Barca coach admits Arshavin interes

FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola has confirmed the Blaugranas' interest in signing the Russian striker Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St. Petersburg this summer.

Per Guardiola told the Catalan sports daily Sport that he is willing to take the 27-year old Russian international on board this summer and also insisted that Barca still foster hopes of signing Alexander Hleb from Arsenal before the start of next season.

Guardiola told Sport:

"All the players that we have been linked with are high calibre.

“Arshavin is having an extraordinary European Championship and he is one of the player’s that we are following."

"I am sure that all great players are compatible and Arshavin would get along fine with Hleb.

“There is no denying it, Arshavin is a great player. If one day he becomes a Barcelona player then we will talk further about him but for now there’s no point talking as he is not our player.”