NEW Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has revealed Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o are not part of his plans for next season while also ruling out a summer bid for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Guardiola, a former Barcelona captain, was officially unveiled yesterday as the Catalan club's first-team coach.
He admitted the big name trio – all of whom have been linked with moves to England – are surplus to requirements.
"All of the play
ers in the first-team squad last season are of a very high level," he said. "But we are forming a squad and Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto'o are not in our minds."
However, Guardiola admitted he would be happy to keep Ronaldinho if the Brazilian could recapture his best form.
"If I felt that he wanted to be the player he was again, he would be here," he added. "But the situation has deteriorated and the solution is to build a strong dressing-room."
The imminent departure of the Brazilian and the recent exit of Giovani Dos Santos to Tottenham means Guardiola will be short of options on the left flank, but the 37-year-old ruled out a summer swoop for Manchester United winger Ronaldo.
"I wouldn't make a space for him in the team, even though I think he is a very good player," he said.
Guardiola said the club's priority is to sign a striker. "We will look at the possibility of bringing in a winger, but if we don't then that's fine; the priority is a number nine," he said
, before joking: "We are looking for a number nine who scores 60 goals for us."
However, the coach claimed Thierry Henry remains very much part of his plans, despite an indifferent first season at the Nou Camp.
Guardiola said: "I am looking for a number nine, we need (someone] to complement Henry and Bojan (Krkic]. I want the three to feel like first-team starters."
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi will join Argentina at the Beijing Olympics only if Barcelona are legally required to release the player.
The 20-year-old forward said last month it would be his decision, if selected, and that he was excited at the prospect of playing at the Olympics even though it meant him missing the first leg of Barça's Champions League third qualifying round tie on 12 or 13 August.
However, Barcelona's sports director Txiki Begiristain said: "It isn't the player's decision and we understand the regulations favour us."
The full article contains 417 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
