Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has claimed that midfielder Arturo Vidal was not even close to being sold by the Turin giants this summer.

The Chile international was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United after the World Cup but the deal never materialised, with Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal signing other targets in the transfer window.

Allegri, who took charge of the Serie A champions earlier this summer after Antonio Conte quit, insists that Juventus never had plans to sell Vidal.

“Vidal? He was never on the market,” Allegri told Sky Italia. “The club told me from the start that he would stay.”

The ex-AC Milan coach got off to a winning start in Serie A last weekend as the Old Lady posted a 1-0 away win against Chievo.

Juventus, who signed Patrice Evra from Manchester United, Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid and Kingsley Koman on a free transfer, will next meet Udinese at home after the international break.

Koman, 18, was outstanding in his debut against Chievo and won the man-of-the-match award after being handed the number 11 shirt previously worn by Juve legends such as Pavel Nedved and Zbigniew Boniek.

Juventus are the 1.38 favourites to follow up their win over Chievo with three points against Udinese on September 14. The visitors are 7.52 to stun the Old Lady with the draw priced at 4.71 in the 1X2 betting.