News of Pau Gasol returning to his native Spain soon engulfed European basketball fans, as a deal to reunite with Barcelona, the club that carved him into a worthy NBA prospect, producing the first Spanish-born No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

According to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, the team has categorically denied any deal in place with the Spaniard 7-footer:

Via Catalunya radio Cat Radio Esports:

“There is NOT and there WON’T be any negotiation with Pau Gasol,” said Barcelona board member Joan Blade, who is responsible for the basketball operations.

Gasol, known for his time with the Memphis Grizzlies coming into the league and his two championships next to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, has been linked to Barcelona for the past few years — as chances of extending his NBA career dwindled.

His playing time greatly diminished during the 2018-19 season with the San Antonio Spurs, resulting in a career-low 4.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game — the first time he dipped under double digits scoring.

A three-game stint with the Milwaukee Bucks suggested much of the same, as Gasol's mobility greatly suffered despite his towering size at 7-feet tall.

The Spaniard had yet to play a single game in the 2019-20 season and was focused on a return to the NBA until overseas teams kept calling. Gasol, who turned 40 years old on Monday, could soon see his playing career in the NBA come to an end if he doesn't link up with a team as a potential replacement player in the near future.