Clement Lenglet is yet to make a decision regarding his future despite appearing on the verge of completing a move to Barcelona, his agent has said. Defender Lenglet has gained many admirers since joining Sevilla from Nancy in January 2017, quickly securing a first-team role under Jorge Sampaoli and remaining a key figure last season, playing 35 times – more than any of his team-mates – in La Liga. Reports of Barca's interest were prominent for much of the campaign, especially in the wake of the 23-year-old's stellar performance against Manchester United in the Champions League, and there have even been claims the Catalan club already have an agreement with the centre-back. Goal revealed earlier in June that the Spanish champions were close to concluding a deal for Lenglet, however, but that nothing had been decided as yet. Sevilla head coach Pablo Machin and director of football Joaquin Caparros had even offered to make Frenchman the highest paid player on the team to fend off interest from Barca, but again no agreement could be reached between the parties. His exit from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan has long since appeared almost certain, but agent Gregory Dakad told ABC: "I know you're talking about a lot of things, but Lenglet has not yet made a decision. "He is listening, analysing... although I insist that it cannot be said that he will not be at Sevilla next season." Speaking on Thursday, Caparros said the club had received no contact from Barcelona. "Nothing has come to us," he commented.  "Every time there has been interest from Barcelona in a player of ours, which has been many times in recent years, there has been a call from president to president, and a call regarding Lenglet has not occurred." Behind the scenes, however, Goal understands that the Rojiblancos are looking for a replacement for Lenglet, with Florian Lejeune of Newcastle and Gianmarco Ferrari of Sampdoria on their shortlist.

Spain international Jordi Alba insists he wants to remain at Barcelona for the rest of his career. Left-back Alba has spent six seasons at Camp Nou but has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham in the off-season. However, the 29-year-old's sole intention is to continue his career at Barca. Asked if Tottenham's reported interest was affecting him, Alba told a news conference: "No, no, I'm very good at Barca. If it were up to me, I would stay at Barcelona all my life. "But it does not depend on me but on what the club wants. It also depends on my performance, which this season has been very good, but I do not see myself outside of Barcelona." Tied down to a contract with Barcelona until 2020, Alba has a €150million release clause. Alba has won four LaLiga titles with Barca and also lifted the Champions League in 2014-15.

Lionel Messi is “the best player ever - with or without a World Cup”, says Cesc Fabregas, with the Barcelona superstar considered to be more “complete” than Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo. It is rare for two iconic figures and serious contenders to the title of the greatest of all time to be competing in the same era, but that is what a modern day audience have been treated to. Messi and Ronaldo have shared 10 Ballons d’Or between them during a decade of dominance, while collecting countless domestic and European honours with their respective club sides. The latter has also tasted international success at Euro 2016 with Portugal, but the former is back chasing down a World Cup crown on Russian soil this summer after enduring a number of near misses with Argentina in the past. Regardless of whether Messi proves successful in that pursuit, former Barca team-mate Fabregas believes the mercurial 30-year-old will be remembered as the finest player to have played the game, telling the Daily Telegraph: “For me, Leo will always be the best player ever, with or without the World Cup. “Of course, I know when we talk in 20 or 30 years, if you win the World Cup, the future generations who do not watch him now will be even more clear on the fact Leo was the best because they can say ‘he won a World Cup’. “But people who have played with him or know about football will tell you he is the best and the most complete player ever. “Cristiano is fantastic and everyone admires him for what he does, the guy is a competitor. “But talent-wise and when we talk about the complete player, Leo became the best goalscorer ever, became the best passer ever, he can score with both feet, his head, he can dribble around four players. “He has vision to make assists, he is the most complete ever, no doubt. “People want to put Leo up against Cristiano and of course they both need each other to make themselves better, but we are talking about different teams, different groups, different moments. “I think they just respect each other and get on with it. It’s been going on too long for either of them to get annoyed by it.” Ronaldo was back among the goals in his last World Cup outing, taking his tally for the tournament to four with the winner for Portugal against Morocco, while Messi will take to the field with Argentina on Thursday when they go in search of a much-needed victory against Croatia.

Gerard Pique will welcome a conversation with Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre as the Antoine Griezmann transfer saga continues. Griezmann, 27, had been widely expected to join the Catalan club this summer, but surprised many by re-signing with Atletico Madrid last week until 2023. A documentary on the France forward’s announcement to stay was produced by one of Pique's companies, leading to criticism of the Spain international and questions from Barcelona’s hierarchy. However, Pique, who celebrated his 100th cap in Spain’s 1-0 win over Iran on Wednesday, was on the front-foot and keen to answer to Mestre. "If he wants to talk to me, he knows where I am," he said. "The relationship has always been open, we always have contact – we are going to talk and solve it." Spain’s win put them joint-top of their World Cup group with Portugal, and even though a point will be enough for La Roja to qualify for the knockout rounds, Pique insists they are eyeing top spot in Group B. "It’s a bit close. I think a draw would be enough. We will look at it, but the most important thing was to win and now we have to win against Morocco," he said. "It’s very important to be first [in the group] and to score more goals than Portugal."

Barcelona vice president Jordi Mestre has claimed the La Liga champions will hold internal discussions with Gerard Pique following Antoine Griezmann's decision to stay at Atletico Madrid. Griezmann had been tipped to complete a switch to Barcelona after the World Cup, but has instead elected to sign a new deal with Atleti, keeping him at the Wanda Metropolitano until 2023. The France star confirmed he would stay in Madrid in a documentary on Movistar Plus, which was produced by Pique's investment company Kosmos. Following the broadcast, Pique tweeted his thanks to Griezmann, wishing him well for the future at Atleti, and has since been force to defend himself, claiming he had no involvement in Griezmann's decision other than to suggest it be filmed. However, speaking before Eric Abidal's official unveiling as the club's new sporting director, Barca vice-president Mestre expressed his displeasure with Pique's actions, as well as those of Griezmann's international team-mate Samuel Umtiti, who shared the documentary on his social media channels. "We will speak with [Pique] and Umtiti internally after the World Cup about what happened but we won't make any more public comments," he said. "We feel bad for the supporters who have felt disappointed with the way it happened. The president spoke with Pique to tell him that his involvement provoked surprise and discomfort at club and among supporters. "We respect Griezmann's decision to renew with Atletico as we respect any player's right to choose their future. "We want committed players who have decided they want to be a success here above anything else." Meanwhile, Barca could find themselves on the end of an official complaint from Atleti, who have been outraged by the Catalan giants' conduct during the saga. Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed in May he had held talks with Griezmann's representatives, and the documentary affirmed these claims. "We will decide whether or not to file a complaint against Barcelona for having negotiated with Griezmann," Atleti chief executive office Miguel Angel Gil Marin told Spanish publication Ser Deportivos. "We have proof of contact. Griezmann is the protagonist with us, in Barcelona he would be a soldier in [Lionel] Messi's service."