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Di Maria and Perez deny transfer talk

Argentina pair Angel Di Maria and Enzo Perez have rejected speculation that they are set to join Juventus and Valencia respectively after the World Cup.

Real Madrid winger Di Maria has been strongly linked with a move away from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu during the last two transfer windows and has been most recently mentioned in speculation regarding a potential part-exchange deal involving either Paul Pogba or Arturo Vidal.

Speaking from the albiceleste camp in Belo Horizonte, the winger told Marca that he knew nothing about any move and would not be discussing his future with representative Jorge Mendes until after the tournament was over.

"I do not know anything," Di Maria said. "I am just thinking about the national team, I will talk about that [later] with my agent. I do not know anything, I do not want to think about other things at the moment."

The future of Benfica's Perez, another Mendes client, has also been much talked about in the Spanish media, with Valencia reportedly willing to pay 25 million euros for the 28-year-old defensive midfielder.

Perez told AS that no deal had been agreed, while suggesting he would much prefer to stay at the Portuguese club.

"There is nothing concrete or signed with Valencia," Perez said. "They have said that I did a medical, but I do not want to leave Benfica. With what is being said I am being put in an uncomfortable position. When the World Cup is over, I will sit down and talk. It will depend on them."

Valencia have also been heavily linked with a number of other Mendes clients, including Porto striker Jackson Martinez, and Benfica pair Rodrigo and Andre Gomes, but the Spanish club have yet to spend money this summer.

Widespread reports have also claimed that Valencia set to replace current coach Juan Antonio Pizzi with Rio Ave boss Nuno Espirito Santo -- a former goalkeeper whose move to Deportivo La Coruna in 1997 was the Portuguese super agent's first official deal in football.

Mendes is a close associate of Singapore businessman Peter Lim, whose takeover of Valencia is reportedly still on hold, according to Cadena Ser, with complications having emerged with the initial deal agreed to buy the club, sell its current Mestalla ground, and complete the building of a new stadium.