Josep Guardiola has refused to be drawn on speculation linking Barcelona with Premier League stars Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Reports claim the Nou Camp boss is interested in both Chelsea's Drogba and Arsenal striker Adebayor in a bid to strengthen his side further ahead of his first campaign in the hotseat.

But Guardiola was remaining tight-lipped after watching Barca cruise to a 6-0 friendly win over Hibernian at Murrayfield in his first game in charge on Thursday night.

"I'm not here to speak about them," he said.

"I have many excellent players and I am working with them. All good players are interesting and those players are interesting but there are many, many good players, in England, Germany, everywhere."

Asked whether he was preparing to make a bid, Guardiola added: "I don't know. The sporting director can talk about that better than me."

Eidur Gudjohnsen helped himself to a double and Lionel Messi, Pedro, Bojan and Yaya Toure all claimed a goal apiece in a game where Messi stole the show in the 45 minutes he was on the park.

Guardiola is now seeking a quick resolution over the Argentinian's participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer - a move Barcelona are opposed to.

He said: "(FIFA president Sepp) Blatter has to make a decision because we have been waiting a long time for the decision.

"If he has to go according to the law, he goes. If he is to stay according to the law, he stays."

"But a decision had to be made as quickly as possible."

Toure Yaya signs FC Barcelona contract to keep him at Camp Nou till the year 2011 with a 90 Million Euro buy-out clause.


Toure Yaya made history as the first Ivorien to join FC Barcelona, after the 24-year old midfielder signed for the Catalan giants in a four year deal worth around 9 Million Euros, with outstanding, performance based payments of around 3 Million Euros to be paid later to his former club, Metarlurg Donetsk of Ukraine, who jointly owned Yaya along with AS Monaco of France before the move to FC Barcelona.
Toure, who said he will like be known not as Yaya Toure, but rather as Toure Yaya, explained his change of name was a private decision taken after discussion with his wife. Thus, accordingly, the name Toure Yaya was boldly printed on his Number 17 jersey, which he will be wearing at Barca. Toure Yaya will also not be playing under the non-EU quota at Barcelona, since the Ivorien is due for EU citizenhip in a few weeks.

Yaya had made no reservations about his intentions to play for Barcelona, saying:

I am very happy to play for Barcelona. I will give my best to Barca as this is a dream come true. I really wanted to play for barcelona and now I have the opportunity to do so. I know this comes with a lot of expectations and challenges, and I am ready to meet the challenges ahead. I am prepared to play and to impress. Barcelona play great football and this attracts any good player. I want to be a part of this and to play quality football.

FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta was satisfied with the signing and expressed confidence in Yaya's ability:

Toure is one of those players that it is essential for a good club to have. He has a great on-the-field presence, is physically strong and technically superb. He has everything required to become a key player for a great team like Barcelona.

Supporting Laporta's comments, FC Barcelona Technical Secretary, Txiki Begiristain, who had been tracking Yaya since the Ivorien's days at Greek Club, Olympiakos, said:

He is strong, hard, difficult to beat and has great distribution.

Txiki also enthused that Yaya, who has been often compared to both Patrick Vieira and Julio Baptista, should be assessed on his own merits and standards,saying:

Yaya is a player in the mould of Vieira, but I would ask for comparisons not to be drawn as that only adds more pressure. He is the ideal link to strengthen the current imbalance between the defence and the attack.

After the contract signing and press conference, Toure Yaya went out to meet the FC barcelona fans, acknowldging loud cheers from the excited fans who within just two days, came out again to cheer Barca's second signing after the landing of Thierry Henry from Arsenal FC.

Yaya Toure passes medical, is now a Blaugrana and ready for presentation.


AS Monaco star midfielder, Yaya Gnegneri Toure has joined former Monaco player, Thierry Henry in FC Barcelona after the Ivorien sealed his transfer deal with Barca. The deal is reportedly worth 12 Million Euros. Toure has already passed the medical examination at Camp Nou and agreed to personal terms of contract with the Barca management.
The 24 year-old power player who is the younger brother of Arsenal strongman, Kolo Toure will soon be presented to the FC Barcelona fans and to the press.

Camp Nou and the entire Spanish media are still engulfed in the frenzy surrounding the signing of high profile striker, Thierry Henry from English Premiership clubside, Arsenal FC.


Yaya completes the second of five top players on the FC Barcelona incoming players transfer list ahead of next season's super squad presentation and campaign.


Watch some Magnificient football and goals from Yaya Toure below:

Yaya Toure in town to ensure he wears the Blaugrana jersey next season.


AS Monaco strongman, Yaya Toure has flown into Barcelona, arriving El Prat airport to complete his transfer from the French club to FC Barcelona.
Toure cut short his holiday in La Cote 'd Ivoire, his home country, to be at Camp Nou.

On arrival, Yaya was in very high spirit as he was all smiles and wasted no time in repeating what he had always said before now:

It is a great opportunity for me because Barça is one of the best clubs in the world. It is a huge step for me to come to Barcelona. I think they play great football in the Spanish League, and Barça play really well. Barcelona is one of the best clubs in the world and I want to play for Barça.

Toure will conclude talks with FC Barcelona offcials, after which the Monaco star will undergo medical examination and then be unveiled to the fans as an FC Barcelona player in a colourful presentation ceremony.

Yaya Toure, who is always outstanding and unmistakable in the football pitch due to his vigour and energy-intensive display, arrived Belgium in 2001 from home club, ASEC Mimosas and played for KSK Beveren. Yaya later left Belgium and went to Ukraine where he settled down and got into contract with Metalurg Donestk as a player who later became indispensable to the Club. Higher demands for the Ivorien's skills came calling and Metalurg had to let go of the Central midfield ace who was bought by Greek club Olympiakos in 2005, but didn't last too long there as limelight came calling and he was eventually snapped by French Stalwarts, AS Monaco only last year. Now, the midfielder is on the move again, this time to Camp Nou.


Yaya has been sought by many clubs in the English Premiership which reportedly include Manchester united, Chelsea and Everton, while he has also been linked with AC Milan. Toure prefers Barcelona and will fit well into Barca's scheme of affairs as his playing pattern will definitely cover up any lapses in Barca's defensive midfield position.

Yaya Toure's deal is almost done. The Ivorien may be flying into Barcelona this week.


After completing the Thierry Henry deal, the second of the top five players on the cards of FC Barcelona, Yaya Toure of AS Monaco is expected to complete his transfer to Barca this week.
Yaya's agent, Dimitri Selluyk, spoke with very close certainty that the Ivorien defensive midfielder will be Barcelona player this week, as talks have already reached a very advanced stage. Selluyk says:

If things continue the way they're going, Toure will play for Barcelona next season. The two parties have almost reached an official agreement.

Sellyuk also revealed that he will be meeting with FC Barcelona Technical Director, Txiki Begiristain to formalise issues and conclude Toure's contract.

Yaya Toure himself is expected to cut short his West African holiday vacation and be in Barcelona from his country, La Cote 'd Ivoire anytime soon as he will be presented to the press once the official contract is sealed after a possible payment of 12 Million Euros by FC Barcelona for the very strong and athletic player.


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