Paris St Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has played down reports that the club could sign Wayne Rooney in the summer.
Reports suggested the Manchester United striker was on another ambitious shopping list being prepared by the big-spending Parisiens, who appear destined to win their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years this season. However, Ancelotti has responded by saying he could not imagine the England striker being for sale.
"Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world," the former Chelsea boss said in comments reported by L'Equipe. "I think he is impossible to buy. He is an idol for Manchester United."
Ancelotti's comments come after the club's director of football Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport that no offer had been made for Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and he was unaware of any plans to sign either Rooney or Napoli's Edinson Cavani.
"On Ronaldo, there has never been an offer," Leonardo said. "I've never heard anything about (Wayne) Rooney or (Edinson) Cavani either. I do not rule out big signings, but only if there is a suitable opportunity. We do want a larger squad with adequate cover in all areas in order to avoid the sort of problems we had in January in midfield with all the injuries and suspensions."
PSG have pulled nine points clear in Ligue 1 to put themselves in line for their third domestic title, and also put together an impressive Champions League run, exiting the competition after being knocked out by Barcelona on the away goals rule. That success has come on the back of major investment from the club's Qatari owners, and further spending is expected this summer.
Most of PSG's big-money signings last summer came from Italy, highlighted by the deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva from AC Milan, as well the acquisition of Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli and Thiago Motta from Inter Milan, among others. However, Leonardo - the former AC Milan and Inter coach - said he could cast a wider net this year.
"The market is opening up," he said. "We may look in Spain or England."
Even if no deal for Ronaldo emerges, one obvious target at Real Madrid would be France striker Karim Benzema, and Leonardo admitted he was keen to bring some French stars into the PSG line-up.
"The idea of seeing the great French players here is something I like," he said. "I'm not necessarily talking about Benzema, but maybe (Samir) Nasri, (Franck) Ribery or (Yohan) Cabaye. But I do not know if it is feasible and I have not had contact with any of them."
Source: PA
