Barcelona star Lionel Messi does not want PSG star Marco Verratti to join the club over the summer transfer window according to Dario Gol [via Express].
Verratti is reportedly on a five-man shortlist as a potential replacement for club legend Andres Iniesta, whose contract expires next summer.
See More: For the latest Arda Turan news and everything else you ever wanted to know about the Barcelona star
Barcelona are not the only side interest in Verratti, the Express also report that Manchester United and Real Madrid have been linked with the Italian international.
It is not that Messi does not rate Verratti, he is said to believe that he midfielder’s off-field image could be bad for the club.
The Dario Gol report describes the Italian as being ‘rebellious and nocturnal’.
There were reports that Verratti was partying with Rihanna the night before the 6-1 defeat against Barcelona which saw PSG eliminated from the Champions League against all the odds.
PSG vehemently denied the accusations.
— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) March 10, 2017
The report also describes Turan – like Verratti – as having a taste for night life but underlined that Messi and Neymar have a close relationship with the Turkish international and want him to stay.
Turan has 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season but faces an uncertain future at the reigning La Liga champions.
The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to England and China but he does have three years remaining on his and his agent Ahmet Bulut has told Turkish-Football several times that his client is happy at Barcelona and wants to stay.