Juve: Let's start Cassano talks Sunday 24 October, 2004
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Antonio Cassano’s time at Roma seems to be up after Juventus transfer guru Luciano Moggi revealed he wants to discuss terms.
“We want to sign Cassano, but always showing respect for our friends at Roma ,” noted the Director General this morning.
The two clubs had a bitter row this summer over the transfer of Emerson, who rejected more lucrative moves to Real Madrid and Chelsea so he could join other ex-Giallorossi Fabio Capello and Jonathan Zebina.
“Antonio is a world class player,” added Moggi, “and it’s pointless denying we’d like him in our team. However, any transfer talks will take place with the club and not directly with Cassano.”
Emerson denied he had already signed a contract with Juve while he was still tied to the Capital club, but he did agree terms with the Turin giants.
“Roma are our allies on the transfer market and deserve respect, especially as Cassano is still tied to a contract that expires in 2006. If we are to discuss any move, it will be directly with President Franco Sensi.”
Cassano has been in the news this week after President Sensi claimed, “I’m not sure I want to keep him. The contract renegotiations are not a financial matter, but rather one of personality. His performance against Bayer Leverkusen was worthy of a slap.”
Since that statement, the 22-year-old has been training by himself in what is officially a bid to rediscover his best form, but this is a tactic often used by Italian clubs when a player is in a contract dispute.
Roma bought 18-year-old Cassano from Bari in 2001 for a remarkable £20m, beating Juventus in a bidding war that summer, but he could now end up at the Delle Alpi after all.
Meanwhile, details are beginning to emerge on what caused the latest row with Christian Panucci.
The player was left out of the squad to face Palermo after what Coach Gigi Del Neri described as "a disgraceful incident that showed a complete lack of respect for the staff." It seems that the defender turned up late for training on Saturday.
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hahhaha moggi is sooo SMART!!!
Forza Moggi.. Lets get Cassano baby!!!