Barcelona: 'We will not bid for Robin van Persie'

Barcelona have insisted that they will not attempt to sign Arsenal striker Robin van Persie at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old has been strongly linked with a move away from the Gunners, with his contract due to expire at the end of next season.

It was suggested that Barcelona were preparing a bid after Van Persie was spotted at the same London hotel as the Spanish club last week. However, club spokesman Toni Freixa has ruled out a summer bid for the Dutchman.

"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. He came to out 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," Freixa told The Sport Review.

Van Persie has scored 34 goals in 45 games this season.