Barca make Fabregas bid

Barcelona have confirmed that they have made a formal offer to Arsenal for midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The Gunners captain, who signed from Barcelona as a 16-year-old in 2003, has made no secret of the fact that he wishes to return to Catalonia this summer.

The Spanish international is keen to get his future resolved before Spain open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on 16th June.

Barcelona, who have already shelled out Ј34million for Valencia striker David Villa this summer, have warned that a deal is unlikely to be thrashed out quickly and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal deem their offer to be acceptable.

"Everyone knows that Cesc wants to play for this club and everyone knows that we also want this," Barca director general Joan Oliver told the club's official website .

"But there is a third major player, which is Arsenal.

"Any deal must go through them and June 1 was the beginning of the period of official negotiations.

"Until earlier there were informal conversations, but since yesterday these are formal - and the usual mechanism is to present a formal and concrete offer.

"So yesterday afternoon, we submitted a written bid to Arsenal."

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Jose sets sights on Europe

Jose Mourinho says his primary task as Real Madrid manager is to guide the team to their first UEFA Champions League triumph since 2002.

Portuguese Mourinho was appointed Real's ninth manager in just six years on Monday, penning a four-year deal at the Bernabeu in place of Manuel Pellegrini, who was dismissed last week.

The Spanish giants have been beaten to their domestic league title by intense rivals Barcelona for the last two seasons, but the ultimate disappointment came this term when they failed to reach the Champions League final, which was held at their own stadium.

History

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho claimed the European Cup for the second time last month, following his 2004 success with Porto, after leading Inter Milan to a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich.

And the 47-year-old is now looking to make history by becoming the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs.

"I won the Champions League during my second years at Porto and Inter. I reached the semi-finals twice with Chelsea," Mourinho told the club's official website .

"I believe it is the top championship, the hardest of all. We know our challenge here is difficult, but we must be calm as we work.

"I don't like to shield myself in the idea that we need a long time in order to work well. I like to take on a challenge without fear and aggressively. This is why my main objective is to win.

"The magnitude of this club doesn't frighten me. It won't be an easy challenge, but I am anxious to take it on. I am very excited to begin working here."

Strengthen

Mourinho says he intends to bolster his squad ahead of his first season in charge, but has ruled out any massive spending sprees.

"With all due respect to the current squad, I would like to bring two or three players who can adapt to my work philosophy," he added.

"I don't want people to feel any pressure. I want them to be calm. I don't want people to go crazy and spend too much money."

a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/Skysports/Icons/skybet_logo.png');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:68px;}Jose Mourinho Specials Win Special: Win La Liga & Champions League in first season as Real Madrid Manager 12/1

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Mourinho expects success

Jose Mourinho claims he is the man to bring out the best in Real Madrid and leave a lasting legacy at the club.

The Primera Liga giants revealed on Friday that the Portuguese is set to become the new manager at Santiago Bernabeu, with his unveiling due to take place on Monday.

Real have agreed a compensation package with Inter Milan for the highly-rated coach and are delighted to have got their man.

Mourinho will arrive in Spain with a glowing reputation, having enjoyed success wherever he has been.

Glittering spells in charge of Porto and Chelsea saw him land countless trophies, while he bowed out at Inter on the back of an unprecedented Treble.

Promise

He may not be to everyone's taste, as he found out in Italy, but Mourinho is not short on self belief and he is confident he can bring the good times back to Real.

He told AS : "I think Madrid have signed me because they know that they can demand aims in the short term but that I am also capable of leaving a base for the future.

"It's clear that I work for myself but also for clubs. At Chelsea you can see scouts and physical trainers that I left there. The same goes for Inter.

"I want to leave a mark at this club, not only with titles but with other things. I promise from my first day that I will bring out the best in the players, that I will take care of them."

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Barca hit back at Ibra's agent

Barcelona have hit out at Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent for claiming Pep Guardiola "would have to go to a mental hospital" if he wanted to sell the Swedish striker.

Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola also suggested the club could sell superstar Lionel Messi or Pedro instead if they needed to raise money.

However, the remarks have not sat well with Barca's general manager Joan Oliver.

Oliver was unhappy with Raiola's tone and insists the club does not have to sell anyone to raise money, despite the big-money signing of Valencia's David Villa.

"We didn't like Mr Mino Raiola's statements at all, especially the tone," Oliver told the club's official website .

Bad taste

"The reference to the coach is in very bad taste.

"And the club doesn't need money. We don't want to sell."

Oliver did leave the door open to a possible move away from the club for Ibrahimovic, though.

"If things get too complicated, there'll be no option but to sell the player," he said.

"However, that's not the intention of the club at this moment."

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Renato extends Sevilla stay

Sevilla have announced that experienced midfielder Renato has agreed to extend his contract at the club.

The Brazilian has penned a 12-month extension to his current deal, keeping him at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan until 2012.

The 31-year-old, who joined Sevilla from Santos in 2004, has had a €36million (Ј30.7m) buy-out clause inserted in his contract.

While his future has been secured until 2012, the Samba star will have the option of two further years on top of that should certain criteria be met.

For now Renato and Sevilla are readying themselves for another crack at the UEFA Champions League, with a fourth-placed finish in 2009/10 sending them into the qualification stages of Europe's premier club competition.

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Mourinho coy on transfers

New Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has not been drawn on his transfer targets this summer.

The Portuguese coach signed a four-year contract at the Bernabeu on Monday and has added Los Merengues as the latest illustrious club on his CV.

Mourinho has already been linked with a number of signings, most notably players who he has previously managed at Inter Milan and Chelsea.

However, he would not say if he has any targets in mind, and does not expect many to come through the Madrid door this summer.

"The club is happy with the base of the team. We need three or four players to give us flexibility in the way we might play, but I predict a quiet summer," he said.

"It's normal that people ask about players such as Maicon, Ashley Cole or Frank Lampard, for example, because they are former players of mine and I always have good relations with them.

"We need small adjustments. We have clear profiles of the type of players we need and these are more important than names."

Changes

He added: "I don't like to talk about players because their prices will go up if I do.

"The club is happy with the roster of last season and so am I. We don't need major changes.

"We need three or four players for the coach to have more possibilities to get closer to my idea of a team.

"But I don't think it's going to be a summer with a lot of changes. I think it will be a more calm summer with all the focus on the World Cup."

Real had a poor campaign last time out after exiting the UEFA Champions League at the first knockout stage, while Barcelona pipped them to the post in La Liga.

But Mourinho is optimistic he will bring success to the Spanish side, and says he understands the pressure of the job.

He remarked: "We start from zero. It won't be an obsession it will be a dream.

"I understand the fans and the media will up the pressure but it is not going to affect the way I do my job."

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Barca won't break bank for Fab

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has warned he will not pay an 'exorbitant' fee for Cesc Fabregas.

The Catalan giants have made securing the midfielder's signature their top priority this summer, with the Arsenal skipper having been strongly linked with a return to his roots for some time.

The Spain international is reported to have told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger that he wants to move on, despite being contracted to the club until 2015.

The issue at present is that Arsenal are reluctant to part with their prized asset, well aware that losing their captain would represent a sizeable step backwards.

An outrageous offer could force their hand, as they could pump the funds back into the team, but they are prepared to hold firm until they get what they want.

Strengthen

Barca, though, have made it clear that they are not prepared to pay over the odds and will look elsewhere should the Gunners refuse to play ball.

A tentative enquiry has already been made in an effort to determine Arsenal's stance, but Laporta admits his club will not be held to ransom in their pursuit of Fabregas.

"We will not sign any players for above market value," he said.

"We are interested in signing Cesc and Arsenal know that but we will not pay an exorbitant price for any player.

"When it comes to market prices, we'll strengthen where we can but will not pay an unrealistic price"

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