A <a href="http://www.OneFootball.com" target="_blank">www.OneFootball.com</a> 'exclusive' is running a story which claims Lazio have decided against selling Gaizka Mendieta to Barca for about £15 million.
It seems Barca offered £13 million + Fabio Rochemback for the Spain midfielder, which Lazio flatly refused.
Barcelona are thought to have tabled the offer over the weekend – though Lazio official Giuseppe di Mita insisted that the Spanish club would be disappointed if they wanted to sign Mendieta before the transfer window closes next week.
"I repeat that Gaitka Mendieta, just like the other players in our squad, will stay here until the end of the season.
Then coach Alberto Zaccheroni will make his choices and we'll start to listen to offers.
"It's normal that clubs like Barcelona are looking for Mendieta. Atletico Madrid and Valencia have been watching him for a long time. But we won't sell him – just like we didn't sell Stefano Fiore, who understood his situation and now got his place back in the starting line up."
Mendieta has a clause in his contract that could force Barcelona to pay Valencia £3 million in compensation if the Catalans sign him within two years.
"I have spent too much time on the bench," Mendieta said recently. "I was in a similar position in Spain at the beginning of my career but it wasn't as long as here. What do I have to do? Work harder and fight again."
Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Rochemback, meanwhile, has struggled to hold down a regular place in the side this season since signing from Internacional Porto Alegre in the summer.
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It seems Barca offered £13 million + Fabio Rochemback for the Spain midfielder, which Lazio flatly refused.
Barcelona are thought to have tabled the offer over the weekend – though Lazio official Giuseppe di Mita insisted that the Spanish club would be disappointed if they wanted to sign Mendieta before the transfer window closes next week.
"I repeat that Gaitka Mendieta, just like the other players in our squad, will stay here until the end of the season.
Then coach Alberto Zaccheroni will make his choices and we'll start to listen to offers.
"It's normal that clubs like Barcelona are looking for Mendieta. Atletico Madrid and Valencia have been watching him for a long time. But we won't sell him – just like we didn't sell Stefano Fiore, who understood his situation and now got his place back in the starting line up."
Mendieta has a clause in his contract that could force Barcelona to pay Valencia £3 million in compensation if the Catalans sign him within two years.
"I have spent too much time on the bench," Mendieta said recently. "I was in a similar position in Spain at the beginning of my career but it wasn't as long as here. What do I have to do? Work harder and fight again."
Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Rochemback, meanwhile, has struggled to hold down a regular place in the side this season since signing from Internacional Porto Alegre in the summer.
? ? ? <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />