Messi: "I Want To Lead Argentina To World Cup Glory."

Lionel Messi has promised to repeat the performances he showed throughout the season at Barcelona on the biggest stage to help bring the world cup home to Argentina.

The playmaker, who will turn 23 during the tournament, has been hailed as the best player in the world after a magnificent season with the Catalan club, scoring 47 goals in all competitions, but has failed to deliver for the national side.

Talking to The Sun, Messi stated, "I am confident and convinced that I will repeat my performances for Barca for my country during the World Cup.

"My dream is to lead Argentina to glory in South Africa. I hope we will do well and, as an individual, to be able to play as I do for my club Barcelona and become a champion."

Diego Maradona’s side manged to scrape through to the finals after a 1-0 win over Uruguay, but Messi continued by saying, "We struggled in the qualifiers because they are complicated.

"We had to play a few games away at the start where it is always difficult and we also had the change of a manager when Diego Maradona took over midway through the qualifiers.

"But qualifying made us stronger and made us determined to show that in the World Cup it won't be the same as in the qualifiers."

Manchester City Want Dani Alves

Manchester City have asked Barcelona to name their price for right back Daniel Alves, according to AS.

Roberto Mancini's side were snubbed by Inter Milan's Maicon this week when he rejected a proposed move, and they have now moved for his Brazilian international understudy. City are understood to have made the request during negotiations to bring Yaya Toure to the club.

Alves, 27, has been instrumental down Barca's right flank since moving for £28 million from Sevilla in 2008. His contract runs for two more years but no talks have been scheduled yet to extend the deal which has left the door open to the richest team in the world.

The Brazilian is one the best performing players in European football, as shown by his current 14th place in the Castrol Rankings. He sits comfortably ahead of Maicon, who is 86th despite winning the treble with Inter Milan this season.

Toure's Agent Says Arsenal Interested In Making Frabregas Switch

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure could be used as a makeweight in a deal that would see the Ivorian swap clubs with Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas.

Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk claims his client, who has long been linked with a move to the Premier League with either Manchester City and Manchester United, would be happy to move to Arsenal.

Following on from last week when Arsenal reportedly rejected a £29million offer from Barcelona for Fabregas, the Catalan club have decided to strengthen their hand with the addition of Toure.

Seluk has previously revealed that a move to the Premier League was all but a done deal and hinted Toure was set for a move to Eastlands, something he now feels can be changed.

Speaking to Rac-1 Seluk said: "There's a lot of interest in the deal [for Toure], Arsene Wenger likes him and Arsenal are interested. If the conditions are good, everything can be finished soon.

"He could come into the Cesc deal and Barca and Arsenal are struggling to come to an agreement. Everything has changed with City, because they talk a lot but then afterwards they don't appear to be a rich club but rather a bankrupt one."

Barca confirmed today they had slapped a €35m price-tag on Toure, something which Seluk last week insisted was too high.

Toure was a key member of the Barca side that lifted six trophies in 2009 and he extended his stay at the Nou Camp only last summer, but he appeared to fall out of favour under Josep Guardiola in the latter part of the season.

Barca president Joan Laporta is resigned to letting Toure go, and feels Arsenal must be prepared to do the same with Fabregas, something which he has previously made no secret of wanting to happen.

Robinho Interested In Joining Barcelona

Manchester City attacking-midfielder Robinho has revealed that the idea of a swap deal involving him and Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic interests him.

Robinho was loaned out to boyhood club Santos in January to help him regain his form, after a series of poor performances for the Manchester side, and the club are now looking to offload him but want a deal which would see them recoup most of the £32.5 million they paid for him back in August 2008.

Barcelona’s Swedish striker Ibrahimovic had a poor debut season in Spain, despite scoring 16 goals in 29 appearances, wasting many opportunities, and was dropped by manager Josep Guardiola near the end of the season.

Barcelona are rumoured to be open to offers of around £30m for a player for whom they paid £40m last summer (plus the £16m-rated Samuel Eto'o).

The Catalan club have since paid Valencia £32m for Spanish international David Villa so, as the current La Liga champions tend to play with a lone striker, the Swede may find first-team chances limited next season.

Robinho, meanwhile, is desperate to leave Manchester City now they have failed to clinch Champions League football next season, and the Brazilian’s representative Evandro de Souza has confirmed that his player is likely to leave Eastlands sooner rather than later.

"Robinho's relationship with the leaders of Manchester City is very good, although it is true that there are some problems with [Manchester City manager] Roberto Mancini," he told Spanish daily newspaper Sport.

"The stay at Santos was perfect for the World Cup. If you have a good tournament, it will open the doors of the big European clubs, including Barcelona.

"Any player in the world would love to play at a club like Barca."

The chances of the rumoured transfer going ahead are helped by the fact that current City boss Roberto Mancini has previously worked with Ibrahimovic, bringing him to Inter Milan for just over £20m in 2006.

Barcelona are reported to value Ibrahimovic at £45m, so any deal would presumably include Robinho plus cash.

Robinho scored twice for Brazil on Monday as they beat Tanzania 5-1.

Ibra For Torres?

Barcelona are reportedly weighing up the merits of a move for Liverpool hot-shot Fernando Torres.

The Spain international's future at Anfield looks to be the subject of much speculation after seeing compatriot Rafael Benitez depart the club on Thursday following a disappointing season with the Reds that saw them finish seventh in the Premier League.

Barcelona's interest in Torres is not exactly new as the former Atletico Madrid star was already on the Catalan club's agenda last summer, but a transfer never materialised.

Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old striker, who cost Liverpool a fee in the region of £25 million, but it is believed the Blues' preference lies with Barca's Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Atletico forward Sergio Aguero.

News daily Sport claims that, after spending around £32m on signing David Villa from Valencia, Barcelona's move for Torres would always depend on Ibrahimovic being sold first, with the Swedish ace having a £40m price tag.

NO Mascherano Transfer If Fabregas Deal Is Made

Barcelona are set to make a run at Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano — but their move for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas could hinder any prospective deal.

The Catalan giants tried to bring the Argentina international to the Nou Camp last summer, and with Yaya Toure likely to leave in the off-season Barcelona will have to fill the void left at defensive midfield.

However, the Reds will be seeking about £30 million for the Argentine captain, which could test their transfer budget as Arsenal also want over £40m for Fabregas — with the Gunners midfielder the club's main priority.

Selling Toure, who has garnered interest from Chelsea, could earn Barcelona around £20m but with the La Liga champions having already completed a big money move for Valencia striker David Villa it is unlikely that they will be able to sign both Mascherano and Fabregas this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

Mascherano is also on Chelsea’s radar but Liverpool would prefer not to send the 25-year-old to a Premier League rival.

Yaya Toure Prefers Chelsea Transfer

Want-away Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure is believed to favour a move to Chelsea this summer, despite interest from Manchester City and Arsenal.

The 27-year-old, who signed a new contract last season, is ready to quit the Camp Nou after failing to hold down a first-team place last season, according to the Daily Mail.

The Ivorian’s brother, Kolo, currently plays for Manchester City, but the robust defensive midfielder still appears to prefer a move to west London after already ruling himself out of any possible swap deal involving Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas going in the opposite direction.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola and outgoing president Joan Laporta insist Toure is a valued member of the playing staff, but the former Monaco player is not prepared to play second fiddle to Sergio Busquets and the attempted signing of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal could limit his opportunities even further.

Guardiola would like to keep Toure at the Nou Camp, but because of the player’s preference for first-team football, Barcelona could let him leave if the right offer surfaces.

Chelsea were reported to have already had a £17 million bid for the player rejected by the Catalan giants.

Manchester City officials reportedly met with Toure at the end of last week and are said to have also discussed a £17m offer.