World Football Gossip Roundup: Pep Guardiola, Michael Laudrup, Neymar

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Managers rule the headlines in this Tuesday edition of the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup.

Danish manager Michael Laudrup, fresh from guiding Swansea City to their first major title in more than a century, is being linked with a bigger club that wears strikingly similar uniforms.

Meanwhile, Spanish manager Pep Guardiola, who's set to take over Bayern Munich in the summer, is making news now for some surreptitious activities during his tenure at Barcelona.

Those stories and more appear inside. Keep reading for all the details.

Pep Guardiola Used Private Detective to Monitor Players at Barcelona?

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Pep Guardiola used a private detective to keep watch on his players at Barcelona, according to El Confidential (in Spanish).

The Sun is running an English version of the story here. According to The Sun, Guardiola monitored Ronaldinho, Deco, Samuel Eto'o and Gerard Pique between 2008 and 2012.

A Barcelona source is quoted as saying, “Pep was obsessed with his players leading orderly private lives. He didn’t want them going out on the town and then failing to perform on the pitch.”

Guardiola, 42, left Barcelona following the 2011-12 season, citing exhaustion. He is set to become manager of Bayern Munich in the summer.

Real Madrid President Interested in Michael Laudrup for Manager?

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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is interested in Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup as a potential replacement for Jose Mourinho, according to Marca.

Laudrup, 48, led Swansea to the English Capital One Cup title over the weekend. This is his first season as the club's manager. He previously managed Mallorca, Spartak Moscow, Getafe and Brøndby.

Mourinho, 50, is widely expected to leave Real Madrid this summer.

According to the report, Perez like's Laudrup's "bold understanding of football" and "perfect decorum."

Neymar Hints at Santos Stay

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Brazilian forward Neymar has hinted that he will stay with Santos through the 2014 World Cup and possibly beyond (via Time Sports).

Speaking with American news magazine Time, Neymar compared his future to choosing an ice cream flavor.

I have a contract with Santos until 2014.  I intend to honor it.  [After that,] it depends on my will, how I feel in my heart, whether I want to leave Brazil or not.  I can continue to work with Santos.  You always knows what’s best for you.  It’s like choosing an ice-cream flavor.  Sometimes you choose vanilla, sometimes chocolate.  My wish today, my flavor today, for me, is to stay with Santos.

Neymar, 21, has scored 17 goals in 28 senior international appearances with Brazil.

Younes Belhanda Hints at Montpellier Exit

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Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda has revealed a desire to play in England, Spain or Italy "one day" (via talkSPORT).

Belhanda, a Moroccan international who turned 23 on Monday, turned professional with Montpellier in 2009 after coming through the club's youth system. He has been linked with Arsenal in the past.

"My dream is to play for a Champions League club," Belhanda told Canal Plus. "I am a born competitor and in countries like England, Spain and Italy, there are big clubs that I would like to play one day."

Italian Clubs Lining Up for Fernando Amorebieta?

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Serie A clubs Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan will compete with Arsenal and Anzhi Makhachkala to sign Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta this summer, according to Sky Sports.

Amorebieta, a 27-year-old Venezuelan international, is expected to leave Athletic on a free transfer this summer. His contract expires at the end of the season, and Athletic reportedly have withdrawn an offer for a new deal.

Juventus have already agreed to sign Athletic's Spain international forward Fernando Llorente in the summer.

Amorebieta was thought to be close to joining Arsenal in January (via Goal.com).

Napoli in Position to Sign Luis Muriel from Udinese?

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Napoli have opened talks to sign Colombian forward Luis Muriel from Udinese, according to Italian reports cited by talkSPORT.

Muriel, 21, scored seven goals in 29 appearances on loan with Lecce last season. Once dubbed the Colombian Cristiano Ronaldo, he has scored four goals in 11 Serie A appearances this season for Udinese.

Manchester United and Arsenal are also thought to be interested.

Quick Kicks

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UEFA will not investigate Liverpool's Luis Suarez for an alleged stamp on a Zenit St. Petersburg defender in a Europa League game last week (via The Guardian).

Chelsea defender and captain John Terry was involved in a recent training ground dispute with interim manager Rafa Benitez, according to The Sun.

Lazio facing stadium bans for fans' "racist behavior" (via The Guardian).

Norway striker John Carew set to join Inter Milan (via Goal.com).

 

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