Juventus and Fiorentina have confirmed Dimitar Berbatov has rejected moves to the club amid reports he is poised to join Fulham.
Fiorentina
were in pole position to land
Berbatov after agreeing a deal with
Manchester United earlier on Wednesday.
The Bulgarian flew out to Italy for talks and a medical at Fiorentina but failed to turn up at Florence after Juventus hijacked the move for Berbatov.
However, in another twist Berbatov has snubbed a switch to Italian champions after an apparent last-minute move by Fulham.
Fiorentina have issused a withering statement hitting out Berbatov's conduct following his snub to the Viola.
"ACF Fiorentina announce that the transfer for Dimitar Berbatov definitively collapsed after an agreement with Manchester United had been concluded (with shared exchange of contracts, the first instalment paid and the financial guarantees for the second instalment ratified) and after reaching a verbal agreement with the player over his contract," read a club statement.
"During today the English club had allowed their player the written permission to come to Florence for a medical and to sign his contract.
"The player got on the flight with his agent and on tickets paid for by Fiorentina. He never arrived in Florence.
Outlandish & arrogant"This was down to outlandish and arrogant behaviour of other clubs, who have nothing to do with fair play and sporting ethics that go even beyond the confines of fairness.
"As for the player, apart from his characteristics and his value on the field, at this stage we are happy he didn't come to Fiorentina. He did not deserve our city, to wear our jersey or the values that represent it."
Juventus sporting director, Beppe Marotta, claims Berbatov opted against the move to Juventus as he wants to stay in England for family reasons.
"It hasn't been a refusal. Berbatov prefers remaining in England due to family reasons," Marotta told
Sky Sport Italia. "We have contacted him after we knew he refused the Fiorentina move.
"I reject the allegations from Fiorentina. We entered into the business over Berbatov when we heard that he had refused Fiorentina, and in the meantime there was a proposal by Fulham.
"I've spoken with Man Utd's chief officer. We knew their decision to sell Berbatov and we started a normal move.
"We wanted to take advantage from this occasion. The aim is to improve ourselves."
It seems Berbatov is now due to hold talks with Fulham with Martin Jol a big fan of the forward having worked with him during his time in charge of Tottenham.
Originally Posted by Charlie the Gooner
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