Paratici on Kean’s Fiorentina future, Liverpool and Man Utd ‘appeal’ and interest in young Italy talents
Fabio Paratici refuses to rule out Moise Kean’s summer exit, but insists Fiorentina want to retain Cher Ndour and are interested in Luca Koleosho.
Paratici held a press conference at the Viola Park on Thursday to discuss the Tuscans’ plans for the summer transfer window.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“The ownership is very strong; it wants to build a competitive and lasting Fiorentina over the years. I want to emphasise these two words: competitive and lasting,” he said via LaViola.it.
“The ownership, I add, needs time. Things don’t happen in two weeks. It takes time to build lasting and competitive things.”
Paratici had met with Kean’s agent on Wednesday.
“We are in a transfer window. There are discussions with the footballers and their entourages. It’s a normal thing. I’m definitely not here to tell you the whole truth of what we say to each other with players and their entourage during this transfer window, to be honest,” Paratici said.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“As for Kean, he is absolutely a heritage of Italian football and Fiorentina. Everyone knows how fond I am of him; I watched him grow from when he was nine years old until the Champions League.
“I’ve also already sold him once under my management. I am as fond of him as I am of all the footballers I have had. But we are in a market period. We hope and want him to be our No.9. But all football clubs are not masters of their fate on the market, apart from the top five or six in the world.
“I believe it is a sincere and realistic response for our fans. First of all, because it takes respect, but also to educate people about what’s happening in the world of the market and football in general.”
Fiorentina parted ways with coach Paolo Vanoli a few weeks ago and hired Fabio Grosso.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“Grosso was the only candidate. We liked the profile and everything that follows,” Paratici said.
Fiorentina have not won a trophy in over 20 years.
“You always need a minimum correlation between dream and goal. They should be as closely related as possible,” noted Paratici.
“Yesterday my son, who plays football, told me his dream is to play in the World Cup. I told him that if his goal is to play in the World Cup, we risk getting disappointed. It’s best if we set a realistic goal and a dream that’s close to it. That’s not to say you don’t want to try to win. But the dream remains a dream and a goal becomes a goal.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementFiorentina failed to qualify for European competitions in 2025-26, does Paratici fear the club has lost appeal?
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 8: Fabio Paratici of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Parma Calcio 1913 at Artemio Franchi on March 8, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“No, Fiorentina have not lost appeal. The clubs have not lost appeal. Liverpool didn’t win for 20 years, and all the footballers wanted to go there. Manchester United haven’t won in so many years, but ask any footballer if they don’t want to go play for them.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“The clubs are historic; they have their own historic relevance regardless of the sporting result. Then it’s clear that if you play the Champions League, you’re more attractive.”
U21 Italy international Ndour has been linked with Juventus, but Paratici is not considering selling him, contrary to Dodo.
“Ndour is at the heart of Fiorentina’s project, absolutely,” Paratici said.
“He’s just getting started; he needs to confirm himself. This is another point I would like to emphasise, not only for Fiorentina but for Italian football. We cannot beatify players after twelve matches. We can have a positive or negative impression. We don’t even have to crucify them.
FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 16: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg Two match between ACF Fiorentina and Crystal Palace FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 16, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
AdvertisementAdvertisement“We need to find a balance. Ndour had a very good second half of the season. He’s growing. We expect him to improve even further next season.
“Dodo is 28 years old and has legitimate ambitions. Like Fiorentina have them. We’ll see what happens in the next few days or months.”
During an interview with Sky Sport Italia, Paratici also confirmed interest in Burnley-owned Koleosho: “Everyone likes good players. Koleosho is a good player, like others in the U21 team,” Paratici concluded.
Paratici took charge of Fiorentina in February 2026 so this is the first transfer window he’ll oversee at the Stadio Franchi.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
