'I didn't celebrate because I'm unhappy' - Cristiano Ronaldo makes shock claim after Real Madrid win

The Portuguese international scored his 150th goal for the club during the 3-0 victory over Granada, but afterwards claimed he is far from happy due to a 'professional issue'

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo made the shock claim that he was unhappy with the club after he refused to celebrate his 149th and 150th Blancos goals in the win over Granada on Sunday.

The Portuguese was the catalyst behind his side's first win of the new Liga season, but his lack of elation on the back of two landmark strikes was the main talking point after the game, which he explained after full time.

"I'm sad because of a professional issue and the club know why. That's why I didn't celebrate the goals, because I'm not happy. The people [at the club] know why," he told reporters after the match.

"It's nothing to do with Iniesta [winning European player award]. I won't talk about this any more and I will concentrate on Portugal for now. There are more important things [than this]."

"The people at the club know about this. I can't say any more."

Xabi Alonso and Higuain react to Ronaldo affair

Xabi Alonso and Gonzalo Higuain have reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo's comments that he is unhappy at Real Madrid, by claiming that they know nothing of his dissatisfaction.

Los Blancos duo were coy when asked about the news that their team-mate could be moving away from Santiago Bernabeu in the near future, and in turn confirmed that they were content in the Spanish capital.

“I speak for myself when I say I am happy here,” Alonso told AS. “Each person feels as each person wants.

“I think many of us are in a fortunate position where we are part of a group that has made history, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels. We just want to have the chance to win more trophies.”

Argentina international Higuain also commented on the situation surrounding his forward partner, saying: “I cannot speak about it because I know nothing. Cristiano has not said anything in the changing room, and what I've learned is only from the press.”

Messi refuses to comment on Ronaldo situation

Lionel Messi has refused to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo's quotes that he is unhappy at Real Madrid.

The Barcelona superstar claims that it has nothing to do with him, and avoided speaking about the situation when asked about the talented winger.

“That's something Ronaldo said,” he told a press conference in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. “There's no reason to ask me about what he says and vice-versa. It's nothing to do with me. I do not have to answer questions about that.”

Instead, the Argentine striker chose to focus on his country's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru, for which Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero will be missing.

“No Aguero? That's bad for the team. Losing a player like that is bad for any team. Personally, I love playing next to Kun.

“I respect the coach's decision [to leave out Tevez]. If Carlos returns to the team, he will be welcome, but the decision is the coach's.”

The 25-year-old concluded by confirming that he is enjoying playing for Argentina, despite rumours that the fans are yet to be won over by the Blaugrana man.

“The team is playing well, and I am happy with how things are going. We are winning games and winning them playing good football. I just want to play for the fans - they are always supportive to me.”

Afellay happy to return for Barcelona after injury layoff

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder is finally fit again after tearing his ACL in training last September and is now looking forward to proving himself to Tito Vilanova

Barcelona's Ibrahim Afellay was ecstatic after making his return to competitive action after seven months out with a knee injury in Sunday's La Liga rout of Rayo Vallecano.

Afellay was both relieved and thrilled to be back on the field, though he insisted that he never doubted he would don the Barca jersey again this term.

“You know the moment will come some day but you don’t know when," the Netherlands international is quoted as saying by his club's official website. "I’m so happy to return.

“I just want to play football. I’ve worked hard during the team’s training sessions and I’m very pleased [to be back]."

Meanwhile, Afellay expressed his disappointment at coach Pep Guardiola's decision to stand down at the end of the season, but argued that the Catalans have the ideal replacement in current assistant boss Tito Vilanova.

"It's a shame because Pep for me is one of the best coaches in the world," the 26-year-old attacker said of Guardiola.

"But Tito is about equal because they have worked together many years and I think we will continue just the same."

Afellay, who has been capped 36 times by his country, joined Barca from PSV during last year's January transfer window.

Rayo Vallecano 0-7 Barcelona: Messi and Pedro both net doubles as Catalan giants romp to resounding victory

The front three were on fire for the visitors, who rang up a century of league goals en route to a comprehensive triumph, but Real Madrid can still clinch the title midweek

Barcelona ensured that they suffered no hangover from their week from hell with a resounding 7-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas.

It has been a harrowing eight days for the Catalans, who saw their Primera Division and Champions League hopes eliminated by Real Madrid and Chelsea, not to mention the announcement of coach Pep Guardiola's departure at the end of the season.

However, they responded in some style against the outmatched side from the capital, with two goals each from Lionel Messi and Pedro alongside strikes from Seydou Keita and Thiago Alcantara and an own goal by Roberto Correa reducing the gap to Madrid at the top of the league back to seven points.

The title may still be out of reach with only three games left to play, but Barca at least delayed the celebrations of their old foes to Wednesday with a smashing victory that saw them cross the 100-goal tally in the league, while Messi's 43rd league goal drew him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Pichichi race.

All eyes were on Guardiola in the dugout, and the soon to be ex-Barca coach rang the changes from midweek, with six players rested from the XI that featured against Chelsea.

The Catalans were desperate to put on a show for their coach and shell-shocked fans, and stormed into the lead just after a quarter of an hour. Alexis Sanchez was the architect, with his wonderful diagonal pass freeing Pedro on the right, who squared to Messi to guide home from a few yards out.

Rayo almost responded immediately after the restart, but Jose Pinto was alert to push away Diego Costa’s header from a free-kick at the far post.

The chance passed them by, and Barca were 2-0 up after 26 minutes. Keita sent Sanchez through on goal, and the Chilean’s finish from a tight angle was diverted into the net by Correa.

The visitors were dominant, finding holes in the Rayo midfield and defensive lines at will. However, they were indebted to Pinto once more just after half an hour, the stand-in keeper tipping away Roberto Trashorras’ free kick at full stretch.

Messi’s brilliance soon put the Catalans out of sight six minutes before the interval, the Argentine waltzing past multiple challenges on the edge of the box before slipping in Keita, who made no mistake from close range.

Barely a minute into the second-half, it was 4-0. Sanchez again did the hard work, as he broke free down the left before squaring to Messi inside the area. His finish bounced back off the crossbar, but Pedro was on hand to stroke home the rebound.

It should have been a fifth within minutes after Thiago was picked out in a great position inside the area, but the young midfielder put his effort the wrong side of the post.

The match was well and truly over, but Pinto was forced into another spectacular save with 20 minutes to go, getting fingertips to a powerful drive by Alhassane Bangoura.

Thiago added a fifth with just over 10 minutes to go, with a simple header from close range following great work out wide by substitute Dani Alves.

It was 6-0 after 87 minutes, Pedro side-footing coolly into the back of the net after getting on the end of a clever lifted pass from Messi.

Messi rounded off matters in injury time with powerful finish from a quintessential Barca team move, a goal that moves him on terms with Cristiano Ronaldo in the quest for the Pichichi.

Next up for Barca is a visit from Malaga, while Rayo visit Mallorca, with both matches taking place next Wednesday. Madrid though, can clinch the title with a win away to Athletic Bilbao on the same day.

Del Bosque: I understand Guardiola's decision to leave Barcelona

The World Cup-winning coach did not wish to question his compatriot's decision, while admitting that he will evaluate Fernando Torres' place in the national team

Spain head coach Vicente Del Bosque has expressed sympathy for Pep Guardiola following his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old coach announced earlier on Friday that he has decided not to prolong his stay at Camp Nou because of the tiring nature of the job, after guiding the club to 13 titles over the last four years.

"Pep has made a decision as a Barcelona man and there is nothing to do but accept what he has done," Del Bosque is quoted by EFE as saying.

"He thinks that this is the best for him and for Barca. I understand him and I wish him the best."

Guardiola's assistant, Tito Vilanova, has been confirmed as Barca's coach for 2012-13, but Del Bosque refused to comment on the appointment.

"I am no one to get involved with decisions that belong to clubs," he noted.

Del Bosque also gave his opinion about the Champions League eliminations of Real Madrid and Barcelona, admitting that they damage the Spain national team ahead of this summer's European Championship.

"I wish both clubs had progressed and played in the final," the 61-year-old said. "They deserved it.

"A return for Fernando Torres? I have time to evaluate his situation and make a decision.

"He is competing against players who have been doing very well, so we will try to be as fair as possible."

Heartbroken Messi unable to bring himself to attend press conference confirming Guardiola's departure

The Argentine has been left devastated by the news that the 41-year-old coach will be leaving Camp Nou at the end of the season and wanted to hide his grief from the press

An emotional Lionel Messi has confessed that he was unable to bring himself to attend the press conference at which Pep Guardiola confirmed his decision to step down as Barcelona boss because he has been left stricken with grief.

Guardiola informed his players that he would be quitting the club at the end of the season before then announcing his imminent departure to the media.

There was some surprise that the Blaugrana's star forward was not in attendance but Messi explained that the occasion would have been too much for him.

"I wholeheartedly want to thank Pep for everything he has given me in my professional career and personal life," the Argentina international wrote on his Facebook page.

"But due to the emotion I feel, I preferred not to be present at Pep's press conference, especially because I knew that they [the press] would have been focusing on the faces of the grieving players and this is something that I did not want to show."

Guardiola, who will be replaced at the helm by current assistant coach Tito Vilanova, has led Barca to 13 titles since taking charge of the club in 2008.

Barcelona set sights on Bielsa as exhausted Guardiola looks set to announce departure

The 41-year-old, who has led the club to 13 titles since taking charge, is seemingly going to leave in the summer and the Catalans will look to replace him with a man he idolises

Barcelona have made Marcelo Bielsa their prime candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola should the Catalan coach decide to leave the club

The former Spain international met with Blaugrana president Sandro Rosell and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Thursday, and informed the pair of his desire to take a sabbatical from the game after four years at the helm of the Catalan giants.

Guardiola, who has led Barca to 13 titles since taking charge in the summer of 2008, is expected to confirm his departure to his players at a team meeting on Friday morning, and it is then believed he will address the media alongside Rosell at a press conference at 11.00CET after a scheduled training session.

Should the 41-year-old officially announce his intention to leave Camp Nou, the club have set their sights on luring Athletic Bilbao boss Bielsa. The Argentine is out of contract in the summer and has the unanimous backing of the Blaugrana board, as well as that of Guardiola, who considers Bielsa the best coach in the game today. Indeed, it is thought that Guardiola may even be asked to attempt to persuade Bielsa to make the move to Catalunya.

In the event that the 56-year-old Rosario native shuns Barcelona's advances and decides to remain at San Mames, the Catalan giants will then seek to appoint someone from within Guardiola's inner circle, namely assistant Tito Vilanova, former B team boss Luis Enrique, who is currently in charge of Roma, or even ex-youth team coach Oscar Garcia.

Failing that, Barca could turn to former Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde, or a foreign alternative, such as Germany's Joachim Low. However, the club's directors do not believe it will come to that as they are confident of landing Bielsa, their prime candidate for the position.

Guardiola informs Barcelona players he will leave club at end of the season

The Spanish boss looks set to announce his departure from the Catalan club to take a sabbatical from football in a press conference scheduled for this afternoon

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has informed his squad that he is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

The Spaniard has been at the helm for four years but appears set to take a sabbatical from football after a trophy-laden spell in Catalunya.

Guardiola has won three La Liga and two Champions League titles during his time as Barcelona coach, a post which he inherited from Frank Rijkaard in 2008 after previously leading the club's 'B' team.

However, this year has been his most difficult in charge as his side look to have surrendered their league crown to bitter rivals Real Madrid, after falling seven points behind following last week's 2-1 defeat in El Clasico.

The Catalan outfit were also knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea on Tuesday following a 3-2 semi-final aggregate defeat.

Xavi ruled out for two weeks with calf injury

The veteran midfielder has torn the soleus muscle in his left leg, meaning he will sit out the Blaugrana's next three Liga outings, against Rayo Vallecano, Malaga and Espanyol

Barcelona have announced that playmaker Xavi has been ruled out of action for 14 days with a calf injury.

A statement on the Catalans' official website explained that the Spain international has been experiencing discomfort in the soleus muscle in his left leg all season long and that a scan on Thursday has now revealed "a small tear" which will sideline the player for a fortnight.

Consequently, Xavi will now miss the Blaugrana's upcoming Liga clashes with Rayo Vallecano, Malaga and Espanyol.

The loss of the influential midfielder is a major blow for Pep Guardiola's side, who fell seven points behind leaders Real Madrid after last weekend's 2-1 Clasico defeat at Camp Nou.

The injury will also be of some concern to Spain boss Vicente del Bosque, with Euro 2012 looming large on the horizon.