Lucio rules out a Bayern Munich departure

Bayern Munich's Brazilian defender Lucio on Wednesday ruled out any chance of a summer switch to Barcelona and says he is happy to stay in Bavaria.

“I have made my decision, I have no reason to leave here, I will stay with Bayern,” he told German tabloid Bild on Wednesday.

Lucio, one of the best central defenders in the Bundesliga, is under contract with Bayern until 2010.

Last month, he implied he may join Barcelona at the end of the season in a deal worth up to 20 million euros to the German giants.

With 65 appearances for his country, the 29-year-old has spent most of his career in Germany having been at Bayer Leverkusen from 2000-04 when he left to join Bayern Munich.

He has 203 Bundesliga appearances and scored 21 league goals, winning two German league titles in 2005 and 2006, but is almost certain to win a third this season with Bayern 12 points clear at the top of the table.