Barcelona give up on £76 million target, not Verratti

Barcelona has given up their interest in the pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and now set focus on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, according to Sport.

Liverpool has made it clear that they’re not interested in selling their star, who signed a new deal at the start of the season, The Brazilian signed a five-year deal in winter, worth around £8 million a year. despite talk that he was worth around £76 million.

Barcelona’s players were reported to be interested in signing him, with Luis Suarez and Neymar persuading him to make a switch to Camp Nou.

Verratti was recently photographed holding a copy of El Mundo Deportivo, one which had the report of him joining the Blaugrana on the front page.

Previous reports had indicated that Coutinho would be willing to play elsewhere, but it doesn’t look that he’ll be moving this summer.

The former Inter Milan star has scored fourteen goalsthis season, adding seven assists and playing a starring role on Merseyside despite his lengthy injury spell last season.

Barcelona has been linked with Paulinho who plies his trade in China and also, the Camp Nou giants have also made an inquiry about Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic.