Bayern's Guardiola keen on Alcantara
Source: Agencies |
July 12, 2013, Friday
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BAYERN Munich coach Pep Guardiola yesterday confirmed the European champion's interest in Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
Spanish media had already linked the 22-year-old Alcantara to the Champions League winner and former Barcelona coach Guardiola has admitted he has asked the Bavarian giant to sign the midfielder.
"Yes, I want Thiago Alcantara, I have asked (Bayern to get him)," said Guardiola at Bayern's preseason training camp in north Italy.
"I know him very, very well. He's a great player and can cover three, four, five positions.
"I have talked to (chairman Karl-Heinz) Rummenigge and (director of sport Matthias) Sammer, we will have to wait and see.
"Thiago is the only player I want, it will be him or no one."
Both Manchester United and Real Madrid have been linked with Alcantara, who has a market value of around 20 million euros (US$26 million) and has a contract at Barcelona until June 2015.
Midfield stars
Bayern already has several midfield stars with Germany's Mario Goetze signed from Borussia Dortmund, plus Dutch Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery of France, and Germans Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri vying for places.
"I don't think adding another midfielder will be a problem for us," said Guardiola.
Meanwhile, English Premier League club Swansea has broken its transfer record to sign striker Wilfried Bony from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for 12 million pounds (US$18 million).
The Ivory Coast international, 24, has signed a four-year deal with the south Wales side, which is in the Europa League next season after winning the English League Cup.
Bony's transfer fee more than doubles Swansea's previous record outlay of 5.5 million pounds paid to Valencia for Pablo Hernandez last year.
Swansea also splashed out 5 million pounds last week on prising midfielder Jonjo Shelvey from Liverpool.
Spanish media had already linked the 22-year-old Alcantara to the Champions League winner and former Barcelona coach Guardiola has admitted he has asked the Bavarian giant to sign the midfielder.
"Yes, I want Thiago Alcantara, I have asked (Bayern to get him)," said Guardiola at Bayern's preseason training camp in north Italy.
"I know him very, very well. He's a great player and can cover three, four, five positions.
"I have talked to (chairman Karl-Heinz) Rummenigge and (director of sport Matthias) Sammer, we will have to wait and see.
"Thiago is the only player I want, it will be him or no one."
Both Manchester United and Real Madrid have been linked with Alcantara, who has a market value of around 20 million euros (US$26 million) and has a contract at Barcelona until June 2015.
Midfield stars
Bayern already has several midfield stars with Germany's Mario Goetze signed from Borussia Dortmund, plus Dutch Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery of France, and Germans Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri vying for places.
"I don't think adding another midfielder will be a problem for us," said Guardiola.
Meanwhile, English Premier League club Swansea has broken its transfer record to sign striker Wilfried Bony from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for 12 million pounds (US$18 million).
The Ivory Coast international, 24, has signed a four-year deal with the south Wales side, which is in the Europa League next season after winning the English League Cup.
Bony's transfer fee more than doubles Swansea's previous record outlay of 5.5 million pounds paid to Valencia for Pablo Hernandez last year.
Swansea also splashed out 5 million pounds last week on prising midfielder Jonjo Shelvey from Liverpool.
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