De Bruyne is unsellable

Manchester City target De Bruyne is unsellable, insist Wolfsburg

The 23-year-old is one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe but his club's CEO Klaus Allofs insists they have no desire to part with a prized asset

By Liam Twomey
May 17, 2015 14:04:00

Wolfsburg have warned Manchester City and their rival suitors that star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is "unsellable".

De Bruyne has established himself as one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe with a remarkable season that has seen him notch 15 goals and 25 assists in all competitions.

Last month the Belgian's agent, Patrick De Koster, revealed that City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich had expressed an interest in signing his client, but Wolfsburg CEO Klaus Allofs insists his club have no desire to part with their prized asset.

"At the moment, I'd call him unsellable," he told German TV show 'Doppelpass' when asked about De Bruyne. "I am 100 per cent convinced he will play for us next year.

"However, in football things can develop so rapidly, that you can't say this now."

Earlier this week De Bruyne refused to rule out the possibility of leaving Wolfsburg - despite insisting he is happy to stay at the club next season.

Sergio: Casillas remains a Spanish icon

Sergio: Casillas remains a Spanish icon
The Espanyol coach says the Real Madrid captain's critics have "very short memories" and claims that the 33-year-old has been made a scapegoat
May 17, 2015 14:41:06

Espanyol coach Sergio Gonzalez has jumped to the defence of Iker Casillas, insisting that the under-fire Real Madrid goalkeeper remains an icon of the Spanish game.
Casillas has been heavily criticised in recent seasons for a number of high-profile mistakes for club and country, notably at last year’s World Cup, where La Roja's title defence was ended after humiliating losses to Netherlands and Chile.
The 33-year-old has continued the cop plenty of flak this term and he was once again booed and whistled after last weekend's Liga draw at home to Valencia.
Speaking ahead of Espanyol's meeting with Madrid in Catalunya, Sergio claimed that Casillas has been made the scapegoat for Madrid falling behind Barcelona in the race for the Liga title and being eliminated from the Champions League by Juventus in midweek.
“I’ve been through some great times with Iker,” Sergio, who earned 11 caps for Spain, told a press conference.
“He’s an icon, a one-off, a reference figure but some people in football have very short memories. Sometimes others look for someone to blame and that’s what seems to have happened with him.
“Iker is a reference in Spanish football who has brought great value to our game.”
Casillas was infamously dropped by Jose Mourinho during the Portuguese coach's time in Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and has struggled for form ever since.
Madrid’s Champions League semi-final exit has sparked rumours of a huge shake-up at the club, with coach Carlo Ancelotti said to be facing the sack this summer.
And Casillas, who has won five Liga titles and three Champions League crowns during a 16-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu, has also been linked with a move away from the Spanish captial.
Second-placed Madrid face Espanyol on Sunday knowing anything even victory may not be enough to see Barcelona claim the league title, as the Catalans will be crowned champions if they defeat Atletico at the Vicente Calderon.

Di Maria must change his behaviour - Van Gaal

Di Maria must change his behaviour - Van Gaal
The Argentine has insisted in a fresh interview that he is determined to stick it out at Old Trafford but his manager says that it will not be easy to "change his behaviour"
By Sacha Pisani
May 17, 2015 08:27:00

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has warned Angel Di Maria that he must change his ways if he wants to make a mark at Old Trafford.
United splashed a British-record €82 million to lure Di Maria from Real Madrid last August but his form has tailed off following a promising start.
Since being sent off against Arsenal in March, he has not started any of the subsequent eight matches.
The Argentine himself admitted that his first season in English football has "not been good enough" and vowed to improve and win titles with United.
But Van Gaal says that he must "change his behaviour" if he is to work his way into the first-team picture.
"The players have had to adapt to the philosophy and Di Maria has to do that," the Red Devils boss said at a press conference at United's training centre.
"He can still do that, of course, because every player can but it's important that he wants to do that in his head.
"When you are open to coaching, then you can change but a change of behaviour is very difficult. Always, the old errors are coming back so a change of behaviour is not so easy so we have to wait and see.
"It's not that Di Maria doesn't have the quality. He has to perform in a way that we want. Not in the way I want but in the way we want as a club."
United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Saturday, with only two points separating them - in fourth and third, respectively - in the Premier League standings.