Juventus outcast Tiago just won't take the hint
Wednesday 27 August 2008 12:00
Tiago Mendes just cannot take a hint.
He’s like the unwanted guest at the end of the night who hangs around when all the host wants to do is hit the sack.
However, Juventus can’t exactly sling him out the door – not without tearing up his contract which runs until 2013, although they have tried their best.
The Portuguese has had his name linked to more clubs than Paris Hilton but remains steadfast in refusing to budge from Turin.
Juve had a deal done and dusted with Everton but the player was having none of it, while, if a reported switch to Newcastle United was true then that no doubt received similar short shrift.
Tiago (left): Available for transfer, apparently
The Bianconeri transfer chief Alessio Secco may have been left fuming but he certainly hasn’t given up on disposing of the midfielder who is costing the club around 3.5million euro a season to hang about.
Speaking to Juve mouth-piece Tuttosport, he sounded ominously like one of those gentlemen in pinstripe suits who make offers you can’t refuse when he said: “The player won’t go anywhere but we are hoping he will change his mind.”
According to press reports right across the board, it’s Atletico Madrid where the former Chelsea and Lyon man will finally pitch up.
Gazzetta dello Sport claims the 27-year-old has no desire to flop back to Portugal and join Porto, but may well decide that the millionaire playground of Monaco is more to his taste.
Certainly, his agent Jorge Mendes has been a busy man.
The 42-year-old is one of the most powerful operators in the game and has been behind making Jose Mourinho and Luiz Felipe Scolari the wealthy fellows they now are, not to mention securing mega moves for the likes of Pepe to Real Madrid and Nani at Manchester United.
Happier times at Chelsea
Juve’s insinuations gather pace with each passing day towards the September 1 transfer deadline.
With safe passage to the Champions League secured, they have already discarded the player from their squad-list for the group stages of the competition.
On top of that, to heap ignominy upon ignominy, Stephen Appiah looks set to return to the club from Turkish side Fenerbahce.
He was, of course, the headless chicken who ran around the midfield a few seasons ago for the Old Lady.
So, if your face don’t fit it don’t fit, but you have to admire Tiago’s fortitude at hanging in there – well you would won’t you, especially with the thought of safeguarding that juicy contract in the more congenial environment of Spain or France.
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About Richard Whittle
Despite the name,
Richard Whittle is so at home in Italy that some call him Riccardo Rossi. He has lived and worked in Italy for the last 15 years as a football journalist and works as Italian soccer commentator for the English-speaking world covering Serie A, Champions League, Europa League and Italian Cup matches as well as Italy internationals. With Paul Visca, Richard concocts the regular
Calcio & Coffee podcast.