Monaco Chief Scuppers Double Juve Swoop
Friday 15th June 2001
Monaco president Jean-Louis Campora has blocked the efforts of new coach Didier Deschamps to bring former Juventus team-mates Ciro Ferrera and Antonio Conte to the Principality.
Deschamps knows his side's defence needs strengthening before next season - and the Italian duo were tipped to follow �6 million signing Lucas Bernardi to Monaco.
But Campora has blocked the moves, declaring: "When I hear talk of Ferrara or Conte, I say 'no'. One is 34 and the other has recently had an operation. They will definitely not be coming."
The development will come as a blow to former Italy international Conte, who admitted this week that he would be interested in moving. "Monaco would be a good solution for me," he said.
"I'm ready to join Didier in the Principality. He wants to build a great team. Didier is a friend, we were team-mates. He has all the qualities to be a good coach. However, I also have options in Italy."
Despite forbidding Deschamps to buy the Turin-based pair, Campora hit back at reports that he had targeted other coaches before appointing the former France international.
"I had no contact with all the coaches who have been cited - indeed, with no coaches at all. All those who say the opposite are liars," he asserted.
"I have never had the slightest direct contact, or through an intermediary, with [Lille coach] Vahid Halilhodzic, [Bordeaux coach] Elie Baup or [ex-Rennes coach] Paul Le Guen. I owe it to myself to re-establish the truth, if only out of respect for their supporters and their management teams.
"When I decided to get a new coach, I thought about it and it's true, Didier's name imposed itself rapidly. Didier is someone who has victory in his blood. He is the only coach I thought of."
Since joining Monaco last week, Deschamps has already hired two former Juventus officials: Narciso Pezzotti as his assistant and fitness trainer Antonio Pintus.
"My time at Juventus made a big impression on me. I'm a pure French product but I spent many years abroad, during which time Pintus and Pezzotti had a great influence on me," Deschamps explained.
"Pezzotti even refused to become Lippi's assistant coach at Juventus to join up with me. I met them in Turin, they know football very well and I needed them to join me.
"I will be in charge of the team and recruitment. As for the training sessions, I will be seconded by Narciso Pezzotti, Antonio Pintus and Jean-Luc Ettori, who will take care of the goalkeepers."
