Mutu: Staying put
Roma appear to have accepted defeat in their pursuit of Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu.
The Giallorossi tabled a bid for the Romania international earlier in the week, only to see it rejected by La Viola.
Luciano Spalletti’s side are in the hunt for a forward after allowing Brazilian winger Mancini to join Serie A rivals Inter Milan.
They had made Mutu their No. 1 target, but Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle insists that the former Chelsea man is staying at Artemio Franchi.
“I think it’s over,” conceded Spalletti.
“There were certain conditions with which it could have happened.
“These conditions were at an advanced stage and everything was put in place so if Mutu hasn’t arrived that’s through no fault of this club.”
Intentions
Roma are understood to have offered to double Mutu’s wages should he join the capital club, but Fiorentina’s technical administrator Sandro Mencucci confirmed that the 29-year-old is happy in Florence.
“The situation with Adrian Mutu is perfect, the player understood our intentions and now he just wants to think about playing and he’s not protesting,” he said.
Meanwhile, Spalletti has turned his attentions to alternative options, with Chelsea’s Florent Malouda, Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista and Zenit St Peterburg’s Andrei Arshavin believed to be among the contenders.
“We will sign a pair of players,” added Spalletti.
“Right now we have to look elsewhere but calmly because there’s still time.
“Baptista? I’ve never said anything about him. Baptista is a good player who has strong characteristics (but) we are strong in central midfield.”
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