The Argentine, who recently won a record third Golden Shoe for most goals in Europe last season, believes there is no chance of the Bulgaria star arriving at Camp Nou.

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi says it would be “impossible” for Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov to join the club.

Recent reports have speculated that the 32-year-old Bulgaria international could be on his way to Camp Nou as coach Gerardo Martino looks for cover following Messi’s hamstring tear that is expected to keep him out for the next eight weeks.

However, the Argentine believes that although the attacker is a good player and has experience the move is unlikely to materialise.

“I haven’t heard the rumour that Berbatov is linked to Barcelona. In fact he is a good player, he has experience in a big team,” Messi told TV7.

“It’s not my business to interfere with the club’s transfer decisions but I think it’s impossible for Dimitar to join Barcelona.”

Berbatov, who is out of contract at the end of the season, would be a cheaper alternative to other names that have been linked with a switch to the Catalan club, such as Oscar Cardozo and Sergio Aguero.

The Fulham striker has one goal in 10 Premier League appearances this season.

Martino has said he has faith in current forwards Alexis Sanchez and Neymar, but he would like additional cover.

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The Milan forward is targeting a place at 2014 after coming off the bench to net Brazil’s winner against Chile to surpass Pele’s record of eight goals against La Roja.

Robinho says his next goal is to secure a place in Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s World Cup.

The 29-year-old was recalled to the squad for November’s friendlies after two years away from international football and came off the bench to net the winner in the Selecao’s 2-1 friendly victory over Chile on Tuesday.

And speaking after his goal earned Brazil victory at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, their sixth in a row, the former Real Madrid man says he is desperate to stick around this time.

“There are very few matches remaining before the World Cup and I must take advantage of the chance given to me by [coach Luiz Felipe] Scolari,” he said, with March 2014 now offering the only remaining Fifa international date before Brazil’s World Cup squad is selected.

“I tried to do my best against Honduras and now against Chile. I have to prepare in Milan. My goal is to get to the World Cup.”

Robinho’s headed winner made him Brazil’s all-time leading scorer against Chile, surpassing Pele’s record of eight goals in matches with La Roja.

“I always get lucky against Chile,” he said. “[But] Pele is a unique player, I just want to do well for myself.”

“Robinho did what we expect from him,” said Scolari. “He was very good throughout the game.”

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The 45-year-old has been rewarded for guiding les Bleus to World Cup 2014 with an extended deal that should see him remain in charge until the next European Championship

France coach Didier Deschamps has extended his contract with the national team until 2016 after wrapping up a spot at the 2014 World Cup.

The new deal comes after a stunning 3-0 win over Ukraine on Tuesday saw les Bleus overcome a 2-0 first-leg defeat to win 3-2 on aggregate and seal their berth in Brazil.

And Deschamps hailed his team’s fighting spirit under pressure, insisting that they are capable of “great things” with the World Cup now firmly on France’s horizon.

“This is the magic of football,” he said to TF1. “Four days ago, we were in a bad position but the players were fantastic tonight.

“I didn’t have doubts, and we played a huge match and this qualification is very important for French football.

“It’s a bit of a tradition that when French teams have their backs against the wall they perform and we had a lot of heart and determination. Now [that] we’ve qualified, we’re capable of some great things.”

Mamadou Sakho opened the scoring at Stade de France on 22 minutes, before Karim Benzema doubled France’s lead just before half-time. And Oleh Husyev’s own goal, with 18 minutes remaining, completed a stunning comeback.

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The goalkeeper believes the call after the 2011 Clasico was essential to prevent a divide within Spain’s national team, which is mainly made up of Barcelona and Real Madrid stars

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says the reason behind his famous phone call to Barcelona midfielder Xavi was because he thought the two clubs were at breaking point, which could have adversely affected the fortunes of Spain.

Following a number of ill-tempered El Clasico matches, the defining moment for Casillas was after the Supercopa touchline fracas in 2011 that saw former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho poke the eye of Barca predecessor Tito Vilanova.

The goalkeeper and Xavi have been friends since they were teenagers and the shot-stopper felt a call to his international team-mate was needed to avoid further divide and conflict in the Spanish squad – the bulk of which is made up of Barca and Madrid players.

“I called Xavi because it was my duty to do so, as the captain, it’s my responsibility,” Casillas told El Pais. “I knew what I had to do because the group was becoming divided, because I represent my country and I have to defend an idea.

“We chatted about how we could re-direct what was going on because we had reached a point where we were about to mess everything up.

“Those images of El Clasico were something I had not seen since I was a boy – we were sending out the wrong messages and because I was a part of it all too, I had to make a decision to call a halt to the problems.”

Since then Spain won Euro 2012, reached the final of the Confederations Cup and finished top of their World Cup qualifying Group I last month.

La Roja are continuing their preparations for the 2014 World Cup with a friendly match against South Africa on Tuesday, their first return to Johannesburg since their 2010 World Cup win in Soccer City.

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