Reports suggest that Fiorentina's signing of Guangzhou Evergrande striker Alberto Gilardino is virtually a done deal, on an initial loan basis.
La Viola were seen to have entered into talks with the Chinese club, following the player’s reputed decision to return to them, rather than join Cagliari.
Reports suggest that Fiorentina's signing of Guangzhou Evergrande striker Alberto Gilardino is virtually a done deal, on an initial loan basis.
La Viola were seen to have entered into talks with the Chinese club, following the player’s reputed decision to return to them, rather than join Cagliari.
According to outlets including Gianluca Di Marzio and the Corriere dello Sport, Fiorentina have since reached an agreement with Guangzhou and that all parties are already in the final phases of the deal.
It is speculated that the agreement is for Gilardino to move to Florence on an initial loan deal, with a purchase clause set at €1.5m.
The player is expected to undergo medical tests as early as tomorrow, but won’t be registered in time to face Roma on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Gila’s former agent Giuseppe Bonetto has praised the 32-year-old’s believed decision in an interview with FiorentinaNews.
“We always considered Florence as his ideal platform, and I don't understand why he made the decision to leave,” said Bonetto.
“As a player he won't have any problems integrating himself, he's apt to play with the likes of [Giuseppe] Rossi as much as with [Khouma] Babacar.
“Besides, [Coach Vincenzo] Montella is not the type who worries about having too many strikers, and he'll know how to combine them.
“I also think that with a player of his ilk, had he stuck with his colours, Fiorentina would have qualified for the Champions League and might even have contended for the Scudetto.
“He'll have to carve himself the right role, but he'll certainly have the ability for that.”