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Since the closing weeks of the summer window, Barcelona have tried to push through a deal for Former world number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open in Melbourne.
The 36-year-old American last week played her first match since giving birth in September.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner and the reigning Australian Open champion, said: “Although I am super close, I’m not where I want to be.”
Williams was eight weeks pregnant with daughter Olympia when she won her seventh Australian Open title in 2017.
The world number 22 said: “My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. “I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.
“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again.” Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said: “I’ve been in constant contact with Serena and her team and know this is why she has pushed it and pushed it until the 11th hour to make her final decision.”
