Novellino defends Recoba

Monday 6 December, 2004

Sampdoria boss Walter Novellino has fuelled talk that his club will make a bid to sign Alvaro Recoba.

The Uruguayan is struggling to feature at Inter but Novellino, who bossed him at Venezia, is offering him support.

"My only piece of advice for him is to just stay calm and show Inter what he is capable of," stated the tactician.

"He shouldn’t get too down about what is going on. After all, he made the difference for Inter when he came on in the 2-2 draw against Juventus.

"I can simply say that Alvaro Recoba is a great."

The attacker, who enjoyed a six-month loan stint at Venezia in 1999, is believed to be assessing his future.

Sampdoria are keen to sign him given his relationship with Novellino but also Doria’s problems in front on goal.

There are whispers that suggest he could be loaned out but only if Julio Cruz, who is also tipped with an exit, remains at the San Siro.

Recoba was last week associated with a move to Palermo but the Sicilian outfit are not too keen on his wage demands.

[channel4.com]