Article

Villa a ´key player´, says Iniesta

28 December 2012 03:48

Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has called for his club to keep hold of 'key player' David Villa in the January transfer window.

The Spain international has been linked with a move to the English Premier League at the turn of 2013, with Chelsea mentioned as a possible destination for the ex-Valencia star.

However, Iniesta believes that Villa is important to Barca's chances of succeeding this season and hopes he remains at Camp Nou.

"I don't know if that's a possibility," he told reporters when asked about the sale of Villa in January.

"I don't think (it will happen). Personally I wouldn't like it, because Villa is a key player."

Barca sit top of La Liga having forged an intimidating 16-point lead over their perennial rivals Real Madrid.

And despite their dominance, Villa has been unable to break into the first-team and has been limited to appearances off the bench since returning from injury at the start of the campaign.

Saturday 18 May

20:26	Thai Super League Wrap: Muangthong extend their lead at the top
19:15	Vilanova to have more cancer treatment
19:13	SPL Wrap: Hibernian finish with a win
19:05	Mazzarri coy over Napoli future
19:04	Bundesliga Wrap: Hoffenheim make miracle escape
17:59	Parkinson: Bradford fans deserve promotion
17:47	Lambert wants highest possible league finish
17:31	Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 2
17:27	Celtic´s Wilson pleads for longer break
17:21	Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach 3 Bayern Munich 4
17:11	McArthur wants Wigan to end on a high
17:05	Cortese to remain executive chairman at Southampton
16:31	English League Two: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 3
16:18	Rodgers praises Carroll´s West Ham form
16:15	Brighton investigate dressing room incident
16:14	Pardew admits to second season struggle
15:59	Laudrup keen on bringing in Michu assistance
14:43	Hughton insists Holt will stay put
14:34	Jol outlines summer transfer plans
14:08	Colback eyeing Tottenham shock
13:07	Villas-Boas would welcome technical director
13:01	Tiote: Newcastle have not been good enough
12:25	Neville proud to win over Everton fans
12:08	Mancini sacking is ´amazing´, says Ferguson
11:31	Benitez coy on lap of honour
11:08	Wenger: Bayern win was turning point
05:28	Liga MX Wrap: Monterrey share spoils with America
02:47	Simeone: We no longer fear Real Madrid
02:31	Mourinho laments ´horror season´
00:26	Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 (AET)

Friday 17 May

23:49	Stoke to investigate pig´s head incident
22:42	Beckham could still have PSG role
21:02	Lennon fears Hearts relegation
20:52	Dante out to defeat Gladbach
20:35	Second year of Malaga ban waived
19:45	Villas-Boas confident of keeping Bale
19:13	Balotelli warned against walk-off protest
18:58	Premier League reveal third-place play-off plans
18:43	Navas ´excited´ by Manchester City link
18:39	Ancelotti denies Real contact
18:08	DIS confirm Neymar to Barcelona talks
18:04	Serie A Preview: Siena v Milan
17:48	Premier League Preview: Wigan v Aston Villa
17:37	Bassong crowned Norwich´s player of the season
17:28	Laudrup: Finishing eighth would be like winning the title
17:18	Premier League Preview: Southampton v Stoke City
17:12	Rodgers wants lengthy Liverpool stay
16:57	De Vrij pens new Feyenoord deal
16:43	Bale named Barclays Player of the Year
16:36	Ward-Prowse: I´ll keep improving
16:28	Jol calls for strong finish
16:28	Del Bosque: Casillas has my support
16:15	Coloccini: French recruits will blossom with time
16:04	Clarke has learned a lot in first year at West Brom
15:24	Di Canio backs Fletcher to shine
15:19	Icardi flattered by Inter rumours
14:48	Walters aiming to end season on a goalscoring high
14:26	Premier League Preview: Manchester City v Norwich
14:24	La Liga Preview: Barcelona v Valladolid
14:09	Lambert keen to secure future of Christian Benteke
13:29	Pirlo hoping for Juventus improvement
13:27	Roberts criticises new FA racism ruling
13:25	Serie A Preview: Inter Milan v Udinese
13:19	Serie A Preview: Sampdoria v Juventus
13:16	Premier League Preview: Swansea v Fulham
13:09	Moyes praises Everton squad
13:04	MLS stars pay tribute to retiring Beckham
12:50	Villas-Boas still battling for fourth place
12:35	League One play-off final Preview: Yeovil meet Brentford at Wembley
12:23	Ferguson raring to go in his final Manchester United match
11:59	Premier League Preview: West Ham v Reading
11:48	Premier League preview: West Brom v Manchester United
11:40	Wenger: Destiny in our own hands
11:28	Premier League Preview: Newcastle v Arsenal
11:19	Podolski focused on UEFA Champions League qualification
11:13	McManaman ruled out for three months
11:11	Premier League Preview: Tottenham v Sunderland
11:03	Premier League Preview: Liverpool v QPR
10:42	Manchester City appoint Patrick Vieira as new Head of Elite Development Squad
10:37	Lampard: Return of Mourinho would be a huge lift
10:35	Cesar does not expect QPR stay
09:07	Ligue 1 Preview: Top versus bottom, Lyon aim for Europe
08:34	Lewandowski coy on next move
05:39	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Olimpia, Santa Fe progress
04:33	Loew rues missing stars
03:48	Deschamps talks up Nasri recall
03:00	Simeone: Atletico happy to be Copa underdogs
01:52	Beckham retirement shocks May
01:45	Stramaccioni focused on Udinese
01:07	Keller calls for late Schalke surge

Thursday 16 May

23:12	Eredivisie Wrap: Twente seize advantage, Go Ahead go ahead
22:07	Poyet suspended by Brighton
21:08	Primeira Liga Preview: Porto, Benfica gunning for title success
20:42	Bundesliga Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim
20:08	Riether secures permanent Fulham deal
20:02	FA to impose minimum five-game bans for discrimination
19:45	Laudrup anticipating hard second term
19:03	Martinez not looking to sell
18:49	Ambrosini agent reveals West Ham interest
18:46	Beckham: I wanted to go out on top
18:22	Clarke aiming to spoil party
17:58	Tributes paid to Beckham after retirement decision
17:58	Premier League Preview: Chelsea v Everton
17:51	Krul expects to be fit for new season
17:41	David Beckham´s career in numbers
17:41	Higuain: I do not care if I score
17:20	Round eyeing points record
16:49	Metzelder confirms retirement
16:38	Xavi slams Mourinho treatment of Casillas
16:38	Bundesliga Preview: Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach
16:27	Serie A Preview: Champions Juventus head to Sampdoria
16:23	N´Zonzi targetting top-10 finish for Stoke
16:11	Beckham announces his retirement
15:39	Wenger: Cazorla is underrated in the Premier League
15:30	Benitez refuses to be drawn on future
15:27	Carroll restored to England squad
14:40	Lloris: Tottenham cannot think about Arsenal
14:35	Townsend to discuss future at Tottenham
14:28	Ancelotti seeks clarification on future
14:22	Nasri sad to see Mancini leave Manchester City
14:11	Lampard signs new one-year contract with Chelsea
13:28	Jesus may leave Benfica
13:15	Ferguson had to leave Manchester United ´a winner´
13:11	Gomez set for Atletico move
13:01	Lampard eager to sign new Chelsea contract
12:55	Blaszczykowski keen on Dortmund extension
12:32	Vlaar: Villa can rely on Bent to replace Benteke
11:58	MLS Preview: Houston, Montreal look to keep pressure on New York
11:54	League Two play-off final Preview: Bradford and Northampton boast fully fit squads
11:41	Ferguson praises ´fantastic´ Carragher
11:32	Ferdinand keen to stay at Manchester United after England retirement
11:02	Pochettino ´to quit Southampton if Cortese leaves´
10:49	Di Canio: I will decide when Sunderland´s holidays start
06:55	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Boca into last eight
06:23	FIFA gives thumbs-up to 2014 stadium
02:37	Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain v Brest
02:12	Benitez warms to PSG link
01:15	SPL: Kilmarnock 1 Hibernian 3

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