded to the rumours from the Barcelona camp, thanking them for their interest despite stating he is not yet ready to make a decision on his future.
"Who is not a fan of Barcelona?" he told Sport.es. "I'm happy and I appreciate their affection and support. Regardless of whatever team I sign for, I'm one of the happiest people in the world... When my family and I are ready, we will be happy to speak, but for now I ask for calm."
MADRID, SPAIN- Athletic Bilbao's Mikel San Jose reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo's constant complaining during Real Madrid's feisty 3-0 win at San Mames on Sunday by saying he would have more respect for the attacker if he just concentrated on playing football.
Ronaldo was the centre of attention throughout, opening the scoring with a superb early free-kick, powering in a headed second goal and laying on the third for substitute Gonzalo Higuain.
The Portugal international also spent much of the game complaining about over-physical attention from Athletic players and abuse from the home fans, which San Jose suggested he had deserved for some over-the-top histrionics.
"I think it, and so do the majority of people in football," he said. "If he just concentrated on playing football, and not on other things, he would be the same or an even better player, but I would have more respect for him."
Los Blancos assistant coach Aitor Karanka, who spent a total of eight seasons in Bilbao as a player, talked down the physical side of the game, but said Ronaldo had answered his critics with a match-winning performance.
"Football is for men and even more in San Mames," Karanka said. "He played the match he did and scored twice. Athletic's players did what they needed to do. Cristiano did well in a tough atmosphere and has once again shown the type of player he is. He scored two goals that won us the match."
Ronaldo was not motivated by opposition fans' abuse, but by scoring goals and winning games, according to Jose Mourinho's assistant.
"Those who know him know how he is," Karanka said. "Sometimes you have to put up with things you do not like. He is dedicated to playing and scoring goals, that is what he does."
Sergio Ramos, flattened by Basque left-back Jon Aurtenetxe at one point, said that he or fellow Madrid defender Pepe would have been sent off had they tried some of the challenges which Athletic players got away with.
"I am not complaining," Ramos said. "This is a game for men, with contact, and there is a referee to keep a bit of order. But if Pepe or I had done the challenge they put in on me, it would have been at least a red card. They see us differently. We knew who we were playing and they like to go into challenges. It was like that with Julen Guerrero or [Ismael] Urzaiz and it is still the same. We knew we would come up against an opponent like this. We showed how well we can play in the second half."
Although both parties have remained coy on the prospect of a deal for the Brazil international to move to Spain, Cury has suggested it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached.
Neymar has assured Santos he will see out his current contract and not leave Brazil until after next year's World Cup, although the club are attempting to secure his services on a long-term contract.
Cury told Radio Globo that Barcelona is "extremely interested in Neymar" and is confident the Catalan giants will make a serious offer in the summer.
"He is top of the wish list for planned signings and our players are aware of this," Cury said. "At Barcelona we do not usually sign many players, and he is our first choice. When he decides to leave Santos, we will be ready.
"But, if possible, we will start negotiations this summer. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are already awaiting him with open arms."
Cury continued his praise of Neymar by claiming the 21-year-old's arrival at the Camp Nou would relieve Lionel Messi of some pressure, similar to the Argentinean's influence after Brazilian attacker Ronaldinho left the club in 2008.
"Neymar coming to Barcelona will put an end to two types of overdependence: dependence on Neymar at Santos, as he would have left, and overdependence on Messi at Barcelona, as we would then have another player at his level," Cury added.
"In two or three years Messi will be able to pass on the Barcelona baton to Neymar, just like Ronaldinho passed it to him, even if this happened in a way that was not altogether pleasing to us - Ronnie left the club and we would have liked him to have stayed."
Neymar once again responded to the rumours from the Barcelona camp, thanking them for their interest despite stating he is not yet ready to make a decision on his future.
"Who is not a fan of Barcelona?" he told Sport.es. "I'm happy and I appreciate their affection and support. Regardless of whatever team I sign for, I'm one of the happiest people in the world... When my family and I are ready, we will be happy to speak, but for now I ask for calm."
MADRID, SPAIN- Athletic Bilbao's Mikel San Jose reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo's constant complaining during Real Madrid's feisty 3-0 win at San Mames on Sunday by saying he would have more respect for the attacker if he just concentrated on playing football.
Ronaldo was the centre of attention throughout, opening the scoring with a superb early free-kick, powering in a headed second goal and laying on the third for substitute Gonzalo Higuain.
The Portugal international also spent much of the game complaining about over-physical attention from Athletic players and abuse from the home fans, which San Jose suggested he had deserved for some over-the-top histrionics.
"I think it, and so do the majority of people in football," he said. "If he just concentrated on playing football, and not on other things, he would be the same or an even better player, but I would have more respect for him."
Los Blancos assistant coach Aitor Karanka, who spent a total of eight seasons in Bilbao as a player, talked down the physical side of the game, but said Ronaldo had answered his critics with a match-winning performance.
"Football is for men and even more in San Mames," Karanka said. "He played the match he did and scored twice. Athletic's players did what they needed to do. Cristiano did well in a tough atmosphere and has once again shown the type of player he is. He scored two goals that won us the match."
Ronaldo was not motivated by opposition fans' abuse, but by scoring goals and winning games, according to Jose Mourinho's assistant.
"Those who know him know how he is," Karanka said. "Sometimes you have to put up with things you do not like. He is dedicated to playing and scoring goals, that is what he does."
Sergio Ramos, flattened by Basque left-back Jon Aurtenetxe at one point, said that he or fellow Madrid defender Pepe would have been sent off had they tried some of the challenges which Athletic players got away with.
"I am not complaining," Ramos said. "This is a game for men, with contact, and there is a referee to keep a bit of order. But if Pepe or I had done the challenge they put in on me, it would have been at least a red card. They see us differently. We knew who we were playing and they like to go into challenges. It was like that with Julen Guerrero or [Ismael] Urzaiz and it is still the same. We knew we would come up against an opponent like this. We showed how well we can play in the second half."