Higuain:"Barcelona are the best" !!!!!!!!!!!

Gonzalo Higuain may be on a collision course with team-mates after declaring that rivals Barcelona are the best side in the world.

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema to name a few in Madrid's ranks, the Argentine still believes the Catalan outfit are out in front.

He has also heaped praise on countryman Lionel Messi, suggesting he is the world's best talent.

He said: "People like who they like, but for me Messi is the best in the world. He has won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player awards and at the moment is the world's best.

"Although Madrid are the best team in history, currently Barcelona is the best team in the world. It is hard for me to say that."

Meanwhile, Real midfielder Lassana Diarra is not sure if Barcelona have any problems despite their slight dip in form.

The Catalan giants fell to a first defeat of the season at Atletico Madrid recently and looked shaky in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League last 16 draw at Stuttgart.

With Manuel Pellegrini's Real facing Tenerife on Saturday, they have the opportunity to move above them in the table and apply further pressure on Pep Guardiola's side ahead of their game with Malaga.

Despite their first major setback of the campaign, the former Arsenal and Portsmouth man can't see any real concern within the Barca ranks.

Diarra said: "I've seen Barcelona's last few matches and I don't think they have a problem. If you asked me if they are weaker than last season, maybe yes, maybe no.

"A team cannot be at 100 per-cent all the time. But we have to take advantage of the small slips they might have."

Elsewhere, Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez has admitted he has mixed feelings following his side's Champions League last 16 draw against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday evening.

The Spanish outfit opened the scoring through Alvaro Negredo only for Mark Gonzalez to lash home a stunning equaliser.

Although his team are favourites to progress ahead of the second leg at their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan home, Sanchez believed his team would grab the advantage in Russia.

He said: "Although the result is good, we cannot avoid going away with a bitter-sweet taste in the mouth.

"It's not a negative result, as scoring away from home is always positive.

"I was convinced that the game was going to be ours, it's not completely gone the way I wanted and I'm sure that CSKA, who are a great team, will come and give it everything at our ground."

Cristiano wants to play with Wayne Rooney

Cristiano Ronaldo would love to link up with Wayne Rooney again.

The pair enjoyed a fine relationship during their time at Manchester United, where Rooney continues to prove he is a world class talent.

Ronaldo, of course, left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in a world record £80million deal in the summer, but he admits he would love to line up alongside his pal again in the future.

“He was always brilliant when I played with him," he told Sky Sports News. “I played with him for three or four years and he was always brilliant, not just this season.

“He is fantastic and a winner. I hope to play with him again someday. I don't know if this is possible but I am really happy for him and for all the players at Manchester."

Figo:"It's time for Real Madrid stars to prove themselves"

Former Real Madrid winger Luis Figo has called upon the Blancos' big name players to prove themselves worthy of their prestigious reputations.

The former Portugal international, who became the world’s most expensive player when he left Barcelona for the Merengues in 2000 for a fee of £37 million, toldUefa.com Magazine, “I believe that Real Madrid is a big club with a great tradition that gives an added sense of prestige to their players.”

Figo went on to state that he counts the current Real Madrid side amongst the favorites for this season's Champions League, but admitted the current squad would have to start living up to their huge reputations.

“They are always amongst the favorites and have strengthened with big international names,” he said. “They just need to prove their worth on the pitch.”

Despite a home loss to AC Milan at the end of last year, Real Madrid qualified from their Champions League group without much trouble and will face French side Lyon in the round of 16.

Real Madrid to bid for Fabregas

Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano have had discussions about making a £43 million offer for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The Sun reports that Barcelona are considering a £40m bid in the summer, but Los Merengues are ready to prevent the deal from happening by sweetening their offer with £25m-rated striker Gonzalo Higuain.

"The price demanded is £43m and that is what we are basing our calculations on," a Real insider told The Sun.

"This is 'Operation Cesc', which we hope will prove a blow to Barcelona."

La Blaugrana president Joan Laporta has in the past publically stated that he would like to bring Fabregas 'home' to Barcelona.

Higuain aims to score more goals

Gonzalo Higuain has been in good scoring form this season, but the Argentine said the best is yet to come.

Despite being on a roster that includes summer super signings Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema,Higuain is currently Real’s top goal scorer in La Lagi with 10 strikes, and the speedy attacker who is only two goals behind leader David Villa of Valencia, is demanding from himself whenever he steps on the pitch.

“I hope every game I play is the best in my career at that moment, but I believe my best performances have yet to come. I don’t care about whom we face, Higuain told Uefa.com

“I just want Real Madrid to play well.”

Meanwhile, recent rumours have suggested that the forward could be heading to Arsenal in a swap for Cesc Fabregas, but Higuain reveals that he would love to end his career with the Spanish giants.

“It would be beautiful to end my career on this team,” he said. “Real Madrid and its city are my second home. It would be fantastic.

“I would like Madridistas to remember me as a humble and hard working person. Peopleremember you better when you win titles and they recall how you used to play. I would like to be remembered as being a great person.”

Higuain also thinks the Real side is still “growing as a team this season.”

Cristiano Ronaldo targetscr To Be The Best Player In History

Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on recapturing the Ballon d'Or in 2010 and declared that he wants to go down as the greatest player in history.

Ronaldo relinquished the crown he won in 2008 to Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who also took over the title of FIFA World Player of the Year in 2009 but the Portuguese winger has his sights firmly set on returning to being recognised as the best footballer on the planet.

"I'm going to win the Ballon d'Or back, this year or next," he declared as quoted by Marca.

"I have an ambition to become the best player in history."

The 24-year-old also declared that his troublesome ankle, which kept him out of action for two months, is in good shape and will not require surgery.

"The ankle is fine and if not the Real Madrid doctors will see it right. I am sure I will not need an operation," he noted.