Capello to join Cassano in Madrid? Thursday 29 December, 2005
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Spanish newspapers claim Fabio Capello is set for a move to Real Madrid, where he’ll reunite with Antonio Cassano, Adriano, Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The ambitious project was outlined by ‘As’, who suggest the Juventus boss will only agree to a return to La Liga if his team is bolstered by four new arrivals – Inter hero Adriano, his Juve protégé Ibrahimovic, Bianconeri teammate Vieira and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard.
This shopping list would put patron Florentino Perez back a cool £100m, including £40m for Adriano alone, and it’s far from certain Real can tempt any of them to the Bernabeu following their disappointing campaign.
Capello is fondly remembered in Madrid after taking them to the 1996-97 Liga title, though he has also been linked with the Manchester United post this week.
It’s far more likely that Cassano will be wearing the white shirt this season, as reports increasingly suggest his switch is a done deal. It’s claimed the Roma Board of Directors agreed to a £3.4m sale for a five-year contract and he could make his Liga debut away to Villarreal on January 8.
The only stumbling block could be the unpaid wages that the Giallorossi still owe their starlet, which are said to amount to £1.8m. Real refuse to take on this bill, but Roma have received an influx of cash today that could resolve the problem.
Their Trigoria training ground has officially been sold to Banca Italease in a sale and lease back deal worth £20.6m. Roma will continue to use the facilities for the next 15 years until it reverts to their property.
source: channel4.com