Diarra plans Mourinho talks

Mahamadou Diarra will delay a decision regarding his future at Real Madrid until he has spoken to new coach Jose Mourinho.

The Mali midfielder has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United and recently admitted he was flattered to be a reported target of the Premier League club.

Diarra struggled to nail down a first-team place at Real last season under Manuel Pellegrini and has been tipped to leave the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, the former Lyon ace's agent Frederic Guerra says Diarra will not make a decision on his future until he has met with Mourinho.

Guerra said in the Sunday Mirror : "Diarra will sit down and listen to whether the new manager has any plans for him before making a decision.

"We have interest from England and France, so if he is not going to get games at Real he will leave."

Mourinho names No.2

Meanwhile, Real have confirmed Mourinho has appointed Aitor Karanka as his second in command at the Bernabeu.

Karanka joins a coaching team consisting of Rui Faria, Silvino Louro and Jose Morais and, like the trio, has also signed a four-year contract with the Spanish giants.

It is thought his appointment came about because Mourinho wanted someone who - like Giuseppe Baresi at Inter Milan - knew the club well.

Karanka spent five years at Madrid, between 1997 and 2002, helping them to three Champions League trophies and one league title.

The 36-year-old was serving as Spain Under-16 coach, while he was also assistant to Gines Melendez with the Under-17s who have just returned as runners-up from the European Championship.

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Barca deny Cesc reports

Barcelona have rejected speculation that Arsenal have told the Catalans to double their offer to land Cesc Fabregas.

The Catalan giants had a €35million (Ј29m) offer for the Arsenal skipper rejected last week.

Reports on Monday suggested Arsenal are now prepared to accept an offer - if Barca increase their bid to €70m (Ј58m).

But Barcelona director general Joan Oliver has rejected this speculation, insisting they have heard nothing from the Gunners.

No price

He said: "They said they would not sell, it's logical therefore that they have not set a price for him.

"We made a formal offer. The only official response we have from Arsenal is that they are not ready to sell the player, for which it would be difficult for them to be putting a price when they say they are not selling."

While Oliver was keen to add that in Barca's favour is Fabregas' "desire to come", he admits it will be impossible without either the green light from Arsenal or Fabregas - who is under contract with the Gunners until 2015 - forcing his club's hand.

"On our part, after having made an offer we are ready to sign the deal this very morning," Oliver continued.

"We still have time to do it, but it is a deal we cannot do just by ourselves."

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Toure agrees Prem switch

Yaya Toure's agent claims his client will be playing in England next season, with a deal already agreed.

The Barcelona midfielder's representative has refused to state with which club an agreement has been struck, but the Ivorian has been strongly linked with Manchester City of late.

The Blues, who already boast Toure's brother Kolo on their books, are believed to be leading the race for his signature, keen to add some much-needed steel in the centre of the park.

The Barca ace has, however, attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal in the past, so it is far from certain that he will be turning out at Eastlands next season.

"If everything goes well, Yaya will go to England," Toure's agent, Dimitri Seluk, told Ona FM .

"But we can't talk about definite clubs. We already have a closed deal, and all will be resolved before the World Cup."

Toure joined Barca from Monaco in 2007 and quickly became an integral part of their side, patrolling the area in front of the back four.

Price tag

He has landed six major trophies during his time at Camp Nou, but has fallen down the pecking order over recent seasons.

Some reports have suggested that he could be used as a makeweight in Barca's protracted efforts to lure Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas back to Catalunya.

That may provide his best route out of the Primera Liga giants, as an asking price of around €36million (Ј30m) could scare off some potential suitors.

Seluk added: "It seems to me too much money. His club have shown they want him to leave, it's not normal that they're asking for this amount.

"If (Barca president Joan Laporta) likes Toure so much, he could have explained why he didn't play so much.

"This year we haven't spoken to him even one time, and if he leaves it's because that was lacking."

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Real rule out Messi & Rooney

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says the club have no plans to bid for Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney or Franck Ribery, but hinted at an interest in Maicon.

The Spanish giants embarked on a spending spree after Perez came in for his second stint as president last summer, recruiting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

Real ended the season without a trophy to fuel speculation that more big-name players could be targeted before the start of the new campaign.

Barcelona superstar Messi is one player to be linked with the club but Perez does not rate the Argentine as highly as Ronaldo and has no intention of making a move.

"Messi is the second best player in the world, after Cristiano, and it wouldn't be good to have them in the same team," said Perez.

"This way, there is more competition," he added, implying that Madrid would be by far the greater force with both players in the side.

Perez has also ruled out swoops for Manchester United striker Rooney and Bayern Munich playmaker Ribery.

"In Rooney's position we already have very good players," he explained.

"Ribery is impossible because he just renewed his contract with Bayern."

No rush

New coach Jose Mourinho has reportedly identified four new players in order to build a team to challenge both domestically and in Europe, but Perez claims only two or three players will arrive this summer.

"We already have the stars in our current squad, so we'll sign two or three great players to complement them," he said.

Maicon, who has declared that he would like to play under Mourinho again if he does leave Inter Milan, could be one of the new arrivals.

And Perez has indicated that Real will take their time before deciding whether to step up their pursuit of the Brazilian right-back.

"There is no rush, but Maicon is one of the great players in the world in his position."

Mourinho has been criticised in the past for setting his teams out too defensively but Perez expects him to bring both success and attractive football to Madrid.

He told Cadena Copa : "He knows he is coming to a club where, as well as winning, the fans call for entertainment.

"I have no doubts about the football he will bring. I remember that his Porto and Chelsea sides played good football."

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Xavi signs Barca extension

Xavi has signed a new long-term contract at Barcelona which will see him remain at Camp Nou until 2016.

The talented midfielder's current deal was due to expire in 2014, but he has now put pen to paper on an extension which is likely to see him end his career with the Catalan giants.

The 30-year-old briefly broke away from preparing for the World Cup with Spain to return to Barcelona to sign the agreement with president Joan Laporta.

Xavi and his team-mates will now fly out to South Africa where they are favourites to lift the trophy following their success in Euro 2008.

Important

"FC Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez, who were due to finish their contractual relationship on June 30, 2014, will add two clauses onto the contract this Wednesday which could keep the player at the club until 2016, depending on the amount of games played," Barca said in a statement on their official website .

Barca revealed that the new deal would allow Xavi "to retire at FC Barcelona, providing he remains an important player to the team".

In order to trigger the new clause, Xavi must play at least 50 per cent of Barca's matches in the last two seasons of his remaining deal. The midfielder's release clause of 80million euros will remain the same.

By the end of the extra two years, Xavi, who joined Barca at the age of 11, will be 36 and will have spent his whole career at the Catalan club.

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Robinho keen on Barca move

Robinho's agent has admitted the Manchester City star would love to move to Barcelona this summer.

The Brazilian, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Santos in his homeland after failing to force his way into the plans of City coach Roberto Mancini, has been linked with a possible swap deal involving Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Yaya Toure.

And his representative, Evandro de Souza, admits the Camp Nou would be a dream destination for the former Real Madrid man.

"Any footballer in the world would love to play for a club like Barca," De Souza told Spanish newspaper Sport .

Problems

"The relationship between Robinho and the board at Manchester City is very good, although it's true that there are some problems with the coach, Roberto Mancini."

De Souza is set for a meeting with City next Wednesday to discuss the player's future.

"We have a meeting with City on the 16th [June]. I will travel to Manchester with Gilvan de Souza (Robinho's father) and we will look at the situation with Robinho," added De Souza.

However, a summer exit seems certain for the Brazilian international.

"We know that City are looking for a club for Robinho," noted De Souza.

"There will be no quotes (from Robinho, at the moment).

"Robinho is focused on winning the World Cup and fighting for the Copa do Brasil (with Santos)."

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Dos Santos signs Barca deal

Barcelona youngster Jonathan Dos Santos has signed a new two-year contract extension at the club.

The 20-year-old Mexico international has progressed through the ranks since joining the youth team in 2002 and made his debut earlier in the year.

Dos Santos, who is the younger brother of Tottenham attacker Giovani, missed out on Mexico's World Cup squad but is delighted to sign a new deal at the Camp Nou.

"I want to stay my whole life at Barcelona although many things can happen in football," he told the club's official website .

"I am grateful for the confidence they have put in me all these years and I hope to continue like this.

"Now that I am here, after so much work, I hope to enjoy it as much as possible."

Dos Santos will now remain at the Camp Nou until 2012, while his release clause has also been upped to €30million.

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