Fiorentina have told want-away striker Luca Toni that his dream of joining Inter this summer will not turn into reality.
The World Cup winner has informed the Viola that he wants to sign for the interested Nerazzurri, but the Tuscan giants have reminded him that he’s contracted to them until 2009.
“I think that all of our best technical resources need to be maintained,†stated Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino.
“Sometimes you have to go against the wishes of an individual. Toni wants to go and take into account the offers he’s received, especially the one from Inter.
“However, we have been very clear – we want to keep Luca Toni with us in Florence next season.â€
Toni is a wanted man after he netted an amazing 31 goals in Serie A last term as he guided the Artemio Franchi outfit to fourth in the table.
However, Corvino did suggest that Toni could move on if the club received what they considered as a big enough offer for the almost 30-year-old.
“Our priority is to keep Toni,†he added. “The only odd thing about this situation is that when someone wants to buy a great player then they have to make a very important offer.
“But if clubs want to just try to disturb us and cause problems then that is not right. In these cases you have to declare war and we are now at war.
“We’ll have to see how it will come to an end. He wants to go, but we must go forward with our own intentions.â€
Toni only joined the Viola last summer after he controversially left Sicilian giants Palermo for just £7m.
It’s understood that Fiorentina want to now net somewhere in the region of £18m for the former Brescia player.
Football Italia