Guillem Balague - Sky Sports Expert

Villa for sale

Posted: 25th April 2008 12:42

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David Villa

Villa: future up in the air

David Villa has had a very serious approach from Chelsea and things are developing on that front, but they are not the only team that is interested.

Guillem Balague
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Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks ahead to another weekend of live La Liga action on Sky Sports - and he answers your email.

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here.

Deportivo v Barcelona
Murcia v Sevilla
Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao

Deportivo v Barcelona
7pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra

As we know, Barcelona have only got one target left this season and that's the Champions League.

I get the impression that Manchester United were very clever in the way they approached the game on Wednesday. They realised Barcelona can't score against a team that is very organised defensively, as United were and as Espanyol were earlier in the week.

At the moment, Lionel Messi hasn't got that extra pace that makes him special, Thierry Henry runs out of space which makes him less efficient and Samuel Eto'o seems rushed, lacking in confidence and lacking in the pace that made him one of the best strikers in the world.

He's only scored two goals in the Champions League since Barcelona won the competition two seasons ago. I know he's had injuries in that time, but it suggests he's going through a really bad spell. Some people are even suggesting he's already peaked.

So we will see a team that will still be thinking about Manchester United. I think Henry will start, so will Messi and Eto'o up front with a midfield consisting of Deco, Xavi, Yaya Toure and maybe Andres Iniesta on the bench.

Murcia v Sevilla
9pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra

I think it's clear that Sevilla don't trust Manolo Jimenez any more. His mistake last weekend in replacing Christian Poulsen at half-time and putting on Arouna Kone when one of the centre-backs, Enzo Maresca, was injured, gave the team a lack of shape that Almeria took advantage of.

They will have to go back to basics and try to play football in the simplest possible way as they used to do. It's clear now that Jimenez cannot take the side to the next level and I think Sevilla will approach Almeria's Unai Emery and somebody else to take over next season, now it looks like Marcelinho is going to become the Valencia coach.

Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao
8pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

The only little spot of bother for Real Madrid was to hear Sergio Ramos complaining that the club did not treat him right in terms of trying to rescind yellow cards that were unfair, according to him.

He said the other players didn't back him up and in fact, Ramos has been accused of being a rushed defender. There was a moment when he was sent off against Mallorca when Iker Casillas very clearly called him an idiot, so there is a little bit of tension in the side, but some of that is normal.

But what really made Ramos upset was that Ruud van Nistelrooy, Casillas, Raul and Guti have had their contracts renewed. He had a new deal in 2007, but he thinks that earning 3million euros is not enough and he wants more.

Maybe that's something that will pop up in the future.

Guillem answers your questions...

VILLA FOR SALE
Hi Guillem, As an Arsenal fan, now our season is over I see the transfer rumours flying around, most recently with David Villa's comments about wishing to join. Wenger has stated his admiration for the player but has there been any rumblings from Spain if he's made a move for him? I know he's also been linked to Liverpool but surely he would not fit into their style of play, he's the finisher we need and surely Wenger would not want to miss out like he did with Torres. We also seem to be continually linked with Caceres of Villarreal and Robinho, any news with their situations at the moment? Thanks, Dimitri.

GUILLEM REPLIES: David Villa has had a very serious approach from Chelsea and things are developing on that front, but they are not the only team that is interested.

The player is in no rush, but at this particular moment the most advanced offer that he has is from Chelsea. I think he is also waiting to hear from Real Madrid who showed their interest in him earlier in the season and basically told him to wait for an offer from them before he chooses anybody else.

Caceres, who is on loan at Recreativo, could go back to Villarreal, but Real Madrid are also interested in him. It looks like Robinho will stay at Real Madrid for the moment.

SPANISH YOUNG GUNS
Hi Guillem, I am a big fan of yours and of Revista. My question revolves around young Spanish players coming through at the moment who I've been keeping an eye on. How well do you rate the likes of Granero, De La Red, Sola and Negredo and which players do you see as the ones to watch next season? Finally, as a Liverpool fan I would like to know if there was anything substantial behind the rumours of interest in De La Red? Thanks for your time. Waz, West Midlands

GUILLEM SAYS: Granero on the left-hand side and De La Red, who is a versatile central midfielder, are both good, young developing players. I like De la Red a lot. He's unlike a lot of Spanish midfielders because he's physical and strong, but he's very good technically as well. He's being followed by a lot of English clubs, but Bernd Schuster says he wants both him and Granero back at Real Madrid. While Schuster may want that, Predrag Mijatovic would like to sell De La Red and buy a different type of midfielder. However, I think Schuster may end up having his wish in this one.

De La Red's agent says there has been interest from Liverpool, but every time there is a half-decent Spanish player they always get linked with Liverpool and I get the impression it's another name being used. I don't think there is a chance of him going there.

Sola is one of the new breed of Spanish strikers, like Guiza, Kepa and Negredo. He's a tall striker, a little bit slow maybe, but he can hit the ball very well with both feet and he's a strong lad. He's somebody who will have a couple of years at Osasuna and then move onto the Atletico Madrid kind of level.

I like Negredo a lot. He rushed into signing for Almeria when he could have in fact waited a little bit longer for a bigger club, maybe in England where they like this sort of tall striker. Negredo will end up at a bigger club, but he has a four-year deal with Almeria with one first option for Real Madrid. I wonder if they will apply that option and then sell him on. The fact is he won't be at Almeria for long.

WHO WILL GO FOURTH?
What has happened to Sevilla?! They're usually very comfortable at home but they were thumped by Almeria despite having so much possession and the best of the chances. Do you think that they will make the Champions League places? With Atletico slipping up in the last two games could Santander nick the final place? If Sevilla don't make it will it spell the end for Jimenez who hasn't had a very impressive record since he has took over? Mark O'Rafferty.

GUILLEM REPLIES: I do feel that Sevilla are going to get into the top four. I say that because Atletico Madrid seem so mentally weak. They are going to change the coach next year - Javier Aguirre will not be the coach, even though he gets an automatic renewal of his contract if they qualify for Europe. I get the impression that Quique Sanchez Flores, the former Valencia coach, will get the Atletico job.

All those changes of direction do not affect the side, but some of the players have been disappointing. Simao, Jose Reyes and Maxi have not played well and only Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero have performed at the right level.

Sevilla, on the other hand, despite their hiccups and their ups and downs, have got it within them to qualify for the Champions League despite the fact they are running out of games to pick up points.

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here

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