CHELSEA BATTLE MAN CITY FOR £8m "NEW RONALDO"

Jose Mourinho had asked the Blues to fund a bid for the player, having courted the 18-year-old during his time in charge of Real Madrid. However, Manchester City continue to pursue the teenager, with Sporting Lisbon wanting £8million plus add-ons for the Portugal U20 international. Bruma’s contract expires next summer though, and interested parties are sensing an opportunity to negotiate

Ice Prince, Hollywood and Africa

MARKO MARIN TO JOIN SEVILLA ON LOAN

The 24-year-old German, who signed from Werder Bremen for £7m last summer but missed the start of the season through injury, made just 16 appearances.
Marin's first-team chances might have been further limited by the arrival of Andre Schurrle From Bayern Leverkusen.
The loan deal is "subject to the completion of legal documentation and a medical", said a Chelsea statement

INIESTA SAVES FORMER CLUB

Andres Iniesta has come to the rescue of his hometown club Albacete by handing them a loan of over £200,000.
The Barcelona midfielder, used to showing his class on the field, has shown it off the field this time by dipping into his own pocket for the club where he was a youth team player.
Iniesta is a shareholder at the club, and the money he has put in will pay off the outstanding wages the club owes to its players.
Even more importantly, it has prevented the club from administrative relegation to Spain's fourth tier.
The deadline for the payment was Thursday night, and Iniesta's money has saved the club.
It's not the first time the 29-year-old has dug deep into his pocket, as in 2011 he injected over £300,000 into the club.

ROONEY SET ON LEAVING UNITED

David Moyes will walk straight into a searching test of his man-management skills next week after it emerged Wayne Rooney is still angling to leave Old Trafford.
The former Everton manager’s Manchester United reign officially begins on Monday and he was hoping to launch it in style by persuading Rooney to forget

MARTINEZ TO BRING IN FORMER CLUB STAFF

Roberto Martinez is likely to have his backroom staff selected by the time he begins work at Everton next week, with his assistant from Wigan, Graeme Jones, set to be among the coaching ranks.
Assistant manager Steve Round, coach Jimmy Lumsden and goalkeeping coach Chris Woods all appear set to follow David Moyes to Manchester United.

FC BARCELONA FACE SANTOS FC IN GAMPER TROPHY

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The 2013 Gamper trophy will see the catalans Fc Barcelona face Santos FC holders of the Recopa Sudamericana and 16th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A on August 2 at 21.30. A statement by Fc Barcelona: ”Santos’ participation in the Joan Gamper Trophy was agreed upon when Barça signed the Brazilian forward. In addition to the friendly this summer, Barça and Santos will play another friendly in Brazil, the date and time of the match has yet to be determined.”