Andrei Arshavin insists a move to Barcelona is his
number one priority as speculation over his future continues in the
wake of his outstanding displays for Russia at Euro
2008. Chelsea, Arsenal and AC Milan are just a few of
the clubs reportedly interested in the Zenit St Petersburg star,
but the 27-year-old insists he has his heart set on a move to the
Nou Camp.
'My dream is Barca,' Arshavin told Spain's Sport newspaper. 'But
to say that isn't new. The whole world knows that I have dreamed
forever about going to Barca.
'Messi, Arshavin, Henry? Messi is very, very good and to play
with him must be a marvel, and the same goes for Henry. What more
can I say? I would love it.
'Barca is a team that can win 7-0 or lose 4-3 because their
style of football is going on the attack. As long as I remember
it's been like that and all that fills me with enthusiasm. 'For
that reason I've followed Barca closely for a long time.'
Barcelona have already had a bid for Arshavin knocked back and
are believed to have been put off by Zenit's 30 million euros
(£24million) asking price. Barca's capture of Arsenal midfielder
Alexander Hleb yesterday has concerned the Russian, who fears the
Nou Camp kitty could dry up in the wake of their fifth purchase of
the summer.
'If they have signed Hleb, I don't know if they still want me,'
he continued. 'We are distinct, of course. I know that. But do
Barca have more money to sign me? 'I hope that they call me, that
they sign me. But Zenit are asking for quite a lot of
money. 'I only know that Barcelona offered 15 million and that
Zenit wanted 30 and that's a lot of money.'
With Barca coach Pep Guardiola unlikely to be in a position to
table a fresh bid for Arshavin, speculation has now turned to the
Barclays Premier League - with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham all
reportedly interested in his services. With Arshavin's future
plans increasingly cloaked in mystery, the player himself at least
has two certainties to fall back on - that he will leave Zenit and
will not join Real Madrid.
I'm not going to stay,' he continued. 'I've taken a decision and
(Zenit boss Dick) Advocaat knows it's certain I'll leave. I don't
know if I'm going to London but I have made my desires very
clear.
'No one has talked to me about Madrid and, no, I won't play
there.' He added: 'It's got nothing to do with money. I doubt
another club would pay me as much as I could get at Zenit. It's not
a question of money but of sporting ambition. I want to play in a
big league.'