Arshavin waiting on Barca

But Zenit playmaker has concerns over fee

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 17th July 2008

Arshavin waiting on Barca

Arshavin: Barca desire

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Andrei Arshavin has reiterated his desire to join Barcelona from Zenit St Petersburg, but is worried the Catalan club cannot afford him.

The 27-year-old forward is desperate to join the Blaugrana and hopes that his current club will lower their asking price to allow him the chance to complete his dream move.

Barcelona have just clinched the signing of Alexander Hleb from Arsenal following the sale of Ronaldinho to AC Milan, and Arshavin is remaining patient to see if they will make a second bid for his services.

In an extensive interview with Sport, he said: "As they have signed Hleb, I do not know if they will want me too. We are different players, I know that, but does Barca have more money to spend on me.

"I really hope that they call and can sign me, but Zenit is asking for so much money. I know nothing more than that Barca offered €15million (£11.9million) and Zenit said they wanted €30million (£23.8million) which is a lot.

"I have made my decision and (Dick) Advocaat knows clearly that I will go. I do not know if it will be to London, but my desire is well known.

"Now I do not want to not play or train for weeks. I agreed with the coach, with the club's permission, that I would only play if necessary while a transfer is sorted out."

Negotiating

Arshavin denied that he travelled to England for talks with Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea, who have both been linked with his services.

"I was not in London negotiating anything. My club let me have a holiday after the European Championships, but I did not go to London," he said.

Despite Real Madrid's boast that every player wants to join them, Arshavin is not a fan and admits that he would turn down their advances if they made a move for him.

"That would be very difficult. I cannot see myself playing for Barcelona's great rivals. Nobody has mentioned Madrid, but no, I would not play there," he said.

With Zenit said to be preparing to make Arshavin the best paid Russian sportsman ever, the playmaker has claimed that his desire to move on is not financially motivated.

Dream

"Money? I doubt that many other clubs would be able to pay me what Zenit can. It is not an economic question, it is about sporting desire. I want to play in one of the big leagues," he continued.

"My dream is Barca, but saying that is nothing new. Everyone knows that my dream has always been to play there.

"I remember Koeman's goal in the European final at Wembley. That goal had a great effect on me and the way the team played. I discovered the team when I was very young and I said I wanted to play for them one day.

"Barca is a team that can win 7-0 or lose 4-3 because their way of playing football is to attack. Since I can remember it has been like that and watching them is always exciting.

"I have always loved the way that they play with people like Koeman, Laudrup, Stoichkov, Guardiola.

"(Lionel) Messi is very, very good and to play alongside him would be wonderful and (Thierry) Henry, what more can I say, he is incredible.

"I would not feel any pressure. I have played for Zenit for eight years and there is also a lot of pressure here."