Ex Sampdoria & England Defender Des Walker Reveals: ‘Close To Joining Roma & Juventus Who Signed Roberto Baggio Instead’

Ex Sampdoria & England Defender Des Walker Reveals: ‘Close To Joining Roma & Juventus Who Signed Roberto Baggio Instead’Former Sampdoria and England defender Des Walker revealed he was close to signing for Roma and Juventus but since Nottingham Forest declined the Bianconeri spent the money on Roberto Baggio.

>Des Walker revealed that he was close to joining Roma in April of 1990, a couple of months before the iconic FIFA World Cup tournament in Italy.

>However, Nottingham Forest declined the offer. As they did when Juventus came knocking after Italia 90, with the Bianconeri spending the money saved on his transfer a certain Roberto Baggio.

>Furthermore, Walker revealed the backstory of when he signed for Sampdoria where Roberto Mancini was an integral part of that transfer.

>Walker made these statements in an interview with the The Italian Football Podcast, at an online event hosted by TalkSPORT Bet Online Slots.

Des Walker: ‘Close To Roma & Juve – Who Signed Roberto Baggio Instead’“Before the tournament [FIFA World Cup 1990 in Italy] Roma had put in a bid for me. It was probably around April but [Nottingham] Forest had turned it down.

>“After the tournament I spoke to both Mr Agnelli and Montezemolo for Juventus. So they put in quite a few bids to Forest but Forest kept turning them down.

>“Eventually they [Juventus] put in a bid of £6 million which Forest turned down. Then they bought Roberto Baggio for £7 million. One of the best players of all time.

>“It surprised me that Forest turned it down but Forest only turned it down because the fans were rebelling a little bit. Because they had said that ‘he’s not going’ but then behind their backs they were actually selling me.

>“It got a bit messy so that’s why I ended up staying. However, I had a clause in my contract that in two years time I could leave. So I ended up waiting two years and ended up going to Sampdoria” Walker mused.

Des Walker – ‘Mancini Was The Manager At Sampdoria Not Sven-Göran Eriksson’“I had a clause that said I could go for £1.5 million. And I had offers from quite a few different clubs” Walker began about the move to the Blucerchiati.

>“I knew the Sampdoria team, I had watched them and they were fantastic. I signed for them at the Christmas time really. Since I had a clause that Forrest had to release me as long as they paid £1.5 million.

>“You had people like Lombardo, Mancini, Vierchowood and Vialli who left just as I signed. Fantastic footballers. It was a no brainer for me to go to Sampdroia.

>“I think [Vujadin] Boskov was going to sign me anyhow. And to be perfectly truthful I think Mancini dictated a lot who came into that football club.

>“Regardless of if it was Boskov or Eriksson who were the coach, I had played against Mancini a couple of times, so I think he had a big influence into me coming.

>“Between me and you I think he [Mancini] was the manager when I was there” Walker laughed.

>Des Walker played one season in the Serie A at Sampdoria where he shared a dressing room with Roberto Mancini. Walker joined the Blucerchiati ahead of the 92/93 season featuring 32 games across all competitions.