Last Updated: Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:02
Any hopes that Liverpool had about signing striker David Villa from Barcelona have been dashed by Tito Vilanova.
The Barca coach claims they have no intention of selling the Spanish striker, who has found first-team opportunities difficult to come by this season because he has been fighting his way back to fitness after a serious leg injury.
Liverpool, along with a host of other clubs, were looking to sign him this month but Barca have consistently dismissed suggestions he will be sold and Vilanova repeated that stance following his side's 3-1 victory over Malaga on Sunday night.
He said: "David is not going to leave. We are very happy with him."
"The other day he scored two goals. We've always said that he's coming off a long injury, and he's getting more minutes all the time. But he's suffering more physical problems again.
"We know how important he is, like last year when we missed him a lot in the second half of the season.
"I'm convinced he will help us a lot over the remainder of the season."
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