Paris Saint-Germain will face Barcelona in a friendly at the Parc des Princes in the French capital on August 4, it was announced yesterday.
Both clubs confirmed the fixture on their websites, which comes a week before the start of the new French Ligue 1 season.
It will be Barca’s third game under new coach Tito Vilanova, after a friendly away to German side Hamburg on July 24 and a meeting with a Moroccan select side in Tangier four days later.
No date has yet been announced for the kick-off to the 2012-13 La Liga season.
Bravo witness to fixed Italy match
Former France international midfielder Daniel Bravo said this week that he had been witness to an arranged match in the Serie A when he played for Parma in the 1996-97 season.
“I never arranged a match, I can’t say that, but I’ve been involved,” Bravo said.
“The last important match for Parma, we could play for the title, but in fact we couldn’t win. So we chose a draw at half-time. By common agreement.”
Bravo added: “We didn’t understand. We said: ‘You’re crazy, we can win’. And the others replied: ‘We’re in Italy here, drop it’.”
Parma finished second in the 1996-97 season, two points be-hind champions Juventus.
Hoffenheim set Gylfi deadline
Hoffenheim have given midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson a deadline of June 30 to secure a move to Swansea where he spent the second half of last season on loan.
The departure of manager Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool halted talks and Anfield now seems to be his destination.
Last week Rodgers admitted he would be interested in signing the midfielder but stressed the player had to first speak to Swansea.
“Gylfi Sigurdsson will not be with Hoffenheim for pre-season,” the club said in a statement.
“He has, after consultation, obtained a prolonged holiday until June 30.”
Dante aiming high
New Bayern Munich defender Dante has set his sights on winning the Bundesliga every season of his four-year contract with the Bavarians. The Brazilian defender joins Bayern from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
“I have a contract until 2016 and would prefer to win the league four times,” he said.
The 28-year-old has a big enough challenge on his hands playing a regular part for Bayern next season.
Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber and Philipp Lahm are sure of their places in the team while David Alaba shone as left full-back last season.
Dante’s task will be to dislodge one of them, but it is a challenge he is excited about.
“I have no problem with pressure. In fact, I love it,” he said.
Chiellini’s Euro at risk after injury
Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini is at risk to halt his participation at the Euro 2012 due to a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old limped out of Italy’s 2-0 win over Ireland on Monday and team doctor Enrico Castellacci said the signs weren’t good.
“These injuries never have immediate recovery periods but we’ll have to wait for the tests we’ll conduct in a couple of days,” he said.
Coach Cesare Prandelli was more positive, expressing his belief that Chiellini would make Sunday’s quarter-final in Kiev.
“I have faith in our great physios and medical staff to get him ready,” he remarked.
Bayern in talks with Pep says Bild
Bayern Munich are in talks to sign former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola when current boss Jupp Heynckes steps down in 2013, mass circulation Bild reported yesterday.
Bayern’s director of football Christian Nerlinger held talks in May with Guardiola’s brother Pere, who is also his advisor, on the sidelines of the Spanish Cup final.
“The world-class manager is said to have signalled his interest,” Bild wrote.
Heynckes has a contract running until 2013. Bild said this was “perfect timing.”
“Guardiola wants to take a year out to recharge his batteries and study. It’s perfect timing... Pep can then learn German at his leisure,” said the paper.
Defender Kjaer wants Roma stay
Simon Kjaer, who spent 2011-12 on loan at Roma from Wolfsburg, is not keen on returning to his parent club and instead wants to play again for the Giallorossi next season.
The Denmark centre-half clashed with Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath last year and both men have vowed never to work together again, reports said.
“I want to play for Roma again but it does not only depend on me,” he said.
Wolfsburg are not willing to offer Kjaer a slot in their squad and are keen to sell. He signed for Wolfsburg for €12m in 2010.
Roma, however, might struggle to meet the Germans’ demands.