Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Report: Fiorentina Challenge Juventus For Napoli Centre-Back Fabiano Santacroce

Fabiano Santacroce - Napoli (Grazia Neri)

Fiorentina director of sport Pantaleo Corvino has set his sights on Napoli central defender Fabiano Santacroce to bolster Cesare Prandelli’s rearguard, but the Gigliati are facing stiff competition from Juventus.

According to Florence-based daily La Nazione, Corvino has sounded out the Partenopei over the possibility of releasing the promising 22-year-old.

But his Napoli counterpart, Pierpaolo Marino, has made it clear that any deal for the Brazil-born defender would have to see either Massimo Gobbi or Marco Donadel move to the San Paolo in part-exchange.

However, Santacroce is also a target for Ciro Ferrara’s new-look Juventus and there are suggestions that the reported deal for Paolo De Ceglie, who looks set to join the Campani in a co-ownership agreement, will only go through if Santacroce is allowed to relocate to Turin.

Santacroce arrived at Napoli from Brescia in January 2008 in a €5.5million deal and the Vesuviani are expected to demand in excess of €8m to release ‘Emperor Nero’.

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

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