Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel has had his potential switch to Italian champions Juventus 'postponed', according to Juve CEO Beppe Marotta.
The Belgian midfielder, who has just one year remaining on his current contract, was linked with moves to a number of clubs this summer, including Everton, Stoke City and Liverpool.
The 27-year-old had flown in to Turin on transfer deadline day to finalise a switch to Juventus, but despite passing his medical and agreeing personal terms, the deal fell through.
Marotta is still confident of signing Witsel in the future, admitting that his initial desire to play for Juventus was important.
Beppe Marotta confirms @axelwitsel28 move to #Juventus "only delayed" https://t.co/j0wJofRj7F #Zenit #BEL pic.twitter.com/lh8HhHt7Po
"It was an opportunity and we did the medical, with Zenit's authorisation, but then the deal wasn't concluded because they didn't wrap up another deal to replace him," Marotta told Juventus' TV channel Jtv. "Let's say it's been postponed. He wanted to play for us and this is important."
According to "?TalkSport, Zenit are set to offer the Belgium international a new contract, which would prevent Juventus signing him on a free-transfer next summer.
Marotta said that Witsel would have been a fine replacement for the departed Paul Pogba, who completed his return to Man Utd on a world-record fee.
Marotta: "We never wanted to sell Pogba, as he was an important figure for the club, the coach & the fans. But he asked to leave." #MUFC
The Juventus CEO admitted that he never thought about selling the Frenchman until the midfielder said he wanted to leave
"A player's destiny is in his own mind and we would never have sold him because he was important to the club, the team and the fans," Marotta continued. "He just wanted a change of scenery and that's when it becomes difficult to keep hold of somebody. We accommodated his wishes, opening up negotiations with Manchester United."
In spite of Pogba's big-money exit, the Old Lady enjoyed an otherwise successful summer in the transfer market, signing the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Dani Alves and Miralem Pjanic
"It's certainly been a satisfying transfer window for us," he added. "We're very satisfied for realising many of the objectives we had set."