Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal refuses to comment on Neymar rumours

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has refused to comment on speculation the club are in about a bid for Barcelona star Neymar.

Rumours surfaced on Friday night about the Red Devils’ interest in the player and after a 0-0 draw, where they lacked firepower, the Dutchman was questioned about his interest in the play.

Van Gaal though was adamant he would not talk about any transfer talk.

“I don’t enter into this discussion,” he said.

“You can ask about all the players in the world and you are doing it in every press conference and in everyone I have to say the same.

“I have to protect the interest of Manchester United. I have to protect the players in my selection. I have to protect the people in my organisation and you can say anything, you can mention any player but I can’t answer these questions.

“I know your problem because the media wants to know but I cannot say anything.”

And then when asked if he would be looking at signing any forwards at all, he replied: “No, because three times we were the better team.”

Chelsea sign Pedro from Barcelona on long-term deal

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Chelsea have completed the signing of Spain international forward Pedro.

The World Cup winner was given the green light to join Jose Mourinho’s side after the Blues agreed a £21.4million deal with Barcelona.

He has now signed a long-term contract with the Premier League champions after undergoing a successful medical at the club’s training ground on Thursday afternoon.

"I am very happy to be here," he told Chelsea's official website. 

"I am very excited to start my adventure at Chelsea and I am here to keep winning titles.

"Thanks to the club and the supporters for giving me the opportunity to put the blue shirt on."

Pedro had been a top target for Manchester United, with their executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward holding talks with Barca chiefs earlier this week over a deal.

But Chelsea made a late move for the 28-year-old and acted quickly to wrap up a deal ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Pedro will have some familiar faces at Stamford Bridge in fellow Spain internationals Cesc Fabregas, Cesar Azpilicueta and Diego Costa.

Manchester City sign Nicolas Otamendi on a five-year deal

Tags:Manchester City have completed the signing of defender Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia.

The 27-year-old Argentina international is understood to have cost the Premier Leagueside £28.5million and has penned a five-year contract.

Otamendi will bolster central defensive ranks at City that include two familiar faces in former Portoteam-mate Eliaquim Mangala and international colleague Martin Demichelis, as well as captainVincent Kompany.

He will wear the number 30 shirt at the Etihad Stadium and is the third addition to Manuel Pellegrini's squad this summer, following deals for Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph.

Otamendi said: “I am here to give my best, to fight game by game and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible, and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles. 

"That’s the most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.”

Otamendi joined Valencia from Porto in 2014 for a fee of around €12million and made 25 league appearances last season, scoring six goals, to help Los Che finish fourth in La Liga.

He has won 25 caps for Argentina and was part of the squad, alongside new City teammates Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta, which reached the Copa America final this summer.

Pellegrini added: “Nicolas Otamendi was arguably the best defender in La Liga last season and so naturally I’m delighted to have added a player of his quality.

“He is an established international for one of the best nations in world football and I have no doubt that he has the right mentality to fit into a squad where he will find many familiar faces, including Eliaquim and Fernando who he played alongside in Portugal.

“As a footballer, Nicolas has all of the qualities to be a success in the Premier League – he’s strong, he’s excellent in the tackle and he’s very good technically.

“I am sure he will become another Argentine player our fans will enjoy watching.”

Done deal, Utd stunned over Pedro's choice of Chelsea

Chelsea have stunned Manchester United by sealing a deal for Barcelona forward Pedro.

United have been chasing the World Cup winner all summer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been in advanced talks with the Spanish club this week over a deal.

However, Woodward's reluctance to meet Pedro's £22million buy-out clause opened the door for Chelsea to make a late move.

And the Premier League champions have moved quickly to wrap up a deal after agreeing to pay the £22m fee.

The 28-year-old has already agreed personal terms with Jose Mourinho's side and is in London to undergo a medical before putting pen-to-paper.

Losing out on Pedro's signature to their Premier League rivals will come as a huge blow to United boss Louis van Gaal.

Van Gaal had targeted the Spain international as the ideal replacement for Angel di Maria, but will now have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

Man United chief executive Ed Woodward flies to Spain to finalise £22m deal for Pedro

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has travelled to Spain to try and complete a deal for Barcelona forward Pedro, according to the Daily Mail.

The Spain attacker, who has won every club and international honour in the game, has a £22m buyout clause, which the Red Devils look set to trigger.

Any potential deal appeared to have slowed last week due to emerging interest from Premier League champions Chelsea, but Woodward looks to have flown to Barcelona ahead of their Spanish Super Cup second leg to finalise the move.

Pedro struggled for first-team action last season as the devastating trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar proved impregnable, and is known to be seeking a new challenge in England.

He is a like-for-like replacement for Angel di Maria, who ended his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford by moving to Paris Saint-Germain last month.

It is also reported that Woodward will take the opportunity to cast his eye over Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte, with the Basque side leading the European Champions 4-0 from the first leg.

Sergio Ramos: My heart and head is with Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos has denied claims he wanted to leave Real Madrid this summer, with the defender insisting it was always his plan to retire at the famous club.

The defender was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United this summer, but ended one of the summer’s most high profile transfer sagas by signing a new five-year contract with at the Bernabeu on Monday.

Reports from Spain had previously suggested Ramos was keen to leave the La Liga giants having become frustrated by life under an intense spotlight from media and fans.

But the Los Blancos captain is adamant there was no truth in the claims and that he never wanted to leave Real Madrid.

"I know this renewal has taken a while but my heart and head have always been with Real Madrid so I couldn't be happier," he said in a press conference.

"I've never spoken about my renewal. With a contract that had two years to go, whatever the press want to say I respect but the reality is a bit different.

"My idea was to always be here and I always wanted to retire here if the president would allow it, and I'm thankful I have a new challenge to be the captain of this team. The priority is always Real Madrid, keeping our fans happy and winning titles.

"I'm being honest I never said I wanted to leave, I was quiet. I never said anything out of respect for my team-mates and the president, I never rang the office to ask for more money. I'm just very happy that I have renewed and I want to stay here for the rest of my career.

"At the end of the day I have been here almost my whole life. My first year was in Sevilla and the rest of my life has been here, that is sufficient motive to want to stay. There is nothing like this institution. My own happiness is the priority, in the end that was fundamental."

United were reportedly ready to offer Ramos a pay rise in a bid to lure him to Old Trafford after he was identified as one of Louis van Gaal's main transfer targets.

But, having been a Real Madrid player for a decade, the former Sevilla youngster said money is not his main concern.

"Honestly, if it was an economic decision I wouldn't have stayed," he said.

"It wasn't a question of money. There were personal and professional things that I needed to organise and that is all sorted.

"It is reality that I wasn't happy in certain ways. I never said I wanted to leave but I spoke to the people I needed to speak to and couldn't continue how I was. Those personal things were nothing to do with money.

"The economic situation, the president and I solved that in five minutes. There were other things to talk about - past, present and future. Now everything is cleared up I'm excited to get everyone together and try and win. Everything is cleared up now, I'm very happy to be here."

Ramos added that he is counting on the continued support of the club's fans now that his protracted contract talks have come to a satisfactory conclusion.

"I think they will always receive me with the same affection they always have," he said, when asked what sort of reaction he expected from the supporters.

"I have never felt anything untoward in this stadium and as long as the fans love me that is one of the important things that helped me to stay.

"The fans will always ask a lot of you but the footballers of Real Madrid know we have pressure and responsibility, and I hope I will have the same affection I have always had."