Stubborn Verona Chief Stalls Mutu Move To Juve
Tuesday 5th February 2002
Adrian Mutu saw his dream move to Juventus fall through just before the transfer deadline when Verona president Giambatista Pastorello insisted the Turin giants pay �14 million rather than the �13 million they had offered, it emerged on Tuesday.
Juve coach Marcello Lippi asked general manager Luciano Moggi to buy the Romania star last week, explaining that he did not have sufficient cover for first-choice strikers Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet.
But Pastorello found out that Mutu was Juve's No 1 target and resolved to hold out for �14 million, misguidedly believing the Scudetto-chasers would give in to his demands.
As negotiations faltered, Mutu's agent Giovani Becali pleaded with Pastorello to lower his valuation by �1 million but he refused and the deal was cancelled, at least for now.
Mutu said: "There is enough time between now and the summer to reopen talks with Juventus, but I have a duty to Verona and, given out home form, I think we can win enough points to finish in the European placings."
Verona coach Alberto Malesani was also relieved at the turn of events. "My team is built around Mutu," he said. "He is our key player; the only who can decide a game with his creativity and goals.
"I am happy to see him staying with us and I am confident that we can qualify for the Uefa Cup."
Italian champions Roma and Spanish giants Real Madrid are expected to join the hunt for Mutu at the end of the season, when Pastorello will discover if his stalling tactics were worthwhile.
