Adriano has Barca future, Juve interested

Brazilian left-back Adriano has made 41 league appearances for Barca since joining them from Sevilla in 2010, but the summer arrival of Jordi Alba from Valencia had put his future at the club in doubt.

A meeting with new Barca head coach Tito Vilanova has given the 27-year-old assurances that he has a future at the Camp Nou. However agent Paulo Affonso revealed that a move to Serie A champions Juventus was still an option.

Affonse told Marca: "Juventus is one of the biggest clubs at this time. They have won the Scudetto and will play the next edition of the Champions League.

"I have good relationships with the management, and they are interested in the player. I'm willing to talk."

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Arbeloa 'happy' for Modric link

Real Madrid players have revealed their admiration for Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Luka Modric amid reports that the Croatian is to join the club this summer.

Modric has been the subject of intense speculation over his future, with many expecting the 26-year-old to leave White Hart Lane this summer after four years at Spurs.

Even the London club's new head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, accepts that the player will leave if an acceptable deal is put on the table.

Chelsea and Manchester united are the two Premier League clubs most closely linked with a move for Modric, but La Liga champions Real Madrid appear to be leading the chase for the £30 million-rated midfielder.

When questioned about Modric's potential arrival while on a pre-season tour of Indonesia, Marca reported Real right-back Alvaro Arbeloa as saying: "Modric is a great player. I'm happy he could join Real Madrid. We have many good midfielders, so they have to compete for a spot."

Arbeloa's fellow Real defender, Pepe, simply added:  "I know he's a good player."

Real's players talking up a potential new signing is similar to what several Barcelona players did last summer when they repeatedly spoke of how well Cesc Fabregas would fit in if he returned to his boyhood club, something which caused ire among Arsenal fans and inside the club.

In the end, the deal was completed, though relations between the two clubs have suffered as a result.

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Ajax plan raid on young Barcelona stars

Barcelona defender Marc Muniesa has been recommended to Ajax by Johan Cruyff, with the Dutch club also eyeing up moves for several of Barca's other young stars.

The man who enjoys legendary status at both clubs for his achievements with them as player and manager has advised Ajax's new sporting director Marc Overmars to sign versatile B team defender Muniesa, according to Spanish sports daily Marca.

The 20-year-old has only made four appearances for the first team since making his first in 2009, although he was named as an unused substitute for the Champions League final that year.

Overmars, who also played for both Ajax and Barca, is also weighing up making offers for attacking trio Isaac Cuenca, Cristian Tello and Gerard Deulofeu.

One of the first jobs of new Barcelona head coach Tito Vilanova is to decide which of the young prospects in the B team and on the fringes of the first-team squad he is to accommodate in the senior side.

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Update Euro 2012 - 'We have made history for Spanish football' - Del Bosque

La Roja became the first team to retain the European Championship and in so doing set a new record by winning three consecutive major tournaments.

And Del Bosque feels that his side's achievements will be remembered for a long time, but admitted they came up against tricky opposition, despite the one-sided score line.

"We had the ball possession and the pressure, and this success of Spanish football is something historical," he stated at a post-match press conference.

"We are talking about a great generation of players. They know how to play because they have come from a country where they learn how to play.

"In football we have done a great job. We have great lads who play abroad and this was impossible before. This is a great era for our football."

Reflecting on the match, Del Bosque went on to say that his side's second goal was critical as it damaged the Italians' morale, but admitted Cesare Prandelli's side suffered from bad luck.

"I would like to that everybody loses sometimes, and the Italians have played a great tournament, and they had the bad luck of the injury to [Thiago] Motta, and that's where it ended unfortunately.

"This match was great, [my players] controlled the game. After we scored the first goal, the Italians were more dangerous, but we reacted well.
"They have given a huge effort. Our first goal damaged them, then the second was definitive. We had a lot of respect for Italy. They have been a tough rival, but we went ahead, maturing in the game."

The Spain coach's tactics had come in for criticism throughout the tournament but he stuck to his guns by choosing not to field a recognized striker, instead selecting Cesc Fabregas as a false nine and he was adamant it was the right decision.
"I did what I thought was best, and nothing else. I dedicate it [the win] to Spanish football and my family, especially. This is for everyone.

"We just played our own game, and there were no external influences. We were faithful to what we've down in the past few years."

Spain won the tournament without their all-time record scorer David Villa and talismanic defender Carles Puyol but Del Bosque insisted they will be present to join in the celebrations.

"I've seen Puyol and Villa and told them to go out and celebrate, they are part of this. They have been very important."

Spain get their qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup underway with a trip to Georgia on September 11.

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Euro 2012 Updates - Spain favourites, says Prandelli

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has underlined that his side are underdogs for Sunday’s Euro 2012 final against Spain.

Italy defeated Germany 2-1 in Thursday’s semi-final with Mario Balotelli scoring both goals in the first half.

A late goal from Mesut Ozil was not enough to deny Italy a place in the showpiece decider.

After the match, Prandelli hailed his team’s display, and despite watching his side eliminate one of the heavy favourites for the tournament, he has tipped Spain to retain their European crown.

“In the last 15 minutes, we wasted so many opportunities to make it 3-0, then our players had nothing left and we were forced to defend in the area,” Prandelli told Rai Sport.

“We showed on the field everything we had prepared.

“Spain? They are clearly the favourites in terms of experience and quality, but we will be there to fight.

“We showed today just how much we respect and honour this shirt.”

Sunday’s final is in Kiev where Spain and Italy drew 1-1 when they met in the opening Group C fixture.

Barca confirm Valencia talks over Alba

Barca confirm Valencia talks over Alba

Barcelona have confirmed they are in talks with Valencia to sign full-back Jordi Alba.

The Spain international has long been linked with a summer move to Camp Nou, but neither the player nor the Catalans wanted to confirm the negotiations were in progress.

However, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has now moved to confirm that Alba is close to joining the Catalans.

“I don’t like these negotiations being made public, but they have been,” Rosell said at a press conference.

“How much we pay for Alba will depend on the negotiations. Everything is worth what you are willing to pay or how much you are willing to sell for.”

Jordi Alba is regarded as one of the best full-backs in world football and he further proved his worth with some scintillating displays for Spain at the European Championship.

The 23-year-old started all four games for La Furia Roja at the Euro 2012 and produced an assist for Xabi Alonso’s first goal against France.

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