‘Ferrero will crumble Sampdoria’

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini riles against the 'traitor' Massimo Ferrero, and warns he will 'crumble Sampdoria'.

The Presidents of the two clubs have been involved in an increasing dispute over the Blucechiati’s rumoured interest in Rosanero captain Edgar Barreto, whose contract expires this summer.

Ferrero accused his counterpart of making 'death threats', but Zamparini returned with a bitter tirade of his own.

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini riles against the 'traitor' Massimo Ferrero, and warns he will 'crumble Sampdoria'.

The Presidents of the two clubs have been involved in an increasing dispute over the Blucechiati’s rumoured interest in Rosanero captain Edgar Barreto, whose contract expires this summer.

Ferrero accused his counterpart of making 'death threats', but Zamparini returned with a bitter tirade of his own.

“Ferrero is a caricature, but what goes around comes around,” he said, in an interview with Radio 24.

“He will crumble Sampdoria. He has already come close, someone should take a look into his accounts.

“I used to like him, then he let me know that he wanted Barreto while I was working towards the renewal of the player's contract.

“I told him that if he contacted the player without my consent, Barreto could then raise his requests with me by €200-300,000, and that's not regular.

“I thought it was over but a few days later I learned that Ferrero had already struck a deal with Barreto.

“Then I texted him to say that I was waiting for him at the shore of the river,” he said, presumably in reference to an Italian proverb that links sitting on the shore of the river with watching the dead body of your enemy floating by.

But Zamparini categorically denied that these statements constituted actual death threats.

“I love all animals, do you really think I'd threaten him with death?

“Ferrero is a funny character, but people are going to get tired of his antics on television.

“I want his apologies. I asked for them with a message, but he hasn't replied.

“Ferrero is a traitor who steals my players after phoning me. He is deplorable.

“This would never have happened under [former Presidents Paolo] Mantovani or [Riccardo] Garrone.

“Those were other times. Now it's the age of pirates. I never worked like that.”