Several newspapers and online news services reorted that Barça is being linked with a shock bid for Patrick Vieira and Italian/Brazilian Thiago Motta going the other way.
Former Arsenal star Patrick Vieira has been linked with Manchester Untied and Inter. Inter have been mentioned to be favourites to land the French international in a deal 15 mill. Euro deal.


However, since 2-3 days, several international media services suggested that FC Barcelona are keen to land the former Arsenal skipper to the Camp Nou. Also Barca's good relation with "the old lady" Juve makes a deal possible, as the Juventus bord is not keen to sell any of the teir star player to an Italian Club.


Also coach Rijkaard´s comment that Barca as "a big club should never close the doors to new opportunities. Like with Thuram and Zambrotta, we took advantage of a situation that arose. The team looks good right now, but you never know."


There is also speculation that Barca has overtaken their rivals in the bid for former Arsenal star Vieira because Juventus is keen on a swap deal with Brazilian/Italian midfielder Thiago Motta. New Juventus coach Didier Deschamp is an admirer of the defensive midfielder Motta and would like to seem him to wear the "Bianco-Nero" shirt, if Vieira should leave. Deschamp would consider Motta as a decent replacement.


Thiago Motta himself does not know anything about a swap deal:


"Nobody has said anything to me. The only thing I want is to do well in pre-season. If there was something on that the club would have commented on it and we would have already spoken - but nobody has said anything to me."



FC Barcelona Blog is not aware of any on-going deal or negotiations. In our opinion a signing will not be on the agenda. With the Barca´s board resigning and new elections on 10th of September after the transfer period closed a signing of Patrick Vieira is very unlikely. Even, we would regret, to miss out on such a quality player.