Our final offer for Arshavin was rejected. Don’t know what the number was, but I suspect it wasn’t much above 15 million Euros, as it shouldn’t have been. Zenit want to keep him, or at least force some side who wants him to overpay. They also say that, contrary to rumor, we have been the only side to contact them formally about Arshavin.

The official comment from Zenit’s general manager is: “For the fee that Barcelona has proposed to us, we cannot sell Arshavin.”

Best of luck to them, and don’t be surprised to see Arshavin in the Premiership.

We’re talking to Ajax about a loan of the soon-to-be-signed Henrique (good move) and a sale of Oleguer. Stay tuned for that one. I think they also have a striker that may or may not be for sale. Hmmm.

Soriano has, in effect, told bargain hunters to get stuffed.

“They will go for the correct market price,” he said, adding “We will take as long as it takes to achieve transfers for our players.”

He also intimated that the 10 million Deco sale, given that we paid 18 million for him and sold him for 10, after four years of depreciation, was a fair price, neener neener.

This is a dangerous game, because the longer we keep them and the closer they get to contract expiration, the cheaper their price could become. But it really is starting to look as if we are going to at least start the season with Ronaldinho and Eto’o. The latter isn’t as vexing to me as the former.

The team he is trying to build sounds on paper a lot like that one. Puyol was three years younger, with tremendous closing speed. Ditto for Belletti. That pace made the defense rock-solid.

Up front, Messi was part of a four-pronged assault that included Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto’o. Xavi didn’t even need to push up, so the midfield was very solid, as well.

This season, Guardiola has added pace and depth, and he’s trying to change Messi’s world in the sense that he won’t be the attack, as he was last season. We can’t have a side where as goes Messi, so goes the match. By building in pace and options, it will negate the shut down potential.

Now we just have to see if it works. The best part is that if the system works, it won’t matter a lot who’s part of it, as long as they are of Barca caliber. That is, you don’t NEED players the likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto’o to fill those front-line roles.

Certainly, Guardiola is envisioning a different kind of attack, but from everything we’ve read, it will be as rooted in multiple options.

Can’t wait to see it.

But think about this: 30 goals in 48 games, against Premiership defenses that were set up to stop him as a lone striker. That’s with only the occasional stellar Fabregas pass. And that’s not counting the chances he cocked up. Now remember: Just two of those goals would have had us in the Champions League final match. If you’ll recall, our array of talented midgets just knocked their heads against that big Premiership back line, passing the ball around in front of it, but never breaching it.

30 in 48 in the Premiership. That’s a damn sight more compelling than Arshavin, or Villa, or any of the other players that people are preferring we sign. Hell, Arshavin couldn’t even show against Spain, and they’re all Lilliputians, even though Puyol plays like he’s nine feet tall.

But no worries, since Arsenal are determined to keep him, so it’s all an exercise.

Meanwhile, we are going to dig our heels in over Messi’s playing in the Olympics, which aren’t skedded to end (unless the unlikely happens and Argentina gets bounced early) until the end of August. That’s the Champions League qualification rounds, and some early league matches.

We’re apparently talking to the AFA. But given that Messi wants to play, I don’t see the logic in this one. All it will do is make him dig in HIS heels, and result in some early rancor. Unless it’s a psychological precedent being set, that we need everyone, and no player is bigger than the club. Does that mean no ACN for Eto’o (if he’s still here), Keita and Yaya? Good question.

Argentine coach Sergio Batista said (and he’s right) that Messi needs to learn to play withOUT the ball, as regards movement and taking advantage of space to make his life easier when he gets the ball. If he doesn’t have the ball, at present, he does a lot of standing around waiting for it, or not really moving until a pass is imminent. Interesting, this blasphemy that dares to criticize The Wee Great One.

Good, I say.

So here’s a funny bit of news: Ronaldinho’s brother and agent says that the AC Milan deal is “80 to 90 percent” done. This, despite rumors that the Italians were horrified at his “fitness” levels and seeking other options, right after Milan’s supremo was quoted as saying no way they splash for R10 given the money, team needs, etc.

There’s more to this story still to come.

We’ll probably make one last-ditch move for Adebayor, planning to offer 30 million, same as we did for Silva. I’d rather spend it on Adebayor, frankly. We’ll see how that one goes.

In an excellent PR move, Guardiola underscored how important Krkic is to the plans and the side, saying that the wunderkind striker would indeed be a big part of the team’s plans this season, but that “one must keep in mind how young he is.”

Indeed.

Pique is indeed still a bit raw, but will learn quickly under the tutelage of Guardiola and Puyol. This is an exciting signing.

Today is Camp Nou-visiting day and I’ll post pics at some point. If I make it back from Pamplona, that is.

I’ll check back in periodically. Good work, Kevin, holding down the fort.