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Mino Raiola fires Barcelona blast at reporters as Matthijs de Ligt seals Juventus transfer
MINO RAIOLA has denied suggestions Barcelona were ever the frontrunners to sign Matthijs de Ligt this summer, claiming rumours the Spaniards had snapped up the Juventus-bound Ajax youngster were
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The 19-year-old centre-back courted interest from a slew of Europe’s big clubs following an immense season at the heart of the Dutch champion’s defence.
Manchester United were interested in signing the Netherlands international, as well as Barcelona.
In June, it was claimed on numerous occasions that the Spanish champions had reached an agreement to bring the defender to the Nou Camp.
Barca, however, have lost the race for De Light’s services to their Italian counterparts Juventus, who are on the verge of finalising a £67.5million deal for the centre-back.
And Raiola has laughed off suggestions his coveted client was ever on course to move to Catalunya.
"Barcelona? You all wrote so much bulls**t!” Raiola said when asked if De Ligt had made the right decision by joining Juve.
"It’s not a question of who wanted him most, but Juve are the best team for him. For a defender it is important to come to Italy.
“If you are to become the greatest in the world, it is a necessary stage.
Barcelona? You all wrote so much bulls**t!
"He's the number one among the youngsters.
“He's like [Pavel] Nedved, maybe more than him, for his mentality and he's like Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] for his ambition. He has it all."
For the last few weeks, De Ligt has remained tightlipped over his future.
However, last month he did reveal his choice of new club will be dictated by where he feels he’ll play the most and not by potential earnings.
“Now I will go on vacation, I'll think carefully about what is best for me and then I'll decide,” he said.
“For a young player like me, it's important to go to a club where I can play consistently.
"That's the main issue.”
De Ligt is currently undergoing a medical in Turin and it’s understood his big-money move to Serie A will be announced this evening.