On-again-off-again item Justin Bieber andSelena Gomez rang in the New Year solo and a close pal exclusively tells Breaking Celebrity Newsthe couple breaking up was the result of pushing the relationship to work when it just wasn't.

"Justin and Selena were together for a long time. They love each other and will always care about each other, but it just isn't working between them," the pal told Breaking Celebrity News.

"This might really be it for the two of them. They're over going back and forth and all the fighting and reconciling. They're finally realizing that no matter how much they try to make it work, it won't right now."

As Breaking Celebrity News exclusively reported, after a brief breakup in November, Justin and Selena got back together and were spotted getting cozy in Salt Lake City, Utah, on a holiday vacation together.