Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has warned Javier Pastore’s alleged suitors, said to include Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, that they will have to spend €100 million in order to land the midfielder dubbed ‘Kaka Argentino’.
The prodigiously gifted Serie A playmaker is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders on the continent despite being just 21-years of age, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan all credited with an interest in the Argentina international alongside the aforementioned Premier League rivals.
Yesterday reports emerged suggesting Manchester City had made an approach for Pastore during the January transfer window, but were soundly rebuffed by their Italian counterparts.
Thus far Zamparini has maintained their star asset, whose style has been likened to Real Madrid’s Kaka, was not for sale but his stance appears to have soften even though his valuation has clearly not.
He told Sky Sport Italia: "Pastore's agent [Marcelo Simonian] was here [against Juventus] and we have raised his release clause to €100m at his suggestion,
"I believe that Pastore and Josip Ilicic could play as regulars for top clubs in Europe despite being young."
Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-term admirer of the precocious youngster having initially coveted a young Pastore, alongside Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, prior to his move to Palermo in 2009, while Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini are acutely aware of the impact the attacking midfielder has had on Serie A since their departures to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
He's already rebuffed Barca and Real though. He doesn't think he'll start there.adrianr said:If United or Arsenal spend that much on anybody I'l eat my hat. He's just not in the price range they go after, not even close. They might like the idea of him, but under the present respective regimes that isn't happening in a month of Sundays.. If Barca and/or Real Madrid are in the running it's unfortunately pretty much guaranteed he ain't coming to sunny England. Unless he one of the few 'world class' players who actually fancy a challenge ;)
adrianr said:If United or Arsenal spend that much on anybody I'l eat my hat. He's just not in the price range they go after, not even close. They might like the idea of him, but under the present respective regimes that isn't happening in a month of Sundays.. If Barca and/or Real Madrid are in the running it's unfortunately pretty much guaranteed he ain't coming to sunny England. Unless he one of the few 'world class' players who actually fancy a challenge ;)
United or Arsenal? Why not us?Viva Rivaldo said:adrianr said:If United or Arsenal spend that much on anybody I'l eat my hat. He's just not in the price range they go after, not even close. They might like the idea of him, but under the present respective regimes that isn't happening in a month of Sundays.. If Barca and/or Real Madrid are in the running it's unfortunately pretty much guaranteed he ain't coming to sunny England. Unless he one of the few 'world class' players who actually fancy a challenge ;)
I was thinking about Spain, but where would he actually fit in at the two big clubs? He'd hardly get any games ahead of Kaka/Ozil et al., even moreso Iniesta and his mates; like you said, if he fancies a challenge (that'd probably improve him as a player more than sitting on a bench in Madrid) then I think he'd be perfect for United or Arsenal.
Wouldn't get him for less than €30m, I'd imagine.
jjeangi said:United or Arsenal? Why not us?Viva Rivaldo said:I was thinking about Spain, but where would he actually fit in at the two big clubs? He'd hardly get any games ahead of Kaka/Ozil et al., even moreso Iniesta and his mates; like you said, if he fancies a challenge (that'd probably improve him as a player more than sitting on a bench in Madrid) then I think he'd be perfect for United or Arsenal.
Wouldn't get him for less than €30m, I'd imagine.