Johan Cruyff Urges Barcelona To Sign Fabregas

Dutch and Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has insisted that Barcelona should pull out all the stops to sign Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, for sometime the Catalans have been unsuccessful in persuading the Spaniard to return the club.

The Catalans are eager to add to their ranks this summer and have been linked with players such as Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi and Udinese attacker Alexis Sanchez.

Cruyff believes signing the Gunners star, 24, would mean midfield stars Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi can be kept fresher during the season.

Johan Cruyff said; "If Cesc signs there will be four players for three places, which means all of them can share out a lot of games.

"There comes a stage in the season when everything is at stake but the team is out of gas.
"As good as the Barca players are - and they are good - there comes a time where they've played too many games.

"You need players not only to strengthen competition but also to move things around without upsetting the team's rhythm."

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Xavi Hails Barcelona As The Greatest Team For 20 Years

Barcelona playmaker Xavi has insisted that the European Champions are the best team of the last 20 years and hailed Lionel Messi as the best player of all time.

"There have been some great teams in history, Pele's Brazil, (Johan) Cruyff's Ajax, (Arrigo) Sacchi's Milan but in the past 20 years this Barcelona team is the best," he told Bild.

On Messi, he added: "He is the best player of all time - better than Pele, Maradona or Cruyff. We have to protect him as he is crucial.

"Without him we would not be what we are."

Barcelona has swept away every team that have come up against this season, including the dismantling of Manchester United in the Champions League final.

Xavi, though, was critical of the approach adopted by Jose Mourinho's men throughout the season.
He said: "Madrid were the hardest opponents but not because they played football but because they wanted to destroy the game.

"I like Manchester United's approach a thousand times better. It would be interesting to see what would happen if Real did play."

Speculation prior to the Wembley showpiece suggested coach Pep Guardiola was on the verge of standing down but Xavi hopes the former Barcelona midfielder "stays forever".

He added: "He (Guardiola) is very intelligent, very enthusiastic and very 'Barcelona-ish'.

"He is a great coach and I hope he stays forever, if not as coach then as sporting director or president."

Lionel Messi Wins Ballon d'or Award

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d'Or trophy at a ceremony in Zurich tonight.

Messi, 23, won the prize - a combined trophy of the Fifa Player of the Year prize and Ballon d'Or, Messi beat his Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xav to win the award.

"I'm surprised to win but pleased to be here with my friends," said Messi, who won the two separate awards last year.

Jose Mourinho, who won an unprecedented Treble with Inter Milan in 2010, was named the Coach of the Year.

Messi added: "To win it makes it even more special. I want to share it with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."