Inter chief says PSG giants will pay huge fee for Brazilian

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti claims Paris Saint Germain have lodged a €45million (£35.7million) bid for Sao Paulo starlet Lucas Moura.



Manchester United had been leading the chase for the Brazilian forward and have been in talks with his club and his representatives.



But the English giants have been unable to agree terms and now big-spending PSG look to have agreed to Sao Paulo's demands of a fee in excess of €40million - a figure United were unwilling to meet.



Inter were also very much in the bidding for Moura, but they too have baulked at the demands.





"Faced with such prices, we cannot compete. We have a different logic than that of Paris Saint Germain," said Moratti.Now Moratti has stated that PSG, who have been tracking Moura for a number of months, have stepped up their interest by making a firm bid.



"In any case, there are no regrets that we didn't finish off the move, as the cost was already pretty high a few days ago.



"The €45m that PSG offered is completely illogical and for us it would've been very out of key with our approach.



"PSG are starting a new era, so they are completely reconstructing the squad. At least I can relish the fact I'm saving money.

"We were close to Lucas, for several days we talked about him, but honestly I never really believed in this deal, because it was too expensive.



"I have no regrets, the only certain thing now is that I saved money. (Bologna's, Gaston) Ramirez and (Catania's, Alejandro) Gomez as alternatives? There are many good players, but I don't choose the players."



Reports in Brazil have stated once Moura has finished playing in the Olympic football tournament a deal will be announced.



It is also claimed as part of the agreement with PSG - he would remain in Brazil until January, which also appealed to Sao Paulo.



Sao Paulo football director Adalberto Baptista told UOL: "I won't talk about this subject anymore because that's the fifth club the press say have signed Lucas."



The player's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, insists talk of a move to PSG is hugely premature, insisting it was paper talk.



"I am in Europe to watch the games," he told Terra.



"First they said Lucas was at Manchester United, now he belongs to PSG. Everyone is trying to build their story like a jigsaw puzzle."



However, Thiago Silva, who is currently with Moura in London for the Olympics, hinted he had talked to him about PSG and there was something happening.



"I did suggest him to Leonardo as he asked me," he told ESPN Brazil.



"I praised Lucas not because he plays with me, not because he is my friend but because he is a player that can contribute a lot to the national team. He is a skilful player that can decide in short space and finish quickly.



"Lucas and I have been talking since last week because I noticed something was reported on the press.



"Then I talked to Lucas to know what was going on. It's still open, they are still talking but it's not done."

Moura closing in on a move to Manchester United

Manchester United are poised to win the race for Brazilian winger Lucas Moura.

United have been chasing the Sao Paulo winger all summer and have already seen one bid rejected for the 19-year-old.



The likes of Inter Milan, Paris Saint Germain and Real Madridhave all been credited with an interest in Moura, but it appears United are in pole position to land the highly-rated starlet.



A fee is believed to have been agreed between United and Sao Paulo and the Old Trafford outfit have been given the green light to hold talks with the player.



Sir Alex Ferguson remained behind from United's pre-season trip to Norway for Sunday's friendly with Valerenga with the reason for his absence thought to be push through a deal for Moura.



Should United clinch the signing of Moura it would be a massive boost for Ferguson as the wide-man is regarded as one of the brightest young talents to emerge from Brazil in recent years.



Moura is currently on Olympics duty with Brazil and is expected to feature for Brazil in their semi-final against South Korea at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

'No Inter offer' for Lucas

Sao Paulo vice-president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes has denied reports they have agreed any deal with Inter Milan over the transfer of Lucas Moura.

Reports in Italy on Thursday stated that a deal has been struck between the two clubs, with Lucas left to just agree personal terms with the Italian giants.



However, the Brazilian outfit have dismissed the reports, with Paulo de Jesus Lopes claiming that they have held official talks only with Manchester United.



"I'm not aware of this information," he told Lancenet. "I was with (Sao Paulo president) Juvenal Juvenicio (Wednesday and Thursday).



"We sat only to negotiate with Manchester United, but their offer was not good enough."



Lucas, 19, is one of the best young players in world football and is currently in action for Brazil at the Olympics.



He has previously said he will make a decision on his future following the Olympics after Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed United's interest last month.

Sao Paulo line up new Moura deal

Sao Paulo are ready to offer Manchester United target Lucas Moura a new improved deal in a bid to keep him at the club.

United have made the highly-rated winger one of their top targets this summer and have already seen one bid rejected by Sao Paulo for Moura.



Moura, who is currently away with Brazil at the Olympics, has revealed he will not make a decision on his future until after the Games in London.



Sao Paulo's director of football, Adalberto Baptista, has admitted they may look to extend the 19-year-old's contract as they look to fend off United's interest in the attacker.



"It's possible we change his contract," Baptista told UOL. "He has four more years of contract. We may call him to extend, renegotiate his contract, maybe for 18 more months".



Baptista also played down rumours that Moura's parents had travelled to England to hold talks with United insisting it was only to watch their son in the Olympics.



"His family went to England just to watch the Olympics, they had already told us they would," added Baptista.



"They want to follow their son, like any parents would in a competition like that. There is no negotiation, no talks, anything.



Moura has found himself playing a bit-part role for Brazil at the Olympics and Baptista feels the player should be playing more than he has so far in the tournament.



"Lucas is now focused and it's in our interest he shows his best football, even though he is not being given as much playing time as he should at the national team, but that's just my personal opinion," concluded Moura.