So I was reading the press before going to sleep tonight and found some interesting news. More sources rumor that Kaka might be on his way to Barcelona. The "alleged" proposition from the Catalans would be Zambrotta+Ronaldinho and 20 million euros for brazilian Kaka.

It seems a little bit ambitious for Barcelona, but considering that Milan are suffering in defense and they wanted Zambrotta, and they did show a lot of interest for Ronaldinho, there is a slight chance it migh happen. The 20 million euros could come in handy as well by being put into a young defender. It's also roumored that Alberto Gilardino is heading to Fiorentina, so there is some open space in attack. Milan are also linked with Borriello whom they share a co-ownership with Genoa. He scored 19 goals this season and is joint top scorer of Serie A with Trezeguet and Del Piero. 

We'll see what materializes, and it would be interesting to see Kaka at Barcelona. Eto'o is speaking out again about his desire to be in the Premier League and Spurs are linked with him at a massive price of 40 million euros (which I think would be yet ANOTHER waste of money from Tottenham.) 

Either way, non-english clubs are being very ambitious  so far and I think it's partly due to the English domination of the club scene this season. We'll see what happens as time goes on!

BARCELONA

The fabulous goal scored by Scholes which was born from Zambrotta's mistake could mean the transition from the past to the future. The Italian defender will be left with this, and not the neutralization of Cristiano Ronaldo in the two games against Manchester United. Even though Barcelona had their two best games of the season against United, means the final point in a a 5 year cycle, in which the Catalans won two league titles and one champions league, but also threee seasons of underperformance in the League. 

It's time for Barcelona to repopulate the team with new faces, new aspirations, and new motivations. However, the changes likely won't stop at the team level, and will include the staff.

Manager:

When Laporta went on the Rijkaard route, there was a bit problem: nobody wanted to manage that Barcelona, a loosing team with a weak budget and a depressed fanbase. Now the problem is the opposite: everyone wants to manage Barcelona who reinvigorated its finances and will have a reported 350 million euro budget for next season, with 100 million euros for transfers. A lot of names have been thrown out to replace Rijkaard. Guardiola, Ludrup, Mourinho, Ancelotti, Lippi, and Scolari are the most prominent of these names. The Catalan press is almost certain that Guardiola, 37 years old, the current manager of Barcelona B will be named the first team manager.

Players: 

At the team level, the biggest change in Barcelona history is highly anticipated. There are 13 players that could leave the team, and others to replace them. 

Like Rijkaard, Ronaldinho has closed his catalan cycle as well, and will leave. The two came together, and they will leave together. Other than Ronaldinho, the other certainties are: Thuram, Edmilson, Zabmrotta, Ezquerro, and Pinto. Deco, Marquez, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Giovani, Oleguer, Silvinho, are highly likely to be sold, and for the first time Barclelona will listen to offers for Eto'o and Xavi.

The list of possible purchases is even longer than the list of players leaving. There have been over 50 names that are speculated by the media. There also is a riddle going around Catalonia recently after Laporta's laptop was stolen and the names of 10 players were found out. There will be 2 french players, 2 brazilians, 2 spaniards, 1 dutch, 1 mexican, 1 german, and one argentinian. 

Here are the possible answers to the Barcelona riddle:

French players: Benzema, Ribery
Brazilians: Lucio, Daniel Alves
Spaniards: Cesc Fabregas, David Silva
Dutch: Huntelaar
German: Lahm
Argentinian: Garay
Mexican: Guardado

The other possible names rumoured are: Coloccini, Poulsen, Seydou Keita, Klose, Capel, Drogba.

Out of that list, Cesc will not come, Klose is almost past it, Drogba does not fit the Barcelona style, Coloccini is not always on his game, Capel would be another experiment, and Keita has promise, but I don't think it's worth the money OL will ask for him. 

The spine of the team will be Valdes, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, and Bojan, all products of Barcelona. 

The team next season could look something like this:

GK: Valdes
DF: Alves/Guarado, Garay, Puyol, Lahm
MF: Ribery, Iniesta/Xavi, Silva
AM: Messi
FW: Benzema/Bojan, Huntelaar/Bojan

That would be a pretty scary team, one that has hard working players and less superstars, but just as much flair. I personally can't wait to see how much of this happens, and I hope to see at least some of those players play for Barcelona starting this summer.