Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says that reports claiming Juan Sebastian Veron is on the verge of signing for Chelsea are news to him.
"I don't know anything about it," Ferguson told reporters as his players trained for Thursday's friendly against Juventus.
The Argentine international midfielder rejected a move to Stamford Bridge last week but Wednesday's Guardiannewspaper quoted his agent as saying an improved offer could mean a deal with Chelsea being done by Thursday.
But after watching Veron train at Rutgers University Ferguson said: "Sometimes players think differently from their agents.
"Seba is a mature man, he knows what he wants. I do not know if (his agent) has acted without our knowledge.
"Seba said last week he wanted to stay and I was fine with that, I thought it had settled down".
Asked if a deal could be done by Thursday, Ferguson said: "It's going to be difficult."
Ferguson said that Veron, who cost stg£28.1 when he joined United from Lazio in 2001, will play against Juventus at Giants Stadium on Thursday.
Meanwhile United have announced that Gary Neville will be sent home from pre-season tour of the United States after sustaining a hamstring injury which will keep him out for three weeks.
The England full-back underwent a scan after picking up the injury in United's 4-0 victory over Celtic in Seattle on July 22nd.
He will fly home for treatment later today and is set to miss the start of the new Premier League season on August 16th and an England friendly against Croatia four days later.