Barca rebuff Van Persie rumours

Barcelona spokesperson Toni Freixa says the club are not interested in signing Robin van Persie, despite his recent visit to the club.

The Arsenal and Holland forward has been linked with a summer move away from the Emirates Stadium and the speculation increased when the 28-year-old was seen arriving at a Barcelona hotel ahead of the Champions League semi-final first-leg with Chelsea a week ago. But Freixa insists the Spanish giants are not planning a move for the forward who was simply spotted visiting international team-mate Ibrahim Afellay. Freixa said: "For Barca any good player is of interest - and van Persie is a great player. But we have no intention of signing him for now." Van Persie has scored 34 goals in 45 games in all competitions for the Gunners this season, earning himself the English PFA Player of the Year trophy and the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year prize.