Juventus Takes Option on Ortega
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
MILAN (Oct 20, 1998 - 11:50 EDT) - Juventus have taken on an option on Sampdoria playmaker Ariel Ortega for next season, raising further speculation over Zinedine Zidane's future with the Italian champions.
Juventus are negotiating the sale of reserve midfielder Fabio Pecchia to the struggling Genoa club, which has let in nine goals in its last two away matches.
But Juventus added a surprise option on Ortega into the talks during a meeting in Turin with Sampdoria sporting director Domenico Arnuzzo on Monday night, Tuttosport reported.
The Argentinian, who had a good World Cup, has made a fine start to his Serie A career despite the club's continuing plunge down the table.
Ortega, voted seven out of 10 by the Italian press in Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Piacenza, has the same playmaking role behind two strikers as World Cup hero Zidane, who revealed last week that he might be with Juventus next season.
The Frenchman fired a broadside at unidentified club officials and said he would not be honouring his contract there which expires in 2003.
