Barcelona have refused to deny suggestions that Chelsea are preparing to lure playmaker Ronaldinho away from the Nou Camp.

It has been suggested the Brazilian could be tempted by a move to big spending Chelsea at the end of the season and Barca admit there is little they can do to prevent him leaving.

“I refuse to answer the question of whether we have received a bid for Ronaldinho,’ said vice-president Sandro Rosell.

“I have a degree of fear concerning Chelsea because if it is true that Abramovich is willing to invest further hundreds of millions of pounds in the transfer market then his aim will be to buy one of our best players.

“With Abramovich you know he has the money whereas with, say Real Madrid, you don’t know it to the same degree.

“Barcelona remains a ‘sick club’ because we still owe £164 million but I think we are imposing financial control and that we are on the road to recovery.

“So I hope that it is one thing for someone like Abramovich to move for one of our players and quite another that they accept his offer.”

Rosell is hopeful that despite their debts, the club will be able to hang on to their best players.

“I think that the great players are deeply involved in our rebuilding project and want to see it continue,” he told The Sun.

“I mean, look at Arsenal, we know that Arsenal received a £50 million offer for Thierry Henry and they said no.

“That is the kind of decision I would say we would take with Ronaldinho.

“I view it as impossible that he only stays here for one season like, say, Romario did.

“I think that Ronaldinho is deeply attached to the club and the city.”