Anelka Dismisses Juventus Move
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
MILAN (July 9, 1999 10:19 a.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Arsenal's Nicolas Anelka reckons that only Lazio will do for the French ace, as he dismissed talk of a move to Serie A rivals Juventus.
Juventus vice-president Roberto Bettega met with two of Anelka's minders in a Milan hotel on Wednesday, but the Turin club insisted that the meeting was at the French side's request and denied making any offers.
But Anelka told Friday's Corriere dello Sport from Paris: "I'm never going to Turin, I'm playing for Lazio... tell the Lazio fans that I'm coming to Rome."
The 20-year-old striker, bought from Paris St. Germain in 1997 for less than a million dollars and now rated at 40 million to 50 million dollars, again stressed his desire to leave the Gunners.
"Arsenal have to understand that I don't want to be in London anymore. I've got so many problems in that city," he said.
The Frenchman, who has also threatened to ask for help from the French soccer federation and from FIFA and its top official Michel Platini, added: "Arsenal are one of the top 10 clubs in Europe and they have given me a lot.
"They have enabled me to get myself known. But now they have to listen to what I say and let me go to Lazio."
The Frenchman arranged for a fax to be sent to Juventus on Thursday, outlining in four points why he did not want to join them; Juventus are not in the European Champions League, as Lazio are, Juventus have a weaker team than Lazio, Rome is a nicer place, and furthermore, some of his French friends at Juventus have spoken ill of life in Turin.
Anelka also told the Corriere that he had been in Rome on June 30, saying that one of his agents had met Lazio boss Sergio Cragnotti.
And he added that within hours of the newspaper interview he would be heading to London, where he is expected to have a showdown on Friday with Arsenal officials, headed by club boss David Dein.
Aside from the French footballer, Arsenal were also coming under pressure from Cragnotti, whose patience is beginning to wear thin with the north London club after several weeks of haggling.
"Arsenal have got to speed things up if they want finish the negotiations with Lazio," he said on Thursday night. "I find their attitude disturbing.
"I'm used to settling talks in a couple of days, but in this case, too much time is being wasted," he said.
As for the Frenchman's desire to play in front of the Olympic stadium crowd, Cragnotti said: "I spoke to him personally a few days ago and he assured me that his sole desire was to play for Lazio."
