AEK’s effort to acquire Brazilian striker Leonardo from Levadiakos bore no fruit in the end as the Livadia club decided to hold on to the player.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Levadiakos acknowledged the interest of AEK but said that Leonardo is essential to their roster and will therefore see out his contract that expires in end-December 2009.

AEK answered with a statement of their own thanking Leonardo for his active interest in joining their club.

Manager Dusan Bajevic and his players are in Austria but their friendly game with Czech champions Slavia Prague was cancelled on Saturday due to a water-logged pitch.

AEK will now play their first friendly game in Austria against Romanian cup winners Cluj.

In a radio interview the former midfielder of Panathinaikos, Ezequiel Gonzalez said he would like to work under Bajevic and he is willing to discuss a possible move to AEK.

“Equi” has returned to his native Argentina and has just finished the season in the Latin American country with the colours of Rosario Central.