Barcelona have agreed to loan forward Bojan Krkic to Ajax for the 2013-14 campaign with an option for a further season.
The 22-year-old spent the past two seasons playing in Italy’s Serie A, enjoying a reasonable season for Roma but barely featuring last term at Milan.
A product of Barca’s youth academy, Bojan was once regarded as one of the club’s most promising talents but fell out of favour under former coach Pep Guardiola.
He will be coached by former Barca player Frank de Boer at Ajax, who won the Dutch league last season, and will have a chance to compete in the Champions League.
Neymar, Alba have tonsils removed
Barcelona forward Neymar and full-back Jordi Alba had their tonsils removed successfully in operations on separate continents on Friday.
Neymar, 21, was operated on in Rio de Janeiro and Alba, 24, had his surgery at a clinic in Terrassa near the Catalan capital, the club said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com).
The two players, who Barca said would need around 10 days to recover, appeared for Brazil and Spain respectively in Sunday’s Confederations Cup final in Rio, which the host nation won 3-0.
Rooney earns Vidic plaudits
Nemanja Vidic has claimed Wayne Rooney is in better shape than he has been before.
New boss David Moyes on Friday stated his intention to guide Rooney towards legendary status as a Manchester United player, yet could not offer any assurance the striker actually wants to stay.
However, unlike previous years, when, by his own admission, the 27-year-old has not returned for pre-season training in the greatest shape, this time around he is ready to go.
“Wayne is in the best shape I have seen him in the last five years,” said Vidic.
“I have seen him train extremely well over the last few days and am looking forward to him playing for the club and playing his best.”
Sunderland agree Altidore deal
Sunderland and AZ Alkmaar have reached agreement over a deal for striker Jozy Altidore.
Reports said the Dutch side has accepted an improved offer for the 23-year-old United States international and the Black Cats will now attempt to thrash out personal terms with him.
Sunderland’s initial bid was rejected by AZ, but such is manager Paolo Di Canio’s interest in the player that a second approach was always expected.
The Wearside outfit’s interest in Altidore became apparent late Friday when a statement connecting him with a move to the Black Cats appeared on the player’s official website, only to be removed within hours.
Van Ginkel seals Chelsea contract
Chelsea have completed the signing of Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel from Vitesse Arnhem on a five-year contract.
“I am a box-to-box player. I cover a lot of metres and can score a goal, but I also like to defend and think of myself as a real team player,” Van Ginkel told the west London club’s official website.
The 20-year-old came through the youth system at Vitesse Arnhem before making his debut in the Dutch top flight towards the end of the 2009/10 season, aged 17.
He got his first cap for the Netherlands in November when he came on as a substitute against Germany and also played at the European Under-21 Championships in Israel last month.
Gomez fee will not drop – Sammer
Bayern Munich director of sport Matthias Sammer says he has no intention of dropping the asking price for Germany striker Mario Gomez to allow Fiorentina to net a bargain.
Fiorentina are struggling to match Bayern’s reported €20 million asking price for the striker, who has requested a transfer.
The player is understood to have already agreed personal terms with Fiorentina, whom he is keen to join, yet the Serie A club are reported to be falling at least five million euros short of Bayern’s valuation.
“If the conditions are not right, then it’s just not going to work,” Sammer said.
“As long as our wishes remain unfulfilled, nothing is going to happen.”
Kjaer happy with Lille switch
Simon Kjaer believes he has timed his Wolfsburg exit just right after completing his move to Ligue 1 outfit Lille.
The former Roma and Palermo defender has signed a four-year contract with the French club and is looking forward to a new challenge after leaving the Bundesliga behind.
“I think it’s the right moment for me to join Lille now,” he said.
“It is clear that the idea of joining such a club can only be good. I have excellent feelings about this club. I’m delighted to come back, more definitively this time.”
Kjaer first arrived in Lille for a trial seven years ago before moving to Palermo where he played 62 times before joining Wolfsburg in 2012.