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Soccer-World-Leverkusen to keep Lucio, but may lose Ze Roberto
- Bayer Leverkusen will not allow their Brazilian defender Lucio to pursue his dream of playing in Italy, but admit it will be hard to keep his compatriot Ze Roberto.
Leverkusen's commercial manager Reiner Calmund told Germany's Kicker magazine that Lucio, who played in Brazil's 1-1 draw with Portugal on Wednesday, had agreed to stay with the club even though he was quoted in an Italian newspaper as saying he dreamed of playing in Serie A.
"We had a long talk and the subject is closed," Calmund said about Lucio. Italian media reports have said Real Madrid, AS Rome, Juventus Turin, FC Barcelona and AC Milan are interested in signing the player.
"I know that Bayer will not let me go," Germany's SID news agency quoted Lucio as saying. "But Italy remains a dream for me."
Lucio, 23, has been a stalwart this year for Bayer, a towering central defender with a delicate touch and a taste for spectacular goals. He is also a mainstay for Brazil.
Leverkusen, who have reached the Champions League semifinals and lead the Bundesliga, paid 17.5 million marks for Lucio in 2000 and have him under contract until 2005. German media reports have said AC Milan are prepared to pay 20 million euros for him.
Leverkusen trainer Klaus Toppmoeller conceded on Thursday that it would be hard to keep the club's other Brazilian, Ze Roberto.
"We won't be able to hold him -- half of Europe is hunting him," Toppmoeller said.
Leverkusen's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich are one club chasing Ze Roberto, who can play in midfield or at wingback.
The 27-year-old has a contract with Leverkusen until June 2003 and the league leaders said earlier this month they would do everything to persuade him to extend his current contract.
- Bayer Leverkusen will not allow their Brazilian defender Lucio to pursue his dream of playing in Italy, but admit it will be hard to keep his compatriot Ze Roberto.
Leverkusen's commercial manager Reiner Calmund told Germany's Kicker magazine that Lucio, who played in Brazil's 1-1 draw with Portugal on Wednesday, had agreed to stay with the club even though he was quoted in an Italian newspaper as saying he dreamed of playing in Serie A.
"We had a long talk and the subject is closed," Calmund said about Lucio. Italian media reports have said Real Madrid, AS Rome, Juventus Turin, FC Barcelona and AC Milan are interested in signing the player.
"I know that Bayer will not let me go," Germany's SID news agency quoted Lucio as saying. "But Italy remains a dream for me."
Lucio, 23, has been a stalwart this year for Bayer, a towering central defender with a delicate touch and a taste for spectacular goals. He is also a mainstay for Brazil.
Leverkusen, who have reached the Champions League semifinals and lead the Bundesliga, paid 17.5 million marks for Lucio in 2000 and have him under contract until 2005. German media reports have said AC Milan are prepared to pay 20 million euros for him.
Leverkusen trainer Klaus Toppmoeller conceded on Thursday that it would be hard to keep the club's other Brazilian, Ze Roberto.
"We won't be able to hold him -- half of Europe is hunting him," Toppmoeller said.
Leverkusen's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich are one club chasing Ze Roberto, who can play in midfield or at wingback.
The 27-year-old has a contract with Leverkusen until June 2003 and the league leaders said earlier this month they would do everything to persuade him to extend his current contract.