Manchester United suffer blow in chase for PSG midfielder Marco Verratti

Manchester United target Marco Verratti will not be leaving French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, according to the club’s director of football Patrick Kluivert.

24-year-old Verratti was part of the PSG side that lost 6-1 to Barcelona on Wednesday night, which means that they exited the Champions League at the last 16 stage despite holding a 4-0 lead from the first leg at the Parc de Princes.

Nonetheless, the Italian international has been one of their standout performers this season having netted twice and laying on six assists in 30 appearances this term, including four assists since the turn of the year.

Unsurprisingly, Verratti’s fine form in the PSG midfield has alerted several clubs around Europe, one of which reportedly being Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, who were keen on signing the 24-year-old this summer.

However, PSG’s director of football Kluivert has made it clear that no-one will be signing Verratti come the end of the season.

He told Le10Sport: ‘Verratti is the cornerstone of our midfield and things will remain that way.

‘He is not going anywhere this year.’

This news will come as disappointment to many United fans, who will be hoping that Mourinho can add to his squad in the summer after seeing their Premier League title challenge never really get going this time round.

The League Cup winners are sixth in the division with 12 games to go, and with their participation in the Europa League and FA Cup ongoing, the United boss will need every member of his squad to secure a top four place, as well as some more silverware.