Pantaleo Corvino, former Fiorentina sporting director, revealed that Dusan Vlahovic turned down interest from Arsenal and Juventus when he was 17.
The 22-year-old Serbian striker was heavily linked with a move to the Gunners this month before finally completing his €80m move to the Bianconeri yesterday. He is expected to be a key figure in the club’s post-Cristiano Ronaldo era.
Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corvino first discussed his reaction upon signing Vlahovic back in 2018.
“When I brought Vlahovic’s family to Milan, his mum said to me, ‘You should know I’m giving you the new Batistuta.’ I replied that the new Luca Toni would be enough for me. History will show.”
He spoke about why he decided to sign the Serbian striker.
“When I bought him I saw the potential of someone who could become a great player. This applies to him as it does to many other players taken, many of whom in recent years have left the Viola shirt in exchange for large sums of money.
“Each club makes its own economic and sporting choices, for balance sheets and for the league table. All I can say is that I am very satisfied that the work done was right and that today it pays off so much.”
Finally, Corvino commented on the reaction he faced to signing Vlahovic and the other top clubs interested in acquiring the player from Partizan.
“It was said that I was occupying the last non-EU place with a 17-year-old boy to be put in the Primavera team, paid €1.5 million and with a salary in advance of his entry into the first team. He was very close to Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Juve and Atalanta also wanted him.
“In order not to lose him I went to Belgrade to meet his family, who I then brought to Milan. But not only Dusan, we left a dowry of quality, many talents, a healthy club, a youth sector of the highest level and invested in Fiorentina women. If I think about how much the club was sold…”
The 22-year-old Vlahovic has been on fire this season in Florence under coach Vincenzo Italiano. He has made 21 Serie A appearances this campaign, for a total of 1861 minutes. In that time, he has scored 17 goals and provided four assists, fighting to become Serie A capocannoniere.
Corvino: 'Come soffiai #Vlahovic alla #Juve quando aveva 17 anni. Le do il nuovo #Batistuta, mi disse la madre' https://t.co/TuSAmMc9D5 pic.twitter.com/WE5aI1HhUw
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