Pescara are keeping hold of midfielder Marco Verratti for their Serie A campaign.

Both the player and Pescara released statements silencing the transfer gossip.

"I am staying at Pescara and respecting the contract I have with the club. I haven't signed for or made agreements with anyone. Now we can think about Serie A!" wrote Verratti on his Facebook page.

The club also released a statement on the official Pescara website.

"This morning the directors of Pescara met with Marco Verratti and his agent. In this meeting the player confirmed his desire to stay with the Biancazzurri, having renewed his contract in January that will tie him to the side for another four years.

"Taking into account the player's intentions, Pescara announce they have definitively taken the midfielder off the market."