London: Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out playing for Manchester City in future, claiming his heart is still with former club Manchester United. 

When asked during an interview whether he could ever play for the reigning English champions, Ronaldo replied he is not going to say it would be impossible, because in football the impossible doesn’t exist. 

However, Ronaldo added he can say that it would be “very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very difficult to play at Man City” because of his undying love for United. 

When further pressed whether it is difficult, but not impossible to play for City in future, Ronaldo clarified he is not going to play with City ever because his heart is in United. 

Ronaldo would face his former team United at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the first leg of their much-awaited Champions League pre-quarterfinal clash. 

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Barcelona have announced on their official website that Lionel Messi will sign a new contract with the Catalans until the summer of 2018 on Thursday.

The Argentine`s current deal had been set to expire in 2016, but Catalans had already reached an agreement with the Argentine over a two-year extension in December 2012, and the prolific attacker will put pen to paper later this week.

Messi will reportedly earn an annual salary of €11 million after taxes, while he has a €250m buy-out clause in his new deal.

The 25-year-old is the third key player to sign a contract extension with Barca in 2013 after previous new deals for captain Carles Puyol and vice-captain Xavi.

Messi has made over 350 official appearances for Barcelona since making his official debut in 2004-05, netting nearly 300 goals in the process.

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Munich: Pep Guardiola will take over from Jupp Heynckes as Bayern Munich coach at the end of the season, the Bundesliga giants have announced.

The 41-year-old former Barcelona boss, who has signed a deal with the Bavarian club until 2016, has been on a sabbatical from the game since leaving Camp Nou in 2012, having won 14 trophies with the Liga side during his four seasons in charge.

Heynckes, who has been boss at Bayern since 2011, told Die Roten officials before Christmas that he would not be continuing in his role beyond the current season, leaving the German side to attempt to secure Guardiola`s services.

And the Spaniard, who had been linked with a host of top-flight clubs across Europe, including Manchester City and Chelsea, has now signed a three-year deal with the German side.

"We are very happy that we managed to land Pep Guardiola for our club. He was contacted by lots of big teams," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.

"Pep is one of the most successful coaches in the world and we are convinced that he will not only shine for Bayern, but for the whole of German football. We look forward to beginning our work from July 2013.“

And Rummenigge praised outgoing Bayern boss Heynckes, adding that securing the Bundesliga crown would be a fitting send off for the German.

"As a club and as Jupp Heynckes` friends, we have to show understanding for this decision. We have to accept it and we have to respect it," he said. 

"During personal talks with Jupp Heynckes we assured each other that we will do anything we can, and now even more, to have a successful second half of the season , in which we want to get the title to Munich.“

Bayern currently lie top of Germany`s top flight, nine points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
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