FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
Italy’s World Cup star star Roberto Baggio is set to play for either Arsenal or Inter Milan next season. Bologna president Giuseppe Frascara Gazzoni has all but given up hope of keeping the most prolific goalscorer still playing in the Serie A, and admits that the choice is now between Highbury and San Siro. “The chances of Roby leaving us have unfortunately risen to 99.9 percent,” he said. “Arsenal and Inter are offering him something that we can’t: the European Champions League.” It’s a bit more prestigious than the Intertoto Cup, but we haven’t given up yet. I’ve given his manager our latest offer in writing-a 35 percent pay rise and the “Baggio School” project for when he’s stopped playing.
“We obviously want to keep him: Roby can do things with his feet that other people can’t even do with their hands… But Arsenal are offering him 18 billion lira (six million pounds) over three years.” And we can’t afford that sort of money.”
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, who likes the idea of Baggio alongside Ronaldo, is expected to make a lower offer than the English champions — 12 billion lira (four million pounds) over three years. But the aces up Moratti’s sleeve are that Baggio has never shown any desire to leave the Serie A, and that Inter are willing to loan Bologna one of their many young talents, like Nigerian Olympic champion Nwankwo Kanu.
Gazzoni said: “The idea of taking Kanu isn’t new, I talked about it with Moratti back in January. He could be our new star.” However, Gazzoni is also interested in gifted teenage playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who Inter are currently buying from relegated Serie A outfit Brescia.
The move to Inter would not be a complete surprise to Baggio, who nearly ended up there in 1995 when he left Juventus; signing instead for what proved to be an unhappy two-year stay at neighbours AC Milan. Moratti said: “This time I want to talk to Baggio myself, just so there’s no repeat of what happened three years ago.” Baggio joined Bologna last summer on a two-year contract which could be rescinded by either side after the first year. The striker has until July 15 to exercise that option-although Gazzoni is pressing for a decision from the 31-year-old before he leaves for the World Cup finals on June 5.
“I know he has until July 15, but that was in the old contract and since we’re now talking about a new one, Baggio and his manager ought to tell me what’s happening after the friendly against Sweden on June 2,” he said.