Barcelona Transfer News: Marquinhos Discusses Blaugrana Talk, Latest Rumours

Paris Saint-Germain star Marquinhos has admitted he is “happy” Barcelona are reportedly interested in his signature, but he doesn't believe he'll be leaving the Ligue 1 champions for Catalonia during the summer transfer window.

Speaking to France Football (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts), the Brazil international responded to the persistent transfer rumours that have been making the rounds for years now, and while he didn't rule out a move in the future, he doubts it will happen anytime soon:

"

PSG are not a selling club.

I am happy that a big club like Barcelona are interested in signing me.

I cannot deny that. We are talking about the biggest club in the world here.

But I have to keep my feet firmly on the ground because PSG have never been open to selling me. We will see what happens.

Is the door out of PSG open? No, not really.

"

The 22-year-old moved to Paris from AS Roma in 2013 and has become part of a rotation at centre-back that also includes compatriots Thiago Silva and David Luiz.

Marquinhos has seen a lot of minutes at right-back over the years in an effort to fit all three into the team, although he didn't feature as much out wide last season.

Per WhoScored.com, he started 20 Ligue 1 contests last year and appeared in nine more as a substitute, which are solid numbers but less than you'd expect from a star defender who is wanted by one of the biggest clubs in the world.

The lack of an automatic starting position has been the main source of transfer speculation.

Here's a look at some of Marquinhos' highlights:

The former Roma star is an athletic, technical defender who is far less dependent on pure physicality than many of his colleagues. He makes smart challenges and attacks the ball rather than his opponent, and his ability as a distributor would make him a perfect fit in Barcelona's defence.

The Catalans' interest made a lot of sense, but the team solved their need for defensive depth by signing UEFA Euro 2016 standout Samuel Umtiti, and they're unlikely to be looking to add another defender.

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

The duo of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano did just fine last season, and Umtiti's long-term potential makes him a strong candidate to replace the latter when he starts to decline.

PSG are also unlikely to cash in on Marquinhos anytime soon. Per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson, their decision to let him participate in the Summer Olympics expresses as much:

The Blaugrana have already added two defenders, as Lucas Digne joined Umtiti in Catalonia, but vice-president Jordi Mestre said there's a good chance more players will arrive, as he told Mundo Deportivo (h/t Goal's Dom Farrell):

"

You have to talk to [technical secretary] Robert [Fernandez] and [sporting director] Albert Soler and it depends on the remaining money but I am optimistic.

Until August 31 there is time to move pieces, both for incomings and outgoings. It is still early.

Denis (Suarez), Umtiti and Digne show that the work is done throughout the year and materialises to be finished. There are others [which] are not as fast. The work is brewing throughout the season.

"

One player who has been linked with the Catalans but may not be joining is Santos starlet Gabriel Barbosa, better known as Gabigol.

The Brazil international has been linked with Chelsea and Juventus in the past few weeks, according to UOL Esporte (h/t Football Italia), while Barcelona have been scouting the 19-year-old, per Sport (h/t Football Italia).

JEFFERSON BERNARDES/Getty Images

Brazilian sources have most strongly linked him with Juventus, however, and per UOL (via football writer Paulo Freitas), the Bianconeri have a clear number for what it will cost them:

He added that “everything suggests” he will move to Juventus, where he'll replace Alvaro Morata, who returned to Real Madrid earlier this summer.

Gabigol is currently preparing for the Olympics, and in all likelihood, this transfer saga will carry on until the end of the transfer window.