Baptista return ruled out
Roma forward Julio Baptista will not be returning to the Premier League this summer, according to the player's agent.
The 27-year-old - nicknamed The Beast - made 24 league appearances on loan at Arsenal during the 2006/07 season, netting six times - before joining Roma on a permanent basis from Real Madrid last summer.
The Brazilian international scored nine league goals in 2008/09, helping the Giallorossi qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
However, Baptista is currently out of favour at the Stadio Olimpico, and was not involved as Roma lost their opening game of the Serie A season to Genoa at the weekend.
But despite reports linking the forward with moves to Manchester City and West Ham United, his representitive Herminio Menendez has insisted he is not interested in a return to the Premier League.
"Julio will not return to England. I can exclude this," he told asromanews.it:
"I rule out a permanent transfer for Julio."
ARSENAL FANS! Check FourFourTwo.com’s ever-expandinginterviewsarchive for more stuff to read:
Web Exclusives Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas
Q&A Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas
One on One Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright
Boy's A Bit Special Theo Walcott, Armand Traore
Perfect XI Ian Wright
What Happened Next? Gus Caesar, Peter Marinello
And Another Thing Being a Big Four fan
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Plus! Rate Arsenal players (and others) on Talentspotter
Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
‘Maybe I’ll be signed by Wrexham, who knows? English football would suit me – if an offer came, I wouldn’t think twice, I’d go immediately’ Euro 2024 cult hero reveals his UK dream
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023