Barcelona vice-president Jose Maria Bartomeu has hinted the club will attempt to sign Neymar this summer.
Neymar is currently shining for Brazil at the London Olympics.
The 20-year-old has been linked with a move to Europe for some time and Bartomeu made no attempt to hide Barcelona’s interest.
“Neymar? We would all like to see him joining Barca after the Olympics. If he decides to come to Europe we’ll try to bring him to our club,” he said.
A player of Neymar’s calibre is unlikely to arrive to the Nou Camp cheaply as he is contracted to Santos for at least the next two years.
Blatter backs Morganella ruling
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed he supports the decision to send Michel Morganella back to Switzerland for making a racist Tweet.
As a Swiss national, Blatter admitted he was embarrassed by the Olympics incident at a time when the spectre of racism is rearing its head once more.
And, speaking at a gathering of invited guests from FIFA and the anti-racism group Kick it Out, Blatter said the Swiss FA had taken the correct action.
“Sure I support it,” he said.
“It is embarrassing for the whole football family. It is embarrassing for the entire Olympic Games,” Blatter said.
Kolo Toure committed to City
Kolo Toure insists he is happy at Manchester City but admits he does not know what the future holds for him as he enters the final year of his contract with the English champions.
The 31-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium, with Bursaspor one of the sides interested in the Ivory Coast defender.
“I did speak to the people there, but I’m just focusing on City. I’m a City player, I still enjoy it here, you can see that,” Toure said.
“I love playing at the same club as my brother. But we will see what will happen. I’ve got one year left on my contract and that’s it.”
Balzaretti set for Roma move
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed that wing-back Federico Balzaretti is very close to join Roma.
The Italian international left-back is set to leave Sicily this summer and the Giallorossi are reported to be on the verge of agreeing a deal.
“The situation is still not resolved. I spoke to the player and he is a little embarrassed at all the attention,” Zamparini said.
“Roma are very close. Walter Sabatini worked very hard, while he was the one who brought Balzaretti to Palermo in the first place. He knows him well.”
Voronin returns to Bundesliga
Fortuna Dusseldorf have signed former Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin on a season-long loan from Dinamo Moscow.
The Bundesliga newcomers, who are preparing for their first season in the top flight in 15 years, completed a deal for the 33-year-old which reunites him with the man who launched his career at Borussia Moenchengladbach in 1997, coach Norbert Meier.
“Norbert Meier took me from the youth team to the professionals and I celebrated my Bundesliga debut under him,” Voronin said.
“Therefore, the fact that Norbert is coach of Fortuna played a decisive role in my decision. I am delighted to be returning to the Bundesliga.”
Demba Ba release clause passes
Demba Ba remained a Newcastle player yesterday after the deadline to activate his release-clause passed.
The 27-year-old Senegal international had repeatedly expressed his desire to remain on Tyneside and Alan Pardew was confident of retaining his services, although with speculation coninuing over his future, there was a sense of trepidation as the July 31 cut-off point neared.
It is understood the clause would have been triggered at £7.5m, and that any club still interested in securing the former Hoffenheim frontman’s services would have to come up with double that to prise him away from the Magpies this month.
McCoist delighted with new signings
Rangers manager Ally McCoist believes he has recruited two of the Premier League’s top performers from last season after signing both Dean Shiels and Ian Black.
Former Hibernian and Kilmarnock midfielder Shiels penned a four-year deal with the Glasgow club yesterday, while Black – a free agent following his departure from Hearts – joined at the weekend.
McCoist believes both will have a crucial part to play as the Ibrox side bid to climb through the divisions and secure a return to the SPL as soon as possible.
“They are two great signings and hopefully there will be more to come. It’s a sign of the pulling power and the stature of the club that these guys want to join Rangers,” he said.