Premiership: Rivaldo not for sale, say Barca

Barcelona have insisted that Rivaldo is not for sale after the Brazilian admitted he was flattered by Manchester United's reported interest in him.

Rivaldo was reacting to reports in Spain that United could be lining up a British record £22m bid for last season's world player of the year.

But Barca president Joan Gaspart has dismissed the reports.

"It is flattering to be linked with a club like Manchester United," said Rivaldo.

"I would only leave Barcelona for three clubs - Manchester United, Juventus or AC Milan.

"When I signed my new improved contract at Barcelona I handed over the rights of my future to them and I will abide by any decision they make."

Gaspart quickly made that decision - telling a Spanish newspaper: "It's not a problem of money, but of sentiment. And the Barca club members want Rivaldo to stay.

"He's got a buyout a clause of 15,000,000,000 pesetas (£60,000,000), but he doesn't want to go and the club doesn't want him to go, therefore he won't go."

United's director of communications Paddy Harverson dismissed the Rivaldo speculation, saying: "We have not made a bid."