Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Barcelona deny Drogba link

• Reports in Spain linked Drogba with move to Barça
• Ivorian's agents say move to Shanghai is still on

The Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has dismissed media speculation linking Didier Drogba with a move to the Catalan giants.

It was reported in Spain this morning that the Ivory Coast striker Drogba, who last week announced he would be joining the Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, was due in Barcelona on Tuesday for talks at the Nou Camp.

But Rosell said: "I don't know anything of Drogba. If he's here he's come on holiday or for something personal. It's nothing to do with Barcelona."

Meanwhile, Drogba's representatives earlier sent a tweet saying: "Drogba to Barca story complete nonsense. As we told you he joins Shanghai in July."

The 34-year-old Drogba, who confirmed his intention to leave Chelsea following their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich, announced last Wednesday he had signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Shanghai Shenhua.

The new Barça coach Tito Vilanova also said at his presentation earlier this month that the club were not looking to bring in attacking reinforcements this summer, with their main focus being on strengthening the defence.

The Barça have been closely linked with the Valencia left-back Jordi Alba and Athletic Bilbao defensive midfielder Javi Martínez, but Rosell was giving little away when quizzed about the two Spain internationals at his press conference on Tuesday.

He said of their pursuit of Alba: "I don't like that these negotiations are public, but they already are. Having said that, the value of Jordi Alba will be what we are ready to pay."

On Martínez, Rosell added: "Its down to the coaching team. In any case, if we had an interest in Javi Martínez, I wouldn't say so. If we didn't have any interest, I wouldn't say so either. I like negotiations to take place with prudence and in secret." Read More

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