Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has raised the asking price for Javier Pastore.

After previously insisting that the playmaker was valued at €50m and then €60m, the Rosanero chief has again upped his price tag.

"He's worth €70m," Zampa noted. "He is one of the best players in the world and there are some clubs who could spend that amount."

Reports yesterday suggested that Zamparini was willing to do a deal with Juventus, but he now maintains that was just a joke.

"I was fooling around in that interview," he added. "I said they could have Pastore if they gave me Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini.

"Pastore will never join Juventus. If they are really interested in him then they should talk to me and not the papers.

"However, it is my intention to keep Pastore at Palermo next season too as he's one of the strongest players in the championship."