ZIDANE AND AGENT IN TRANSFER CLASH
The Gallic genius was tracked down to Tahiti, where he is currently on holiday, and reports in Spain indicate a $50 million transfer plus the move of Claude Makelele in the opposite direction is a deal close to completion.
It is Real president Florentino Perez's dream to complete the 11,600 million pesetas (£42.30 million) deal and with Italian newspaper La Republica tracking Zidane down to Tahiti, the Juve maestro has reportedly given his thoughts on the current situation.
Naturally when Zidane stated: "I have chosen Spain and will go to Real Madrid," there has been something of an outcry in Italy.
However, Zidane has a contract with Juve until 2005 and his departure from the Italian side will still be something of a shock, although he is believed to have a verbal agreement to leave if he so wishes.
There are rumours that Juve supremo Umberto Agnelli will announce the transfer of Zidane on Monday and the capture of Christian Vieri from Internazionale.
Yet it seems that a date of July 15 has been indicated as the time when Real will begin negotiations.
This has been thrown into doubt by Zidane's agent Alain Miglaccio, who has confused the Spanish press with his statements over the transfer, and Juve general manager Luciano Moggi who has insisted that Real will have to offer double the reported fee.
In a television interview on Saturday, Miglaccio contradicted his client by saying: "Zizou has a contract with Juve and has to fulfil it."
Miglaccio later spoke to a number of French newspapers and said: "Zidane will remain with Juventus. He wants a great team around him to win the Champions League."
This is something of a turnaround, as a couple of days ago he said: "Zizou has decided to play in Spain and Juve have known it for a long time and now we do not understand why they are being obstinate in denying the evidence."
Moggi, meanwhile, has outlined his stance, saying: "I've read that Real will give us £42 million for Zidane, but they can double that offer if they are serious, and no, I don't think Real will buy Zidane."
Hector Cuper, Inter's new coach, is believed to be ready to allow the unhappy Vieri to leave Milan and Juve have been alerted to this.
Another Spanish link to the story is that Barcelona's Josep Guardiola could take over from Zidane as their playmaker if the Frenchman was to leave Italy.
Juventus are believed to have offered Guardiola a contract, which he will reply to after Barca's Copa Del Rey campaign is over, which could be Sunday night if they fail to overturn Celta Vigo's 3-1 first leg advantage.
Linking Zidane up with Luis Figo gives Real a positively frightening midfield and a massive European clash between the Spanish side in their centenary year and Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson in his last year of management, awaits the fans.
