GABRIEL Heinze has lost his bid to force Manchester United to sell him to Liverpool.

The Argentina defender had gone to a Premier League panel claiming United had written a letter allowing him to leave if another club offered a fee of £6.8million.

The panel on Tuesday dismissed Heinze’s case and backed United, who maintained they made it clear to the 29-year-old both orally and in writing that he would not be permitted to join one of their title rivals.

It now appears that if Heinze is intent on leaving the club he will have to move abroad.

The Premier League said in a statement: “The hearing concluded that nature and intention of the disputed 13 June 2007 letter, especially when taken in context of verbal discussions and Manchester United FC’s transfer policy, was unambiguous in that it envisages only an international transfer.

“Furthermore the hearing finds the letter constitutes an ’agreement to agree’, and did not create an obligation or binding agreement for the club to transfer the player to any particular club.

Decision

“In other words the letter is evidence of an intention to negotiate, both between the parties and with potential buying clubs, and not evidence of any intention to create legal relations.”

Heinze does have the right to appeal to the Premier League appeals committee, which is made up of an independent, legally-qualified chairman, a member of the Premier League panel and a PFA appointee.

The decision has delighted United, who were represented by both manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill at the hearing in London.

It leaves the Argentinian defender in an untenable position at the champions having expressed his wish to make a rare move to United's bitter Merseyside rivals.

Only two United players since the Second World War have left Old Trafford for Anfield and the last was in 1964 when Phil Chisnall made the switch.

Ferguson had been adamant that he wouldn't sell Old Trafford's 2005 Player of the Year to Liverpool boss Benitez or any of his Premiership title rivals.

Liverpool had met United's £6.8m valuation that they had paid Paris St Germain in 2004 but the title holders stepped in to refuse the transfer.

At the centre of the dispute was the letter, given to Heinzes agent, Roberto Rodriguez, and signed by Gill. United told Rodriguez that their valuation of the player was £6.8m and that he could negotiate with interested clubs.

No exceptions were named but Gill says Rodriguez was made aware at a subsequent meeting that offers from Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal would not be considered.

Heinze hoped to force United to sell him but now his Liverpool dream is in tatters and his relationship with the Old Trafford fans who had worshipped him is sure to be in ruins.

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