Villa: Barcelona director of football Andoni Zubizarreta has rejected reports linking David Villa with a move away from the Nou Camp in January. Villa has been linked with a possible move to England with Arsenal. “In January we will keep Villa and it is important to remember that Barcelona is a club that habitually does not accept offers for star players in Janaury,” Andoni Zubizarreta said.
Landreau: France international keeper Mickael Landreau, who left Lille this month after falling out with manager Rudi Garcia, has signed a six month contract with Bastia yesterday. Landreau became available after telling Lille he wanted out of his contract which ran until 2014. He left the former French champions on December 6. Lille’s management and in particular Garcia had become unhappy with the player’s outspoken behaviour in the locker room and media.
Congo: Two uncapped forwards from teams in the English Championship have been included in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s preliminary squad for next month’s African Nations Cup finals in South Africa. Yannick Bolaise (Crystal Palace) and Gabriel Zakuani (Peterborough United) were named in coach Claude Le Roy’s 28-man squad announced by the Congolese Football Federation yesterday.
Pinto: Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto has agreed a contract extension with the Primera Liga leaders. Pinto, the long-term back-up to Victor Valdes, has agreed a new deal until June 30 2014 and will put pen to paper “over the next few weeks”, the club confirmed. The 37-year-old joined Barca on loan from Celta Vigo in 2008 before agreeing a permanent deal the following season.