Thursday, July 2, 2009

Cobolli Gigli: We still want D'Ago



Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has rejected reports linking his club with Xabi Alonso and insists he still wants Gaetano D'Agostino.

A deal for D'Agostino broke down last week as Juventus and Udinese couldn't agree a fee for the 27-year-old holding midfielder.

“There are many names for the central midfield but not that of Xabi Alonso,” Cobolli Gigli said.

“I have gathered from the Press our interest for the Spanish player. He is a good footballer but I don't believe that to say I have read his name in the newspaper is sufficient. I also know nothing about Marek Hamsik.

“The deal [for D'Agostino] has gone cold. Udinese are a serious club with prepared directors who are capable negotiators.

“We are negotiating to find a solution between our valuation and the one Udinese gives the player.

“The talks are complex. The fact is that on top of money Udinese also want our players who we consider to be columns of the Juventus of the future.

“Anyway, the respect and our theoretical interest in the player remains,” Cobolli Gigli added.

He then acknowledged that players who don't want to be sold have hampered Juventus' transfer strategy.

The Bianconeri had organised to sell Christian Poulsen to Fenerbahce but he rejected the move to Turkey.

“Our market is blocked by players who don't want to be sold. Sure, before we can buy we have to sell.

“Poulsen is one of the players we put up for sale and in theory also David Trezeguet.

“It's clear we have to accelerate. It would be very positive if we could communicate our sales and subsequent acquisitions within the next 10 days,” he explained.

Cobolli Gigli then turned his attention to Pavel Nedved, who left Juventus at the end of the season, but might not retire after all.

“I hope Nedved makes part of Juventus' technical family. When the championship finished, Pavel assured us that he had hung up his boots.

“Then his agent is a convincing man, but if he were to come to Juventus we would all be happy to have him on the technical staff.

“I don't believe it is possible to see him again on the pitch. He told us that he no longer has the necessary fitness to do a great championship for a great team.”

In a final thought, Cobolli Gigli gave his opinion on news that Luciano Moggi advised Bologna towards the end of last season.

“Mr Moggi is a man who worked in the world of football for many years. He has many friends and admirers and it's fine like this,” he concluded.

channel4.com/sport/football_italia

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