Transfer Centre

Rafael Benitez: 'Moussa Sissoko not for sale'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 12 July 2016

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez insists that Moussa Sissoko is not for sale this summer, despite reports suggesting that the club had placed a £35m asking price on him.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has insisted that Moussa Sissoko is not for sale.

Reports emerged yesterday claiming that the Magpies had placed a £35m asking price on the France international following his performances for the host nation at Euro 2016, including a standout display in the final against Portugal.

France ultimately lost that match 1-0, but Benitez was pleased with Sissoko's performance and hopes to see him stay at St James' Park this summer despite their relegation to the Championship.

"I'm really disappointed because [France] couldn't win the final. I was really pleased for [Sissoko] though, because he was doing really well. We know he finished the season in really good form for us - I made him the captain, so I rate him really highly," Benitez told nufcTV.

"I'm disappointed because they didn't win, but happy because of his performances. Now we have to wait. People are talking about 'this price' or 'this price' - but we don't want to sell, so we haven't put any price [on him] and we are pleased, we are happy with him.

"I appreciate him too much to think that we will miss him, so we know he has done really well and a lot of people will be talking about him. But we'd like to see him here and that's it."

Newcastle will kick off the new Championship season away to Fulham on Friday, August 5.