Agents slammed for unsettling players

JUVENTUS director-general Beppe Marotta called for a shorter off-season transfer period as he slammed agents for unsettling players.

Speaking before Juventus begin the defence of their Serie A title at home to Cagliari tomorrow, Marotta said the Turin giants would not be making extravagant purchases before the transfer period ends on August 31.

But he said there was a growing belief that the transfer period must be brought into line with the start of the season to stop agents unsettling players.

“It is a wretched [summer transfer] market. All clubs are in favour of seeing the window closed earlier,” Marotta said.

“Once the season starts, this is a point we have to discuss further, even more so because the transfer market is now full of agents trying to get a move for their players, some of whom, at the first exclusion [from the squad], perhaps in a friendly, express the desire to switch clubs.

“It risks making it an open air market that has nothing to do with the values of sport.”

Emphasising Marotta’s point, teen sensation Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the Monaco squad for tonight’s Ligue 1 match away at Metz as speculation intensifies surrounding his future.

The 18-year-old striker reportedly wants away from the French champions, with Paris Saint-Germain his favoured destination, but Real Madrid are also reportedly ready to pay ß180-million (R2.7-billion) for his services.

Mbappe started Monaco’s first two competitive matches of the season, but sat on the bench for the duration of the principality club’s 4-1 Ligue 1 victory at Dijon on Sunday.

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said later it was a club decision, but insisted this week that it was not made to punish the France international.

“Kylian is not 100%. He is not in great form. But that is to be expected from a kid who is just 18,” Jardim said.