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Viola shock at Santana to Spurs link

20/06/2008

Fiorentina have rubbished reports they have agreed a £4 million fee with Tottenham Hotspur over Argentinean winger Mario Santana.

The Sun quoted the Serie A club's sporting director Pantaleo Corvino as saying the 26-year-old would fly into London this week to discuss personal terms.

But a statement on Fiorentina's official website said the story was completely false.

"Fiorentina want to make it clear that Corvino never released any statement to the Sun newspaper about the alleged sale of Santana to Tottenham," the statement said.

The Sun report claimed Santana was moving to Spurs after falling out of favour at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Fiorentina vice president Mario Cognigni said the rumour was to be expected during the close season.

"We have created so many good players that it is inevitable we are handed requests about them," he explained.

"But in this case there has been false information. I guarantee you that as a club we don't have in mind any talk of transfer.

"Apart from the fact that Corvino doesn't speak English, as far as we know he didn't talk about the transfer of Santana because he works for us and we meet almost every day."