Alberto Aquilani's agent has laughed off
speculation the Liverpool midfielder will return to Italy in the
summer after just one season on Merseyside.
Reports in England have linked the 25-year-old with a speedy
return to Serie A after joining the Reds in the summer from Roma
for £20million.
After a disappointing year at Anfield, some have suggested
Rafael Benitez is willing to offload the injury-prone Italian at a
cut-price deal, with Juventus and Fiorentina said to be
interested.
But Aquilani's representative Franco Zavaglia has shunned claims
his client does not want to leave the Premier League
underachievers.
"A return in Italy? It seems a journalistic shot of the British
tabloids," Zavaglia told Tuttomercatoweb.com. "I don't
know anything, because Alberto is well in Liverpool.
"There is talk of Juventus and Fiorentina but the Bianconeri
have yet to define the structure of the club before thinking about
the market.
"Equally, Fiorentina has the issue of Cesare Prandelli to
resolve.
"Aquilani has recovered well from his ankle injury and for this
reason I think Liverpool won't deprive of him".
Juve have yet to comment on whether they are interested in
signing Aquilani but Diego's agent insists the Brazilian playmaker
will not be making way for the Reds' creative midfielder this
summer.
Diego would be the player likely to lose his place in the team
if the Old Lady purchase the Liverpool performer after a difficult
first camapaign in Italy.
But the former Werder Bremen star's agent Giacomo Petralito
claims he will shine next season and that Lionel Messi would have
failed to impress at the Stadio Olympico this term.
"He doesn't leave Juventus, they're just rumours," he said.
"Next year will be his year, he will protagonist for Juventus.
(Zinedine) Zidane and (Michel) Platini too had problems in their
first season.
"Diego began very well and this means that the qualities are
there. Something did not work, but he just needs time, in Italian
football is very tactical. And then, this season at Juventus, Messi
would also be in trouble".
