Juventus Denies Reports of Deal for Arsenal Star
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
MILAN (July 8, 1999 5:20 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Juventus on Thursday denied reports that it is about to grab Arsenal's Nicolas Anelka from under the nose of Serie A rival Lazio in a mega-deal worth around $50 million.
Anelka, a 20-year-old striker rated as one of the brightest prospects in the European game, is determined to leave Highbury and has insisted that he will only join Lazio.
Italian press reports on Thursday claimed that Juventus has trumped the Rome club's best offer in style, offering the Gunners $60 billion lira ($32.5 million) plus their French international winger, Thierry Henry, who is rated by the club at 30 billion lira ($16 million).
But Juventus director general Luciano Moggi later dismissed the claims, saying: "Anelka doesn't interest us. We're fine as we are, and we're happy that Anelka is going to Lazio."
The club's reported bid would have dwarfed the first offer from Lazio of 63 billion lira in cash ($34 million). It would have even beaten an improved one made on Wednesday by club Sergio Cragnotti of 57 billion lira ($30.8 million) in cash and Croatian striker Alen Boksic, who is valued at 18 billion lira ($9.7 million).
Marc Roger and lawyer Marguerite Fauconnet, Anelka's agents, were said to have met Juventus vice-president Roberto Betterga at a hotel on the outskirts of Milan on Wednesday.
Roger has told Tuttosport: "It's all true. I met Bettega. He told me that there's more sun in Rome, but that his club is more famous."
