RUI COSTA: `I WANT OUT OF FIORENTINA`

The Florence club has already lost hero Gabriel Batistuta to Serie A rivals Roma - and the news that Rui Costa is ready to depart as well will add fuel to the already spreading dissent amongst the club's supporters.

"The moment has come to admit that I am ready to leave," said Rui Costa in an e-mail to the press from the Portuguese pre-Euro 2000 training camp.

"There is a problem, I have waited for important talks that have not come, and that is a sign that my time with the Viola is at an end.

"I have been here for six years, five of those wonderful ones in which I have never doubted that Fiorentina is the only team for me until I return to Benfica to finish my career.

"I think I kept a fair behaviour in my staying here, so I always thought that if one day I should get a doubt or a problem, well someone would be prepared to talk it over with me. But this isn't happening now, despite what my friend, Giancarlo Antognoni said."

Costa, who recently said: "I stay with Fiorentina, or I will go to Milan. Others do not interest me," has been linked with several teams including Spanish giants Barcelona and English champions Manchester United - but the Portuguese international denied that any talks have taken place.

"Despite all the press rumours at the moment there isn't any negotiation or agreement with other clubs."

Viola fans have already stated their dissatisfaction at President Cecchi Gori by organising a mass boycott of both season tickets and the chain of cinemas that have made their owner his money - but the loss of another favourite son could cause even larger ructions.

Gori found his car stoned after an ignominious cup exit in January, and since planetfootball.com exclusively revealed that Rui Costa could be allowed to leave, unrest has grown in Florence.