Barcelona Marc Crosas, welcomed the prospect of a loan move to Celtic.

The midfielder is under contract at Camp Nou until 2010, but a temporary deal could be a possibility for the Scottish champions.

Gordon Strachan's men face competition from fellow La Liga Sevilla to equip its services.

But Crosas - who featured in the Barca friendly wins on both Hibernian and Dundee United - would relish a move to Scotland.

"I would like to join Celtic," he told the Daily Record.
"I enjoyed my time last season at Lyon a lot and it is now in Barcelona for a agreement with Celtic or Seville.

"Both have made proposals that seem acceptable to Barca.
"An agreement must now be found with one of them so that I know where I will play next season."

Meanwhile, Le Mans defender Marko Basa reportedly rejected a move to Celtic, while Bobo Balde had traveled south to hold contract talks with Sunderland.

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves

Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder believes Cristiano Ronaldo could help the Spanish champions win a 10th European Cup should speculation about a move from Manchester United will prove accurate.

Ronaldo, on the losing side that Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2008 has said he will make an announcement in the next two days after reports linking him with Madrid.

Sneijder, who is starring with the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland, love to hear announce Ronaldo, he arrived at Santiago Bernabeu and believes that Portugal ace could be the man to take Madrid at the EU summit.

`` It would be a pleasure to play alongside him,''he said in Spanish newspaper AS.

`` I would sign for Real Madrid with my eyes closed. Cristiano Ronaldo is among the two or three best players in the world, if not the best.

`` I am confident that with him, we would have a chance to win the Champions League.

`` It is a wonderful player. Its high quality is his speed, his dribble, and also this year, he became a great goalscorer. It has the lot.''

Sneijder recalled facing a difficult decision last season when he decided to leave Ajax, the club he played for his entire life, to join the Spanish champion.

`` When I left Ajax, my life-long team, I did not want to go to Madrid. This is the best club in the world,''he continued.

`` Now that I'm here (Madrid), the only thing I want to do is win, win many titles and spend as long as possible defending this shirt and badge.''

Although the Netherlands playmaker would like to line up alongside Ronaldo, reports in Spain suggested that the 24 years May be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate an agreement with United.

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves

Midfielder Deco has requested more time to consider his future after the interest of Chelsea.

The Portugal international has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League this summer and has been tipped to follow outgoing national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge.

"I know the interest of Chelsea and other teams," said Deco of Portugal after the elimination of Euro 2008 at the hands of Germany.

"But I still have to take a decision.

"I must speak to Barcelona and soon there will be developments".

The 30 years is under contract at Camp Nou until 2010, but the catalan giants announced this week they no longer need services Deco - a measure which does not surprise the experienced midfielder.

"I knew that," said Deco, who has also been linked with Manchester United and Serie A champions Internazionale.

"It is natural for (new coach) Josep Guardiola to say that as the Barca coach and he makes decisions."

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves

Striker David Villa reiterated he wants to remain at Valencia despite speculation about his future.

The 26 years of superb form in Euro 2008, where he scored four goals for Spain in two appearances, would have attracted the attention of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea, among others.

Villa's name was already on the wanted list of many of Europes top clubs thanks to his 18 goals in a season to forget for Los Che in La Liga last season, but now the pressure on Valencia to a party their star seems even more important.

It has been well documented in Spain that the club is in financial difficulties because of their early exit from the Champions League last season, combined with the cost of building a new stadium and the compensation paid to former coach Ronald Koeman.

This has inevitably led to reports the club will sell its best players to stay afloat, with Villa Spain and his teammate David Silva are most likely to fetch serious money.

But the directors' club insist they have financial plans in place to ensure that neither Silva nor Villa have to leave, and will be pleased to hear the old new insist that he wants to stay.

"I left the club to compete in the Euro 2008, and when it ends, I hope to be back in Valencia," said Villa of Valencia radio station Radio 9.

"I never thought to leave before (Euro 2008) and I'm not thinking about it."

These latest comments yet calm nerves frayed at the Mestalla after reports in the British media Villa quoted as saying he was not interested in a move to Chelsea that money means nothing "and" my only goal is to better in my work. "

It seemed less opposed to join the Spanish contingent on Merseyside, adding "Liverpool have a Spanish coach and I have many friends," but the money needed to take Valencia Villa May be a stone d 'stumbling Rafael Benitez aside.

Hence, instead sell Villa star player, it seems that the club May now willing to let some of their other players go to make ends meet.

Long life of the player David Albelda of Valencia is about to pass one after he said that the club damage to him when he kicked on the side by Koeman is irreversible.

On Thursday, he said it was his "obligation" to listen to offers, amid reports that Chelsea are interested in his services.

Now, technical secretary Juan Sanchez gave up trying to stick to the old Spain international, and admitted that he may leave if an offer comes in for him.

"He has a contract and we will therefore work to find him a transfer," Sanchez said Friday.

"All the midfielders can play. The coach (Unai Emery) wants this situation sorted before July. The important thing now is to seek a solution for him and for the club. "

Following Albelda the door of Portugal defender Miguel Brito, who after three seasons in Spain has had enough and told the club he wants to leave.

His agent, Paulo Barbosa, stressed again the English Premier League as his client preferred destination, saying Portuguese newspaper A Bola: "It (Miguel) has never hidden the fact that he would like to play in England."

He continued: "We talked with the management of Valencia and we could perhaps have news this week.

"Valencia understand its market value is high and they have a good perspective to take a good transaction. Let's see if we can find a solution.

Earlier this week Spanish Miguel told journalists at Euro 2008: "The directors know what I think. I said I prefer to leave because of everything that happened this year and it would be better for both parties if I left. "

Marco Caneira, Ever Banega international and Spain defender Raul Albiol, which is an objective report of Arsenal, are also linked to an abandonment of Mestalla.

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves

Manchester United have confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo is 'not for sale' despite comments from the player that he is considering his future at the club.

The winger, on the losing side as Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2008 on Friday night, has said he will make an announcement in the next two days after persistent reports linking him with Real Madrid.

But a statement from United said: 'Further to Friday's press speculation about where Cristiano Ronaldo's future lies, the club has moved to reiterate its stance on the matter: United are not listening to offers.

'The club reaffirmed to ManUtd.com on Friday morning that the 23-year-old United star is 'not for sale'.'

Real Madrid have made no secret of their desire to sign the player with United reporting the Spanish club to world governing body FIFA over what they considered attempts to unsettle the player.

Yet despite United's determination to keep their star player, Ronaldo has refused to confirm his commitment to the club since speculation over his future began soon after last month's Champions League final.

Ronaldo is just one year into a four-year contract but on Thursday night he gave the clearest indication yet that he wants to move on.

'In two or three days' time I will announce my future because the tournament is over for me,' he said in Portuguese after his side's loss to Germany in Basle.

'I have to speak to Manchester United and we will see. I will talk to them and see what happens.'

He added: 'Everyone knows what I want but in the next two or three days you'll have something new.'

Asked about a move to Madrid, Ronaldo replied: 'The possibilities to go are great, but as I have always said it doesn't always depend on me.

'I have many desires and in the next few days they will become clear.'

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves

MADRID, June 20 - Promoted Malaga have appointed Antonio Tapia as coach for next season, the Primera Liga club.

The 48-year replace Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz, who left the coach of Racing Santander Malaga after leading the second place in the second division.

Tapia returned for his second spell as first team coach after being promoted to the position in January 2005. He was dismissed a year later.

"We were looking for a hard worker, who knew that the club and who does not mind long hours of work for Malaga, President Fernando Sanz was quoted as saying on the club website.

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves

Barcelona have rejected claims that the club has asked José Mourinho their new coach, and expressed their disappointment at Inter Milan boss calling Barca vice-president Marc Ingla a liar.

Mourinho was left fuming on Thursday by the comments which apparently Ingla to Catalunya Radio, arguing that the former Chelsea boss up a meeting with the club during which he offered to become their new coach.

According to information received, Ingla Mourinho said at meetings that Pep Guardiola, who is now responsible for the club, has always been the first choice to replace Frank Rijkaard.

The Portuguese coach anger denied the claims in the Portuguese press on Thursday, revealing that he had met Ingla and sporting director Txiki Begiristain in Lisbon, but did so at their request.

However, in order to put an end to the situation of Barcelona issued a formal statement on their website in which they have denied that Ingla never made the reported comments.

The statement read: "FC Barcelona regrets the comments made by José Mourinho contained in the current Portuguese press in which it discredits the club vice-president, Marc Ingla, and insists that a meeting in Lisbon to discuss its Tender sport is open to the initiative of the club.

"Mourinho said Marc Ingla lied in a radio interview last Tuesday, when he says he is Portuguese manager who had offered himself as a candidate for coach of the football club first team.

"FC Barcelona would like to clarify that at no time did Marc Ingla make such a statement can be proved by a verbatim transcript of the interview."

Despite denying having incited the meeting, the club pointed out that, at any time during the meeting, they were keen to know that Mourinho Pep Guardiola is always to be the club first choice to take over as coach - chief.

"Barca vice-president confirmed the meeting but it is clear that the first option for the post was Josep Guardiola," the statement continued.

"Regarding the meeting with José Mourinho, Ingla replied that" when two parties speak, it is very difficult to say what percentage interest of each of them did it.''

He concluded: "FC Barcelona is deeply sorry to hear those statements, which deny themselves, and believes that the issue is closed."

♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves