Javier Pastore has stressed that he is happy at Palermo and would like to sign a new deal.
Argentine ready to sign new deal
Javier Pastore has stressed that he is happy at Palermo and would like to sign a new deal.
The Argentine midfielder is regarded as one of the most exciting young players in world football and has been linked with a move elsewhere.
The 21-year-old was recently quoted as saying that it would be a dream to play for Barcelona at some point in his career, further fuelling speculation about his future.
A number of top clubs are thought to be monitoring his progress and they would have all been impressed at the weekend as Pastore produced another eye-catching performance, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Catania.
However, he maintains that he has no intention of going anywhere and is ready to put an end to the rumours by agreeing a contract extension.
Right direction
"Next season for sure I will remain here at Palermo. We all want it: me, the fans and the president," Pastore told
La Gazetta dello Sport.
"We have not yet signed a renewal of the contract because of a number of setbacks with the sporting director (Walter Sabatini) and my agent, but we're going in that direction."
Club president Maurizio Zamparini accepts that Palermo are not likely to hang on to Pastore forever and he could leave at the end of the 2011/12 season.
He said: "Pastore remains for another year and then he will be able to go to the biggest clubs."
Vice-president Guglielmo Micciche is delighted to be keeping a player of Pastore's calibre for the foreseeable future.
"Palermo will hold Javier Pastore," he told
Antenna Sicilia.
"In the past we have sold players like Toni, Barzagli, Zaccardo, Amauri, Cavani and Kjaer but, unlike these players, Pastore wants to stay at Palermo and has repeatedly expressed the desire to remain with us."
