Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon has ruled out a bid for Damien Duff following the collapse of Ronaldinho's £20 million sterling move from Paris St Germain.
"Let's kill the Damien Duff story straightaway," said Kenyon. "We are not in for him. There has been no approach to the club and no approach to the player and there won't be. He is due to sign for Chelsea."
Kenyon is fuming at the fall-out from Ronaldinho's decision, angrily attacking PSG president Francis Graille, who labelled United "arrogant".
Kenyon learned of Ronaldinho's decision when he stepped off the charter flight that landed last night in Portland, Oregon - United's early training base for their high-profile four-match tour of America.
The Brazilian has signed a five-year contract with Barcelona, becoming the second player this summer - after Harry Kewell - to turn down a Red Devils switch in favour of a rival that had not qualified for the Champions League.
"You have got to be a special player to play for Manchester United," said Kenyon. "We offer a major stage, Champions League opportunities, a huge success factor in terms of picking up medals and financial guarantees.
"The regime is strict but it produces what most players want - a winning formula. Mentally you have to be tough enough to stand it," he said.
"Players have to balance that against what is on offer at other places. You have to ask the question why they want to go somewhere else and you can take that how you want."
The insinuation was clearly that both Ronaldinho and Kewell lacked sufficient ambition to join a club of United's standing.
PSG's Graille has lambasted Kenyon and his team, claiming they did not show the French club any respect, went round their back trying to conclude a deal and failed to back up verbal offers with written ones.
"I am highly disappointed at the comments, particularly as they come from a fellow member of G14," Kenyon said. "We are not arrogant and I am amazed at the insinuation that Fabien Barthez was offered in any deal because that is not the way we do them."