Perugia Fury As Dellas Deal Collapses
Thursday 31st January 2002
Perugia managing director Alessandro Gaucci has launched a furious attack on Roma president Franco Sensi after the proposed move of Traianos Dellas to Juventus fell through on transfer deadline day in Italy.
Perugia's Greek defender had seemed certain to move to Juve, but after the deal collapsed at the last minute, Gaucci claimed that Dellas had broken league regulations by signing an agreement with a rival club before the stated deadline.
He said he will call on the Italian FA to take action against Dellas after the Greek defender pulled out of a proposed move to Juventus.
And he also accused Sensi of underhand dealings. "How can this man become the next president of the league, how could he represent all the clubs when he steals players," blasted Gaucci.
Dellas has attracted the attention of a number of leading Serie A sides this season but Gaucci was under the impression he had sealed a deal that would see him join Juve this week.
"I signed the contract (with Juventus) but neither Dellas nor his agent were here," he explained. "They missed the meeting, so I called him and he told me he would prefer to stay at Perugia until the end of his contract.
"That confirmed to me he has already signed a contract with another club. But he did it when he wasn't allowed to. He can only sign after January 1 and he did it before then.
"I will denounce him to the league. How is it possible to turn down a rich contract in favour of �130,000 pounds per year? Only if you have another agreement."
AC Milan and Internazionale have both trailed the progress of the Greece international but it is thought he has signed a pre-contract agreement with Roma.
The Serie A champions are believed to have offered him a three-year contract worth �400,000 per year, to start in the summer when his Perugia contract expires.
