Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay rejects Lille move - report

Jun 30, 2012 7:10:00 PM

The 26-year-old has refused to move to the Ligue 1 side in order to stake his claim at Camp Nou, despite the sides agreeing over a €8 million fee for the attacker

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Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has rejected a move to Lille, despite an agreement being reached by the two clubs according to Mercato365.

The Ligue 1 side pin-pointed the Netherlands international as an ideal replacement for Eden Hazard - who left to join Chelsea - with a loan deal mooted, before Les Dogues submitted a bid in the region of €8 million and a salary worth €2 million a year to entice the former PSV midfielder to France.

The 26-year-old, however, immediately vetoed the decision, preferring to remain at Camp Nou to win trophies and convince new boss Tito Vilanova of his qualities, despite interest from abroad.

Afellay only featured five times in an injury-plagued campaign last season, before turning out for the Netherlands at Euro 2012.

Previously, discussions between Barcelona and Lille were said to be progressing well. However, Afellay remains adamant to see out his remaining three years in Spain.

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