Dusan Vlahovic refuses to sign new contract, says Fiorentina owner
Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic has refused to sign a new contract with the club, owner Rocco Commisso has revealed.
The Belgrade-born forward enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2020/21, in which he was named Serie A’s ‘Best Young Player’ and scored 21 league goals that placed him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (29), Romelu Lukaku (24) and Luis Muriel (22) in the Capocannoniere race for top scorer.
His form attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal over the summer and interest appears to be growing across the continent with the 21-year-old already starting this season like a house on fire, netting four Serie A goals in just seven appearances so far, as well as a brace in the Coppa Italia.
Fiorentina have since looked to pour cold water on said interest away from Tuscany by making Vlahovic the highest-paid player in the club’s history. However, the Serbia international, whose current deal expires in 2023, has refused to put pen to paper on fresh terms at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina owner Commisso revealed: “When I arrived in Florence, I promised the fans that I would be up front with them and that I would never make promises that I couldn’t keep.
“I would therefore like to update the Fiorentina fans on an issue that has been much talked and spoken about in recent months – the question of Dusan Vlahovic’s contract.
“As you know, Fiorentina made a very significant offer to the player. Our proposal would have made him the highest-paid player in the history of the club.
“We also improved our offer on a number of occasions in order to accommodate the requests of both Dusan and his entourage. However, despite our efforts, those offers have not been accepted.
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“During my time in Florence over the past few weeks, I have personally endeavoured to find a solution that would make both the player and the club happy, but I am disappointed to say that our efforts and attempts have not been rewarded.
“At this point, all that we can do is acknowledge the wishes of the player and his entourage and quickly identify feasible, appropriate solutions as we proceed with this exciting new season.
“In any case, Dusan Vlahovic has a contract linking him to Fiorentina for the next 21 months. We have no doubt that the player will – as he always has – do his bit to help the team achieve its objectives, showing the same level of professionalism he has shown since he arrived in Florence, with the utmost respect from our fans, his team-mates, the coach and the club as a whole.”
