Palermo president Zamparini: I turned down Maxi Lopez, Iaquinta

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini says he rejected the chance to sign Maxi Lopez and Vincenzo Iaquinta in January.

Lopez eventually joined AC Milan from Catania, while Juventus allowed Iaquinta to move to Cesena on deadline day – but only after possible moves to the Stadio Barbera were discussed.

“I was offered Maxi Lopez and Iaquinta,” Zamparini told the Giornale di Sicilia.

“I received a few phone calls about them, but they were out of place. If we needed a striker then we would have kept Mauricio Pinilla.

“The Chilean is a good lad, but he’s a bit crazy. That’s why at this moment in time I prefer Igor Budan to him. And soon we’ll have Abel Hernandez back from injury.”