Juventus Star Tells Ronaldo to Keep Quiet
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
MILAN (Sep 10, 1998 - 12:25 EDT) - Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero fired a broadside at Ronaldo on Thursday, telling the Brazilian to keep quiet and stop stirring up trouble about events in the Italian league last season.
Del Piero was hitting back at remarks by the Inter Milan ace in a continuing war of words since Juventus beat Inter 1-0 in a match last April which all but secured the league title.
Ronaldo claimed the referee was biased for refusing him a penalty and admitted this week that the defeat still wrankled. The striker also said he hoped that any favouritism this season went Inter's way.
The sour grapes, which are shared by Inter president Massimo Moratti, were guaranteed to cause trouble in Turin and Del Piero was quick to respond.
"It's always hard to admit that people have simply been better than you are," Del Piero said.
"Even today, Inter are still trying to whip up controversies which are completely out of place.
"I'm not just talking about Ronaldo, but also the comments by Moratti. They both would have done better to have kept quiet, instead they have been insinuating that, at last, the championship is going to be played fairly.
"But what's all this for? Where's the sense in it? It's not a pleasant thing to be always putting the system on trial."
Del Piero is meanwhile determined to sue AS Roma coach Zdenek Zeman for insinuating recently that he has used drugs to boost his muscles.
"Juventus were attacked and the finger was pointed at me," Del Piero said. "My reaction was not exaggerated, it was just right. That's why I say that people should pay for their mistakes."
Del Piero, backed by coach Marcello Lippi, believes that Juventus have become a victim of their own success.
"For the past four years, Juventus have represented the very best in Italy and in Europe, despite having lost the last two European Cup finals," he told Turin daily Tuttosport. "That's why people are against us."
Del Piero is negotiating a new contract for 2000 to 2003 and is believed to be looking for around nine billion lira (five million dollars) a year from the club.
The striker tried to play down the cash mountain, saying: "Situations can change quickly here. Christian Vieri was sold to Atletico Madrid last season for 34 billion lira -- a figure which caused a sensation.
"Then a year later, he comes back to Italy (with Lazio) for 54 billion lira and nobody is surprised. I'm paid three billion a year at the moment and I think that's a more than positive starting point."
