Roma boss Garcia refuses to sell Benatia

Roma boss Rudi Garcia says there is no chance he will sell Mehdi Benatia this summer, despite the transfer rumour mill tipping him for the Stadio Olimpico exit door.

Benatia, 27, only joined the club last July having spent the previous three years at Udinese, but his performances this season have helped Roma to a second-placed finish.

Reports in Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday claimed the player's agent was set to travel to Barcelona to negotiate a move to Camp Nou for a fee between €30 and €35 million.

But Garcia, 50, has now broken his silence on the speculation and ruled out the prospect of sanctioning a deal for the Morocco star, who has a four year deal with the club and no buy-out clause.

He told Sport Mediaset: "Last year we sold €50 million worth of players, but this summer we are not in a position where we need to sell."

Eight players were sold in the summer of 2013, with Erik Lamela and Pablo Osvaldo recouping the vast proportion of the club's profits from player sales.

Benatia made 33 Serie A appearances in 2013/14 and weighed with five goals.