Barcelona's poor form in the last few years, coupled with doubts about the club's financial stability, may make them an unattractive proposition for a player of Beckham's stature.

But, a Beckham transfer to Barcelona, while a huge risk for the player, and one he may be determined not to take, would make a perfect fit in recent historical terms.

From Johan Cruyff to Rivaldo, in the last 30 years, some of the world's greatest and most famous players have graced the Nou Camp in the burgundy and blue strip.

Barcelona were enduring an even worse spell than they are now when Johan Cruyff joined the club in 1973, 13 years after the club's last league title.

Cruyff arrived at the peak of his form and immediately revived the team's fortunes, helping them to a 5-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on the way to the league title.

There were no more league titles in Cruyff's spell as a player but he made a huge impression on the club and was given a hero's welcome when he returned as coach in 1988.

In between times, Barcelona recruited several more of the game's biggest names, including German midfielder Bernd Schuster, Argentine Diego Maradona and England's Gary Lineker.

Schuster joined Barcelona in 1980 and was an immensely popular figure before a row with coach Terry Venables and president Josep Lluis Nunez saw him sidelined and eventually moved on in 1988.

Maradona had less of an impact following his move in 1982. He helped Barcelona to victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup final but nothing else before he moved in 1984.

Lineker was more successful, scoring 44 goals in three seasons from 1986 to 1989.

SUCCESSFUL SPELL

Cruyff's return to the club as coach heralded the club's most successful spell, with his team winning four successive league titles from 1991 to 1994, the European Cup in 1992 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1989.

Cruyff's team for the European Cup final against Sampdoria, included three of the game's best players in his team -- Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup and Hristo Stoichkov.

Later, Cruyff would sign Brazil's Romario, who will be remembered by Manchester United fans as the man who took their side apart in a 4-0 Champions League defeat in 1994.

Koeman, Laudrup, Stoichkov and Romario all played for Barcelona while at their peak and arguably, some of the best soccer of their careers at the Catalan club.

After Cruyff's departure in 1996, Barcelona continued to sign elite players, including Brazilians Ronaldo and Rivaldo.

Ronaldo established himself as the game's most exciting talent with 34 league goals in 37 games in the 1996-97 season before moving to Inter Milan.

He was replaced by Rivaldo, who was named world and European footballer of the year during his spell from 1997 to 2002.

Luis Figo, signed the year before Cruyff's departure, was another player to blossom, emerging as one of the best forwards in the world before he joined Real Madrid in 2000.

Real's poaching of Figo was the start of the rot and a move to Barcelona would see Beckham joining a club in the doldrums, with only Patrick Kluivert and perhaps Javier Saviola nearing the greatness of some of those former Barcelona players.

At least the England captain would be following in some famous footsteps, though.