2.50pm – Soon Daniele Pradè, sporting director of Fiorentina, and Alessandro Ferrari, general director of the Tuscan company. Below are the statements of the second.
15.05 – The press conference begins.
First, Ferrari reads a message signed by Rocco Commissoin which in various passages the president of Fiorentina apologizes for the January transfer window and reiterates that the club is absolutely not for sale.
So the company is not for sale?
“Rocco has said and confirmed it several times. One day, when Fiorentina needs to be sold, he will decide it: he is very happy to have chosen Florence and continues to invest money, time, work and health in the club. no negotiations, no nothing.”
What are the sporting prospects agreed with Palladino? How do they combine with Viola Park?
“The president has always traced the perspective, we want to arrive in better positions every year. We start from a base which is Europe, the president is the first to say that he is not happy with eighth place. We want to get higher and celebrate with the fans. Viola Park remains the center where men and women grow, with attention to everyday life.”
What are the terms of the agreement with Palladino?
“The agreement is for two years with an option for a third year.”
What is the plan to go back up?
“We are not satisfied with the position reached, the program aims to bring together the skills of those who work with the DS, but also the youth sector in which we invest a lot. The president is interested in operations that can be carried out and of which we are all convinced, there is no It’s never been a budget problem, see Nico Gonzalez. The club remains stable and solid, we have a big concern about the stadium, so it’s impossible to plan.”
Can you explain more about the stadium?
“We have read and heard many things, tomorrow we will send an official communication to the Municipality of Florence asking not to start the works at Franchi. We think it is too complex to start without complete financial coverage or knowing when they will finish. We will try to limit as much as possible the situations that may represent of damages”.
Is there an idea of the amount that will be invested? Will the amount of wages go back up?
“We are not talking about numbers but about operations. The amount of wages is already very important, with the coach we will see who stays and who doesn’t, to make certain choices accordingly. In these days we will have meetings with the coach for the technical situations, and then the corporate ones to understand how to meet him.”
How did you experience the Curva Fiesole press release from a few days ago? How will you get closer?
“In the letter read at the beginning there is indeed disappointment for Athens. For me, in communication, not bringing anyone to the end of the game was a mistake: we too got caught up in anger and disappointment, but we made a mistake. A president who admits these things is more unique than rare. We also want to make the fans understand the transparency and what a man Commisso is. We can only put things back together by working seriously and with dreams and desires.”
Has anyone made alternative proposals to you for the stadium?
“The issue is extremely delicate and for us it is not political but structural. We would do the exact same thing, with the type of solution proposed, with a mayor of any other party. The issue has become political due to the constraint, but we want the works, if they begin, end with a 100% completed stadium. In 2026 we will have the centenary, doing it with cranes and construction sites is a thought that we want to banish. We don’t have solutions at the moment, which is why we hope for an awareness for the ‘work beginning”.
How to limit the gap?
“We need a serious and effective control. There are efficient bodies that do it and it seems that the Government will add a further one. And if there are situations that are not in order, we must intervene, aware of what we are risking, without any discounts being made to anyone. With healthy companies the competition is balanced… We have been called to a hearing by the Government next week.”
Will there be new company figures?
“With the president we have given ourselves time to close the season, set up the new one, and then we will think about missing figures or those who can be moved”.
16.12 – The press conference ends.
