Barcelona have told skysports.com that speculation linking
midfielder Xavi with a shock move to Manchester United is wide of
the mark.
The Red Devils are known to be casting around for midfield
reinforcements in January having been linked with Owen Hargreaves
and Rio Mavuba of Bordeaux, and Xavi is one name reportedly on
their radar.
However the classy Catalan is an established member of Frank
Rijkaard's first XI and has appeared in 13 of Los Cules' 16 Liga
games this season - scoring in their last outing against
Getafe.
Moreover, the member of Luis Aragones' World Cup squad is a rare
one-club man and the Camp Nou giants have now dismissed talk that
their midfield schemer could break a lifetime's bond by moving to
United.
"We do not know about this subject. Normally the club does not
respond to stories published in the papers but we have not received
any offer for the player," a club spokesman told
skysports.com.
"Xavi is a key man for us and has signed a contract until
2010."
The player himself has declined to comment on the link, stating: "I
do not speak about rumours."