Barcelona refused to sign Arshavin: club

Spanish club Barcelona refused to increase their initial 15-million-euro bid for Russian international forward Andrei Arshavin, Saint Petersburg side Zenit official site announced Monday.

“Spanish football club Barcelona refused to improve their original 15-million-euro offer for our striker Arshavin,” Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov said.

He added that Zenit received no other offers to sign the striker from any other clubs.

“We are not holding any talks with any other clubs concerning the transfer of our forward Arshavin,” Mitrofanov said.

His comments came amid rumours that Arshavin is set to fly to London soon to undergo a medical before signing for either Arsenal or Chelsea of the English Premiership.

Earlier Russian reigning champions Zenit said that Arshavin only wanted to play for Barcelona.

“Arshavin wants to move to Barcelona – he doesn't want to play anywhere else,” a spokesman for Zenit St Petersburg told BBC Sport.

“Barcelona have made an offer but we are still negotiating with them. I don't know when a decision will be made but I think Arshavin will leave the club,” the Zenit spokesman said amid reports that the Russian outfit have put a 39 million dollars fee on his head.

The 27-year-old played a starring role for his country at Euro 2008, helping them reach the semi-finals, where they lost to Spain.