Inter Claim Nowt Heard about Sneijder

Inter Milan technical director Marco Branca insists the Italian club have not received any official offers for Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

Premier League champions Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for the 27-year-old, but Inter are adamant he is not available.

"No, there's not been an official offer and there has never been the intention to listen to them," Branca said.

"There are no updates. He is not for sale."

In early June, Sneijder told Inter's website: "At the moment I am very happy here, and I don't see why I should leave."

Yet speculation over his future continues to persist, and newspaper reports on Wednesday claimed that Manchester United were close to sealing a £35m deal for the playmaker to move to Old Trafford.

Branca, however, insists that no official offers have been received, and also denied reports in the Italian press that a meeting between the agent of Sneijder - who is under contract with Inter until June 2015 - and his current club was scheduled this week.

"There are no meetings planned," he said. "We don't sell by force.

"The player is getting on with his work and so are we.

"It's not surprising that Sneijder is a player that is liked by many teams, including the strongest in the world like our team is.

Sneijder - currently in pre-season training with Inter - joined from Real Madrid in 2009 and helped the Nerazzurri to a Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble in his first season.

He is also being linked with big-spending Spanish side Malaga.

Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Pallister told BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty that Sneijder would be "a huge hit" should the club succeed in buying the player.

"Maybe he is the sort of player that has been missing from United's side since Roy Keane left," he said.

"He will bring a bit of steel in there.

"There are no doubts about his temperament and ability to succeed at Old Trafford. He has played at the San Siro and been a success.

"Sneijder's pedigree is up there with the best. He's got great quality, a good engine. He has got the experience to go straight into the side and make an impact.

"United have got young players coming through but they have lost a great player in Paul Scholes and they need to replace that."