Valencia forward Alvaro Negredo has rejected the chance to join Barcelona in January, according to reports in Spain.
Sport [via Goal] note that the former Manchester City forward was wanted by Luis Enrique to provide competition to Barca’s celebrated front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
However, Negredo has reportedly rejected the chance to move to Catalonia on loan in order to stay and fight for his place under Gary Neville.
Negredo has struggled to assert himself at Valencia so far this season, making only five La Liga outings and scoring only one goal.
However, despite being approached by Barcelona’s sporting director Robert Fernandez, who put a six-month loan deal on the table, Negredo has opted to remain part of Neville’s revolution at the Mestalla.
Negredo shone in the Spanish top flight with Almeria and Sevilla before moving to Manchester City in 2013. He won the EPL title with the Citizens in 2014, but never truly realised his promise at Eastlands, and moved to Valencia—initially on loan—later that year.
He was part of the Spain side that won the European Championships in 2012.
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