"Those players are very good, but we always need common sense in any negotiations," Bartomeu said. "We will not enter the madness market because it is impossible for Barcelona to pay 40 or 50 million Euros [£33-42 million] for any player. This is a decision of the club."
Barcelona is the worlds top soccer club at the moment, and employs a number of highly paid stars. FIFA Ballon D'or winner Lionel Messi, Xavi, Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta are just a few of the players who are among the world's highest-paid soccer players.
Last summer the club added former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and the highly rated Chilean Alexis Sanchez to its ranks for a combined £66.5 million ($105 million). Bartomeu has moved to squash rumors of a similar spending spree this summer. Bale and van Persie have been linked with moves to Barcelona, but their transfer fees cast serious doubts on those rumors.
The club reportedly has heavy debts on its books, and it must work to comply with UEFA's new Financial Fair Play regulations. The new regulations force clubs to reign in spending or face possible exclusion from continental competitions like the UEFA Champions League in the 2013-14 season.
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