Juve set Ibra price
Tuesday 8 August, 2006
Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has opened a bidding war for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and demanded the return of the 2005-06 Scudetto.
“If he does leave, then he will go to the club that makes the highest offer,” Cobolli Gigli told journalists at today’s meeting of the Lega Calcio.
“I hope that the favourite for his signature remains Juventus with a new contract, but he’s headed for the side that pays him the most.”
Ibrahimovic has made it clear he has no intention of playing in Serie B following their demotion and threatened legal action to extricate himself from his contract.
Milan have been the favourites for some time to pick up the unhappy Swede, although Inter are back in the running now that Luca Toni has opted to stay with Fiorentina.
Hernan Crespo has joined the Nerazzurri, confirming that Ibrahimovic is top of Carlo Ancelotti’s wish-list in finding a replacement for Andriy Shevchenko.
Juventus have officially started the bidding war with Cobolli Gigli’s statements and it’s reported the Rossoneri are willing to offer up to £17.8m, although the Turin giants are holding out for £20m. The 24-year-old striker was signed in 2004 for £11.5m from Dutch outfit Ajax.
The Juve President also protested at the decision to strip his club of the 2005-06 Scudetto, which was handed to third-placed Inter after the Calciopoli trial.
“We believe there was absolutely no reason to take that title away from us,” insisted Cobolli Gigli. “Our lawyers are continuing to mount an appeal case and among our requests are the return of those two trophies. We want the authorities to take note of the fact this club made a clear signal of change, splitting off from the past Board of Directors.”
The Nerazzurri debuted their new jerseys with the Scudetto symbol during the Amsterdam Tournament last week.
“It didn’t give me any feeling at all to see that, as I don’t go poking my nose in other people’s business. What did hurt me was to see the Juventus shirt without that insignia.”
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