Bruce had been tracking Honduras midfielder Hendry Thomas for months, with Wigan agreeing a £1.8m fee with South American club Olimpia for his signature.
Everton's Andy Johnson celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Cup fourth round, second leg against Fiorentina
But the deal has collapsed after Thomas, 23, was refused a work permit.
Bruce said: 'It's very disappointing. We tried to appeal against the decision but it's fallen on deaf ears. The player is totally devastated.'
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London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures
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EXCLUSIVE: I won't play with Joey Barton, says Adel Taarabt
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Diamond Jubilee: Boat by boat, here is where to watch the Queen's Thames flotilla - VIDEO
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Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party
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News pictures of the day
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Locked up and banned: The Tube drunk whose vile racist rant was caught on film (video)
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London 2012 Olympics: Raising the bar and the Games haven't even started yet. Price of toasting Team GB is £6 a pint! -
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Family pay tribute to the London man who gave his life to save a five-year-old girl from drowning 
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Shrimpy's - review 
The O2
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