Robinho will be the star turn in a £80 million swap shop centering on Barcelona and Manchester City in January, if intermediaries already working on the spectacular deal get their way.

Robinho will be offered as a makeweight to lure some of Barcelona's biggest stars to Manchester City's relentless, ambitious, money-no- object push for Champions League football. Manchester City will offer Robinho plus cash to chose from the likes of Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol, Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal.

Barca have an array of superstars they could offer, but do not have the straight £32 million cash City would demand, in order to get their money back for the Brazilian they bought from Real Madrid.

A leading high-powered players broker close to Barca told ESPN Soccernet: "Robinho wants to go, and I think that City have had enough of him and would let him got. Barcelona want him but don't have the kind of money to tempt City, but do have plenty of players that would interest Mark Hughes. I can see a big swap deal in January."

Robinho has been a handful from the moment he joined City, and is reported to have thought he was heading to United when told Manchester had out-bid Chelsea on the transfer deadline just over a year ago. Now, Robinho has made it perfectly plain he wants to join Barca. and play alongside the treble-winning superstars at the Nou Camp.

Robinho has publicly stated his burning desire to join up with the likes of Argentina playmaker Lionel Messi. "Of course I'd enjoy playing for Barca." he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo. "Who wouldn't? We could have so much fun. It would be a pleasure to play alongside Messi, my compadre Dani Alves, Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, with them all.

"They're a great team. I played against them and know their quality. But right now I can only do it on the PlayStation."

The Brazil international insists neither he nor his agent - dad Gilvan de Souza - have been informed of any bid from Barcelona. But ESPN Soccernet has learned that Barca will equal the extortionate wages he earns at City. While there has been no direct deal struck by the clubs, the usual preliminaries are now underway to make Robinho's move back to Spain a reality.

However, City boss Mark Hughes' demands for new players to replace Robinho will ensure it will be a spectacular January transfer window, whether those players come from Barca or elsewhere.

Though Robinho insisted it would be "wrong to talk about this hypothetical transfer" until there was a formal offer, he could not resist heaping praise on the Catalans. "It is a pleasure to see Barca play, they seem to be like Brazilians in how they use the ball," he said. "Pep Guardiola's team are real entertainers."

Nou Camp boss Guardiola has concerns about his left flank. The club failed in bids for several players during the summer window and wants to rectify the situation this winter. Technical secretary Txiki Begiristain admitted that Robinho is an attractive option because he would not be cup-tied for the Champions League knock-out phase.

Barca and City are understood to have discussed the transfer of Robinho when they met in a friendly at the Nou Camp in August, but they could not come to an agreement then, but now seem sure to sort something out in the forthcoming two months ahead of the January window.

City were told that a part-exchange for Messi was out of the question and the 22-year-old Argentine has since signed a new contract until 2016 with a buy-out clause of £230 million. But other players mentioned were former Arsenal star Henry and veteran captain Puyol. Hughes would not be averse to losing Robinho, if he can bring players of that quality.

Robinho was the Abu Dhabi money men's impact signing on the day their buy-out was revealed in September 2008. City shelled out a British record £34m to take him from Real Madrid from under the noses of Chelsea's then chief executive Peter Kenyon, much to the annoyance of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

"It is not a question of being loaned or transferred, whether in the winter or the summer," Robinho said. "It is a matter of sitting down and talking about it when there is a concrete offer, which, I repeat, I am not personally aware of. When that happens, we can talk. I don't want to be misinterpreted. It is clear that I have a contract with City and I owe it to them to be professional.

"It's no secret that there was clear interest from Barca (in the summer), but Manchester City would not enter negotiations. I believed that I was not transferable and so I focused on doing my best for City. We are thinking big, we have built a very strong team aiming to win the Premier League with (Carlos) Tevez, (Emmanuel) Adebayor, (Joleon) Lescott and (Gareth) Barry."

Brazil and Barca full back Dani Alves had said Robinho would be very welcome and would offer his team different options. Robinho replied: "Dani is a phenomenon. With Alves I have very good vibes. I am delighted with how well he has done at Barca. He deserves it, he's a great guy and excellent footballer. I am still up to date with Spanish football and left many friends in Spain. When I meet with many of them in the Brazil team we talk at length. We are used to exchanging text messages or calling each other."

Told he was admired by Guardiola, Robinho responded: "It is an honour that a coach such as him speaks highly of Robinho. I read that he values me. I thank him from the heart."

Perhaps Martins meant to say that it was Wayne Rooney, rather than the United team as a whole, who is better off. The England forward will make his 50th European appearance for United against Wolfsburg, five years this Monday past since he announced his arrival in the Champions League by scoring a hat-trick on his United debut in a 6-2 win at home to Fenerbahçe.

Ferguson said yesterday that Rooney was not even fully fit that day, but the performance would prove something of a false dawn. Another 17 Champions League games would pass before Rooney scored again in the competition proper, but having initially found the going tough in European football, England’s brightest talent has since got to grips with its differing demands to the point where Martins believes “he can destroy defenders in an instant”.

Ferguson, too, acknowledges the development and believes the player will continue to improve, especially because he has now embraced married life. Can he improve to the point where he can emulate Ronaldo and become European and World Footballer of the Year?

“Well, that’s the challenge there now for every player, not just Wayne,” the United manager said. “Kaká, Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi are the best three at the moment but I think Wayne can get to that level if he keeps making progress.

“When we signed the kid, we thought he would become a really top player. His progress has at no point disappointed us. He is blessed with ingredients that only certain great players have. He has that hunger and determination.”

Rooney should get some joy against a defence that has shipped 18 goals in nine matches this season. Up front, though, Wolfsburg are a threat. Martins, who may have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench, is already known to United, but Grafite, Wolfsburg’s 30-year-old Brazil striker, followed in Rooney’s footsteps when he became only the sixth player to score a hat-trick on his Champions League debut, in his team’s 3-1 win at home to CSKA Moscow 15 days ago.

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Espanyol defender Nico Pareja thinks Barcelona's Lionel Messi has been affected by Argentina's poor form.

Argentina are in serious danger of missing out of 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Messi has been singled out for criticicsm for his below-par displays.

Pareja, who has played with Messi for various Argentina age-group teams, revealed: "It's normal, people love him a lot there and Leo has to prove himself everytime on the field.

"He is experiencing a difficult situation in Argentina, but he remains the best in the world. I think that he leaves everything on the field like everyone else, but not in all games can he play well.

"He's a great guy and the best player in the world so you have to support him."

Lionel Messi will become Barcelona's highest-paid player when he signs a new contract this week, according to club president Joan Laporta.

The Argentina star, 22, is one of world football's leading lights and last season helped inspire Barcelona to an unprecedented treble as they collected the Primera Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.



Messi scored 38 goals in all competitions, as well as claiming 16 assists, and is rated as one of the favourites to succeed Cristiano Ronaldo as FIFA World Player of the Year in December.

The forward's current contract expires in 2014 but Barca are determined to keep hold of the Nou Camp hero and, despite the high-profile signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer, have agreed a deal that will see Messi rise to the top of the club's top earners list.

"Leo should be the highest-paid player in the squad," Laporta told Catalan radio. "He deserves it. He's the best player in the world and one of the best in football history.

"Messi has already agreed to a new contract. He's content and that's why he's playing the way he is."

Laporta is also hopeful of retaining the services of captain Carles Puyol despite recent suggestions that the player may not be entirely happy at Camp Nou following the acquisition of Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy.

"I am convinced that Puyol is keen to end his career at Barca," Laporta said. "But I also understand that a player of his age examines the possibility of having an experience outside of Spain."

Robinho has done little to quell reports that he could join Barcelona in January by admitting it is "not easy" to turn down Pep Guardiola's Treble winners.

The Brazilian was Manchester City's star acquisition last summer when joining the club from Real Madrid in a British record £32m deal, but recent reports have indicated that Robinho could well return to Spain to join Madrid's great rivals, Barca.

Despite signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan, the Spanish champions are believed to be searching for another forward and Robinho would be a natural replacement for the ageing Thierry Henry in Barca's talented squad.

The 25-year-old boasts 14 goals in 33 league games under Mark Hughes but has left his suitors in no doubt that he would welcome the opportunity to move to Camp Nou.

"It's not easy to say no to a club like Barcelona," Robinho is quoted in the Guardian. "They are European champions, they're in a lovely city and I like Spain a lot.

"I have always wanted to play at clubs like Barcelona. It's a great club, any player would be happy for them to show an interest. I'm happy that Barcelona have taken notice of me.

"Who wouldn't like to play alongside Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and all the rest? I like Barcelona; they're a great club."

Robinho is a doubt for City's game against Arsenal at the weekend after sustaining a thigh injury as Brazil clinched World Cup qualification with a 3-1 victory at arch rivals Argentina on Saturday night.

Brazil became the first South American nation to make it to the World Cup finals as they defeated old enemies Argentina 3-1 in the South American - League Group in Rosario. A brace by Luis Fabiano after a Luisao header opened the scoring helped the five-time world champions book their tickets to travel for South Africa next year.

It confirmed Brazil's qualification but leaves Argentina in fourth just two points ahead off the play-off places. Argentina started attacking Brazil from the start, Lionel Messi going wide with a left-footed shot in the 13th minute to rouse the home crowd. However, it was the visitors who took the lead 11 minutes later when Luisao headed home a Kaka free-kick past the Albicelestes goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.

The goal came from their first foray into the Argentina box and the shocked hosts almost pulled level two minutes later but Maximiliano Rodriguez failed to deflect Juan Sebastian Veron's free-kick. Instead, Brazil doubled their lead after half an hour. Maicon shot from Kaka's cross which Andujar saved the ball but the keeper failed to hold on to the ball and Sevilla striker Fabiano pounced on the rebound to slot home.
Argentina almost reduced the deficit seven minutes later when Rodriguez unleashed a shot following Carlos Tevez's right-wing cross but Brazil keeper Julio Cesar was equal to it.

Argentina were then grateful to Andujar when he blocked Lucio's header just before half-time, the goalkeeper proving to be the pick of the home players in the first half. Sergio Aguero replaced Rodriguez but the hosts were still having little joy despite enjoying more pressure.
However, they halved the deficit after 65 minutes when Napoli midfielder Jesus Datolo finally beat Cesar with a shot from outside the box
The hosts' optimism was short-lived though as Fabiano scored a second by finishing off a counter-attack.

Diego Milito, who replaced Tevez, could have given Argentina some hope with his 72nd-minute attempt, but Cesar thwarted his Inter Milan team-mate. As a result of the victory, Brazil confirmed their place in South Africa and have reached the 30-point mark.

Meanwhile, it was Argentina's first World Cup qualifying home defeat since September 5 1993, when they lost 5-0 to Colombia in Buenos Aires.
The two-time World Cup winners lie fourth on 22 points, only two in front of Colombia.

Barcelona's megabucks signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic failed to impress as the Champions League winners claimed a last-gasp victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Super Cup.

Ibrahimovic, who moved from Inter Milan for £40million plus Samuel Eto'o, was completely overshadowed by Lionel Messi, who created the only goal for Pedro Rodriguez in the 115th minute.

The Swedish striker will need to do much more to justify his price tag, especially with the likes of exciting young striker Bojan Krkic pushing for a place.

UEFA Super Cups, the annual match between the winners of the Champions League and UEFA Cup, have rarely been classics and this was no exception.

Barcelona had complained about the state of the pitch in the Stade Louis II stadium and with some justification - it was dry, rutted and horribly bobbly.

Even so, and even without the injured Andres Iniesta, Barcelona still dominated against an unadventurous Shakhtar side packed with hard-running Ukrainians and only mildly spiced up by their four Brazilians.

Shakhtar did not create a single opening in normal time while Barca at least showed some intent.

Thierry Henry looked hungry and he was the first to threaten, a trademark dipped shoulder confusing his marker before he struck a rising shot which whistled over the crossbar.

Dmytro Chygrynsky, playing his last game for Shakhtar before joining Barca, gave the ball away to Messi and then went in hard on the diminutive Argentinian to regain possession.

A quick free-kick from Xavi saw Messi sting the fingers of Andriy Pyatov in the Shakhtar goal and the keeper recovered quickly to deny the lurking Henry.

Barcelona claimed for a penalty after Messi's direct free-kick struck Olexandr Kucher's arm but the referee was unimpressed.

If the first half had been disappointing, there was little to lift spirits in the second.

Daniel Alves produced a hopeless blast into the stands and then Ibrahimovic produced his major contribution to the game, falling like a sniper victim under Olexiy Gai's challenge and bringing a yellow card for the defender.

With the game drifting towards unwanted extra-time, Barcelona tried to step up a gear.

Messi hit a fierce left-foot effort that Pyatov could only parry, and when the ball drifted out to Henry by the left touchline he took deliberate aim to loop a shot into the far corner but the Shakhtar keeper climbed just high enough to turn it over.

Ibrahimovic continued to frustrate, failing to pass to Henry when he was clean through and then collapsing in the area theatrically under a fair challenge.

Messi lit up the match with a Maradona-like dribble past four challenges only to be thwarted at the very last moment. Furious, he became involved in a pushing match with Kucher and both were booked.

In the 98th minute Victor Valdes made his first save, diving low to keep out Julius Aghahowa's goal-bound shot.

Bojan, on for Henry, could have wrapped it up with two chances before, having barely threatened, the Ukrainians were denied a blatant penalty when Ilsinho was felled.

Shakhtar coach Mircea Luscescu stormed onto the pitch in fury but it was all in vain as Messi's brilliant pass set up Rodriguez for the latest of winners.

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Are United and Barcelona the two best teams in Europe?
I’d go as far as to say the two best club sides in the world. I can’t think of anyone else who could justifiably say they’re up there alongside United and Barcelona. United are the world champions and Barcelona have been sensational this season.

Finals aren’t always great spectacles, but could this be the exception?
Potentially it will be. Barcelona will fear and respect United’s players, but they won’t change the way they play because of that. United will set up to respect that but also entertain. It’s all there for a great game, but these are two teams who can also do the ugly aspects of the game. Otherwise they wouldn’t be in the final.

Which team is going to be most hindered by suspensions and absentees?
It’s a real benefit to United that Barcelona are missing Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal. They’d have run United’s wide players deep into their own half, and will be missed. But I think Darren Fletcher is a bigger loss to United. I doubt anybody would have expected that last August, but his influence can’t be overstated now.

How do you expect the managers to approach things tactically?
Barcelona went at Chelsea, kept the ball for long periods with four at the back, three tight in midfield and that famous three upfront, both home and away. United will have to cope with that, and I think they’ll go like for like and try to get about them high up the pitch. If Fletcher hadn’t been suspended, I think the team that went to the Emirates would be the same team that started in Rome.

The hype of Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi is inevitable. Who do you think is the better player?
At the moment you have to say Ronaldo. In the big games, he has been there and pulled the stops out. Messi has yet to prove against Premier League sides and in big games that he really can do the business, whereas we know Ronaldo can. He showed it in last year’s final, in this year’s semi-final and that’s what Messi has to do.

Where are the key battles?
A big one will be Messi up against Patrice Evra, who’s back to his best and has the pace to match up to Messi. If Ronaldo plays upfront, he’ll probably be up against Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, who he can embarrass with his speed and quick feet. But if United can stop Xavi, Iniesta and Toure controlling the game in midfield then they give themselves a great chance.

Finally, who’s your tip to win the final?
If they're both at their best, I think United will win. There’s nothing between them in terms of attacking and creation, but United have a better defence. I think that both teams will score, but I’ll go for United to win 2-1, and [b]Wayne Rooney to climax a great season with the winning goal.[/b]