Enter The Matrix At Barca

Incoming Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola is ready to revolutionise his squad next season, and last week it was reported that he was ready to let the following 11 senior players leave: Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho, Pinto, Henry, Edmílson, Giovani, Ezquerro, Thuram, Oleguer, Touré and Jorquera.

One of Guardiola’s primary concerns is to toughen up the Blaugrana defence, which has conceded far too many goals this season. 
With the 36-year-old veteran Lilian Thuram set to leave, and Gabriel Milito out for at least six months with a damaged anterior cruciate ligament injury, Guardiola is reportedly looking to bring in Inter’s Marco Materazzi to partner Carles Puyol at the heart of defence.

The Matrix has had a miserable campaign at San Siro. After missing most of the first half of the season due to a thigh injury, he has been very poor in 2008. He was widely criticised last Sunday after the 2-2 draw with Siena, when he stole a late penalty off regular taker Julio Cruz, only to then miss it, an error which means the Scudetto race with Roma goes down to the final weekend.  
Materazzi will turn 35 in a few months, and Inter may be prepared to let him leave, considering the presence of a host of top class centre backs at the club, including Walter Samuel, Ivan Cordoba and Christian Chivu.  

The ex-Perugia and Everton man was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona in June 2007.  

Luca Capofranco