Barcelona president Rossell angry at 'false' Pique rumors

 　　MADRID, March 13 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona president Sandro Rossell has rejected claims that coach Pep Guardiola has asked for central defender¹ Gerard Pique² to be sold as a condition for renewing his contract at the club.

　　With his current deal due to expire at the end of June, Guardiola still has to renew his contract with FC Barcelona and commit himself to a fifth season as Barcelona coach.

　　Guardiola has always agreed a one-year-deal, but in previous seasons he had always signed a new contract before the end of February and the delay has caused several rumors⁴ to spring up about his future.

　　The latest rumor³ involves central defender Gerard Pique, whose form has dropped off this campaign amid rumors that his private life and relationship with pop signer Shakira, have seen him distracted.

　　Madrid based television station TeleMadrid even went as far to broadcast a story this weekend insisting that Guardiola had stipulated⁵ that Pique's departure from the club was a condition in him renewing his contract.

　　Both Pique and Guardiola are seen as symbols of this Barcelona side which was won three league titles, the Copa del Rey, two Champions League, two European Supercups and two World Club Championships as well as the Spanish Supercuon on three occasions during Guardiola's reign⁶ and should the story be true it would cause a division among Barcelona supporters.

　　Rossell not only rejected the claims made by TeleMadrid, but also launched a strong attack on the television station.

　　"It is a story with no foundations and it is inappropriate that a public television station should do such a thing. It is false and I repeat that all decisions over signing and selling players are taken jointly⁷ by Pep Guardiola and (Director of Football) Andoni Zubizarreta," he said, before criticizing TeleMadrid further.

　　"It is a shame that in a period of economic crisis, public money should be given to means of communication which misinform the people and create false stories," added Rossell.

1 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

2 pique   

v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气

参考例句：

• She went off in a fit of pique.她一赌气就走了。
• Tom finished the sentence with an air of pique.汤姆有些生气地说完这句话。

3 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 stipulated   

vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的

参考例句：

• A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
• Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

6 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

7 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。