Friday, 28th June, 2013
Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has put his foot down over wantaway midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, insisting he does not know who is advising the Armenian, but the final decision over his future comes down to the Ukrainian giants.
Mkhitaryan failed to turn up to pre-season training with Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this week and has been informed by the Ukrainian club that he will be fined.
The Armenian appears to have set his heart on a move to English giants Liverpool, although, unlike his other suitors Anzhi Makhachkala and Borussia Dortmund, they have not made any form of contact with Lucescu’s men.
And the veteran Romanian tactician’s displeasure was evident following Shakhtar Donetsk’s friendly against Zenit St. Petersburg in the 2013 United Tournament.
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"We’re waiting for offers for him to change club, but so far something concrete or official is not here", Lucescu said of Mkhitaryan via Terrikon post-match.
"He was supposed to turn up for the training camp on the 23rd, but he did not show.
"I do not know who is giving him advice, but if the offer is not there he’s not going anywhere and he’ll have lost his preparation time."
Lucescu did though admit that he was happy Mkhitaryan had done so well at the Donbass Arena that he has attracted suitors.
"We are waiting to see how the situation will develop. He is a very important player. He’s grown up with our team and achieved good results with us.
"We are pleased that good clubs are interested in him, but at the same time don’t forget the Miners, and he is one of our players."
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