Perez Made Zidane Deal Happen, Says Moggi
Friday 6th July 2001
Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has admitted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was the driving force behind Zinedine Zidane's �48 million transfer to the Bernabeu. "Perez was absolutely determined to take him to Madrid," Moggi said.
Zinedine Zidane will be unveiled as a Real Madrid player within ten days, an official of the Spanish champions stated on Wednesday night after directors of the two clubs thrashed out an agreement.
Juventus were quick to calm supporters' fears by swooping for Lazio midfielder Pavel Nedved a transfer that led to the resignation of Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti.
And on Friday, Juventus general manager Moggi revealed the truth behind the astonishing move. "Why is Zidane leaving Juventus? The answer is very simple.
"First because he has expressed his desire to leave and second because the Real president Florentino Perez was absolutely determined to take him to Madrid.
"It is true that he is extremely expensive, but they are paying this price because Zinedine Zidane is simply the best player in the world."
After shattering the world record for transfer fees that he himself set last year, Perez has fast become known as the best maker of deals in football. Once he is determined to sign a player, he will invariably get his man.
His strategy is well rehearsed. Perez unsettles his man by talking him up in the media, then chucks about a few astronomical figures. Rival clubs soon run the white flag up the pole. It worked with Figo, and it has worked with Zidane.
Since he was elected just a year ago weeks after Real collected their eighth European Cup and a second in three seasons Perez was quick to promise improvement. Despite taking over a club with debts of �160 million, Perez announced he was selling Real's training ground, Ciudad Deportivo, for �165 million. The Spanish government and major banks had negotiated to buy the land and, in one fell swoop, Real's debt was wiped out.
Perez then brought in former Real coach Jorge Valdano as sports director, giving him the job of dealing with all transfer activity. It was then that he kept his pre-election promise to sign Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona, for �37 million.
