Atletico deny £25 million Del Piero move

April 06, 1999
ATL World Soccer News

Atletico Madrid have denied making a £25 million bid for Alessandro Del Piero.

In a statement this morning the club denied that any offer had been made or that the Juventus striker was part of new coach Radomir Antic's plans for next season.

Speculation started last weeks that the Spanish club were preparing an offer for the striker who is recovering from knee ligament damage. Del Piero is not expected to play again until next season and will spend most of the summer break trying to recover his former fitness after tearing the knee muscles in a 2-2 draw with Udinese last November. Juventus have used his absence to try and extend his contract and have offered him a deal lasting until 2004 which will make him the highest paid Italian player.

Talks are continuing between the Turin club and the player's agents as Del Piero was expected to make a decision about his Juventus future this season. If he was going top leave it was thought the most likely time was this summer but the knee injury has complicated his plans for the future and Juve are confident they can entice him to stay with them.

Atletico Madrid have rubbished rumours of their interest in the striker after calling off a £20 million plan to chase Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka this summer. The club still has nearly £19 million in the bank after the sale last August of striker Christian Vieri to SS Lazio and they are still looking for a replacement.
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