Agent claims Ravanelli deal still on

Confusion today surrounded the proposed move of Fabrizio Ravanelli to Derby after his agent said the Italian will join the club…

Confusion today surrounded the proposed move of Fabrizio Ravanelli to Derby after his agent said the Italian will join the club despite reports claiming Ravanelli had decided to stay with Lazio.

Agent Gianni Paladini today said Ravanelli is set to put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Rams.

However Ravanelli, speaking at Lazio's pre-season training camp yesterday, claimed he was staying in Rome and would not be joining Derby.

Ravanelli shook hands on the move - initially agreed in principle - with Derby boss Jim Smith last week before returning to Rome to tie up loose ends with Lazio, relating to an outstanding payment owed to him by the Italian club.

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Although Derby's eight-week pursuit of Ravanelli appeared to be over, Smith refused to get "too excited" over the high-profile switch until witnessing the player's signature "on the dotted line".

But Paladini has now insisted there was never any doubt regarding the move as he told Sky Sports News: "There is no problem at all and he should be there tomorrow.

"Everybody has made this an off-and-on signing, but as far as I'm concerned it has always been on. Once he shook hands on the deal that was it. Everybody knew that he had to come back to Lazio to solve a few problems. Now the payment has been made.

"It is fine and he is looking forward to coming back to England and feels he can do a good job. His experience can be very important for the younger players at Derby," Paladini said.

PA