Any hope Manchester City had of adding Diego to their
burgeoning ranks of Brazilians appears to have evaporated following
a declaration from his father and agent that the Werder Bremen star
has his heart set on a move to Juventus.
Diego stated in February that he had a shortlist of three clubs
he would consider joining at the end of the season and City found
themselves in exalted company when being joined by Real Madrid and
Juventus.
Expectation grew that Mark Hughes would look to reunite Diego
with his former Santos team-mate Robinho and fellow Brazilians
Elano, Glauber Berti and Jo, who is currently on loan at
Everton.
Juve have always been his most persistent suitors though and
Diego’s father and agent, Djair da Cunha, has made no attempt to
disguise the playmaker’s desire to join Claudio Ranieri’s side at
the end of the season.
“He wants Juve, in the Bianconeri jersey he would win the Ballon
d’Or,” Da Cunha told Tuttosport.
“I would be happy if the deal with Werder Bremen takes off.
“The messages of Juventus supporters have touched my son. He
dreams of a club that wins in Europe.
“€10m, €20m, €30m, this has to be decided by [Klaus] Allofs, the
general manager.”
German daily Bild reported in February that Juve had failed with
an offer for the player who Bremen reportedly value at €20 million
(£17.9 million).
Diego is currently contracted to Bremen until the summer of 2011
and the club are unlikely to welcome any advances for the 2007
Bundesliga Player of the Year.