The Mattia Destro transfer saga takes yet another twist as Siena's decision to buy half the youngster's contract hands the initiative to Juventus.
The Mattia Destro transfer saga takes yet another twist as Siena's decision to buy half the youngster's contract hands the initiative to Juventus.
Destro's 12 Serie A goals on loan at Siena last season are the reason he's the hottest property on the Italian transfer market and the Tuscans always had an option to purchase a half share in him, but it had began to appear they would not exercise it.
Instead they were tipped to hand the player back to parent club Genoa, in a convoluted deal which would also see them give defender Luca Rossettini to the Rossoblu with youngsters Diego Polenta and Isaac Cofie headed in the opposite direction.
Genoa were then expected to pass the 21-year-old on to Inter, the team that reared Destro in their youth system before discarding him last year, a wrong they seem determined to right.
Only yesterday, after a transfer summit with Nerazzurri counterpart Massimo Moratti, Genoa President Enrico Preziosi played down the chances of Siena redeeming their option and reiterated his intention to favour Inter.
“I don't think things are changing,” the toy tycoon told Sky Sport Italia. “We have not promised anything to anyone, but all things being equal Inter would have the advantage to take him home on a moral level.
“If a team offers 10 and Inter nine, I will give him to Inter.”
Preziosi and Moratti will therefore have been displeased to see a note appear on Siena's website late last night confirming the transaction.
Genoa could buy back 100 per cent of the Italian Under-21 striker's rights at some point today, but the hands of Roma and Juventus in particular have certainly been strengthened.
Juve Coach Antonio Conte was in charge of Siena before taking up the Bianconeri post and is said to maintain a good relationship with the Robur.
The Turin club's director general Beppe Marotta has previously described Destro as a “really interesting youngster”, adding: “We'll make our move and hopefully get him.”