Juventus Bidding for Aussie Teen
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
PERTH, Australia (June 23, 2000 12:09 a.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Top Italian club Juventus has made a late bid to snatch Australian soccer's golden boy, 19-year-old Ivan Ergic, from under the nose of German rival Hertha Berlin.
Roger Lefort, general manager of Ergic's club, Perth Glory, said Friday that the teenager and his family had been flown to Italy to discuss a possible move.
Ergic will be given a tour of the Turin giant's facilities and introduced to the management team during his two-week stay.
The move comes only a week after Glory revealed it had opened
negotiations with Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin, which is also keen to sign up the midfielder, who showed sparkling form in the Australian National Soccer league (NSL) finals rounds.
Spain's Valencia, English Premier Division side Newcastle United and Scottish champions Rangers have also had Ergic watched.
Ergic played a major role in Glory's success in reaching the final of the NSL in only its fourth season in the competition.
The club lost to Wollongong Wolves in a penalty shootout after the teams were locked at 3-3 after extra time 10 days ago.
