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Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor: wants to be paid in line with the Premiership's top stars

Adebayor in new link to Barcelona

Graham Hunter
14 May 2008


Emmanuel Adebayor has stoked fears at Arsenal that he would consider a move to Barcelona this summer.

The Togo striker denied last week he was seeking to double his wages after a sensational season in which he scored 30 goals and his agent reiterated today he is happy at Arsenal.

However, there is a lingering doubt that Adebayor may play hardball to get what he wants. Although he signed a contract last summer worth £35,000 a week it is believed he now wants to be paid in line with the top players in the Premier League - Cristiano Ronaldo earns almost four times as much at Manchester United.

The 24-year-old said: "I've not had an approach from Barca via my agent or the club but you never know what might change in the future. Right now I'm centered on being an Arsenal player and enjoying my holidays.

"What I have to do at the moment is wait because it's clear that it would make me a happy man to play for Barcelona. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"Of course I couldn't 'close the door' on a move to Barca because you never know what's around the corner. However, before I have anything firm to confront the next step is for Barca to present a formal offer.

"In the meantime, I'm not going to get obsessed by it all and just enjoy my holidays."

It is a worrying time for Arsene Wenger as Mathieu Flamini has already rejected a contract offer of £55,000 a week and decided to join AC Milan; city rivals Inter want Alexander Hleb; Real Madrid have started to make their annual overtures to Cesc Fabregas and Adebayor now appears to be courting Barcelona.

"There are many attractive things for any footballer considering playing for Barca - if they made a good offer and reached a deal with Arsenal then I'd be delighted to go there," Adebayor told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo. "Right now I'm an Arsenal player so we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Adebayor's agent Stephane Courbis said: "Emmanuel is not stupid. When you know how great his relationship with Arsenal and with Arsene Wenger is, you do not expect him to say what is written in the press."

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