Van Nistelrooy denies Barça move

Ruud Van Nistelrooy has dismissed the "wild rumours" linking him with a summer move to Barcelona.

The Manchester United striker, who signed a new £15m, five-year contract three months ago, is a reported target of the Catalan club and his agent, Rodger Linse, suggested yesterday that the Dutchman would not be adverse to moving to the Nou Camp. However, Van Nistelrooy said: "I am happy at Manchester United. I wouldn't have committed my future to the club if I wasn't happy. I am enjoying my football, the fans are second to none, and any reports of me leaving are wild rumours."

Linse met the Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday, but the club's vice-president Sandro Rosell said: "Linse's wife is Catalan and has a mutual friend of Laporta's.

He added: "If our coaches came to us and said they were interested in Van Nistelrooy, the first thing we would do is go to Manchester United and not the player. But our coach Frank Rijkaard has never talked to us about Van Nistelrooy."