Lecce football chief Pantaleo Corvino says talks are continuing with Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.

Corvino, however, had wanted the deal to be kept out of the public arena.

He said, "The negotiation goes on, but we would have preferred it to remain secret because it was an idea that other clubs did not have and now if it should jump they will say that it was just to advertise us."

Marin Pongracic's arrival, Corvino said: "I worked two months to bring him here, to convince him I had to send him photos of the city, of the place, to make him understand the reality in which he would land. We do this with everyone, millions are not enough to convince the players.

"We are making visionary efforts and you have noticed it in these two years, with how much effort we have returned to A. We are trying to expand the Lecce brand, to make it international, even risking business that seems complicated."