Giovani Lo Celso says he is unconcerned by interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid as he continues to make his way during his loan stint with Real Betis.  The Argentinian international was loaned to Real Betis in August as he joined the La Liga club on a season-long deal from Paris Saint-Germain.  Lo Celso was originally bought by PSG in July 2016, as he joined from Argentine side Rosario Central several months later after being loaned back to the club.  The midfielder made 48 appearances in all competitions for PSG in 2017-18, scoring six goals as the club went on to win the league, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.  But his future remains unsure and the 22-year-old is not yet sure of what his next step will be upon the expiration of his loan deal with Betis.    "A return to France? I don't know what may happen tomorrow. I try to focus on the present right now," Lo Celso told France Football.  "We'll see when the time comes. Barca and Real's interests, I don't think about that. I'm young and I still have a long career ahead of me.  "My main objective is to finish the season as high as possible (in the standings) with Betis."  He added: "You have to stay focused on what you're doing and continue to do what you're doing to keep moving forward. It's not good to think about the transfer window rumours."  Lo Celso has scored 12 goals in 36 matches for Betis, more than doubling the total of nine goals he'd scored in the four prior years to start his senior career.  Real Betis currently sit eighth in La Liga, only six points behind fourth-place Getafe.  Following the conclusion of the international break, Lo Celso and Real Betis return to league play with a visit to Rayo Vallecano as the club looks to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Barcelona last time out.   

Carles Puyol has remained loyal to his Barcelona roots when placing Gerard Pique above Sergio Ramos and Virgil van Dijk in the pecking order of best centre-halves. As a Catalan native who spent his entire career on the Blaugrana’s books, it should come as no surprise to see the 40-year-old backing the cause of those at Camp Nou. He once figured alongside Pique in a trophy-laden era for Barca and is not about to nudge a former colleague from the top of the global pile. A World Cup winner does face fierce competition in the modern era for the title of finest on the planet, however. Netherlands international Van Dijk is starring for Liverpool, fellow countryman Matthijs de Ligt catching the eye and being named Golden Boy as a teenager at Ajax, while Ramos continues to lead by example for Real Madrid. Puyol, though, is in no doubt as to who is the pick of the bunch, telling Marca: “Gerard Pique, without a doubt.” Quizzed on whether Pique can be considered better than he was, a man who made 593 senior appearances for Barcelona added: “Yes, he's the best central defender in the world. “We're different. He is key to Barcelona in everything he contributes, in his leadership. He's a phenomenon and a great friend.” Pique is currently looking to play his part in the securing of more major silverware in 2018-19. Barca are back at the top of La Liga, through to the final of the Copa del Rey and last eight of the Champions League without being considered to have performed at their best. It has been suggested that there is an over-reliance on the mercurial talents of Lionel Messi at Camp Nou, with Puyol saying of those claims: “When you have the best player in history it's logical that you depend on him. “However, there have been great players around him who are making history too.” While eager to talk up the collective contribution at Camp Nou, Puyol has also sought to play down any suggestion that Messi places great emphasis on an individual battle with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus superstar netted a Champions League hat-trick against Atletico Madrid recently, only to see Messi respond with a brace of his own 24 hours later and a stunning treble in La Liga action against Real Betis. “I don't believe Messi reacts to anything,” said Puyol. “It's just his way of playing, he's always decisive. To say Messi played well against Lyon because of Ronaldo's hat-trick just doesn't make sense. “In 10 matches where Messi plays, nine will be spectacular and the other one will just be very good.”

Gareth Bale, Philippe Coutinho, Eric Dier and Raphael Varane would be dream additions for Manchester United this summer, says Phil Neville. The Red Devils are expected to spend big when the transfer window re-opens. It remains to be seen who will be calling the shots, with no decision taken as yet regarding the future of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. If he does stay on, it has been suggested that the Norwegian will look to make at least four additions to the ranks at Old Trafford. Top talent from around the world will be targeted, with United eager to bring in proven performers and force their way back into contention for major honours. A sizeable budget will be given to whoever is at the helm, freeing them to bring in reinforcements across the field. Various options are already being mooted, with leading lights from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A said to be in the Red Devils’ sights. Neville believes United will look to strengthen down their spine and has named the starting XI he would be looking for in 2019-20 if money were no object. There are plenty of familiar faces in his side, with David De Gea lining up between the sticks as “the best keeper in the world”. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot take the full-back spots, although Neville was initially keen to put Juventus star Joao Cancelo on the right having previously worked with him at Valencia. He told Premier League Today, while also talking up a raid on Real Madrid for a World Cup-winning centre-half: “The two signings in the back four would be Varane from Real Madrid and Joao Cancelo from Juventus. “Cancelo, I worked with him at Valencia and have seen him at Juventus and I think he’s top drawer.” Varane would operate alongside Victor Lindelof at the heart of the back four, with the Sweden international having impressed in his second season at Old Trafford. Moving into midfield and Neville would like to see an England star acquired from rivals Tottenham and a former Liverpool playmaker returned to the Premier League from Barcelona to fill in alongside Paul Pogba. He added: “Eric Dier as the holding midfield player and Coutinho, who there has been a bit of speculation about. “You have to have British players in a title-winning team. [Ander] Herrera, Fred and [Scott] McTominay are part of the squad. [Nemanja] Matic, this season, has had a dip.” Marcus Rashford will lead the line for Neville’s new-look United, with Anthony Martial providing power and pace on the left. On the other side, the former Red Devils defender would favour a 29-year-old on the books at Real Madrid over a teenage winger making quite the name for himself with Borussia Dortmund and England. Neville said: “I’ve gone Bale. He’s ready-made. “Ole has said he wants to buy a hungry player. I think [Jadon] Sancho is that hungry player. But Bale has won Champions Leagues and played at the top level. “I don’t think wages are an issue at Manchester United. You are talking guaranteed quality who can play across the front line.”

Real Madrid should be targeting Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling over Chelsea star Eden Hazard, says former England striker Chris Sutton. The Blancos are reported to be casting admiring glances in the direction of the Premier League as they piece together plans for an elaborate summer recruitment drive. With Zinedine Zidane back at the helm, those at the Santiago Bernabeu are expected to spend big in the next transfer window. Belgium international Hazard has long been linked with a switch to Spain and has hinted at making a move in the recent past. Sutton, though, believes Madrid need to be turning their sights to Manchester, with Sterling having shown this season – with 25 goals for club and country – that he is now part of the global elite. The ex-England frontman told the Daily Mail after seeing the in-form winger add to his hat-trick against the Czech Republic by netting again in a 5-1 Euro 2020 qualification win over Montenegro: “You have to say that Raheem Sterling is now world class. “If you were Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, surely you would want to buy him over Eden Hazard? “Is there anything Sterling cannot do? His weight of pass is superb, his movement off the ball is lethal and he has become deadly in front of goal.  “What defender in the world would want to face Sterling in this form? It doesn’t matter if you take him on or back off — either way he will destroy you. “He is still just 24 and improving year on year. His wonderful performances for England in the last two games have confirmed that he can thrive on the international stage. “Sterling is one of the hottest properties in world football. If I was Real Madrid, I’d be making him my No. 1 target.” City tied Sterling to fresh terms back in November, with a new contract set to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2023. There is little chance of Pep Guardiola agreeing to part with a player that he has helped to thrive, with the 24-year-old proving to be a key figure in an ongoing quadruple bid by the Blues.

Enzo Zidane says his father "listened to his heart" in making the decision to return as Real Madrid head coach for a second stint. The France legend left Real Madrid following their Champions League final triumph in 2018 - the third time in a row that he had led his side to the trophy. He was replaced by Julen Lopetegui, who lasted mere months before being sacked in favour of Santiago Solari. The Argentine didn't fare much better, as Madrid were eliminated by Ajax at the Champions League last-16 stage, while they were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Barcelona. That paved the way for Zidane's remarkable return, much to the pleasure of the manager's son. "I'm happy, like any son with his father," Enzo Zidane told Sport. "I hope he comes out the best he can, I trust in his work and I support him as always." He added: "[He] always makes decisions with his heart and it worked out like that. When you do things with your heart they go well and I'm sure it will be great. "If Real Madrid are now in good hands, I do not have the answer to that. It's the people who speak,  I'm happy as a son and as a Madrid fan." Enzo was with Real Madrid for over a decade, having joined as a youth player in 2004. He moved to Alaves in 2017 before joining FC Lausanne-Sport in the Swiss Super League in January 2018. In July, Enzo returned to Spain, joining Rayo Majadahonda in the second division on a one-year loan deal. Rayo Majadahonda cruised past Numancia with a 4-0 win in their most recent match, and Enzo says the team is beginning to feel more comfortable. "At last we play a game in which we are calm at the end, a game with an advantage," he said. "The first part has been very good, the whole team entered tense, very well and getting goals. "We have played several very good matches, what we always want to do better and we will keep trying every weekend with the best goal to get the maximum points this season."