Barcelona: Not enough time for Morientes deal

Barcelona chief Javier Perez Farguell insisted the club's decision to pull out of talks for Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes on Saturday had nothing to do with attempts to sabotage Ronaldo's move from Inter Milan.

"Barcelona was interested in signing Morientes," claimed Farguell.

"But it was an operation that was racing against the clock and it depended on a third (Inter) part."

He continued, "The financial part was a factor in the operation, but the circumstances led to us deciding it was the best thing not to conduct the operation."