a écrit le 16 août 2005 à 13h28 Boro frustrated as Douala rejects Riverside move
Rodolphe Douala has rejected the chance to join Middlesbrough.
The Cameroon winger's FIFA-registered agent, Jorge Gama, insists Douala has no intention of leaving Sporting Lisbon to join Steve McClaren's side.
Douala is cup-tied in Europe after playing in Sporting's Champions League qualifier against Udinese last week, and that factor has convinced the 27-year-old to stay in Portugal.
'I can assure you that the player is not interested in moving to Boro,' Gama insisted. 'We've told that to Sporting Lisbon and we've explained that the reason is because he cannot play in UEFA competitions this season.'
Boro finished seventh in the Premiership last season and will enter the UEFA Cup in the first round.
'It's got nothing to do with Middlesbrough as a club - it's a good club with good players and a respected manager,' Gama added.
'But we have been thinking seriously about this and it's a waste of time Sporting pursuing this with Boro.
'As far as we know, there is no agreement between Sporting and Boro for the transfer.
'It's difficult to envisage us changing our mind. We appreciate the interest of Steve McClaren. The problem is that there's no prospect of European football.'
Boro have not hidden their interest in Douala, and even after he faced Udinese they were quietly optimistic of bringing him to the Riverside.
'There are three other competitions,' McClaren said last week, referring to the Premiership, Carling Cup and FA Cup.
With Boudewijn Zenden having left in the summer to join Liverpool, McClaren is keen to add some flair to his squad, and Douala would have provided a new attacking threat.
Reports had suggested Boro were willing to pay in the region of £5.5million.
The Boro manager has claimed his side require two further midfielders and he still hopes to make up that shortage before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=339422&cc=5901
Rodolphe Douala has rejected the chance to join Middlesbrough.
The Cameroon winger's FIFA-registered agent, Jorge Gama, insists Douala has no intention of leaving Sporting Lisbon to join Steve McClaren's side.
Douala is cup-tied in Europe after playing in Sporting's Champions League qualifier against Udinese last week, and that factor has convinced the 27-year-old to stay in Portugal.
'I can assure you that the player is not interested in moving to Boro,' Gama insisted. 'We've told that to Sporting Lisbon and we've explained that the reason is because he cannot play in UEFA competitions this season.'
Boro finished seventh in the Premiership last season and will enter the UEFA Cup in the first round.
'It's got nothing to do with Middlesbrough as a club - it's a good club with good players and a respected manager,' Gama added.
'But we have been thinking seriously about this and it's a waste of time Sporting pursuing this with Boro.
'As far as we know, there is no agreement between Sporting and Boro for the transfer.
'It's difficult to envisage us changing our mind. We appreciate the interest of Steve McClaren. The problem is that there's no prospect of European football.'
Boro have not hidden their interest in Douala, and even after he faced Udinese they were quietly optimistic of bringing him to the Riverside.
'There are three other competitions,' McClaren said last week, referring to the Premiership, Carling Cup and FA Cup.
With Boudewijn Zenden having left in the summer to join Liverpool, McClaren is keen to add some flair to his squad, and Douala would have provided a new attacking threat.
Reports had suggested Boro were willing to pay in the region of £5.5million.
The Boro manager has claimed his side require two further midfielders and he still hopes to make up that shortage before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=339422&cc=5901
