Wednesday, 20th November, 2013
The agent of Southampton attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez has conceded that his client does face a real problem at the English club, but put the ball in the Saints' chairman's court over his client's future.
Ramirez landed at Southampton in the summer of 2012, his capture seen as something of a coup, with clubs such as Liverpool and Inter beaten to the Uruguayan's signature by the Saints.
But since Southampton opted to install former Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino as manager in January this year, Ramirez has slowly but surely slipped out of favour.
That is not an ideal situation, as the Uruguayan's agent Pablo Bentancur has conceded. But with Ramirez well paid on the south coast of England, he has fired the ball to Nicola Cortese, the chairman, to solve the problem.
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Speaking to Tutto Mercato, Bentancur said: "I''ll tell you the situation: President Cortese likes him very much and has always treated him great. But there is a problem – the coach does not play him.
"Yes [it’s a problem] but we respect the choice because it is for the coach to choose who he wants to pick.
"We have to accept what Pochettino decides as the coach has every right to make his choice. Gaston is an important player, he should feel comfortable."
Questioned on mooted interest from Roma and Fiorentina, Bentancur said: "My answer is Nicola Cortese: whoever wants Gaston must talk with the president, who loves him. And he is paid very well."
Bentancur is clear though that it would indeed be possible for Ramirez to return to Italy, where he played for Bologna before joining Southampton.
"Yes, it is possible", he said.
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