Pep Guardiola sidesteps Jerome Boateng transfer rumor to Barcelona

PORTLAND, Ore. — Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola briefly addressed rumors surrounding Jérôme Boateng's potential move to FC Barcelona on Monday. At a press conference before Wednesday's Major League Soccer All-Star game, the former Barça boss addressed the question quickly and sternly.

"Normally, I don't speak about rumors in the newspapers," Guardiola said in German. "I do not know what the media say."

Pressed further, Guardiola said Boateng is "100 percent" a part of his plans for the upcoming season, despite a number of reports in the Spanish and German press that Barcelona has made him its top transfer priority to strengthen the back line.

Barcelona wants to secure another defender to allow new manager Luis Enrique to implement a tactical system with three center backs. If Guardiola is to be believed, Boateng won't be Barça's man.

The German World Cup contingent is in transit to the West Coast, where it will play a limited role vs. the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday. None of the players, including Boateng, has trained yet following a three-week break.