Being a foreigner on a Bosman he may already have signed a pre-contract agreement with a club.

PEP GUARDIOLA has announced he will hold a press conference on Wednesday to confirm he will leave Barcelona at the end of his current contract on June 30th, as speculation mounts that the midfielder will sign for Newcastle.

Magpies manager Bobby Robson has long been an admirer of the midfielder and it would appear his comment that he could get a player of Guardiola's stature has an element of truth to it.

At 30, Guardiola would appear to be looking for a major transfer to broaden his horizons and provide a fresh challenge, having spent his entire career up to now at Barcelona.

Guardiola is extremely unlikely to sign for another Spanish side because of his Barca connections and a move to England, where he has expressed a desire to play, would appear to be a definite possibility.

A link to Real Madrid has been touted but earlier in the season, Guardiola said: "I couldn't go to Real - the Barca fans would kill me."

Clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have also been rumoured to be interested in the player, but the re-emergence of Robson's comments seem to indicate that Newcastle have leapt to the front of the queue.

At the time Barca were drawn with Liverpool, Guardiola said: "It is a dream to go over and play an English team - there is nothing like it."

Speaking at a press conference after training on Wednesday, Guardiola said: "I'm going to see out my career abroad. It's not an easy decision to make, but after weighing things up I think it's for the best.

"I'm very proud of having grown up here. But yesterday (Tuesday) I had a meeting at 11.30 pm with the president (Joan Gaspart) for two hours.

"He told me he wanted me to stay but will give his opinion on what I announce later.

"I came to Barcelona without five pesetas and I leave a family man.

"I am now 30 years old and had to think of two things: to continue here or to experience new societies, cultures, team-mates, rivals and putting everything into perspective I realised I want to experience new things.

"I will finish my career abroad. I don't know where since I have have not listened to any offers. Starting from now I can call on England, Italy, Germany...Jose Maria Orobitg is the only one who will represent me."

When asked what made him reach his amazing decision, Guardiola said: "It is a calculated decision and I have been thinking for a long time.

"I want to leave to teach all I have learned here. You don't know how lucky I have been to play with all my team-mates. To all without exception I give you my thanks."

The player finished off by revealing Barca had not made an offer of a contract extension but had expressed a desire to keep him at Camp Nou.

Guardiola made his debut for Barcelona in 1990, although he has been in the club's system since he was 14 and is a Spanish international with over 40 caps to his name.

He made his debut against Northern Ireland in 1992, after playing just 20 first team appearances for Barca.

Having fallen out with Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, Guardiola is currently back in favour with the Catalan side, although he has ridden a rollercoaster career in Barca, losing his club place in the 1995-96 season to Romanian Gheorghe Popescu and being dropped from the Spanish squad.

The star midfielder has never been a prolific goalscorer, but his expertise at set pieces would be a welcome boost for any side.

In 1992, Guardiola led the home side to the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics' footballing tournament.

Guardiola's comments about imparting the knowledge he has learned at Camp Nou could see him take some kind of coaching role with his new side.

After failing in his attempt to get Jose Mourinho to leave Portugal, Robson could see bringing in his former captain to work along with Alan Shearer, as a future coaching team.

Another option for Guardiola could be Germany, with Bayern Munich being one of the few clubs to interest him, however, his availability will undoubtedly lead to a number of Serie A and Premiership clubs fighting over his signature.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Answers

From Teamtalk, shame about the bit regarding titles, he won't be coming here then!!

"I will try to go to the best place possible to pass on everything I've learnt at Barcelona. "I would like to play in a great team and continue to win titles."

And TEAMtalk understands that the possibility of Guardiola moving to Tyneside could be threatened by the fact that he was bitterly critical of Robson's coaching methods following the Geordie manager's departure from Spain. Another one!

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Honestly, we cannot afford to lose this chasing again. This is really a good chance to test the ambitious of the board. FS will be embarrassed if we lose again as it is nonsense that we may spend on a contracted Rivaldo but lose an out-of-contract Guardiola. Just follow up on our board's action and we may confirm whether someone is lying. FS is unforgivable if we cannot wrap up this deal.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

One football contain this in their report, I have not seen it mentioned elsewhere.

"When he was asked whether he would be turning out for Chelsea or Newcastle, both of whom had shown an interest, he said that it was too early to say – but added that he would not be signing for Newcastle"

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

I've read somewhere else that Guardiola doesn't rate BR, despite Bobby's obvious regard for the guy.
Looks like another embarrassment in the pipeline for NUFC.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

This from Teamtalk, I guess we just aren't good enouhg for him

Guardiola rejects Newcastle talk Barcelona skipper Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions that he will join Newcastle United this summer. The 30-year-old midfielder sparked a transfer scramble today by revealing he will quit the Nou Camp when his current contract expires on June 30, and there was speculation that the Magpies would immediately throw their hat into the ring for the Spanish international. Guardiola said: "I fully intend to leave Spanish football. I will end my career abroad. "I am opening the door to a move to England, France, Germany or Italy. I will try to go to the best place possible to pass on everything I've learnt at Barcelona. "I would like to play in a great team and continue to win titles." But amid mounting speculation that he is set to sign for his former Barcelona boss Bobby Robson at St James's Park, Guardiola has dismissed the Magpies as not good enough to fulfil his ambitions in the game. TEAMtalk revealed this lunchtime that Guardiola had vowed to join a "trophy-winning team'', but when subsequently asked if that club was Newcastle, his reply was a curt "no''. While everyone else has been getting carried away with the likelihood of the Toon landing Guardiola, TEAMtalk has insisted all along that his bond with Robson is not nearly as strong as widely suggested. The Spanish international was fiercely critical of Robson's training methods following the veteran coach's departure from the Nou Camp. It would now appear that Stamford Bridge is a more likely destination for Guardiola, with Chelsea renowned for their success in luring out- of-contract players to the club with the promise of big-money salaries.

Picture: Guardiola not interested in Magpies switch

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

...........and you all believe everything you see in the press?? Yawn, yawn.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Guardiola hmm , I have always seen this guy as a safety first type player , bit like Butch Wilkins, everything goes through him except the end product [cue constipation answers], receives it , gives hit, does not go past people , goals from midfield scarce, penatrative balls non [down Screach}, I am not sure of his capacity to win the ball aka, Batty,Ince, Lennon etc , not many Gazza`s about these days is there? , and scathing of Bobby`s training, I thought it was just the Dutch guys who took the mickey out of him. Reserve him a bed at Chelsea village as it looks like GVBronkhurst aint going there now.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Barcelona has gone nuts, to them this is comparable to when kk left, you canīt move for stories about 'un mito', and friends, the words newcastle,united,robson or bobby or even mister do not appear anywhere. However the words chelsea, middlesbrough and fulham do.

i think it would have been best if bob had kept quiet there.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001