TRANSFER RUMOURS: Aspas to Liverpool and Cavani to Chelsea or Manchester City
Iago Aspas to Liverpool
26/12/12 – Swansea City and Atletico Madrid both confirm their interest in Aspas.
31/12/12 – Paco Herrera, Celta Vigo coach: “The president has made it clear Iago will not leave until the end of the season, so I am quiet.”
15/1/13 – Paco Herrera: “It seems that there is the possibility of a club emerging that are willing to pay the clause (€10m). In that case, if the player wants to go, Celta will not be able to do anything.”
18/1/13 – Brian McDermott, Reading manager: “I would be surprised if anyone could do that deal. It’s an expensive deal and a difficult one for anyone to do. I’ve seen him play, our scouts have seen him play and he has had a couple of really good seasons. We know him – but it’s a very difficult deal to do. Celta Vigo are a big club. The money that they are talking about on this player (Aspas) is a fortune. There would have to be some structuring to do on that – but we’ve never done a deal like that. The biggest deal that this club has done is ÂŁ2.5million when we signed Emerse Fae and we sold him back for the same sort of money – the same with Greg Halford.”
29/5/13 – Reports claim that Liverpool have agreed to pay Aspas’ buy out clause.
13/6/13 – Jonathan Aspas, brother and agent: “There should be no problems. Now only bureaucratic issues remain unresolved.”
14/6/13 – The transfer is being blocked by the Spanish Football Federation in a legal row over the player’s representation. Liverpool’s managing director, Ian Ayre, continued to negotiate with unauthorised agents over the deal even after discovering that he was not dealing with the player’s official FIFA-licensed representatives. Aspas has a representation agreement with Jorge Santome and Carmelo Vicente until 2014, but attempted to force through a move to Anfield by enlisting the help of Barcelona-based agency PromoEsport. Celta Vigo and the Spanish Federation are refusing to release Aspas’ International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Cavani to Chelsea
5/2/13 – Cavani: “I know nothing about Arsenal’s interest,” Cavani told Radio Onda Cero. “I have only heard about it now. My future? I have a contract for four years but in football you never know what to expect. Barcelona and Real Madrid are teams which stimulate the imagination. But I only think about the present.”
30/5/13 – Cavani: “It’s all a mystery and no-one knows what will happen. Eventually it will all be sorted. There is nothing concrete at the moment. Only when you sign a contract are you part of a team. It is not a distraction for me. I’m comfortable with what I do.”
7/6/13 – Aurelio De Laurentiis, Napoli president: “The budget for the transfer market will be based in relation to the Financial Fair Play rules. If Cavani is sold then I’ll reinvest all of the €63million (£53.5m) of his release clause. There is interest from Chelsea in Cavani, they’ll call me in the next few hours. I’ll be delighted if he stays, but if he leaves then he will be adequately replaced.”
10/6/13 – Reports emerge that Rafa Benitez is keen to bring Fernando Torres to Napoli in a part-exchange deal for Cavani.
14/6/13 – Luis Cavani, his dad: “His intention is to play for Madrid. He is excited about it and is very willing to see it through. He has told the family in private that he wants to join Real Madrid but if he declares it publicly it will annoy Napoli. I hope it happens and that talks take place as soon as possible. Who wouldn’t want to play for Real Madrid?”
14/6/13 – Berta Gomez, Cavani’s mum: “Edi is in talks with Manchester City and Real Madrid. Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis has spoken about the possibility of discussions with Chelsea but there is nothing definite with them at the moment. We will know more in 15 to 20 days. There are so many voices, and when something happens I will be the first to know. But Edi loves Napoli and, if he has to leave, he will never forget the love and warmth he has had from the fans. He and Naples will remain united for ever.”