Arsenal unlikely to sign Baptista
Monday, 11 July 2005 11:23Arsenal's hopes of signing Brazil striker Julio Baptista have been set back with news the 23-year-old wants to stay with his Spanish club Sevilla.
"I want to stay with Sevilla for one more season," the 23-year-old Brazilian striker told the Daily Mail.
"Then I will be able to gain dual nationality and become a European citizen. If I went to Arsenal now, I would not be able to."
Arsenal and another unnamed Premiership club, reported to be Tottenham, have had bids for Baptista turned down.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are also thought to be interested in Baptista, a member of Brazil's squad in their recent Confederations Cup triumph.
Baptista's current deal with Sevilla runs out in 2008 and he has rejected a new one.
That prompted Arsenal's interest but Sevilla threatened to report the Gunners to Fifa after it was claimed Arsene Wenger had spoken to the player without the Spanish club's permission.
