Soccer: Wenger ruled out of Barca switch

Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has admitted defeat in his bid to land Arsene Wenger.

With Llorenc Serra Ferrer expected to be dismissed at the end of the season, Wenger has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp.

But Gaspart now concedes the Arsenal boss will not be joining the Spanish giants.

Gaspart saidl: "I spoke personally to Arsene Wenger and Roma's Fabio Capello about possibly taking over at the end of the season.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't guarantee that anyone would actually take over as the matter depends on Ferrer's success.

"Capello didn't want to wait and see, so he renewed his contract at Roma.

"Wenger told me he still has a contract with Arsenal that runs until 2002 and that he wanted to fulfil that.

"So both men are ruled out in case Serra Ferrer doesn't succeed and has to leave."