PARIS (AFP) - France's World Cup winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will not be joining Mexican club Nexca Aguascalientes next season, his agent insisted Tuesday.
The Mexican club's president Javier Perez Teuffer had claimed Monday that the 35-year-old 87-times capped goalkeeper had agreed a one-year deal with their side.
But Barthez's agent Jean-Marie Cantona ridiculed the claim.
"It's a Mexican practical joke. There hasn't been the slightest contact with the club," Cantona told AFP.
Barthez had already announced his retirement from football after a stormy term with French First Division outfit Nantes - who have since been relegated - last April.
Necaxa is owned by the private television station of Mexico, Televisa.
The club later admitted there was no agreement with Barthez, but that they - having spoken to another agent involved - were still interested in signing him.
"There's been no agreement (with Barthez). Nothing has been signed. Fabien Barthez was offered to us by Guillermo Lara (a player's agent)," Necaxa club official Fernando Hevia told AFP.
"We're still really interested and negotiations are ongoing."
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