Roma: 'Pjanic asked for Juventus'

By Football Italia staff

Roma director Mauro Baldissoni confirms Miralem Pjanic “has asked to activate his release clause” to join Juventus.

The latest controversy was the front page of the Corriere dello Sport Rome edition, publishing an alleged Whatsapp conversation Pjanic had with a friend telling him it was Roma who approached Juventus for the sale and ‘they sold me in 15 minutes.’

“When the limits of professional behaviour are breached, we have to intervene,” Baldissoni told Roma Radio.

“We read more rubbish on the Pjanic situation. Today we read supposed private conversations he confided in a friend, which the player has denied.

“I spoke to the lad this morning and he said he never wrote anything of the sort. I told him to defend himself and be careful, but above all we need to change the way things work in this city.”

However, Baldissoni’s comments effectively confirmed the Bosnia international will leave for Juventus, so the club is only denying that Roma made the first move.

“It’s ridiculous that we have to come here and read out official contracts and documentation to deny things that are not true.

“There are certain contractual agreements, that is true, and it’s legitimate that someone can be part of a negotiation process, as that is ordinary activity for a football club.”

The director general then read out a formal statement from Pjanic, dated June 9, confirming he intends to activate the release clause.

“Dear AS Roma SpA, for the attention of General Manager Mauro Baldissoni,

“I herewith wish to inform you of my intention to exercise my right to be transferred to another club, as per our previous agreements.

“I also wish to inform you that I will settle the 20% of the transfer fee that is due to me directly with the club purchasing my contract, which I can inform you is Juventus Football Club. I thank you and ask you to make contact in order to complete the necessary contractual formalities.

“Yours sincerely, Miralem Pjanic.”

Baldissoni then resumed the interview to explain Roma had no choice in the matter.

“What we cannot stand for is banners insulting players or staff members outside the training ground, abuse via social media, claims President Jim Pallotta lied to the fans.

“It is not normal that we have to come here with documentation to prove what we have said. The media is poisoning the Roma fans and we are here to defend them.

“Stories have to be verified by the media and then published, otherwise they are just baseless rumours.”

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