Pavel Nedved admits he turned down multi-million pound contracts – including from Inter – to stay with Juventus. “My agent hates me!”
As his deal had expired, the Czech hero could comfortably have left on a free transfer this summer, but opted to remain after an increase in wages showed he was not being taken for granted.
“A teammate told me I wouldn’t have looked right with Inter’s Nerazzurri shirt. I didn’t see myself in it, either,” smiled Nedved.
It was revealed that the player who made that comment was defender Jonathan Zebina, who told newspapers of his conversation.
“In any case, I am happy to still be a Juventino. I didn’t want to throw away everything I had built in these years. I have many friends in Turin,” added the 2003 European Player of the Year.
It was touch and go for a while, as Pavel had threatened to retire early rather than accept an insultingly low wage after he had stuck with the team through their demotion to Serie B.
“At a certain point I imagined myself at home with my slippers, but I love football too much to sit back and watch others play,” he told ‘Il Giornale.’
“It’s true there were economic problems, but I did everything I could to remain at Juve, even if I received far more advantageous offers. A year ago I didn’t even want to know about them, but this season it was right to do so, seeing as some clubs would have set up a golden bridge to take me there.”
Just as the situation seemed to be beyond repair and Inter were closing in, Nedved took matters into his own hands.
“My agent Mino Raiola got angry with me yet again, but at the end of the day I am the one who decides where to play. I invited director of sport Alessio Secco to my house for dinner and we resolved everything as friends.
“It was the right way to go, as I have many friends in Turin and we still have a mission to accomplish – qualifying for the Champions League. We’re perhaps still a little bit off the Scudetto, but the transfer market isn’t over yet and the more champions arrive, the better.”
channel4
int: id of course love to see him stay with juve but i think hes alittle old and he might not have it in him to play another season in serie A after this one
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