Barcelona give Marco Verratti pre-season deadline to force through Paris Saint-Germain exit as he ponders training snub

BARCELONA have given Marco Verratti until July 4 to make a decision on his Paris Saint-Germain future.

Ernesto Valverde is desperate to sign the Italy international and hopes to conclude a £100million as quickly as possible.

Getty Images

Verratti is believed to have met Barcelona officials while on holiday in Ibiza, confirming his intent to quit Paris and join them at the Nou Camp.

However, they are yet to see any action from Verratti on that front, leaving them in no-man’s land as PSG are refusing to sell.

The only way a deal could move forward is if the player kicks up a fuss by demanding to leave.

Getty Images

Fame Flynet

And Spanish newspaper Sport claims Barcelona are now waiting to see whether Verratti turns up to the first day of PSG’s pre-season training on July.

If he does, the Catalans will abandon the transfer and pursue other targets, with Brazil international Paulinho of interest.

Fame Flynet

Getty Images

But if Verratti is absent, Barca will take it as a sign that he wants to join them and is doing his part to make a move occur.

However, Nou Camp chiefs are only willing to pay as much as £70million for Verratti’s signature and will refuse to hand over the £100m-plus figure being mentioned in the French media.