Perez Invited To Double Zidane Offer
Sunday 24th June 2001
Luciano Moggi hit back at Real Madrid on Sunday night after Zinedine Zidane admitted he would jump at a move to the Bernabeu. "Zidane is worth �70 million to us, so when we're offered that much we can start to talk," said the Juventus general manager.
The pressure has been building on Moggi for some days, with Real president Florentino Perez and sports director Jorge Valdano apparently trying to cajole Juve into selling via the media.
But the Italian seems prepared to stand his ground. "I've read that Real will give us �35 million for Zidane, but they can double that offer if they are serious," he said. "And no, I don't think Real will buy Zidane," he added.
Moggi then turned his anger on Perez for his handling of the affair. "He is always trying to force situations," he claimed. "When he was trying to sign Luis Figo, his behaviour was even worse."
The Juventus official was reacting to comments by the Real supremo on Saturday. "Zidane must must speak to Juve and find out what the club's response is to a transfer," said Perez.
"Zidane wants to play for Real Madrid, although that desire isn't enough on its own. Based on the answer he gets from Juve, we will begin to negotiate."
Perez accepts that he faces a battle of wills with the Turin giants over Zidane's release, but denied reports in Spain that a �35 million offer was already on the table.
"The figures are just rumours," he said. "If the transfer does finally go through, it has to be profitable from both the sporting and economic point of view."
Juventus have insisted all along that the French midfielder is not for sale. "Whatever is said in Spain doesn't affect us in the slightest," Moggi told reporters on Wednesday. "The agents and the radio stations are trying to bring him to Spain but he is not going."
But Juve striker David Trezeguet, a club and international team-mate of the France playmaker, suggested a move would happen sooner rather than later.
"It is clear that if my friend Zidane quits Juve, he will play outside Italy. There are no teams here he would join. The fans must understand that, if Zidane has made a decision to leave, it is for sentimental reasons and nothing to do with money or sport.
"Zidane has always said he would like to play in the Spanish championship. It is necessary to respect his decision. He has the possibility of going to play for Madrid and that is something which will be very difficult to refuse," added Trezeguet.
