Fiorentina president Mario Cognini slams Napoli's De Laurentiis after disparaging Jovetic comment

Jul 7, 2012 7:10:00 PM

The two men at the top of their respective clubs have entered a war of words after negative comments made about the Viola playmaker

Fiorentina president Mario Cognini has slammed Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, after the Partenopei chief criticised Viola midfielder Stevan Jovetic over his lack of fitness.

The Montenegro international had been a transfer target for the 2012 Coppa Italia winners, but De Laurentiis quashed those rumours, claiming he lacks proper physical conditioning.

"Jovetic will not [be coming to Napoli]," he asserted to La Nazionale. "I have always liked him as a player, but he is often injured."

Cognini meanwhile, responded in a typically brash manner: "It seems strange that a chairman as professional as De Laurentiis should not be informed on the health of Jovetic," he retorted.

"The next time I see him, I had better remind him of the Aesop fable 'The Fox and the Grape' [where the fox represents a person with irrational ideas]."

The 22-year-old playmaker was linked with a move to Naples after Ezequiel Lavezzi's long-awaited move to Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed on Monday.

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