Messi makes Cesc plea

Lionel Messi has admitted he would be 'delighted' if Cesc Fabregas joined Barcelona this summer.

The Arsenal captain has been heavily linked with a move to the Catalan giants, with the 23-year-old having been pictured in a Barca shirt during the Spanish national team's celebrations after winning the World Cup.

Messi is now the latest in a list of Barcelona players to reveal their desire to see Fabregas move to Camp Nou, following pleas from Carles Puyol, Xavi, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta to join the ranks.

Fabregas has not yet revealed whether he will leave the Gunners to rejoin the club where he started his career, but Messi confessed it would be a great move.

"I would be delighted if he came," Messi said

"We played together as kids (in Barca's youth team) and he knows the club."

Villa excitement

Messi also stated his excitement at the possibility of playing with David Villa, who left Valencia this summer to join the Spanish champions.

"He will be really good for us. He has already shown what he can do at Valencia and in the Spanish national team. Let's hope we can be together soon to start preparing for the new season," he said.

The 22-year-old also issued his desire to see Diego Maradona stay as coach of Argentina, who is under intense pressure to leave following their 4-0 exit to Germany in their World Cup quarter-final.

"It's up to him to decide whether he stays or not," Messi added. "For me, he should stay."

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Nekounam eyes Olympiakos move

Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam is closing in on a move to Greek giants Olympiakos.

The Iran international, who has a year remaining on his current deal, was a key player for Los Rojillos last season, making 31 appearances and scoring three goals.

Nekounam rejected a big-money move to La Liga rivals Villareal last year, insisting he was happy to remain where he was.

However, Spanish club Osasuna are keen to cash in on the 29-year-old this summer by agreeing a deal with the Greek club.

Reports in the Middle East claim Nekounam's agent Reza Fazeli is in the final stages of talks with Olympiakos officials and Osasuna are set to accept an offer of Ј1million.

"Javad has told me he would like to join a big European club. I think Olympiakos is a great club," Fazeli told the Tehran Times .

"He has already talked to the Olympiakos coach. I think he will join the Greek team soon."

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Cesc quiet over future

Midfield ace Cesc Fabregas is remaining coy on his club future following Spain's World Cup triumph on Sunday.

The Arsenal captain's value no doubt soared after he was brought on as a substitute in the late stages of Spain's decider against Holland to devastating effect.

After the 23-year-old had tested Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, he then fed Andres Iniesta with a cushioned pass to set up the extra-time winner.

Fabregas, who has five years remaining on his Emirates contract, has been strongly linked with a move back to his boyhood club Barcelona, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger having already turned down a €35million (Ј30m) offer for the midfielder.

But the Gunners skipper, who has expressed his desire to make a Camp Nou comeback, is keeping his cards close to his chest on whether the switch will materialise.

"All I can say is that this (World Cup victory) is for all the Arsenal players and fans, they are a world-class club," said Fabregas after Spain's 1-0 victory.

"I am an Arsenal player and proud to be."

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Keirrison leaves Fiorentina

Fiorentina have confirmed that Keirrison's loan at the Serie A club has been cut short and the striker has returned to Barcelona.

Keirrison joined the Viola in January on an 18-month deal but struggled for regular action as he only made a handful of appearances.

The Brazilian has now returned to his parent club Barcelona, although it is reported he could be loaned out again, this time to Santos.

A statement read: "ACF Fiorentina announce an agreement with Barcelona for the consensual termination of the loan for striker Keirrison De Souza Carneiro.

"The club thanks the player for his efforts in the four months, which saw him wear the Viola jersey for 285 minutes, scoring two crucial goals against Lazio and Inter.

"We wish him a career full of goals."

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Forlan refuses to rule out move

Tottenham target Diego Forlan has declined the opportunity to rule out a move away from Atletico Madrid this summer.

The Uruguay striker is chasing the Golden Boot at this summer's World Cup, having already scored four goals in his country's passage to Saturday's third-place play-off against Germany.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been forthright in his admiration of Forlan, but the former Manchester United player has previously ruled out a return to the Premier League.

The striker flopped at Old Trafford, however, he has shown his true ability with more than 100 goals in Spain for Villarreal and Atletico to alert a number of clubs around Europe.

And Forlan admits that he would consider a summer move, telling Sky Sports News : "They have to be a good offer and we have to see.

"I am very happy in Madrid and the way the city and the team are always with me.

"(But) you never know. If it is a good offer we have to see if the team wants me to leave or not and then we have to sit and talk."

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Aguero eyes Chelsea move

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has fuelled rumours of a possible move to Stamford Bridge, saying the thought of a future with Chelsea 'excites' him.

Aguero, 22, has been linked with a number of high-profile clubs in the summer transfer window following his rise to fame at Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish side appear to have already conceded defeat in their attempts to retain his services, saying their star man can go for the right price.

"If an offer comes in from the right club and Atletico feels it is the right price, then a deal can be done," Aguero told the Daily Star on Sunday .

"Of course Chelsea is of interest as they are one of the most powerful teams in European football.

"They show their intent summer after summer in the transfer market and more often than not that intent will see them end the season with at least one trophy."

Looking to the future

Aguero admits that building a stable future is amongst his priorities, but top of the list is silverware.

"As a player you need to look after your future financially but the truth is most top European clubs would offer me top packages," he said.

"What I need to consider is where I can win things and I know for sure I can win things at Chelsea.

"You look at their players and you are excited about any future you may have there."

The talented striker admits that the thought of playing alongside Didier Drogba amongst other Chelsea stars appeals massively.

He said: "To be the strike partner of Didier Drogba is a thing many players would love to be.

"But it's not just Drogba - it's Lampard, Terry, Anelka, Essien, and maybe even Fernando Torres.

"They have quality players everywhere."

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Agent - No Fabiano bids

Luis Fabiano's agent has confirmed that neither Manchester United or AC Milan have bid for the Sevilla striker.

Reports had hinted the European giants were fighting it out for the signature of the Brazil international hit-man.

Fabiano is out of contract next summer but has a buy-out clause which allows him to leave immediately for €30million (Ј25m).

Sevilla are keen to extend Fabiano's deal and his agent Jose Fuentes insists that is the only offer on the table.

No hurry

Fuentes has also confirmed the 29-year-old will consider his future carefully and will not rush into signing anything.

"We have not received any offers from Manchester United or Milan," Fuentes told www.tuttomercatoweb.com .

"The only offer we have received is a contract extension from Sevilla. The rest are just rumours and speculation.

"We will analyse Sevilla's offer in the coming days but we are not in a hurry."

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