Morientes future in balance, say Monaco
On-loan Fernando Morientes, a Champions League winner for Monaco this week, faces an uncertain future, the club's chief Prince Albert said on Thursday.
On-loan Fernando Morientes, a Champions League winner for Monaco this week, faces an uncertain future, the club's chief Prince Albert said on Thursday.
Morientes enjoyed a bitter-sweet reunion with his Real Madrid clubmates as he scored the second goal in a 3-1 win which sent the principality club through to the last four at the expense of the 2002 winners on Tuesday.
But Prince Albert hinted that Monaco would be unable to make the move permanent for the Spanish international forward because of continuing cash problems.
"He loves Monaco. If he can, he'll stay. It will be tough. He knows he's only with us for a limited period of time," he said in French daily Aujourd'hui. Prince Albert makes the final decisions at the club.
Morientes also scored in the first leg which finished 4-2 in Real's favour but the Monaco away goals eventually took the Ligue 1 club through.
Prince Albert said a new sponsor would soon come to the club's rescue to save them from bankrupcy and potential relegation to Ligue 2.
Monaco have debts estimated at 51 million euros and their brilliant Champions League campaign has only helped to reimburse "some heavy debts", the prince said.
He added, however, that Monaco were hoping to retain all their contracted players for next season.
"Last year, we wanted to keep everybody and we did. The idea is the same this year.
"We don't want to dilapidate our squad and the sale of a player will only be forced," he added.
With former French World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps as coach, Monaco are going through one of their best seasons ever, leading French Ligue 1 and qualifying for the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in their history.
Deschamps has been rumoured to be heading for Serie A Juventus at the end of the season.
"He has proved himself. He has results and good relationships with the players. I don't think we should part with him," said Prince Albert.
"If he agrees with the plan we're going to put forward, he'll stay. Otherwise, we won't ask him to stay," the prince said.
The principality club narrowly escaped relegation last season under a French Professional League (LFP) financial committee ruling over their financial problems.