El Mundo Deportivo says Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich dispatched a delegation to Spain at the end of August to negotiate a deal for the Brazilian, but was shutdown by Barca.

The group included Chelsea directors and also super agent Pini Zahavi, who today takes charge of Giovani dos Santos' affairs, and flew to Barcelona convinced they would reach an agreement before the market closed.

It's reported that Barca's stand has not changed, despite Ronaldinho's disappointing form this season, and that neither the club nor the player will consider a move to London in January.