Jovetic confirms he walked away from Man City advances

12 September 2012 10:06
Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic has confirmed he turned down the chance to join Manchester City and Juventus this summer.

Jovetic was in demand during the transfer window - but he stayed loyal to the Viola. The 22-year-old Montenegro star is one of the most sought after players in Europe, but he insists he has no intentions of turning his back on the Florence outfit. Asked about City, he told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "I stopped those negotiations.

"By the time they had made their move from England I had already decided that I would be staying in Florence.

"Am I happy to still be here? Absolutely and I have no regrets. "The objective here is to get back into Europe and I won't leave here until this club is competing at the levels it should be."

Jovetic insisted that he never felt as if he was about to leave the club, despite Juventus also making a move - but he insists he would never turn his back on them and join one of their biggest rivals. Juve and Fiorentina have had a huge rivalry since Roberto Baggio's bitter departure to Turin in 1990.

"I never felt a long way away from Fiorentina, but I did feel that my future was in the balance," he added.

"When so many rumours are flying around, there is always a touch of truth in it.

"I spoke to President Della Valle and he convinced me to stay, but we set off from a good base as I already knew that I would remain.

"Juventus did come after me with some insistence and it is normal to think about it when you hear certain things - the chance to play in the Champions League, you have the faith of the club and the fact that you will be placed at the centre of a project.

"However, there was no reason to go to Turin for that as I'm already here. I love this city and this club and that is why I could never betray them by going to Juventus."

Source: team_talk