Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Sissoko has confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain's Blaise Matuidi wanted to leave the French champions for "a new challenge" with Juventus this summer.
Sissoko, 27, left Newcastle United for Spurs in a £30 million deal on the final day of the transfer window but Matuidi, 29, remained at Parc des Princes and is now playing his way into Unai Emery's preferred starting XI.
The pair roomed together on international duty with France recently and Sissoko said he and Matuidi found themselves in the same situation at the same time in wanting to leave their respective clubs.
"At Clairefontaine [France's national football centre], I was often with him in the house," Sissoko told beIN Sports France. "I saw that he wanted to leave for a new challenge.
"Juventus were interested in him. That was something exciting for him. However, unfortunately, PSG were against his departure. I can understand that. Blaise is a great player, who has contributed a lot for PSG and for France.
"I know what it is like when you want to leave a club because I was also in the same situation, I wanted to leave. Nothing was done at that point but what he was feeling, I was feeling the same. There was mutual support there."
Juventus are expected to revisit their interest in Matuidi either in January or at the end of the season, while agent Mino Raiola has said that talks will take place with PSG over the Frenchman's future.
Matuidi has already said he was keen to leave PSG but insists he is happy at the club.