Despite late-night negotiations with Sydney FC, Fernando Torres is set to play in America and not Australia next season.
The Spanish striker will make an official announcement this afternoon in Madrid with multiple reports suggesting an inadequate financial offering will mean Torres won't join the A-League.
According to AAP, Torres was seriously considering the prospect of moving to Australia and was even looking into schools for his children to attend.
Though Football Federation Australia were prepared to cover $2 million of any deal for the former Liverpool player, an A-league club, understood to be Sydney FC, couldn't match Torres' financial demands.
He now looks to set to join MLS side Chicago Fire this afternoon with the FFA left to target another marquee.
Keisuke Honda remains a possibility but his current wage demands makes a move Down Under unlikely.
Torres will join Bastian Schweinsteiger at Chicago Fire should he join the club - with the side still to fill one of their designated player spots which allows them to pay players outside of the salary cap.
Sydney FC seemed like a perfect fit for Torres with the Sky Blues recently losing Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski for transfer fees - not to mention a history of signing marquee players in the past.
After a season of reduced crowds, a marquee player is seen as vital for the competition with main broadcaster Fox Sports providing $3 million in order to attract a big name Down Under and in turn boost interest in the league.
