A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Barcelona accuse City of unsettling their players

Barcelona have hit out at Manchester City, accusing them of trying to unsettle their players after they were linked with a move for Sergio Busquets.

Reports have suggested City are lining up a big-money move for Spain international Busquets as they look to bolster their midfield options.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has blasted City and warned them off making a move for Busquets, while he also aimed a swipe at Arsenal for their raids on the club’s academy by luring away their best young players.

“Manchester City want to remove our players and want to destabilise us,” said Rosell. “It also happens with Arsenal, who come knocking for youth football players and offer them a lot of money.

“Now City have joined in. We are the enemy to beat.

“There are a lot of people who don’t want us to win,” added Rosell.

Meanwhile, highly-rated Swedish striker John Guidetti has signed a new three-year contract with Manchester City, the Premier League champions have announced.

McGeady to miss Benfica game

* Spartak Moscow’s midfielder Aiden McGeady will miss next week’s Champions League tie at home to Benfica because of a foot injury. “A medical examination revealed inflammation of the small bones in his foot therefore McGeady will be sidelined for at least two weeks,” the Russian club said yesterday. McGeady picked up the injury in the Republic of Ireland’s 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over the Faroe Islands.

* Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has confirmed club record signing Gaston Ramirez faces six weeks on the sidelines. The 21-year-old has impressed for the south coast side since joining in the summer from Serie A outfit Bologna. Adkins yesterday confirmed the Uruguay international faces up to a six-week absence and will miss tomorrow’s trip to West Ham in the Premier League.

* Liverpool teenager Suso is on the verge of signing a new, improved contract at Anfield. The 18-year-old, who has broken into the first team this season, is set to complete the deal before the weekend.

FA refuse to comment on pills

The English FA has refused to comment on reports that England players used sleeping pills the night before their delayed World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Roy Hodgson’s side were below their best as they battled to claim a 1-1 draw in Warsaw after the match was delayed by a day after heavy rain waterlogged the pitch on Tuesday night.

Reports in a number of newspapers have suggested that England players used tablets to allow them to get to sleep on Tuesday night following the postponement.

There were also claims the players required caffeine pills before Wednesday’s 5pm kick-off, however, the FA declined to comment yesterday.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who has 81 England caps, and Everton’s Phil Neville rubbished suggestions that the sleeping pills may have affected the England players’ performance this morning.

“What’s all the fuss with caffeine/sleeping tablets?? Players have used them for yrs before + after games without any fuss..,” Ferdinand wrote on his Twitter page.

Modric would love Bale to join him at Real Madrid

Luka Modric would love his former Tottenham team-mate Gareth Bale to join him at Real Madrid. Bale and Modric came up against each other for the first time since Modric’s departure from White Hart Lane in the summer during Croatia’s 2-0 win over Wales on Tuesday night.

Bale has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with his former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp claiming the Welshman could play for any team in the world.

Modric is a huge admirer of Bale and admits he would love to be reunited with him at the Bernabeu. “Harry is right – it would be amazing for Gareth to come and play for Real Madrid,” said Modric. “I think he can do it. He is certainly good enough to play at the highest level. I hope he will come to us.”

Modric rates Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo as the two best wingers in world football. He added: “It would be even better than now to have Ronaldo and Bale on the wings for Madrid. And it could make Gareth an even better player. For me, they are the best two wingers in the world.”

Cheapest

ticket has risen

by 11.7 per cent

A BBC survey has revealed the average cost of the cheapest adult ticket to watch English league football has risen by 11.7 per cent.

The Price of Football poll, which includes figures from 166 clubs in 10 divisions across Britain, found the average price of the most affordable ticket in the top four divisions in England has risen from £19.01 to £21.24 in the last year.

Last year, a football fan could have taken in a game for less than £20 at 12 of the 92 English league clubs. This year, only four clubs offer that value – Huddersfield, Sheffield United, Derby and Plymouth.

Newcastle offer the best value in the Premier League, with the cost of the cheapest ticket, programme, cup of tea and a pie totalling £23.