Fiorentina President Rocco Comisso complains about Jorge Mendes’ ‘conflict of interest’ but can’t reveal what happened with Gennaro Gattuso due to a confidentiality clause.
Commisso welcomed Vincenzo Italiano at the club with an interview released with Fiorentina’s official website.
“I want to thank Vincenzo Italiano, I spoke to him yesterday for the first time. He is on holiday before coming back here,” Commisso said.
“We spoke to Spezia and we reached a good agreement for both clubs, we are still on good terms. It was a complicated deal, but Vincenzo strongly wanted Fiorentina and I am proud of it.
“Philip and Robert Platek are capable people, I hope they will be successful in Italy. Hiring Italian was a shared decision, like all the decisions we make.”
Italiano has been appointed to replace Gennaro Gattuso who was announced last month, but remained in charge of La Viola for only 23 days, leaving the Artemio Franchi due to disagreements about the club’s transfer strategies.
“Here in Italy, there is news every day, we can respond to everything, but in the future, we’ll take action against falsehood and threats we received from some fans, incited by some media.
“I am sorry for Gattuso, for legal reasons we could not reveal what really happened. If his lawyers will want to remove the confidentiality clause, we’ll be happy to explain what happened.”
The former Milan midfielder then entered talks with Tottenham, but Spurs decided against appointing the Italian tactician.
Franck Ribery, Martin Caceres and Borja Valero have left the club with the Spaniard who has retired from football, while Nico Gonzalez has been Fiorentina’s first summer signing.
“When I saluted the team in May I was aware I would not meet some players again. They are all serious professionals who gave it all for the jersey. I also salute and thank goalkeeper coach Alejandro Lopez,” Commisso said.
“After Quarta, Barone and Prandé had promised me we would have signed another Argentinean talent. I want to welcome Nicolas, the most important signing in the club’s history. If we consider the transfer fee and his wages for five years it’s an investment of €40m.
“If we were to sign Sergio Oliveira, we would have spent €44m and it would have been difficult to sell him in five years when he will be 34, while Gonzalez will be 28.
“Also, there was a conflict of interest which can’t be accepted in the US. With Sergio Oliveira, his agent [Jorge Mendes] was representing the player, Porto and our coach. Something must be done, I don’t want to put everyone into the same basket and say that all the agents are evil, but the system must change.”