Wednesday, 1st May, 2013
Internacional president Giovanni Luigi has admitted that the likelihood is that star striker Leandro Damiao will be heading to join Tottenham Hotspur when he leaves Brazil.
Serie A giants Napoli have been strongly linked with bidding for Damiao, in an effort to replace Edinson Cavani, who looks set to bid farewell to the Azzurri in the summer transfer window.
However, Spurs have long been doing the spadework over a move for Damiao – Andre Villas-Boas’ men pushed hard to sign the Brazil international on the final day of the January transfer window, but Internacional would not drop their asking price.
The English club though are in pole position, Luigi has revealed, while appearing to blast Napoli for speaking directly to Damiao’s agent without consulting the Brazilian giants.
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"If a club want a player, they must talk to the president of the club at which that particular player plays, and not just deal with the agent – that is not correct behaviour", Luigi told Tutto Mercato.
"Recently we talked with Tottenham, Leandro is very likely to play games in England in the coming year. On the other hand we can exclude Napoli", the powerbroker added.
Bagging Damiao would be seen as a large statement of intent from Spurs, who are desperate to convince double PFA award winner Gareth Bale to stay at the club beyond the summer.
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