Fiorentina CEO Joe Barone said Gennaro Gattuso ‘makes me laugh’ after the former Napoli coach’s comments about Jorge Mendes. ‘The Viola took Rino’s words with a smile’.
The Viola are preparing for the new season and Barone said the staff members await the team this weekend, to start the new season under Vincenzo Italiano.
“We are waiting for the team to arrive at the weekend and to start the retreat for the new season,” Barone told the club’s official website. “In the meantime, we have made some changes at the sports centre, some innovative touches that the lads will find.”
Italiano was appointed new coach at the Artemio Franchi when Gattuso decided to walk away and Barone said they ‘talk every day’ and hopes the former Spezia coach will have a great season.
“I talk to him every day,” Barone added. “I want to wish him the best for next season. He has brought a lot of enthusiasm to our city and to our fans, but also within the club.”
Barone also responded to Gattuso’s comments, as the former Napoli coach said he can’t reveal why he decided to walk away from the Viola job and claimed Jorge Mendes is not his representative but ‘just a friend’.
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“This situation makes me laugh,” Barone said. “I would like to make a point. Fiorentina took Rino Gattuso’s words with a smile as the interview revealed that Jorge Mendes is only a friend of the coach and only offers him important advice for his career.
“I want to recall that Mendes himself met [sporting director] Daniele Prade in early June to discuss some players to bring to Fiorentina, but I also spoke to him and met him in Milan.
“We are also sorry for the short memory Gattuso had, who forgot to have met our President Rocco Commisso on the occasion of the Fiorentina-Napoli match last year.
“I would also like to point out that at the moment no request has been received from his lawyers to abolish the confidentiality clause.”