++ [ originally posted by Erik
] ++
Ajax and AS Roma reach principal agreement about transfer Cristian Chivu
Amsterdam, July 08, 2003
Ajax and AS Roma have in principal reached an agreement about the transfer of Cristian Chivu. Ajax sitll await a signed bank guarantee from AS Roma to finalise the deal. As usual, Ajax do not disclose financial details of the agreement.
Ajax's managing director Arie van Eijden revealed that it concerns by far the financially biggest transfer in the club's history. Van Eijden: Let me make one thing very clear: Ajax wanted to continue with Chivu. But Cris himself wanted to go to AS Roma and then you know that in the end you cannot keep him with our club.”
Cristian Chivu leaves for Italy as early as tonight.
Ajax's coach Ronald Koeman regrets the departure of his captain. Koeman: ,,Of course it is a pity that Cris is leaving Ajax, but I think we should not try to stop him now. Cris leaves great memories behind with Ajax. Ajax is working hard at Chivu's succession and I have complete faith in that succession.”
Ajax and AS Roma played each other twice in last year's second round of the UEFA Champions League. Ajax qualified for the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League at Roma's expense. Partly due to a first-minute goal by Andy van der Meyde the match in Rome's Olympic Stadium ended in 1-1. Ajax had won the home match with 2-1 on December 10 2002.
Cristian Chivu made his debut for Ajax on September 30 1999 in the UEFA Cup match against Dukla Banska Bystrica (3-1 to Ajax). He won the Dutch championship and Cup with Ajax in 2002, won the Johan Cruijff Shield in 2002 and successfully defended 2001's Amsterdam Tournament title a year later.
Chivu was voted Player of the Year by De Telegraaf and Voetbal International in 2002. He was awarded that same title in his home country Romania. Furthermore, many thousands of visitors of UEFA's official web site chose him in the European team of 2002.
Cristian Chivu played 107 league matches for Ajax, in which he scored 13 times. He also wore the Ajax strip in 26 European cup matches, 8 Amstel Cup matches and the match for the Johan Cruijff Shield at the start of last season.
Cristian Chivu has played 28 times for Romania. He has scored twice for his country.
Taken from Ajax's official website
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Some other facts I got from a very reliable sports website in Holland (
www.vi.nl):
Roma pays Ajax €18m for Chivu
Ajax is looking to replace Chivu with French defender Julien Escudé from Stade Rennes.
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Those damned Romans :fero: Where the hell did they get 18 million is what I want to know ...