[Forza_Roma]

Alberto wants first team...or else.

Playing is priority for Aquilani
Thursday 12 June, 2008

Alberto Aquilani’s father has explained that it is first-team football, rather than money that will persuade the Azzurri midfielder to stay at Roma.

The Roman starlet is seen as a building block for the future of the capital club, but he has been reluctant to commit to a contract extension.

The delay has prompted approaches from a number of sides, including Arsenal and Juventus, but Aquilani is still expected to stay put.

“We are calm, but obviously we can’t be 100 per cent optimistic,” Claudio Aquilani told Calciomercato.it.

“There has been some contact with Roma, but nothing has been made certain yet.

“We absolutely haven’t talked on financial terms. We have never discussed a figure and we don’t expect that to stall negotiations.

“Until there is any proof otherwise, Alberto is a Roma player and he would be very happy to stay here.

“We expect the club to make a show of faith in Alberto or else he could be the object of bids.

“There are lots of interested clubs and lots of those have made important offers, there’s no point in making a list. But we will only decide his future along with Roma.

“If Roma say that they see him as an element they will be counting on for the future he will be happy to stay forever.

“But if the Giallorossi are happy to listen to other offers then he is on the market and we will be looking for the highest offer for the club.

“He is more or less looking for a starting shirt, but we know that there will be three candidates for the place – Roma have told us that,” he said.

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