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Liverpool and Man United target makes decision.
Written by JR Walker | 9th August 2006 | 1 Comment(s)
Fiorentina striker Luca Toni has committed his future to the club, brushing aside interest from Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United and long term suitors Tottenham Hotspur (although their Champions League failure probably ruled them out anyway).
The Italian forward has scored 60 goals in his last 85 competitive matches for Palermo, Fiorentina and The Azzurri, and at 29 years of age had seemed set for a move away from Florence. However, Italian players are not noted for leaving Serie ‘A' and Toni would appear to now be destined to remain in Italy for the rest of his career.
The player had earlier voiced his unwillingness to remain with La Viola, but appears to have had a change of heart following a meeting with club President Diego Della Valle, whom he had only last week bemoaned didn't care about him.
''I had a chat with the President and that was enough, now I only want to play and try to achieve important results with Fiorentina,'' confirmed the Azzurri marksman.
''I am totally convinced of my decision to stay here and am eager to start training with my team-mates.''
Della Valle was clearly delighted with the decision of last season's top scorer, declaring that the player would continue to make a vital contribution to the team's success.
''Luca understood our reasons and will stay, he is a great player and will continue to be an asset for Fiorentina,'' said Della Valle.
''The player knows that he is essential for our future projects, I appreciate his understanding.''
''It only took us five minutes to clarify all the previous misunderstandings, with no need to speak about any economical aspects.''
''It isn't common to see a player give more importance to the affection for the shirt he wears than to the money, these things happen very rarely.''
The news will come as a blow to Inter Milan, although the capture of Hernan Crespo will soften that somewhat.
Liverpool and Man United had tracked Toni since May, with the Nerazzurri, and maybe the English sides could now switch their attention to Zlatan Ibrahimovic or David Trezeguet of Juventus.
Dirk Kuyt remains another who is linked with a move to Anfield among other suitors, while United's pre-season continues to see the re-emergence of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes will be available for United's season opener with Fulham due to a postal problem between Holland and England delaying the report by one day.
The English FA could still ban the pair for three matches, but as the sanction can only be envoked 14 days after receiving the report both players can not be suspended from the club's first fixture.
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Not suprised Really