Barcelona trio told they can leave

Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o all moved a step closer to the Nou Camp exit door after new Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola revealed the star trio are not part of his plans for next season.

All three players were below their best last season and missed large chunks of the campaign through injury. They have also been linked with moves to the Premier League.

Their commitment to the cause has also been questioned amid reports of disharmony in the dressing room under previous coach Frank Rijkaard.

Guardiola, who was officially unveiled as Barcelona's new coach on Tuesday, now looks set to wipe the slate clean by selling all three this summer.

"All of the players in the first-team squad last season are of a very high level," he said.

"But with the technical secretary (Txiki Begiristain) we are forming a squad and Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto'o are not in our minds."

Ronaldinho's slump in form has been dramatic.

Since being voted the world's best player in 2006, the Brazilian has been a shadow of his former self and spent much of last season injured or on the bench.

A proposed move to AC Milan fell through earlier this summer and the player has now been strongly linked with a transfer to Manchester City.

Guardiola admits he would love to see Ronaldinho back to his best in a Barcelona shirt, but believes that scenario is now unlikely.

"If I felt that he wanted to be the player he was again, he would be here," said Guardiola.

"But the situation has deteriorated and the solution is to build a strong dressing-room."

Deco, meanwhile, has been heavily linked with a move Chelsea, while Eto'o is a possible transfer target for AC Milan and Internazionale.

With all three attacking players set to depart and, with Mexican youngster Giovani Dos Santos already transferred to Tottenham, Barcelona look short of options up front next season.

However, Guardiola ruled out a summer swoop for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I wouldn't make a space for him in the team, even though I think he is a very good player," he said.

Guardiola said the club's priority is to sign a striker to replace Eto'o.

"We will look at the possibility of bringing in a winger, but if we don't then that's fine; the priority is a number nine," he said.

He joked: "We are looking for a (number) nine who scores 60 goals for us."

However, the 37-year-old claimed former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry remains very much part of his plans, despite the player's indifferent first season at the Nou Camp.

"I am looking for a (number) nine, we need one to complement Henry and Bojan (Krkic). I want the three to feel like first-team starters," he said.