Juve Must Respect Zidane Wish To Quit, Says Agent
Friday 22nd June 2001
Zinedine Zidane's agent has told Juventus it is time for them to understand that the French star wants to play for Real Madrid.
Alain Miglaccio's outburst came 24 hours after the Spanish club's sports director Jorge Valdano claimed he had high hopes of signing the midfielder.
Miglaccio and Valdano were both reacting to comments by Juve general manager Luciano Moggi, who has rejected all the speculation linking Zidane with Real.
Miglaccio, however, told Spanish newspaper Marca that Juve are kidding themselves. "I cannot understand Juve's interest in keeping Zidane if he does not want to stay there himself," he said.
"The decision has already been taken to leave and I do not
understand why they will not accept it."
Zidane, whose wife is Spanish and wants to return home, has previously expressed an interest in playing in La Liga - and Real believe they are in with an excellent chance of signing the World Cup winner, who turns 29 on Saturday.
Valdano said: "We know that he has spoken several times about leaving Italian football because he likes Spain, more for family reasons than sporting ones.
"And Real have said that if this 'problem' needs to be solved,
we will be happy to have him."
Valdano claimed Moggi was trying to play down reports of a Zidane move because he is under pressure to keep the playmaker in Turin. "Of course Moggi is going to say that," scoffed Valdano. "He has to because he has been pressed by the media."
A Juve spokesman said on Friday that the club stood by Moggi's comments and claimed that Miglaccio was merely trying to make some cash out of Zidane.
