I see Lionel messi as the best player- Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has described Lionel Messi as “the best player I have ever seen”, with the Barcelona star making the game look “simple”, Goal reports.

The now Manchester City manager spent four years working with the mercurial Argentine at Camp Nou between 2008 and 2012.

They collected an enviable haul of major honours together, with Guardiola the tactical mastermind and Messi the on-field inspiration.

In spite of those successes, and many more which have followed, the debate lingers on regarding who is the finest player on the planet, with Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo part of any discussion.

Guardiola, though, is no doubt as to who he prefers, telling L’Esportiu on Messi, “He is the best player I have ever seen.

“The best thing about him is not what he does but how simple he makes everything look.

“He is not just the best player because he can dribble past three or four players, it is because he does it better than anyone in the world.”

Guardiola has also had his say on the end of another productive era at Camp Nou, with Luis Enrique having vacated Barca’s managerial post after three years at the helm.

His final campaign saw Real wrestle the Liga title away from Catalonia, while also claiming the Champions League crown, but Guardiola believes Enrique has left solid foundations in place for successor Ernesto Valverde to build on.

He added,  “I see Barca a lot better than how they see it in Barcelona.

“Luis Enrique’s work has been excellent. With him, when they were playing well, they were almost unbeatable.

“They have played very good football, while Messi is still doing it, and I do not think that the players who have signed are bad players.”

Real Madrid unhappy over Ronaldo silence

Real Madrid are unhappy that Cristiano Ronaldo has stayed silent following recent revelations that he wants to leave the Spanish side.

The Portuguese forward was accused of tax evasion by the authorities in Spain last month and reacted by posting a picture on Instagram with his finger over his lips and a caption that read: “Sometimes the best answer it’s to be quiet”.

The very next day, however, he set the alarm bells ringing in Madrid as Portuguese paper A Bola printed a bombshell on their front page. “Ronaldo wants to leave Spain,” it announced. And the decision was described as “irreversible”.

Away at the Confederations Cup with Portugal, Ronaldo was named Man of the Match in all three group games – against Mexico, Russia and New Zealand – but would only answer questions about the matches and the tournament when presented with those awards.

Back in Spain, Madrid president Florentino Perez gave several interviews after re-election for four more years and said: “Everybody knows I want Cristiano to stay here for life. He is one of the pillars of this team and also a big part of the history of this club.”

It was subsequently reported by some sectors of the Spanish media that Ronaldo had been made to feel more calm by the words of his club chief, yet still there was no reaction from the 32-year-old out in Russia.

Portugal lost on penalties to Chile in the semi-finals and Ronaldo was given permission by his national team to miss the third and fourth place match against Mexico on Sunday as he flew back to Spain to meet his new-born baby twins.

However, he has now been back in the Spanish capital for several days and there has been no contact with Madrid and no public comment from the four-time Ballon d’Or winner either.

That posture has upset the board at Real and also the Madrid fans, many of whom would like to hear an explanation from the club’s all-time top goalscorer, apparently so happy as Los Blancos won La Liga in late May and retained the Champions League early last month.

The club are keen to respect the player’s privacy during his holidays and especially as he adapts to life with two new family members, but there is expected to be some contact this week to discuss his situation and also the plans for next season.

Real remain confident Cristiano will stay, but the club are unhappy that their prized player has used the media to threaten a summer exit instead of talking the matter over directly. This week, with Ronaldo back in Madrid, the two parties should at least be able to do that.

Mourinho frustrated as Manchester United fail to seal Morata, Matic deals

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, is becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of activity in the transfer market this summer.

With the pre-season tour starting on Sunday, United have only bought Victor Lindelof from Benfica.

After United won the Europa League final against Ajax in May, Mourinho publicly stated it was down to the executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, to ensure his targets were secured as soon as possible.

Six weeks later, no progress has been made in deals for Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic.

The Portuguese is however hopeful the transfers of the two players can be completed in time for the tour.

United play LA Galaxy on 16 July, Real Salt Lake City (18 July), Manchester City (21 July), Real Madrid (23 July), and Barcelona (27 July) in a hectic 11-day schedule, following a six-day training camp at in Los Angeles.

Ronaldo denies rumours he want to leave Real Madrid

- Cristiano Ronaldo has not demanded a move awy from Real Madrid

- The player is unhappy with how the club handled his tax evasion claims

- He has met with Real Madrid chiefs to discuss his current situation

- Ronaldo has been linked with a move to former club Manchester United

Reports from Spain say Cristiano Ronaldo has ‘denied’ telling Real Madrid he want to leave the club after Spanish authorities accused him of tax evasion.

The player is reportedly unhappy with Real Madrid for how handled the situation after the accusion by authorities.

It was also claimed the the Portugal international – who recently announced his new twins – asked agent Jorge Mendes to seal a move back to Manchester United.

Ronaldo never told Real Madrid he wants to join Manchester United

After Portugal lost in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup, the 32-year-old went to meet his twins for the first time.

According to Mundo Deportivo, he then met with Madrid officials to discuss hos future.

The Portugal captain later denied ever wanting to leave the Champions League holders this summer.

Ronaldo helped Portugal to the semi final

Real Madrid expect Cristiano Ronaldo to make statement within next seven day

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make a
formal statement regarding his future within
the next week, according to reports.
The Times suggest that Real Madrid are
preparing for their star player to clarify his
situation.
It will end weeks of
uncertainty
surrounding the four-
time Ballon d’Or
winner.
It emerged last month
Ronaldo was unhappy
at Real Madrid and
was angling for a
move away after he became embroiled in a
tax fraud scandal. The Portugal international
felt the club did not offer him enough
support over claims he swindled tax
officials – a charge he vigorously denies.
In addition he’s thought to have grown
frustrated with supporters who are quick to
turn on him despite his outrageous
contribution to the team since joining in
2009.
It led to suggestions he could make a
sensational return to Manchester United,
while Paris St Germain and Chelsea have
also been linked with the four-time
Champions League winner.
However it would seem Ronaldo has
decided to remain at the Bernabeu.
Having been given permission to leave the
Confederations Cup early and miss today’s
third-place play-off Ronaldo returned to
Madrid. While there he held brief
discussions with Real Madrid officials.
According to Marca, the mouthpiece of the
club, he gave assurances that his
immediate future is at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo then travelled to the United States
to be united with his newly born twins.

It’s possible the two new additions to the
Ronaldo family may have swayed his
decision to remain in Madrid as he looks to
provide a stable home situation.
Everything should become clear over the
next week with one of the biggest transfer
sagas of the summer coming to an end.