Umea breaks off talks to keep Brazil's Marta

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -Swedish club Umea IK has broken off negotiations to keep Brazilian star Marta, a two-time winner of the FIFA women's Player of the Year award.

"The discussion regarding Marta's being, or not being, with Umea IK for the coming season has ended on our part,'' the club said Wednesday in a statement.

The club said her agent Fabiano Farah had failed to respond to its proposals for the 21-year-old forward, who has been with Umea for the last five seasons.

"This disinterest to discuss with Marta's employer of the past five years has led Umea IK to now choose to end this very long-drawn out story,'' the club said. "Umea IK and Swedish female football is losing its brightest shining stars.''

On Tuesday, Swedish tabloid Expressen reported that Marta has signed a preliminary contract with the Los Angeles Sol.

Citing unnamed sources, the paper said the deal will be made public next week.

Marta won the FIFA award in 2006 and 2007, and has been shortlisted for the 2008 title, which will be awarded on Monday.