£107.6m Lazio man claims Man Utd rumours ‘just paper talk’

Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has claimed that speculation over the summer that he could move to Manchester United “was just paper talk”.

The Serbian midfielder was linked with a move to Old Trafford in each of the last two summer transfer windows, with some reports going as far as saying he had reached a verbal agreement with the club – but only in the event of Paul Pogba leaving.

While rumours of a move to Real Madrid continue to circulate for the Frenchman, he was not sold in time for United to secure Milinkovic-Savic as his replacement.

The 24-year-old has now reiterated his stance of being happy at Lazio, with whom he won the Coppa Italia final last season and reportedly value him at €120m (£107.6m).

He told Sport Plus (via Calciomercato): “I never said I wanted to leave Lazio, I feel good here.

“I never mentioned a possible transfer to Manchester United and it was just paper talk. New commitments await me with Lazio.”

Milinkovic-Savic is tied down to a long-term contract in the Italian capital, with his present deal running until 2023 – a further deterrent for interested suitors such as Juventus, Inter Milan and Paris Saint Germain.