Gerard Pique has leapt to the defence of Barcelona team-mate Xavi in the wake of Arsene Wenger's recent blast.

Xavi incurred the wrath of the Arsenal manager after insinuating that Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas was unhappy with life at the Emirates.

The Spain international has regularly claimed that his fellow midfielder wishes to return to his Catalan roots by securing a switch to Barca.

Such a deal has been touted again this summer, but as yet no agreement has been reached.

Wenger has no plans on parting with his talismanic skipper and is growing tired at having to discuss the issue.
Respect

He is also growing increasingly frustrated at having to respond to comments being made by Barca players.

Pique admits he may be time for the issue to be put to one side, but has signed off by adding his voice to those calling on Arsenal to open transfer talks.

"Barcelona and its players have always spoken with respect," he told Sport.

"Any player would suffer when there is so much talk about his future and when you don't know where you will play next term. It's not disrespectful to say this out loud.

"I know what the situation is like. We should leave Cesc alone and show patience. There's still plenty of time to complete his proposed transfer. It doesn't help to talk about it all the time."

Striker Jozy Altidore is on the brink of completing a move to AZ Alkmaar, and technical director Earnest Stewart insists a loan deal is not an option.

The USA international appears set to leave Villarreal for the Netherlands after reaching a verbal agreement with AZ.

Altidore, who has struggled to make an impact in Spain, confirmed via his Twitter account that he is poised to join the Eredivisie side.

He wrote: "To all my amazing fans, I have indeed agreed to terms to join AZ In Holland!"
Permanent

Altidore has spent time on loan at Hull City, Xerez and Bursaspor after failing to establish himself at Villarreal since joining from New York Red Bulls in 2008.

But Stewart has confirmed the 21-year-old's move to AZ will be a permanent one, insisting a loan deal was never on the cards.

"A loan was not an option," Stewart told Noordhollands Dagblad. "That does not fit with our philosophy.

"We want to attract young players and facilitate them in training in the hope that they later produce something."

Stewart admits AZ have been monitoring Altidore for some time, but says the option to buy had not materialised until now.

"He's been on our radar for two, three years," he added. "But then it was not possible to get him because he was sold to Villarreal for $10million (£6.2m).

"Now a possibility has presented itself."

Defender Antonio Amaya has joined La Liga outfit Real Betis from Wigan for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old joined the Latics on the eve of the 2009/10 campaign from Rayo Vallecano.

Amaya scored on his debut in a Carling Cup defeat to Blackpool but failed to force his way into the first-team picture at the DW Stadium.

The defender failed to make single Premier League appearance for the Latics, making just two further outings in the FA Cup, before re-joining Rayo Vallecano on a season-long loan last summer.

There he helped the club earn promotion back to La Liga with a second place finish in Segunda Division.

However, it is rivals Real Betis, who finished top of Segunda Division, who have swooped to take Amaya back to Spain on a permanent basis, with the defender penning a three-year deal at Estadio Benito Villamarín.

Arsenal target Marek Hamsik is expected to stay at Napoli, according to his coach Walter Mazzarri.

The Serie A outfit are reluctant to let the influential 23-year-old leave, with president Aurelio De Laurentiis even going as far as slapping a 100million euros price-tag on the midfielder.

Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Hamsik, who is seen as an ideal replacement for Cesc Fabregas should the Spaniard return to Barcelona.

Serie A champions AC Milan are also rumoured to be interested in the highly-rated Slovakia international, who has four years remaining on his contract.

However, following talks with the player, coach Mazzarri is confident he will stay at the Stadio San Paolo, with the club preparing to play in this season's UEFA Champions League.

"Marek is happy to work with me and he is very motivated. He is happy to remain here," Mazzarri told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I have spoken to him and from what I know, in the end he will not leave."

Sir Alex Ferguson says it is time to forget about Manchester United signing Inter Milan ace Wesley Sneijder.

Even though Ferguson denied having any current interest in the Holland midfielder on Thursday, there has still been plenty of speculation about a deal, including a claim that shirt manufacturers Nike may get involved to push it through.

However, when asked about Sneijder in Seattle on Sunday, Ferguson's response was blunt.

"Forget it," he said. "We are looking at some things but I am not so sure Sneijder will be easy to get."
Quality

United have been linked with various other targets this summer, but quality control at a side that has won four Premier League titles out of the past five and reached three UEFA Champions League finals in four attempts means most are dismissed as a waste of time.

"I could pick three or four players to come in but they wouldn't be good enough for us so there is no point," added Ferguson.

The future of United striker Dimitar Berbatov remains uncertain after Ferguson failed to find a place for him on the bench to face Barcelona in the Champions League final in May.

However, the United manager has not detected any lingering issues from a situation he feels is more commonplace now due to the massive squads big clubs have to operate with.

"Forget it. We are looking at some things but I am not so sure Sneijder will be easy to get."
Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes of the week

"Dimitar is fine," said Ferguson. "There is no problem. He has trained very hard.

"He was disappointed to be left out of the final but I was disappointed myself having to tell him.

"But that is the problem in football today. You get to the big games and you are not just disappointing one player, you are disappointing six or seven."

United ultimately lost out on European glory to Barcelona last season, and their clinical defeat in the final has been the subject of much analysis this summer, but Ferguson is preparing to send them on a Champions League revenge mission.
Challenge

And the manager is refusing to write his side off as inferior, adding: "Barcelona are the team of the moment.

"But it is not the kind of thing that makes you think 'let's not bother with European football any more, we are never going to beat Barcelona'.

"Manchester United are bigger than that. We have a better philosophy than that.

"The challenge will be can we improve enough to get to the final next season - and win?"

AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has fuelled speculation surrounding Riccardo Montolivo's proposed move to the San Siro.

The Fiorentina midfielder is believed to be keen on a move to the Serie A champions, and Viola's director of football Pantaleo Corvino has previously admitted a move is on the cards.

Montolivo has just one year remaining on his contract, with Fiorentina prepared to offload the Italy international this summer to avoid missing out on a fee next year.

And Allegri is encouraged by the situation: "He's a player of the national team, an important player who did really good things even though in the last year he's had ankle problems.

"He's one of the strongest midfielders there are in Italy. He's a player for a big side."

Asked if a deal could see Antonio Cassano move in the opposite direction, Allegri promptly dismissed any such proposal.

"Cassano won't move, he remains here," he insisted.

Fiorentina's Valon Behrami hopes Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani will join him at the Serie A club.

Aquilani's future is uncertain after being linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, having spent last season on loan at Juventus.

Juve were not interested in signing the Italy international permanently but their Italian rivals, Fiorentina, are thought to be chasing his signature.

Reds owner John Henry hinted over the weekend that he still sees a future for Aquilani at Anfield, while the players' agent has previously cooled talk of a Viola move.

But former West Ham man Behrami remains optimistic of the 27-year-old arriving at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, insisting he would be a valuable addition to the Fiorentina squad.
Qualities

"Aquilani to Fiorentina? He has excellent qualities," said Behrami. "With him I'm sure we could make a quantum leap.

"Aquilani is a major player that could bring excitement among the fans. He would be suited to our team."

Behrami, who joined Fiorentina from West Ham in January, admits he is finding pre-season training tough after three years away from Italy.

"We are working hard on the physical level," he added. "The preparation is very different from England.

"It has been three years since I worked so much in the pre-season and I'm no longer used (to it)."

Juventus need to improve their offer if they want to sign Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi, according to the player's agent.

The Serie A club remain in talks with the Primera Liga club as they seek to take the Italy international back to Italy.

But Rossi's representative, Federico Pastorello, claims the Turin side have yet to meet Villarreal's asking price.

"Villarreal await the right offer," Pastorello told Gazzetta dello Sport. "One that reflects the value of Giuseppe.

"There's a lot of money at stake and I believe the asking price is correct considering the value of the player. It is not disproportionate."
Calm

Juventus have also been linked with Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero this summer, but it seems they are closest to snapping up Rossi, if a deal can be struck for a player whose buy-out clause stands at €33million.

"Juventus and Villarreal are discussing the financial figures and I await developments," added Pastorello.

"But if the right offer does not arrive, I am in agreement with the club (Villarreal) that he will stay.

"I have spoken to Giuseppe this morning and he is calm. He is not anxious."

Former Manchester United and Parma striker Rossi, who is under contract with Villarreal until June 2016, joined his club on Monday on their pre-season tour of Ireland.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a fine season in Spain last term, scoring 32 goals in all competitions.