Pozzo on Basta, Isla and Benatia

Udinese Vice-President Gino Pozzo outlined their plans for Dusan Basta, Mauricio Isla, Antonio Di Natale and Mehdi Benatia.

Udinese Vice-President Gino Pozzo outlined their plans for Dusan Basta, Mauricio Isla, Antonio Di Natale and Mehdi Benatia.

The three Stadio Friuli stars are sought-after on the market this summer with numerous offers coming in.

Basta and Isla are both wanted by Inter, while Benatia is reportedly close to joining Roma.

“We want to keep Basta in order to maintain a competitive squad,” Pozzo told Messaggero Veneto. “Dusan deserves a top team and we are working towards that in this sense.

“As for Isla, our agreement with Juventus is clear. They must make the decision on whether to buy out the remaining 50 per cent of his contract and if they want to then send him to a third club, that is fine with us.

“The negotiations with Roma for Benatia are at a fairly advanced stage. The player had already requested a transfer last year and we are trying to make him happy.”

There has been a great deal of speculation in the media over the past week about Di Natale’s lack of a contract renewal.

“It is a false problem,” assured the Udinese chief. “He still has another year left on his contract and we all agree to keep giving him contracts as long as he wants to play. Seeing as he wants to be in the World Cup squad, he’d do better to stay in an environment where he can shine.”