Saturday, 21st December, 2013
Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese and manager Mauricio Pochettino are at war over attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez.
Pochettino can find no space for Ramirez to feature regularly for the Saints, a situation that Cortese, who is a big fan of the Uruguayan, is extremely disappointed with.
Ramirez himself is unhappy with being used as a backup player and has asked his agent to put the wheels in motion for a potential return to Italy; he joined Southampton from Bologna in 2012, in what was regardes as a coup for the Saints.
The situation is complicated however because, according to Tutto Mercato, Cortese is desperate for Ramirez to stay and wants Pochettino to play the Uruguayan.
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At present Southampton's good performances on the pitch and fine Premier League campaign so far have shielded the manager from his chairman.
Matters may though move more to a head as the January transfer window approaches, with Genoa, Fiorentina and Napoli are monitoring Ramirez's situation closely.
Ramirez has made just six appearances in the Premier League this term for the Saints, with all coming from the bench.
The 23-year-old is growing increasingly concerned about his status, with the 2014 World Cup looming.
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