Sevilla In Maresca Talks
7/14/2005 10:39:00 PM
Sevilla are set to sign out-of-favour Juventus midfielder Enzo Maresca after talks between the two clubs took place in Italy, scuppering any interest from Fulham.
The Spanish club’s technical secretary, Ramón Rodríguez - who is known as Monchi, travelled to Turin to discuss the deal only days after Juve regained 100 per cent of Maresca’s contract after holding 50 per cent of it with Fiorentina.
Maresca spent last season on loan at Fiore, with Fabrizio Miccoli, but the duo were jeered when they returned to the Juventus club by a section of fans after seying they wished that they had stayed in Florence.
Juve director general, Luciano Moggi, is keen to off-load Maresca and there has been interest from several clubs including his former club West Bromwich Albion and Fulham from the Premiership.
It was reported that Moggi was keen to use the player in a player-plus-cash deal to lure some of Juve's prime targets to the club, but having captured Patrick Vieira that may no longer be necessary.
Maresca returned to Italy from the Hawthorns in 1999 in a €6million move, but has failed to impress at the club and has spent loan spells at Bologna, Piacenza and Fiore.
The bid for Maresca could pave the way for Julio Baptista to move after Sevilla president José María del Nido confessed that he may not be able to stop the Brazilian from leaving.
Del Nido also confessed that if Baptista were to leave then the Andalucian outfit would move quickly to bring in a replacement for him and Maresca could be that option.
Goal.com