Asked about the rumours linking Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30) with a summer move to his club, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has yesterday denied the interest in the French player at a press conference before the game against Fiorentina:

"Barcelona is not interested in this player. It's a great player, but we already have our team almost in place."

Asked for a reaction on that statement, Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said to Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport that his club didn't plan to let the Frenchman go anyway:

"I'm happy that Barcelona doesn't want Trezeguet because we didn't have any intention to sell him."

Josep Guardiola has refused to be drawn on speculation linking Barcelona with Premier League stars Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Reports claim the Nou Camp boss is interested in both Chelsea's Drogba and Arsenal striker Adebayor in a bid to strengthen his side further ahead of his first campaign in the hotseat.

But Guardiola was remaining tight-lipped after watching Barca cruise to a 6-0 friendly win over Hibernian at Murrayfield in his first game in charge on Thursday night.

"I'm not here to speak about them," he said.

"I have many excellent players and I am working with them. All good players are interesting and those players are interesting but there are many, many good players, in England, Germany, everywhere."

Asked whether he was preparing to make a bid, Guardiola added: "I don't know. The sporting director can talk about that better than me."

Eidur Gudjohnsen helped himself to a double and Lionel Messi, Pedro, Bojan and Yaya Toure all claimed a goal apiece in a game where Messi stole the show in the 45 minutes he was on the park.

Guardiola is now seeking a quick resolution over the Argentinian's participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer - a move Barcelona are opposed to.

He said: "(FIFA president Sepp) Blatter has to make a decision because we have been waiting a long time for the decision.

"If he has to go according to the law, he goes. If he is to stay according to the law, he stays."

"But a decision had to be made as quickly as possible."

Barcelona have confirmed that Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb is set to undergo a medical at the club.

The willowy Belarusian has been a long-term target of the Catalan giants and with Ronaldinho having completed his move to Milan, Hleb's transfer has moved a stepped closer.

The 27-year-old will arrive in Barcelona on Wednesday before completing his medical, with the club intending to tie up a deal within the next 24 hours.

Reports in Spain suggest that the fee will be 15 million euros (?11.9 million), rising to 18 million euros (?14.4 million) depending on results.

Hleb revealed last week that he was in talks with Barcelona and has also spoken of his dissatisfaction with the role he was asked to play for the Gunners last season.

Hleb, who is considered Belarus's greatest ever player, joined Arsenal from German side Stuttgart for ?11.2 million in June 2005, and after a slow start he became a key component of the club's feted passing style.

Barca have embarked on a comprehensive re-building process this summer under new coach Pep Guardiola after a second consecutive trophyless season.

Lets hope all changes this season.

Andrei Arshavin has his heart set on a move to Barcelona this summer, saying that playing for the club he supported as a boy is a "dream".


Arshavin has only made two appearance at the tournament but his impact has alerted top European clubs and Zenit St Petersburg are braced for his departure.


Arsenal have also been linked the 27-year-old, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger suggesting recently that he would fit the bill for the football in the Premier League.


However, Arshavin said:

"I have supported 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 will start for Russia against Spain in the Euro 2008 semi-final at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday evening.


He missed the defeat to Spain at the start of the tournament through suspension and admits there could be an element of revenge to turn around that 4-1 reverse.



He said..

"Possibly because I didn't take part in the first match, For me the first game has no meaning any more. This is a semi-final and things can be decided by a single mistake."

Russia coach Guus Hiddink has Denis Kolodin and Dmitri Torbinski suspended for the semi-final.

Barcelona could be ready to offer Andrei Arshavin a dream move after Zenit St Petersburg confirmed the Spanish giants have made an approach.

Arshavin is one of the most-sought after players in Europe after catching the eye at the Euro 2008 finals with Russia.


The classy playmaker is expected to leave Zenit this summer and he has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all credited with an interest in his services.


Arshavin has admitted he would like to move to Spain with Barcelona being his dream destination and the Catalan titans have now made their first move to lure the 27-year-old to La Liga.


Zenit's sporting director Konstantin Sarsaniya says Barcelona have contacted them about a possible deal for Arshavin and that his future will be resolved once he returns from international duty.

"Barcelona has made a formal proposal to Zenit for the purchase of Arshavin," Sarsaniya told Sovietski Sport.

"We will only talk about this once Andrei returns to Zenit."

Sporting Life / Eurosport