Manchester United's hopes of pairing Wayne Rooney with David Villa appear to have been dashed after the Spain striker agreed to join Barcelona.
Arsenal and Manchester City were also linked with the Valencia star but reports in Spain claim that Villa has told his friends and family that he is heading to the Nou Camp.
Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have sent scouts to run the rule over £45million-rated Villa but, despite positive reports, the United boss is set to miss out.
Barcelona fans voted 28-year-old Villa their No 1 transfer target ahead of Cesc Fabregas and Franck Ribery in a recent poll and Barca president Joan Laporta is trying to complete all transfer business before stepping aside this summer.
David Villa will never leave valencia for any club.
David Villa is a great player in valencia.
But i think he will go on and try a bigger club, to win something.
I dont like it, but it will happen.
Dream on! Villa is going to a bigger club. Really sorry, cause I like Valencia.
He will go to Barca and Zlatan will go to another club.