Dalla Bona placed on tranfer list
Friday, 24 May 2002 12:21Chelsea midfielder Sam Dalla Bona is looking for a new club after being placed on the transfer list last night. The 21-year-old has been put up for sale after refusing to sign an extension to his contract, which has just one year left to run. Dalla Bona is keen to return to his native Italy but the club are unimpressed with his stance after he rejected a switch to Venezia last year.
They say they will accept cash-only offers for the player and will force him to see out his contract in the reserves if the right deal does not come along. The club said in a statement released through Chelsea TV: "In view of the fact that Sam Dalla Bona has refused to sign an extension to his current contract, stating that he wants to be near his family in Italy, he has now played his last game for Chelsea and has officially been placed on the transfer list with immediate effect."
The statement continued: "One Italian club is interested in buying Dalla Bona but they are trying to off-load an over-aged, over-paid player in part exchange. We are not interested in part exchange and will only accept a cash payment. In the event that no offers are made, he will see out his contract in the reserves. Chelsea Football Club are somewhat puzzled by Sam's attitude as we agreed a transfer to Venezia last summer, a club that is very near his family home, which he has made clear is important to him. So we are at a loss to understand why he turned that down but is willing to go to a club in Milan or Rome, a long distance from his family."
Dalla Bona joined Chelsea on a free transfer at the age of 17 from Atalanta in October 1998. He was a regular member of Claudio Ranieri's squad, making 73 appearances for the club and scoring six goals.
Filed by Shane Murray
