FC Barcelona Transfer: Camp Nou's 5 Big Names This Summer

The world football season is almost over and the time is coming for the summer transfer window.

While the UEFA Financial Fair Play Act is present, La Blaugrana may or may not buy and sell players.

According to the 2011-2012 budget report, FC Barcelona has $605 million in its budget, with the possibility of an increase to $644 million if Barca take home the trophy in the UEFA Champions League this year.

The following slideshow discusses five principal players who have been linked with a transfer to La Blaugrana. There will also be one player who is not going to Barca, but has been included as a surprise.

An invitation is extended to sit back, relax and enjoy the slideshow.

1. Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale has been linked as a possible transfer to FC Barcelona.

According to an article published in The Mail on February 8, 2012, FC Barcelona was going to release Isaac Cuenca and Christian Tello to the Premier League. The money would be enough to lure Bale from the Tottenham Hotspur.

The concept was great but it is flawed.

After the latest victory in the UEFA Champions League, it is doubtful that Barca will release Tello. Tello impressed Guardiola and the rest of the Barca team with his solid participation in this important match.

Bale is also not great material for FC Barcelona, since his style of play is more in tune with the Premier League.

2. David Luiz

David Luiz has been linked to FC Barcelona in the past.

However, he squashed such comments in an interview with Sport (ht for Goal) on March 1, 2012, by saying that he will concentrate on the Premier League.

It remains to be seen whether Luiz is undergoing a change of mind after Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich warned the Chelsea players about their fate.

Luiz will probably remain with Chelsea FC unless Abramovich or a new manager has other plans.

3. Robin Van Persie

Robin Van Persie is another star of World Football that has been recently linked with a move to La Blaugrana. According to the Mirror (ht The Guardian), Barca was going to spend money to sign Van Persie.

According to Arseblog, Van Persie wants a trophy—something he has not received while playing for Arsenal. The other comment in Arseblog is that Van Persie's contract with the Gunners is expiring at the end of the current Premier League season.

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger declared that Van Persie will remain with Arsenal. The announcement was published in Goal.

In the same article published in Goal, Wenger said that Van Persie is under contract until 2013. 

It remains to be seen what Van Persie will do during this coming summer. Van Persie will probably continue with Arsenal until his contract expires or unless there is a radical change in the club a la Chelsea.

4. Ashley Cole

According to an article published in The Mail on February 25, 2012, Ashley Cole has been linked with a move to FC Barcelona. Cole expressed a desire to move to FC Barcelona if Chelsea retained Andre Villas-Boas.

It remains to be seen what Cole's intentions are at the present with the current situation at Stamford Bridge. Cole will remain with Chelsea FC unless Abramovich or a new manager decides in favor of more changes to the club.

5. Neymar

Neymar has been linked with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. He recently made positive comments about La Blaugrana in an interview with El Mundo Deportivo (in a ht to Goal).

Neymar remains under contract with Santos FC until after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. It remains to be seen whether this status quo remains the same.

In an interview with Globoesporte (ht to Goal), Mano Menezes, Brazil's National World Football coach, recommended that Neymar move to Europe. The reason (according to Menezes) is that Neymar would receive respect and consolidate himself in world football.

I agree with Menezes concerning Neymar and the need for further development.

I would like to take advantage and add a bonus to the current slideshow. It deals with a player who will not be going to FC Barcelona.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo?

Crackovia is a comedy program on TV 3 (Catalonia, Spain) which has segments dedicated to parodies of sports figures. In this skit, Cristiano Ronaldo decides that he wants to play for Barca instead of Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola shows Ronaldo the door in this skit. After reviewing this video, a decision was made to use it as a conclusion to this slideshow.

I would like to thank the BR readers for taking the time to view this slideshow. My best wishes to everyone who reads BR. Thank you.