Rosell continues to be favourite for the gamblers

Madrid sports tabloid Marca reports that former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell is for the gamblers at online betting site 'Betfair' still the favourite to be chosen as president of FC Barcelona later this year (read more here).

Rosell was on Friday noted at 1,22 euro for each euro input, with Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall at this moment being seen as his biggest rival, with a rate of 4,00.

Former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano and current Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer are currently ranked third and fourth with rates of respectively 8,00 and 8,22.

The ranking
Sandro Rosell: 1,22
Alfons Godall: 4,00
Ferran Soriano: 8,00
Jaume Ferrer: 8,22
Francesc Mañé: 13,00
Agustí Benedito: 16,00
Jaume Guixà: 16,00

Read more:
Rosell favourite for the gamblers
Poll result: Who will you vote for?
Ferrer feels backed by own poll

Guardiola will push candidates to sign Cesc

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is believed to want all candidates who will run for Barcelona president this year to make Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22) the central player in their transfer strategy and could even be linking his own renewal to the signing of the Catalan player.

A source close to Guardiola is quoted by the tabloid as saying: "There is no way that Guardiola will not sign a new contract and he can almost write out his own terms [...]. But he wants to make sure that [...] there is a commitment to Fabregas. It will be an important signing for them this summer and any new president will want to keep Guardiola happy."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that it's clear to all presidential candidates that the transfer of Cesc, who is said to be together with Bayern Munich player Ribéry Barcelona's transfer priority for the summer, could be a decisive factor in the upcoming presidential elections.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca meanwhile claims that Cesc would be a key player in the project for next season of former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the relationship between Rosell and Cesc is so close that in case the player would leave Arsenal, that would only be to join Rosell's Barcelona.

Read more:
Godall: "I want Cesc to return home"
Benedito denies talks with Mascherano
Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc

Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc

Madrid sports paper Marca claims that Arsenal has put a price tag of 45 million euros on midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22) after the player told Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger that he wants to leave the English Premier League club at the end of the current season.

Several Barcelona presidential candidates would want to sign Cesc, while Real Madrid is said to be willing to pay the asking price. Arsenal reportedly thinks that the sale of Cesc is a way to improve the financial situation of the club that is still weak after the construction of the new Emirates stadium.

Read more:
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Benedito denies talks with Mascherano
Rosell closing in on Cesc

Laporta wanted to replace Rosell by Cruyff

Over the past three days, Paco Gasó, the former bodyguard and driver of Barcelona president Joan Laporta, told his experiences to Madrid sports paper Marca.

Among many other things, Gasó talked about the relation between Laporta and former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell:

"One day, around the beginning of October [2003], we were on the doorstep of Cruyff's house. Txiki, Perrín, Laporta and Johan were there. And Laporta suddenly offered Cruyff the vice-presidency and the responsibility for the sports area.

Cruyff said no, that he was comfortable with his way of living, that if Laporta had any problem he knew who to call, but that he didn't want to complicate his life. He was very happy to be able to pack his bags whenever he wanted and travel around the world.

The scene was an unpleasant surprise for me. In the car I asked him why he had done this. 'Isn't Sandro the sports vice-president and don't people like him?' And he answered me: 'Yes, but God willing - I think he was referring to Cruyff - Sandro will leave soon on his own initiative.'

Those were his exact words and that was after only two months of the first season. And it was from that moment on that the two had a lot of discussions, about a friendly game in Mexico, for example, and about many more issues. Everything Sandro said went in one ear and out the other."

Read more:
Rosell: "The problem is Laporta himself"
Sala: "Rosell was always on the wrong side"

Cesc gives his ok to presidential candidates

Spanish sports paper Marca claims that several people who will take part in the elections for president, one of them being former Barcelona vice-president Sandro Rosell, have contacted the entourage of Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22), who reportedly reacted positively to the question if he wants to join Barcelona next summer.

Cesc would have decided to almost certainly leave Arsenal at the end this season and he could have the permission from Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger to look for another club if Arsenal receives a transfer fee of at least 50 million euros. Real Madrid would be alerted by the latest events and would soon decide if they will enter the race for the Catalan midifielder.

Read more:
Laporta wants Cesc before end of his term
Barcelona wants to tie down Ribery before elections
Rosell sounding out Fernando Torres