MARCO VERRATTI has crushed reports of a potential summer move to Real Madrid after signing a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain.
The latest deal is his fourth in as many years after joining from Pescara in 2012 – and his second in five months.
Verratti only extended his contract until 2020 in February, but will now remain at the Parc des Princes until 2021 after being offered a huge pay rise.
The Italy international now stands to earn a whopping £6.2million-a-year in the French capital, and Real will have to look elsewhere after earmarking Verratti as a possible Galactico.
Serie A champions Juventus were also said to be keen as Paul Pogba prepares to return to Manchester United for a world-record transfer fee, but Verratti insisted at the weekend that he would be staying put in Paris despite being flattered by Real’s interest.
The 23-year-old said: “It’s been four years that I have been in Paris. I begin my fifth year. Until we have won the Champions League, I want to stay here. That’s the goal I set myself.
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“I want to win with this team because it’s like a family. It’s nice when a big team like Real Madrid is interested in you, but I decided to win with Paris.”
Securing Verratti’s future is a huge boost for new boss Unai Emery, who has just allowed latest arrival Giovani Lo Celso to return to Argentina side Rosario on a season-long loan.
The former Sevilla boss has been busy since taking charge at PSG this summer, raiding his old side for £28m defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak while also completing deals for Club Brugge right-back Thomas Meunier and free agent Hatem Ben Arfa.
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