NEW Adelaide United boss Josep Gombau says an FC Barcelona star has called him and said he wants to join the Reds.

Gombau said the player had telephoned him not long after he was announced as Adelaide's coach for a two-year term on Tuesday.

But Gombau would not reveal the player's name. Nor was he specific as to whether his caller was still on Barca's books.

"Now there is one player from Barcelona that played for many years and he told me `Josep, I want to come with you to Adelaide'," Gombau said from Hong Kong yesterday.

"But, of course, we have a chance to bring Spanish players to Adelaide.

"A lot of people from Barcelona, I have a good relationship with Barcelona because I worked there for six years.

"But one player that's played many, many games, more than 200 games for Barcelona called me yesterday night.

"He told me `Josep, I want to go to Australia because it's a good opportunity for my family'.

"But now I need to speak to (Adelaide football director) Michael Petrillo about this."

Gombau was frank yesterday, admitting he still had a lot of work to do with his Hong Kong club Kitchee before he could dedicate all of his time to Adelaide United.

His Hong Kong club winds up its home-and-away season on the weekend before Gombau ends his tenure there with a Hong Kong FA Cup final appearance and an AFC Cup qualifier.

Gombau said his work with Kitchee should be complete by May 25.

But Gombau wasn't sure if he would arrive in Adelaide directly after bidding farewell to Kitchee and Hong Kong or would return to Spain before meeting his new players before the first pre-season session on June 10.

Gombau, however, revealed his current Kitchee assistant, Pau Marti, would also be Adelaide's fitness coach.

Gombau says Marti is his Spanish confidante. "But for me, my assistant or my second-in-charge will be Michael Valkanis," he said.

"It's very easy because in this moment Michael Valkanis knows more than me about Adelaide United.

"I need to listen 100 per cent to Michael Valkanis and to Michael Petrillo. I'm coming to a country where I don't know anyone.

"I know a little bit Michael Petrillo but day-by-day I need someone that I can speak to with feeling."

The 36-year-old said he was intent on bringing "Barca style" to the Reds and was keen to settle his young family in Adelaide.

Gombau's wife Romina is expecting a second child in July, a sister to two-year old Maria.

However when Gombau does land in Australia it would be his first Down Under visit.