Fabinho has denied he has had contact with Paris Saint-Germain and says he is focused on getting Monaco into next season’s Champions League.
The Brazilian was close to joining PSG last summer, and in January the 24-year-old, who has also been linked to Manchester United, opened the door to a move away from Monaco by saying he wanted a new challenge.
Speculation linking him with PSG arose prior to last Saturday’s Coupe de la Ligue final which Monaco lost to the club from the French capital for the second successive year.
Fabinho told media the transfer rumours were nothing more than an attempt to disrupt his club’s preparations for the game.
“I knew it was just something to try to stir things up a bit here at the club, because there has been no contact with me or my agent,” the Brazil international said. “It was just to stir things up a bit. I don’t think Paris need that, but it’s something that could help them. I think it was just a bit like a game. It’s finished.”
A central figure in Monaco’s Ligue 1 title win last season, Fabinho has not been as impressive this term and said his mind had dwelled on his aborted move to the capital and led to his mediocre form in the first part of the campaign.
With Monaco on the verge of losing their domestic crown to PSG, and with just a five-point cushion over third-placed Marseille with seven games remaining, Fabinho now insists he is 100 percent behind his club’s effort to claim one of Ligue 1’s two automatic Champions League group stage qualifying places.
“My attitude now is I want to do my best to get second place. It’s not going to be easy, there are two teams behind us who are playing to win, and have good squads to be able to go for second place too,” he said.
“I’m focused on that. I’m not thinking about a possible transfer or the summer transfer window that’s coming up. I’m just focused on football.”
Ian is ESPN’s French football correspondent. Twitter: @ian_holyman
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