Barcelona have such limited cash funds that the Spanish giants can only afford to take Robinho on loan and have been forced to ditch their interest in Javier Mascherano, according to a source close to the club.

ESPN Soccernet have been told the facts behind why Robinho’s potential move from Manchester City has stalled, and will now not happen, and why Liverpool and Argentina star Mascherano will definitely not be heading the Camp Nou. Barca spent € 66 million and lost the services of Samuel Eto’o in signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer.

So while Brazil international Robinho is desperate to make the switch to La Liga, European champions Barcelona can only afford a loan and have no hope of persuading City to release their £34 million British record signing and there are no guarantees of a future move.

A source close to Barca told ESPN Soccernet: “Barcelona have made it clear they are talking about a loan deal only and it is hard to believe that will happen.”

“Barcelona were, at one time, very interested in Mascherano, but no longer. At one stage I would have said ‘yes’ that deal could happen, but now I would have to say ‘no’.

“I would say that Barcelona do not have the sort of funds to buy either Robinho or Mascherano.”

Mark Hughes has made it plain that Robinho will not be leaving Eastlands - certainly not with the proposals with Barcelona breaking down completely.

“I am quite clear and Robinho should be quite clear that his future is very much with City,” Hughes said. “There is no reason to think that will change any time soon. All those stories do not originate from anyone from City.”

Barcelona’s technical secretary, Txiki Begiristain, fuelled the speculation when he responded to a question about Robinho joining the club on a potential £6 million loan move by telling Spanish newspaper AS that they will be happy to strengthen the squad in January.

It is possible City boss Hughes might consider a swap involving Barca players, but it would take three players to add up to Robinho’s transfer fee and Barca are not impressed with the proposal, should it be made formally, rather than through the usual third parties.

But the only way past the current impasse would be if Hughes had the pick of the players to swap for Robinho, and so far Barca don’t feel inclined to part with so many top quality players, if indeed the payers of Hughes’ choice would consider the move.

For example, Hughes admires Thierry Henry, but the Frenchman is reluctant to return to England to play for any club other than Arsenal, and would prefer to move to the United States.

Barcelona have been prepared to meet Robinho’s £160,000-a-week personal terms, but the club is concerned if the Spanish government rescind the ‘Beckham Law’ and the liabilities for overseas football stars almost doubles, making the cost of hiring Robinho prohibitive.

Moves are in place to scrap tax breaks for high-earning foreigner footballers, but Robinho can get around new legislation only if he signs a contract before January 1, and clearly time is running out.

Currently, foreigners pay 24 % tax, rising to the 43 % paid by locals after five years in the country. The government wants everyone to pay 43 % from the start of next year.

source, image via daylife