Barca warn off Ron bids
27 Sep 2007 - 08:51:08
Chelsea's hopes of luring Ronaldinho away from Barcelona appear to have been dashed after the Spanish giants claimed they have no interest in selling the Brazil playmaker.
Reports have suggested the Blues could land the 27-year-old forward next summer for a cut-price £14million when he is able to buy out the final two years of his contract.
But Barcelona insist the Brazil international remains central to their plans and will not be leaving the Camp Nou.
The Catalan side have also taken the unusual step of denying reports that Ronaldinho's injury and current absence from the first team is a ruse to cover up underlying problems between the player and the club.
A club statement read: "In the face of the avalanche of information and opinions about the absence of first team player Ronaldinho from the last two league games, Barcelona wishes to clarify:
"That the absence of the player is strictly medical. Specifically related to a calf problem in his right leg, as was officially announced last Saturday.
"That the player, the same as the rest of the players at the club, has the support of all the organisation to recover from his physical problems.
"That Ronaldinho is considered a basic piece of the current sporting project and, as such, there are no plans other than for his continuity in the first team."