Post by Golden_Boy™ on Feb 19, 2008 20:47:17 GMT -1
Reggina Furious With Chelsea Over ‘Stolen’ Player
Reggina have launched an official complaint to the Italian Football Federation after Chelsea “stole” one of the club’s most promising young talents.
Fifteen-year-old defender Vincenzo Camilleri is regarded as a huge prospect in Italy, and was part of the Reggina Primavera side.
However the starlet went AWOL prior to a game last week, and it was subsequently revealed that he had been holding secret talks in London with Chelsea.
Camilleri was set to sign professional terms with Reggina next month when he turns 16, but the Amaranti have been informed that he has already agreed to join Chelsea.
“As a club we have tried to defend our asset for our own interests as well as those of Italian football as a whole,” Reggina President Lillo Foti blasted.
“We were also trying to follow Italian Football Federation recommendations by showing support for our youth side, but another young talent has been stolen away.
“This happened because it was a club of Chelsea’s size, but now we will be asking the FIGC to help us search for compensation and to launch a complaint.”
"This is not only a problem for Reggina, but for the whole of Italian football."
A number of Italy’s best young talents have also been snapped up in controversial circumstances in recent seasons, the two most obvious examples being Giuseppe Rossi and Arturo Lupoli, who moved to Manchester United and Arsenal in similar circumstances.
Chelsea are likely to pay Reggina compensation for Camilleri, however it is only expected to be a nominal sum.