Asked about the club of his dreams, Zenit Saint Petersburg forward and Russian international Andrei Arshavin (27) confirmed in an interview with the official website of Euro 2008 that (read more here, for further prove see the 'holiday in Dubai' pictures in Barcelona outfit below):
"I have supported FC Barcelona all my life. Barcelona are my dream. I never thought I would have a genuine chance to play for the club. Let's see how the situation unfolds. For now I can't say anything for sure. At the moment I'm a player of team Russia and I'm only thinking about doing well in the semi-finals."
Arshavin's agent, Dennis Lachter, repeated the wish of the player to join Barcelona this summer in an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport, who claims that Arshavin is now a serious option for Barcelona also due to the difficult negotiations on Hleb and Hernanes:
"Zenit is a very rich club who pays Andrei a lot to continue with them but now he's looking for a new football challenge. If Barcelona and the coach count on him, he wants to play with Barcelona. I know that Barcelona is interested in Andrei but Guardiola, Txiki or Laporta haven't directly called me yet. I cannot confirm that other clubs are interested but I can assure you that at this moment nothing has been signed with anyone."
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Zenit will probably organize a bid race between the main European clubs for Arshavin, whose contract with the Russian club expires in 2009 and who rejected a renewal proposal last month.
Arsenal could have an advantage since they are already negotiating with Zenit for several months, Inter Milan manager Mourinho has urged his club to push hard for Arshavin and the troubled relations between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Zenit president Alexander Dukov would complicate a move to Chelsea.
Read the whole interview with Arshavin here
Read more:
Arshavin option looked at
Pavlyuchenko new name on striker list
Boca president reveals contact with Palacio
Wednesday 25 June 2008
Arshavin confirms that he is a Barcelona fan
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6 comments:
Excellent news,
there's nothing to wait for. He is the only player that should be bought regardless of unloading some other player because His position is EVERYWHERE. He can play as a striker, on both wings, behind a striker or even as a playmaker. His speed, touch, dribble, technical ability and toughness are second to none. If Barca's board don't act on this one and bring the player of Hleb's caliber it will be real pleasure seeing Laporta leaving president role. Arshavin has at least 3 or 4 years of top-class football in front of him and he can only improve.
I am waiting...
Besides, i don't remember when did one player so openly expressed his honest desire to be the part of FC Barcelona. Since Barca is in question, i think that his price qould be somewhere between 12 and 18M €.
how much more obvious does it need to be?! barca are, supposedly, having a clear out of players that are not committed to the club in favour of players who will give their all, if they dont sign him and buy a lazy bastard like berbatov then laporta deserves to go.
On the fee:
- Sport says Arsenal made a bid (before the hype) between 8,8 and 12,6 million euro, but that this now sounds ridiculous
- El Mundo Deportivo says Arsenal made a first bid of 13 million and hoped to close the deal at 17 million euro.
Hope those pictures were taken way in mid-season...
Otherwise 'As' will probably print them soon on their cover, next to the 'belly' picture of Ronaldinho, putting the title: "Barcelona has finally found worthy Ronaldinho substitute"...
Well if Arsenal is reportedly asking 20mil for Hleb, I'd rather spend that money on Arshavin instead. And that's 5mil less than what Sao Paulo is asking for Hernanes. Now would be the right time for Barcelona to strike because Arsenal is virtually in a "holding pattern" because they can't move on Arshavin until Adebayor's and Hleb's futures are decide at the club. By Arshavin's statements I don't think there is any doubt that if Barcelona were to put in a similar bid to Arsenal's at this point that he would choose Barcelona in a heartbeat. Although I must admit I'm one of the few that is not completely sold on the lad. Yes, I know he had a terrific season at Zenit and has woved in his two games at the Euro's s far but I'm still not convinced. I just have this gut feeling that he will turn out to be a "boom or bust" player for Barcelona. I'll be interested so see what kind of impact he has tomorrow against Spain. If he dramatically changes the team's fortunes around I may have to reconsider my stance.
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