Former midfielder Emerson has reflected on his controversial 2004 transfer from Roma to Juventus” data-scaytid=”1″>Juventus: “I wasn’t a traitor.”
The Brazilian moved across to the Bianconeri almost 10 years ago for a total fee of €32m, but only after a protracted saga was played out, including the player presenting Roma with certification that he was clinically depressed.
Former midfielder Emerson has reflected on his controversial 2004 transfer from Roma to Juventus: “I wasn’t a traitor.”
The Brazilian moved across to the Bianconeri almost 10 years ago for a total fee of €32m, but only after a protracted saga was played out, including the player presenting Roma with certification that he was clinically depressed.
“It is true that I was ill. I was in Brazil, I was troubled by the ruining relationship I had with the club,” Emerson has explained in today’s edition of Il Messaggero.
“Take into account that for six months I did not receive a salary and there were other things that I had been promised and that had not arrived.
“I was okay, I had accepted this, I was aware of the situation. But then in comes an important offer and the President tells you no.
“Franco Sensi is a person who did a lot for the team and for me. But in 2003 the club was going through a difficult period.
“He called me and told me that there were clubs looked at me. Then he added: ‘I cannot sell you, I do not know how to explain it to the fans. But we need the money…’.
“At that time, even the employees were not receiving their salaries. I mean, for us players it is one thing, we are rich. But at the club there were also people working there who earned €1,000 a month.
“Why Juventus? To me it was the same. Juventus, Inter, Milan or Real Madrid, all equal. If I had gone anywhere else people would not have understood anyway – the same thing happened to Samuel and Cafu.
“And in any case, I had not chosen Lazio. I was not a traitor. For four years I did my job and did it well. A traitor is someone who earns a good living, does nothing for the team and then he goes.”