Barca admit Verratti frustration

Barcelona have admitted they are actively trying to sign Marco Verratti - but they have been frustrated by Paris St-Germain's refusal to negotiate his transfer.

The Spanish giants are looking to reinforce a midfield which has Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets coming to the end of their illustrious careers while they also lost Xavi Hernandez to retirement two seasons ago.

Verratti has impressed hugely for the Ligue Un side in recent years with Barca's eternal enemies Real Madrid also believed to be interested in moving for the midfielder.

However, despite their desire to capture the 24-year-old, Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has admitted they are unlikely to do so.

“[Verratti] is a technician. Our coaching staff want him to come and we know that he wants to come to Barcelona,” he said.

“The fact that there is no exit clause is a problem because you cannot go there to sign a player. PSG do not want to negotiate.”

Bartomeu also hailed the decision of Lionel Messi to extend his deal to stay with the Catalans until 2021 earlier this week while rejecting rumours the Argentine had made demands in the past about coaching appointments.

“This [Messi's contract extension] is expected news," he added. "An era of football began in 2008 when Pep [Guardiola] gave him the command of the team and this era will continue.

“It is an era of success, in which Messi leads the world of football, and to have him with us for four more years makes us optimistic.

“Messi has not asked for anything. People say [former coach] Tata Martino came because Messi proposed it – it’s a lie.

“Luis Enrique is a coach that we chose and the players knew later, and it was the same with [new coach] Ernesto Valverde.”

Enrique left the Nou Camp after three trophy-laden seasons with former Athletic Bilbao coach Valverde replacing him.

Image: Getty/Phillippe Desmazes

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