Arshavin claims to be a Barca fan and said it would be a dream to move to the Nou Camp. But his club, Zenit St Petersburg, made a counter-bid for Lionel Messi when they were unimpressed by a £12m bid for Arshavin.

The cheek of bidding for Argentina superstar Messi riled the Catalan giants, according to reports, leading Barcelona to target other forwards.

A fax from the Russians read: "If you want Arshavin for 15million (euros), we will buy Messi for 20."