Gabriel Batistuta, Roberto Baggio, Mohamed Salah, Federico Chiesa…all great players (Chiesa is on his way to become one), all legends in the world of football, and all played for Fiorentina at one point in their career, either only half of the season (Salah), or nine years (Batistuta). And ‘Viola’ had a plan to add young Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović to this list, and to make him the highest player in the history of the club, ahead of all these legends. But, after months of negotiations, Fiorentina officially announced that the player rejected all proposals, and European giants have waited these news for a long time. “I’m only focusing on football” is usually players’ way of saying “I’m holding out for a better offer”Such was the interest from the Fiorentina faithful about their best striker that club’s president, Rocco Commisso, decided to announce the bad news in an official statement at the club’s website. “As you know Fiorentina made a very important offer to the player, a contract proposal that would have made him the highest paid player in the history of the Club. Our offer had also been improved on several occasions over time to meet the demands of both Dusan and his entourage, but despite our best efforts, the renewal proposal was not accepted. In these weeks that I have been here in Florence, I have personally tried to find a solution that could make the boy and the Club happy, but, to my great regret, our every attempt and every effort has not been rewarded” stated Fiorentina president. (1.90) MALI (3.20) KENYA (4.10) At 21, Vlahovic, a 190cm left-handed forward, powerful, fast and technical, scored 21 goals last year in Serie A and started this season with four goals and one assist in seven games. His current contract with Fiorentina expires in 2023 and, until last year, the forward earned 120 million Ksh net per season.Who is interested? After this statement, many will be, but so before it became obvious that Vlahovic wants to leave, Tottenham, Juventus and Atletico Madrid were mentioned. The Spurs have a sporting director who used to be in Juventus, and he knows the player well, and he needs a proper replacement for Harry Kane. Atletico Madrid needs a long term replacement for Luis Suarez, and apparently, they offered 111 million Ksh plus bonuses, but Vlahovic decided to stay in Florence. Early-season overachievers in European footballJuventus is in the pole position, according to Tuttosport, and they have already come up with the plan: either loan him for two years with an obligation to buy (like they did with Chiesa and Morata), or offer cash with a possible players swap. Since Commisso already allow that kind of transfer for Chiesa, it seems unlikely that he would do the same with Vlahovic. It seems that Viola president will look for cash only deal, since there will be a lot of other clubs out to get the young forward.
