Russia's attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin says moving to FC Barcelona would be a dream come true.

The Zenit St. Petersburg player has been one of the stars of the European Championship despite only playing two games because of suspension. His dribbling and passing skills, plus two goals in as many matches, have fuelled speculation he will play in one of Europe's biggest leagues next season.

"I have supported Barcelona all my life. Barcelona are my dream," Arshavin told the official Web site of Euro 2008. "I never thought I would have a genuine chance to play for the club. Let's see how the situation unfolds."

Arshavin was in Vienna yesterday to prepare for today's semi-final clash with Spain, and said he was focusing solely on that match.

"For now, I can't say anything for sure," he said. "At the moment I'm a player of team Russia and I'm only thinking about doing well in the semi-finals."

Arshavin showed off his skills in Europe even before Euro 2008. He was instrumental in Zenit's victorious UEFA Cup campaign this season and set up both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Glasgow Rangers in the final.

His performances for Russia since returning from a two-match suspension have lit up the European Championship. He starred in Russia's 2-0 defeat of Sweden that put the team in the quarter-final and then scored and set up a goal in the 3-1 demolition of tournament favourites the Netherlands in Basel.

"I came here hoping I'd get a chance to play at such a big tournament. I've never been to an event like this before," he said. "We had some very tough training sessions and it was difficult for me to be training a lot knowing I wouldn't be playing. It was an unusual feeling. Even so I'm happy Guus Hiddink brought me here despite the ban and let me become a part of the tournament."

Arshavin, 27, was born in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, and is a product of Zenit's respected youth programme.

He began his career as a right-sided midfielder, but midway through 2003 he was pushed into a wide position in the attack. He scored twice in his first match as a striker and has not looked back.

And as good as he was against the Netherlands, Arshavin says he can do better.

"I've played better games, so many times. It's just that the team is winning. I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary," he said. "Sometimes I score, sometimes I provide a pass. When you do it in the World Cup or European Championship, in front of a lot of people, there are bigger repercussions, so to speak."

With Barcelona rebuilding their squad, one repercussion could be Arshavin's dream coming true.