Arsenal still in Thuram race Thursday 20 July, 2006
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Lilian Thuram’s agent has denied reports that his client’s move to Barcelona is a formality, insisting that he may still sign for Arsenal.
“So much has been written but Thuram is in Africa and hasn’t been in touch,” Oscar Damiani said in an interview for the AffariItaliani website.
“Lilian wants to play in England but Barcelona are a big club and if they can agree a deal with him then that could happen. It’s something that hasn’t been discussed yet.”
Recent reports from the Spanish Press suggested that Thuram was set to sign for Barcelona within the next week, along with Gianluca Zambrotta.
However, the player’s representative was keen to stress that a move to the Premiership was far from out of the question.
The only option that Thuram has rejected is playing Serie B football with the Bianconeri.
“Arsenal are an option, it’s 50-50 between them and Barcelona,” Damiani stressed. “It’s not that Lilian is running out on Juve, it’s a mutual decision.”
Thuram has spent the last 10 years of his career in Italy – five at Parma and five at Juve – winning four Scudetti and being named one of the 125 greatest living footballers by Pele in 2004.
Several Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio players are looking to find new clubs after the Calciopoli verdict and it seems that Spain rather than England is their preferred destination.
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