In case you hadn't heard, Spanish superclub Barcelona is one of three European clubs that will be touring the U.S. this summer. Premier League clubs Everton and West Ham are also coming to America, though unless Everton nabs Michael Bradley, Barcelona will likely be the biggest draw.Here's the real question about Barcelona, though: who's going to play for them?
New manager Pep Guardiola announced Tuesday that the club is "contemplating the future without" Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Deco. Barcelona finished 3rd in La Liga last season, and Guardiola was brought in to reshape the lineup and save it from the feuding that cost the club an automatic bid to the Champions League group stage. From the sound of it, Guardiola is ready to chop anyone not named Messi.
What's more, Guardiola seems eager to bring in a world-class striker as soon as possible, and various reports say he's got his sights set on either Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor and Tottenham Hotspur's Dimitar Berbatov. Selling both Ronaldinho and Eto'o, who feuded openly last season, should help pay for one of those guys. It should also be a sign that Thierry Henry's MLS career could begin about a year from now.
A.C. Milan is reported targeting Eto'o, while Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra remains eager to pour his cash into Ronaldinho's coffers. I can already hear many a chorus of "Who Ate All the Pies?" in England next season.
