Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 7y

PSG midfielder Marco Verratti: I'll stay if the club buy champions this summer

Editor's Note: Marco Verratti has since issued a statement refuting that he ever gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Click here for the full story.

Marco Verratti insists he could still stay at Paris Saint-Germain if the club bring in the right players in the transfer market this summer.

Verratti, 24, has been heavily linked with Barcelona, Man United and Juventus and his agent Donato Di Campli recently revealed that the midfielder's future was unclear.

The Italy international, however, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "It's not that I want to go at all costs, it's just I want to see if they really do build a great squad this time. In that case, I would be happy to stay.

"Each year they say they are going to build a great squad, but we've seen the results. Promises are not enough. If, on the other hand, this time PSG with [sporting director Antero] Henrique stick to what they say, then I will be absolutely happy to stay. At the end of the day, nobody is forcing me to leave."

On Saturday, Verratti posted a photo of the article covered in question marks on his Instagram account, but Italian journalist Alessandro Grandesso stood by his report.

Sport Mediaset reported that Verratti rejected a contract extension worth €12 million per season before meeting Henrique in Paris this week after flying home from Ibiza early.

L'Equipe also claimed that Verratti has sought legal advice from his lawyers to know what consequences he could face if he does not report for preseason training in July.

PSG's non-international players will convene at the club's Camp des Loges training facilities on July 4 but as he was involved in international action with Italy before going on holiday, Verratti is expected to return to Paris sometime just before Unai Emery's men head off to the USA for the International Champions Cup.

PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi and new sporting director Antero Henrique have reportedly established a €220 million transfer budget, with a shortlist featuring Monaco stars Kylian Mbappe and Fabinho, along with AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Borussia Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro and Real Madrid's Pepe.

Henrique also has a number of current PSG players surplus to requirements to raise extra funds for an ambitious assault on the transfer market in order to appease Verratti and rejuvenate the capital club's stagnating project.

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