Tuesday 5 August 2014 14:07, UK
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has rubbished speculation linking defender Jerome Boateng with a transfer to Barcelona.
Spain's Marca radio suggested the Catalan club were closing in on the Germany defender, an alternative candidate to his compatriot Mats Hummels to reinforce the Primera Division side's defence this season.
Speaking at a press conference in Portland, where Bayern are currently preparing for the new season, Guardiola said there is no truth whatsoever to the story, and that he has no intention of depriving himself of the former Manchester City defender.
"I don't usually say anything about things I read in the newspaper, but I am planning 100 per cent with him here," Guardiola said.
The Bayern coach added that he does not expect club bosses to order him to sell any of his first-choice players either as the Bavarians prepare an assault on a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles this season.
He need not worry about that in the case of Boateng, though, with the club's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge telling the Bild newspaper that the rumours were "laughable".
Boateng joined Bayern from City in 2011 and he extended his contract until 2018 only last December.
