Barca to hijack Vieira move?

Barcelona are reportedly trying to scupper Internazionale's move for Patrick Vieira.

Inter seemed well on course to clinch a deal for the Juventus star - but reports from Spain now suggest that Barca have made a late move and will use Thiago Motta as bait to try and ease through a transfer.

Barca have already fed well on the carcass that is Juve - following their demotion to Serie B - by clinching the signings of Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram.

Now Vieira could be a third Zebra to make the switch to Catalunya.

Inter are still working hard to seal his signature, but reports claim Vieira has heard of Barca's interest and is now wanting to hear from Frank Rijkaard.

Barca also have Motta as a possible bargaining tool - although the Brazilian insists he knows nothing of any potential move.

"Nobody has said anything to me," Motta told Marca.

"The only thing I want is to do well in pre-season.

"If there was something on that (Juve interest) the club would have commented on it and we would have already spoken - but nobody has said anything to me."