ROMA NUMBER NINE ROW CONTINUES

THE CONTROVERSY surrounding the Roma number nine shirt looks set to continue with a war of words between current holder Vincenzo Montella and £24 million record signing Gabriel Batistuta featuring heavily in the Italian press.

Batistuta wants his usual number when he starts playing for his new club - but Montella is fighting to keep the number himself, as well as his place in the team.

Montella, on hearing news of the transfer, told press: "I want to keep the number nine shirt. I really don't think that Batistuta can decide my future - only Roma can make that decision.

"I cannot guarantee to the fans that I will be playing in Rome next year."

Batistuta, on hearing the statement, immediately offered something of a threatening retort, saying: "I cannot be sure if these declarations are true or not. However I would like to underline that I am not joining Roma as king - merely as another player.

"But I have to admit that it is difficult to imagine myself with another number, and besides - there is a chance that Montella won't play for Roma anymore in a couple of months - so who knows?"

The Italian international, however, was not prepared to let the former Fiorentina star have the last word and stated: "I am very attached to this number, if Batistuta wants it then he will have to come and ask me for it.

"People ask why I am so worried about a number - because it is mine! I doesn't matter to me if Batistuta wants it, while I am still at Roma then number nine will be on my back."

Roma captain Francesco Totti, in an attempt to calm the situation down made the not-insignificant gesture of offering the shirt off of his back - with the number ten attached - saying: ""I could use number 20, the number I started with."

Montella, training with Dino Zoff's Euro 2000 squad, admitted: "I don't want to talk about this anymore. I 've already said too much - I just want concentrate on the European Championships. I don't know if there are any more clubs interested in me but all I care about is Euro 2000"

Veteran Italian defender Paolo Maldini agreed with his team-mate saying: "With just ten days left until the European Championship and all that is being talked about is the Roma number nine shirt! Frankly, everybody is sick of it!"