Parma President Giampietro Manenti insists it’s ‘certain’ they'll play on Sunday, and denies he paid €1 for the club.
Today is a crucial day for the Ducali, with a meeting of the Lega Serie A taking place, and FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio expected to meet players.
Parma President Giampietro Manenti insists it’s ‘certain’ they'll play on Sunday, and denies he paid €1 for the club.
Today is a crucial day for the Ducali, with a meeting of the Lega Serie A taking place, and FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio expected to meet players.
The players have insisted they will only play if certain guarantees are met, but the club patron is adamant the game with Atalanta will go ahead.
“We’ll play against Atalanta,” Manenti claimed in an interview with Libero.
“It’s certain, 100 per cent sure. The other times were down to the choices of the players, not me.
“The money? Of course it will arrive. There’s time. We’ve always had the money, we’re looking for a solution to make it available. Time is tight now.
“Sponsors? I’m not going to mention any names. Obviously I have serious intentions, otherwise I wouldn’t have started this adventure. But now we have delirium, Italy is a madhouse.
“The story of my car being impounded for non-payment of fines is a colossal lie. It’s [also] not true that I paid one Euro for Parma, but I can’t reveal how much I spent.”
Despite the club facing a bankruptcy hearing on March 19, Manenti is targeting an immediate return to Serie A, and says Roberto Martinez is his ‘favourite’ Coach.
“I’m evaluating everything with my colleagues. We’d love to keep [current Coach Roberto] Donadoni, but he’s not a Serie B Coach.
“The goal is to return to Serie A immediately. I’m inspired by the President of Real Madrid [Florentino Perez].
“I coached at youth level for 18 years, my favourite Coach is Roberto Martinez of Everton.”