Jesus Garcia Pitarch: 'Valencia will not sell Paco Alcacer'

Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch has insisted that Paco Alcacer will not be allowed to leave the Mestalla this summer and that decision has been discussed with the striker.

Barcelona have been strongly linked with a £25m move for the Spain international, who scored 15 times in 40 appearances for Los Che during the 2015-16 campaign.

However, Valencia president Chan Lay Hoon played down talk of a move earlier this week and now Pitarch has effectively ruled out a summer departure for the 22-year-old.

"I've talked to [Alcacer] and told him Valencia aren't willing to sell. I explained it clearly. He's very clear. He's happy and eager to start La Liga and to score goals. He hasn't conveyed to me he wants to leave Valencia. Valencia doesn't want to sell Paco Alcacer," Super Deporte quotes Pitarch as saying.

Alcacer failed to make Vicente del Bosque's Spain squad for Euro 2016.