It is my dream to play for Barcelona, says Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor has come out with a gushing appreciation of Barcelona, insisting no player could turn down the chance to play for the Catalan giants. Sportsmail exclusively revealed last week how Adebayor had asked for £80,000 a week to stay with Arsenal.

The story prompted a hasty declaration of loyalty from the Togo striker, but it seems interest from Barcelona has prompted an about-turn.

Adebayor said: "There is not a player who could say no to Barcelona. I don't know if it will happen now, in two years or 10, but I would love to play there.

"Perhaps things will change tomorrow, I don't know. For now, I have to wait. It is clear it would make me very happy to play for Barcelona because it is one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"I can't close the door because I don't know what will happen tomorrow. If Arsenal tell me I have to go, I'll go. I don't care what happens, I will go. But for that to happen, Barca need to make an offer."

Having already lost Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan on a free transfer and with Alexander Hleb's Arsenal future looking very uncertain, manager Arsene Wenger faces the prospect of losing another key player, one who scored 24 goals in the Barclays Premier League this season.

Adebayor added: "If Barcelona make an offer for me and reach an agreement with Arsenal, I would be delighted to go and play there."

The striker's former team-mate, Lassana Diarra, said his lack of empathy with Wenger was partly responsible for moving on from Arsenal.

Diarra, set to line up for Portsmouth in Saturday's FA Cup Final against Cardiff, was frustrated by the lack of first-team chances at Arsenal and also his previous club Chelsea, but Jose Mourinho ranks higher in his affections than Wenger.

"I was very young when Chelsea came to speak to me," said Diarra.

"When I was there he (Mourinho) spoke with me, not like my dad, but he explained everything to me.

"This is why, when I am doing so well, I think back to some of the words he said to me two or three years ago.

"Wenger is Wenger and Mourinho is Mourinho — they are not alike. I respect Arsene and Jose but I know which one I prefer."