Juve 'withdraw for Keita'

By Football Italia staff

Juventus director Beppe Marotta claims they “made an offer we consider fair to Lazio, so we have withdrawn” their interest in Keita Balde Diao.

The Bianconeri are believed to have made an offer of €15-20m, but the Aquile want €30m.

“Keita is an opportunity that, for contractual conditions and age, all clubs must at least try to take, with all due respect for President Claudio Lotito and Lazio,” Marotta told news agency Ansa.

“Emre Can and Adrien Rabiot are also players whose contracts expire in 2018, like Keita, but they play regularly for their teams without any drama.

“We made an offer to Lotito that we consider to be fair, then he is able to decide his strategies in his own club and so we have withdrawn.”

It remains to be seen whether this is true, as Keita seemed confident he would turn down all proposals that were not Juventus.

The Corriere dello Sport suggests Napoli bid €25m this week, which would put them very close to the asking price.

Milan and Inter have also shown interest in Senegal international Keita.

For the second day running, Keita did not attend training at the Lazio camp.

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