June 9, 1999. Copyright 1999. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

RECORD £28M SOCCER TRANSFER

LONDON, June 9, Graphic News: LAZIO SAID on Tuesday that a reported world record transfer of Christian Vieri to Inter Milan was yet to be sealed Ð with sources close to the Rome club hinting that Juventus were also interested in the striker.
Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti was earlier quoted as saying his club had signed up the Italian international in a world record deal worth a total of 80 billion lire (£28 million/$42.89 million), with the deal including Lazio getting InterÕs Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone.
ÒVieri is InterÕs. He will play alongside Ronaldo next season,Ó Moratti is quoted as saying.
Asked why Moratti should announce the deal if none had been agreed a source close to Lazio said: ÒThere is an offer for Vieri from Juventus. This is maybe why Moratti wanted to say quickly that the transfer had been concluded.Ó A spokesman for Juventus declined to comment over the deal.
If the transfer is confirmed it will be a world record, half as much again as the £16.8 ($29.7 million) Inter paid for Ronaldo and by far the highest sum for an Italian.
Vieri, who grew up in Australia, came to fame at Juventus in 1996-97 after playing in lower division Prato, Pisa, Ravenna and Venezia and in Serie A with Torino and Atalanta.
He has yet to play more than one season with any Serie A club and joined Atletico Madrid from Juventus in 1997 for £11.9 ($19.31 million).
The previous record was the £22 million ($35 million) that Spanish club Real Betis reportedly paid for Brazilian Denilson in 1997, while the Italian record was already held by Vieri.
/ENDS
Source: Reuters