Barcelona rule out summer swoop for Arsenal striker Van Persie


Barcelona have denied they want to sign Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie.
The Dutchman sent tongues wagging when he was spotted at the same hotel Barcelona were staying at prior to their Champions League clash with Chelsea.
The 28-year-old, who has just been named Footballer of the Year by the PFA and the FWA, is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of next season.
Juventus, Manchester City and Real Madrid are poised to move if he fails to agree a new deal at the Emirates.
But Barcelona club spokesman Toni Freixa denied reports that Spanish giants will move for the Dutchman.
‘For Barça, any good player is of interest – and van Persie is a great player. But [we have] no intention of signing him for now,’ said Freixa, speaking to The Sport Review.
‘He came to our hotel in London because he is Dutch and so is Ibrahim Afellay. They had a coffee together. He didn’t come to see us and there was no conversation.’