ZIDANE ENQUIRY WAS REJECTED

JUVENTUS` Vice-President, Luciano Moggi has confirmed for the first time that Manchester United made an enquiry into the availablity Zinedine Zidane - but insists that the French World Cup Winner will be staying with the Turin club.

Moggi, often an outspoken figure in Italian football, slamed rumours that Zidane is looking for a new club in the summer, saying: "It is just talk, he has a contract until 2003, and he is staying at Juve.

"I don`t deny that Barcelona have been in touch, just like Manchester United, and other big Italian and foreign clubs.

"It is just that we have no intention of releasing one of the best players in the world - end of story."

Twenty-seven-year-old Zidane has been a key part of Juventus` turn-around this season - with the Bianconeri now nine points clear at the top of Serie A - and it is becoming increasingly likely that the French star will remain in Turin.

Patrick Goss