Something Shady is Going on Between Inter and Chievo

By: Martha | August 2nd, 2007

V Obinna Fiorentina have been chasing Chievo’s 20-year-old striker Victor Obinna for what feels like ages — every other story on Viola fan sites is about him, though until recently they’ve been more speculation than anything else. Now, though, some more details are coming out, and the situation is starting to stink to high heaven. (Yes, I know — welcome to Serie A.)

According to various sources, an agreement has been reached under which Fiorentina will pay €5 million for the player, who will sign a three-year deal with the Viola. Sounds good, right? Not so fast there, Mr. Obinna. Apparently Inter and Chievo have some sort of “gentleman’s agreement,” under which Inter have the right to approve any transfer of the Nigerian, and Massimo Moratti doesn’t want him going to Florence.

Uh … WHAT?! How did that happen? When I first read the story in translation, I figured I’d somehow missed that Inter co-owned Obinna, or something. But, no. He’s a Chievo property, full-stop. So, what the hell? Is this sort of arrangement common? (I know I shouldn’t be surprised, and yet I am. I’m so naive.)

This isn’t over, though. Obinna’s reportedly desperate to join the Viola — where he could not only play in Europe but also reteam with Franco Semioli — and is threatening to walk out of Chivo’s training camp if they don’t complete the move. Inter, meanwhile, are off in England pretending to be totally innocent, and have left Chievo holding the bag and trying to sort out the giant mess.

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Category: Fiorentina, Inter, Rumors & News, Serie A

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David, Birmingham, AL

Inter Milan helped to finance Obinna's move from Enyimba to Chievo in 2005 in exchange for part-ownership of the player; since joining Chievo, his contract has been extended to a five-year deal. Inter are reported to own the player's registration and have been loaning him Chievo in "a complex agreement which is close to a co-ownership deal".

http://www.channel4.com/sport/...
k

that would be deal number 3 that inter has been real douchey over, and thats only this summer... umm who said that they didnt know why people like milan relatively more than inter?!
RT

I've always assumed it was a situation similar to Chelsea, with PSV and Alex. I guess in practice it doesn't matter if it's a loan, co-ownership, or future agreed transfer. Interested teams still need to go through Inter.

The most important thing for Obinna is that he plays every week. I'm skeptical about that happening in Firenze, even if it's better that he stays in Serie A.
dean g

I could'nt find concrete figures but if you do a google search on Victor Obinna there's a BBC article from 2005 and also one from Channel 4 from the same year. And everybody know's if it's on the internet it must be true right...? Sorry Martha I can't find anything more specific yet.
Martha

Dean, can you find that anywhere? I'm searching now and am finding all sorts of contradictory stuff: This one talks about his trial with Inter but says Chievo own him and have a "close relationship" with Inter; this one also says he's owned by Chievo; this one (which is from Goal.com, so take from it what you will) says he's owned by Inter and just on loan at Chievo. ARG.
dean g

Martha Inter helped Chievo pay part of Obinna's transfer fee from his previous team Enyimba in exchange for part ownership. I think that was back in 2005.
Martha

Corey, can you find anything about that online? I'd love to add it to the post, but all the info I can find says he was bought by Chievo. Help!

(And agreed about the Viola blog, RT. Finally!)
Martha

RT, I had heard that, too, but can't find anything online about co-ownership or a formal relationship, which given the investment involved one would think would be in place. Or are these things always vague and shady? And is that a terribly stupid question?
RT

I thought Inter had originally purchased Obinna for Chievo? Hence the first option or whatever.

Good to see there's now a Fiorentina page.
Corey

I was pretty sure Obina was co-owned, otherwise he wouldnt have been used as bate in the Chivu mess. Obina did originally go on loan to Chievo two years ago, but this being Italy, theres rarely a peer loan and this means he was probably co-owned. Maybe Chievo wont the le buste bid for him in the beginning of summer thats why he is fully owned???
Gianni

to buy him* (Obinna), not them.
Gianni

Nothing that is even distantly related to Massimo Moratti should surprise you by this point. Moratti's pissed at Fiorentina cause we wouldn't sell him Toni last year, and vowed he would never deal with them again. I think Inter has an option to buy them or something. Remember how he wanted to include Obinna in the Chivu trade to Roma? Right now we're waiting to see if the Chievo management has balls of their own or if they're co-owned by Moratti.