FC Barcelona tire of De Boer problems

FC Barcelona have ended their pursuit of the De Boer brothers.

Coach Louis Van Gaal feels he can wait no longer for the pair who are in contract dispute with the Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam and have refused to play for the club again. A Dutch FA tribunal threw out an attempt by the Dutch World Cup players to walk out of their contract with Ajax and sign for the Spanish giants so the loss of interest by Barca appears to condemn the pair to reflect on their decision to try and abandon Ajax after the World Cup in France.

Barca will complete the signing of full-back Mauricio Pellegrino from Velez Sarsfield for a million by the start of the new Spanish season on Sunday. They have only to finalise personal terms with the 26 year old defender.