Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova says midfielder Cesc Fabregas wants to remain with the Spanish champions.
On Monday, Manchester United offered 30 million euros ($39 million) to bring the 26-year-old former Arsenal captain back to the Premier league. Vilanova says it is good that Barcelona receives offers for its players, but adds that he has talked to Fabregas and “he said he wanted to stay here and did not want to go to another big club.”
Vilanova will likely need to rely on Fabregas more this season since midfielder Thiago Alcantara has opted to play at Bayern Munich under former club coach Pep Guardiola. Meanwhile, Barcelona says defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets has renewed his contract with the club through 2018 with an option to extend for another year.
The club says the Spain international’s buyout clause is to remain at 150 million euros ($197 million).
Barcelona praised Busquets, calling him “one of the key players” in the club’s midfield line-up, having scored eight goals in 238 appearances, four of them away from home.
The renewal was signed Tuesday, Busquets’ 25th birthday. The player’s last contract extension was on Jan. 27, 2011.
Rafinha goes to Celta Vigo
Barcelona reached an agreement on Monday to send midfielder Rafinha to Celta Vigo for one season.
The 20-year-old Brazilian has come up through Barcelona’s youth ranks since he was 13.
Rafinha holds dual nationality and has played for Spain in the under-16, U17 and U19 levels. But last year he switched to Brazil, where he played in its under-20 team at the 2013 South American Youth Championship in Argentina.
The attacking midfielder made his debut with Barcelona’s senior team in November 2011, coming on for Cesc Fabregas.
Rafinha extended his contract with Barcelona until 2016 in June, just before being sent to Celta on loan.
Rafinha’s older brother, midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who also came up through Barcelona’s youth ranks, moved from the Spanish champions to Bayern Munich on Sunday to be reunited with coach Pep Guardiola.
Bayern agreed to pay 25 million euros ($32.75 million) for the 22-year-old Thiago, a son of Mazinho, who was a member of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup champions.
Thiago helped Spain’s under-21 team win the European championship last month, scoring a hat trick in the final against Italy. He was born in Italy to Brazilian parents and debuted for Barcelona’s first team in 2008.
Gomez joins Fiorentina
FlORENCE: Mario Gomez has made it clear why he chose to leave European champion Bayern Munich for Fiorentina.
The Germany striker believes that by transferring to a smaller club he’ll get more playing time and have a better chance of staying in form for next year’s World Cup.
“My transfer may seem strange to some people. I had everything in Munich. But here I have the chance to play in view of the World Cup,” Gomez said at his presentation Monday.
Gomez added that new Bayern coach Pep Guardiola recommended Fiorentina to him for the Tuscan club’s attacking style developed last season under first-year manager Vincenzo Montella.
Gomez scored 112 goals in 172 games for Bayern across the past four seasons.
His reported transfer fee was €20 million ($26 million).
“The arrival of a champion like Gomez confirms how strong our ownership is,” said Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade. “It’s an ownership that allows us to battle against Goliath on equal terms.”
About 15,000 fans welcomed Gomez at the Stadio Franchi.
“All this enthusiasm is great, it gives me a lot of energy,” Gomez said. “I feel a lot of responsibility and I want to win.”
steven stays at liverpool
lIVERPOOl: liverpool captain Steven Gerrard on Monday signed a two-year contract extension with the Premier league club where he has spent his entire career.
The 33-year-old midfielder has scored 159 goals in 630 appearances since making his debut in 1998.
“It’s great news,” he said. “It lets me know the club thinks an awful lot of me and want me here. “I’m glad it’s all done and it’s happened at the right time before the season, so I can just focus on playing as well as I can.”