Carlos Bacca has been left out of AC Milan's preseason tour of the USA as speculation over a proposed move to West Ham continues to build.
The Serie A club denies Bacca's exclusion has anything to do with him potentially leaving the club, but the latest development will likely only add further fuel to the fire over the Colombian striker's future.
"Milan have decided, on the request of coach Vincenzo Montella, to adopt the same criteria applied to Gianluca Lapadula and Leonel Vangioni with Carlos Bacca, who arrived in Milan on Thursday, and Mattia De Sciglio, who will arrive on July 28," the clubstatement said.
OFFICIAL: #ACMilan leave Carlos Bacca in Italy but "not due to the transfer market". https://t.co/L4ZxnUtVg8 #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/JyD8FPL3qN
"For this reason, both Bacca and De Sciglio will spend all of the preparation time on the fields of the Rossoneri's Milanello sports centre, and they will not be part of the squad for the International Champions Cup... and not because of transfer market reasons."
Milan's official position is that Bacca has been left out due to fitness reasons but it may have been a last-minute decision, seeing that the player himself appeared to think he was going on the tour as recently as Thursday.
Carlos Bacca: "I have a four-year contract at #ACMilan and I'm happy here." https://t.co/iXs6D9FQHx #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/fnUwIwHeQA
"I've got four years on my contract with Milan and I'm happy here," Bacca said. "I'll be leaving with the squad for the tour of the USA. I'm just thinking about Milan and I don't feel any pressure about leaving. I'm relaxed and have always worked to give my best.
"I will get the opportunity to play in Europe. I first need to speak to the club and then we will see what happens."
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan revealed in May that the club were working on bringing in a 'top striker' for £30m. The Hammers' negotiations with Milan have been frustrating, however, since they activated Bacca's release clause over a week ago.