Vincenzo Italiano has insisted that Nico Gonzalez will stay on with Fiorentina, despite the club having received a second bid from Premier League side Brentford earlier on Wednesday afternoon.
The Viola boss spoke to Sky Sport Italia shortly after his press conference ahead of Fiorentina’s Conference League play-off first leg against Rapid Wien, which kicks off on Thursday evening.
He told the broadcasters that Gonzalez is motivated and playing well, but did note that the transfer window still being open despite the season having already started is a frustration.
“I’m seeing him highly motivated,” Italiano told Sky. “He took the number 10 and it brought him luck. It [the transfer rumours] is just a slightly unsettling thought.
“The market still being open while we are already underway with such important competitions doesn’t help, but we’re used to it by now.
“There’s nothing on Nico Gonzalez, he will definitely stay with us.”
Brentford submitted an improved offer for Gonzalez, thought to be worth somewhere in the region of €42m-€43m, having had an initial approach turned down earlier in the month.
However, as Football Italia exclusively revealed on Wednesday afternoon, neither the club nor the player have any interest in negotiating with Brentford.
It would take a team with a bigger profile and an even higher offer for Gonzalez and Fiorentina to part ways at this stage of the transfer window.