Verbeek slams Alves tales
07 Nov 2007 - 13:18:01
Heerenveen coach Gertjan Verbeek has slammed continuing press speculation linking Brazilian striker Afonso Alves with a January move to England.
The 26-year-old is one of European football's hottest properties after scoring 44 goals in 35 league games for the Dutch club, including seven in a recent 9-0 thrashing of Heracles.
That has alerted the likes of Manchester City and Middlesbrough and Verbeek is upset by growing rumours of a deal having already been agreed.
He told Voetbal International: "The transfer window hasn't even opened yet, but the stream of reports are underway already. It's no fun, but that's how it is.
"Journalists see a couple of scouts in the stands and Alves is sold immediately.
"Some newspapers even wrote that Man City have already paid us the transfer fee, but we must deny those reports.
"Before Heerenveen have an agreement with an interested club, they are not allowed to speak with Alves about a transfer.
"I do think, though, that not everyone keeps to those rules."
Alves joined Heerenveen in the summer of 2006 from Swedish side Malmo and has recently broken into the Brazil national team set-up, featuring as a substitute in the friendly against England at Wembley in June.