Barcelona Consider New Deal For Sergio Busquets - Report

Barcelona are set to reward Sergio Busquets with improved contract.

 Xavi: Javier Mascherano Will Make Barcelona Better

Javier Mascherano will make Barcelona a better team, insists Blaugrana playmaker Xavi.

 Hercules Coach Esteban Vigo Hoping For Contribution From New Additions

Hercules boss Esteban Vigo doesn't think it will take his new signings long to bed in, in Alicante.

 Levante Defender Miquel Robuste: We Have Realised Our Mistakes Of Sevilla Loss

Levante stopper Miquel Robuste hopes the team have learned their lessons from the opening day defeat to Sevilla.

 Athletic Bilbao Defender Mikel San Jose Challenges Teammates To Defeat Atletico Madrid

Athletic Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose urges teammates to replicate Hercules performance versus Atletico Madrid.

 Real Sociedad Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo Delighted To Be Back In La Liga

Real Sociedad's Claudio Bravo is satisfied to be first-choice goalkeeper in the Primera Division.

 Spain Star Diego Capel Admits Under-21s Face Challenge To Impress Coach Vicente Del Bosque

Diego Capel knows it will be difficult for Spain's young guns to break into Vicente del Bosque's first team.

 Sir Alex Ferguson Was Like A Second Father To Me At Manchester United - Barcelona Defender Gerard Pique

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was like 'a second father'.

 Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli: Luca Cigarini Is Long-Term Replacement For Andrea Pirlo

Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli believes Luca Cigarini is the natural successor to Andrea Pirlo.

 Barcelona Set To Offer Daniel Alves Contract Extension - Report

Dani Alves' good form at Barcelona will be rewarded with a new deal at the Camp Nou.

 I Would Vote For Xavi To Win Ballon D'Or - Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan

Diego Forlan wants the Ballon d'Or, but believes Xavi is worthy of the title.

 Real Madrid To Swoop For Tottenham's Gareth Bale In January - Report

Real Madrid are reportedly in line to make a move for Tottenham wide man Gareth Bale in January.

 Barcelona Utility Man Adriano Hopes For A Season Of "Many Joys"

Adriano hoping to experience "many joys" this season with Barcelona.

 Manchester City Midfielder Nigel de Jong: I Do Not Regret World Cup Tackle On Spain’s Xabi Alonso

Dutchman also defends City owner’s hands-off approach...

 Arsenal Legend John Lukic: Arsene Wenger Should Have Bought Liverpool's Pepe Reina, Inter's Julio Cesar or Victor Valdes From Barcelona

George Graham also questions logic behind Mark Schwarzer pursuit

 Barcelona must pay Ibra agent €1M-a-year for next four years

It's been revealed Barcelona must pay the agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic €1 million a season for the next four years.

Marca says as part of the deal that took Ibra to Barca last summer, it was agreed Raiola would be paid 10 per cent of the player's €12 million salary.

Even though he joined AC Milan last week, a clause in Ibra's Barca contract stated Raiola would not be paid for the length of the deal only if the player unilaterally broke the agreement.

The wash up is that Raiola will be paid €1 million a year for the next four years by the Spanish champs.

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 Agent: Ibrahimovic became a zombie at Barcelona

The agent of AC Milan signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he turned into a "zombie" at Barcelona.

Mino Raiola managed to get Ibra a move back to Italy with Milan last week.

He said: “At Barcelona, Ibra was about to become a zombie. Pep Guardiola didn’t consider him at all and he had his back against the wall.

“We left because Milan have given that joy back to Zlatan. In all honesty, we don’t know the reasons behind the breakdown of the rapport with Guardiola. That’s the truth.

“All of a sudden the situation changed and at that stage it was crucial to consider a different future.”

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 Daniel Alves: Ibrahimovic should have fought harder at Barcelona

Daniel Alves says Zlatan Ibrahimovic should have fought harder for a place in Barcelona's team.

Ibra left the club last week for AC Milan.

"Perhaps 'Ibra' lacked patience, maybe he did not fit in our team and our game system and did not wait long enough to adapt," Alves told El Mundo Deportivo.

"He might have been hurt by a situation which he lived, but I saw nothing make him angry. But he has a temper and you have to respect the decisions taken."

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 Hurtado leaves for Olympiakos after 17 years with Espanyol

Moises Hurtado has left Espanyol for Ernesto Valverde's Olympiakos.

The experienced midfielder leaves Espanyol after 17 years of service to try his luck in Greece.

Hurtado joins former Liverpool winger Albert Riera at Olympiakos for the new season.

 Maduro determined to improve at Valencia

Valencia midfielder Hedwiges Maduro is determined to have his best ever season in Spain.

Maduro has struggled to find consistency since his arrival from Ajax.

But he says: "I have a lot of confidence because my last match me was very good [for Netherlands] even though it was not the first choice squad. I played in midfield and knew I had nothing to lose, I focused on having a good game, as the minutes passed , I was gaining confidence so I could show my real level.

"In the Netherlands I was more settled in midfield, I can also play as central defender and for me that is no problem. Honestly, there comes a time when you do not care what position you play, because the important thing is to be on the pitch.

"I will fight no more in practice to stop being an impact player, this season we will have the Champions League, which is a tougher competition and will be important for us all to perform I'm in a great shape because I want to start well. I feel good, and although I did not play in Malaga, the [pre-season friendly] match against Fiorentina helped me a lot to prove I can play more for Valencia."

 Laporta defends lavish Barcelona spending

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended the spending during his reign.

Laporta has been criticised for his lavish spending.

But he said: “I wanted to make life comfortable for the players. We are well aware of everything that was done. They talk about the gifts that we bought players, and the awards they received for winning, but the titles are appreciated.

“It was a matter of respect for the professionals who did a very good job. We tried to make life comfortable for all players, because they earned it.”

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 Agent says Malaga remain keen on Nancy youngster N’Diaye

Nancy midfielder Alfred N'Diaye remains a target for Malaga.

Malaga tried for N'Diaye during the summer and will try again when the market reopens in January.

His agent, Christophe Mongai, said: "Right now there is no negotiations between the clubs. We do not know anything about that possibility. Malaga and Nancy should narrow their differences, and then it's to be seen whether Malaga attempt to sign him in December, or whether Nancy will accept the conditions, but if a deal occurs, and Malaga can close the deal, the player would be very happy."

 Del Bosque says Ballon d’Or should go to either of Barcelona duo Xavi, Iniesta

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says this year's Ballon d'Or should go to a world champion.

Del Bosque insists either of Barcelona pair Xavi or Andres Iniesta deserve to collect the gong.

"Do they deserve the Ballon d'Or? None of us here doubt this. They are both the best in the world," Del Bosque said.

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 Real Madrid coach Mourinho confident handling media pressure

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he's ready for the pressure that comes with the job.

Madrid began their campaign with a 0-0 draw with Real Mallorca at the weekend and Mourinho's side came in for some criticism from the local press, but he is not worried about the task ahead of him.

"This is Madrid and you can't change it. If you can't live with this pressure it's best not to accept (the job)," he said.

"At this stage of my career it was the best time for such an experience.

"After Chelsea and Inter Milan, after 10 years of success and big clubs, after a demanding league such as Italy, I have the right age and maturity.

"I have to be prepared tactically for the possibility that we lose the ball and we get jeered. And then find some solutions to open up closed defences."

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 Spain coach Del Bosque delighted with brace from Liverpool striker Torres

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque was delighted with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres' brace in their victory over Liechtenstein in Vaduz.

Torres, who has struggled with various injury problems this year, had scored only once in the previous 12 months for Spain, which was in the 6-0 friendly win over Poland just prior to this summer's World Cup.

However, just days after scoring his first Liverpool goal since April, the 26-year-old last night produced two clinical finishes to help reigning world and European champions Spain begin their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in style.

When asked if he was happy to see Torres back on the mark, Del Bosque said: "Of course. He didn't score during the World Cup and these goals plus the one he got the other day for Liverpool are going to improve his moral and self-confidence.

"That's very good for him and the national team. Today (against Liechtenstein) he moved well close to the area."

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 Mourinho has no regrets quitting Italy for Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho is happy with his move to Real Madrid.

Mourinho, who departed Inter in the summer after guiding the Nerazzurri to a Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League treble, has no regrets over his decision to leave Italy.

"I don't think any Italian coach misses me just as I don't miss them," he said.

"I do speak to [Inter Milan president Massimo] Moratti every week," he said. "We are friends. He is part of my history just as I'm part of his.

"I hope with all my heart that Inter wins the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the FIFA Club World Cup, but not the Champions League.

"But I am a professional and when I end a chapter, I end it without regrets."

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 Sevilla signing Cigarini tipped to be future of Italian football

Sevilla summer signing Luca Cigarini has been hailed as the future of Italian football.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli sees Cigarini as a replacement for AC Milan veteran Andrea Pirlo.

“During my time at Parma, Luca was in the Primavera and they called him the Professor," said Prandelli.

“He has grown up a lot in Spain. Luca is the hear to Pirlo.”

 Liverpool ace Torres delighted with Spain double

Liverpool ace Fernando Torres was delighted with his double for Spain in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein.

The 26-year-old looked in fine touch for reigning European champions Spain in Vaduz on Friday night as he opened the scoring with a superb chip in the 19th minute before adding a second - his side's third - in the 54th minute with a low shot inside the near post.

The former Atletico Madrid man, who was substituted soon after netting his second, said after the game: "I feel better every day after the injury, with more rhythm and the goals give me a lot of confidence."

Torres' double saw him move onto 26 goals for his country, level with legendary Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueno in fifth place in the all-time list.

"It's always nice to be on these lists and it makes me proud to be here and to continue scoring, although the most important thing is the three points and that we've played," Torres added.

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 Barcelona keeper Valdes has dig: Mourinho will sell a lot of newspapers

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes says Jose Mourinho will be good for the media - but whether that will be enough for Real Madrid remains to be seen.

Mourinho is already dominating the Spanish sports media this season.

And Valdes told Cadena COPE: “He will give you much to talk about, and will sell a lot of papers. The press are beginning to know him.

“But the thing that is important is what happens in between. Football is 11 against 11 on the field, and nothing more.”

Valdes also added that, similar to last season, he fully expects Real Madrid to be challenging for the league title until the final day of the season, adding: “Real Madrid have a good team, good players and will fight until the end.

“Barcelona’s philosophy remains to play a positive game, and hopefully the great results will continue. We will see, the season has just started.”

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 Real Madrid midfielder Khedira throws down Ballack challenge: Your time is up!

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has thrown down a challenge to Germany teammate Michael Ballack.

Khedira says it's time the former Chelsea midfielder, now of Bayer Leverkusen, stepped aside.

"In his career, Michael Ballack has done much for German football and has produced several excellent performances at major tournaments," said Khedira.

"But with all due respect to him, that may no longer matter.

"I know that I do not have to hide, and can bring to the national team my own style and, hopefully, success."

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La Liga (also known as the Primera Division or Liga BBVA) is the top division of the professional football league in Spain and one of the most popular professional football leagues in the world. La Liga consists of 20 clubs and operates on the same promotion and relegation basis as the football league with the three lowest placed teams relegated to the Segunda Division and replaced by the top three teams in that division.

The teams that achieve the top four places in the La Liga table qualify for the UEFA Champions League. While the teams in the top three places enter the group stage automatically, the team in the fourth place enters the third qualifying round. The teams that achieve the fifth and sixth places in the La Liga table qualify for the first round of the UEFA Europa League.

The La Liga was founded in 1929 with only 10 member teams which were FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Arenas Club de Getxo, Real Union, Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Europa and Racing Santander. Athletic Bilbao, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were never relegated from the Primera Division.

While Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia enjoy a great success in the La Liga, these three teams are also the most successful teams in European competition history. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia are also the only Spanish football clubs that won at least five (or more) international trophies hence are also in the top ten most successful clubs in European football in terms of total European trophies achieved.

Out of about 60 teams that have ever competed in the Spanish La Liga, only 9 have ever achieved the La Liga championship which has been mostly dominated by FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.