Not heading home
Brian Laudrup staying at Chelsea ... for now
Posted: Thursday October 29, 1998 01:40 PM
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Laudrup (right) denied reports that he was unhappy with the rotation system used by manager Gianluca Vialli AP |
LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea said Thursday it had turned down FC Copenhagen's bid to hire Brian Laudrup on loan.
But the Danish striker and the west London club didn't rule out a move some time in the near future.
Amid reports that the 29-year-old Danish striker might be leaving after only three months, Chelsea called a news conference attended by both Laudrup and the club's managing director, Colin Hutchinson.
"No deal has been done whatsoever between Chelsea and Copenhagen for Brian Laudrup to move to Copenhagen," Hutchinson said.
"We turned down an approach from Copenhagen to take him on loan a couple of weeks ago but that is not to say that something of that nature may not happen in the future."
Laudrup denied reports that he was unhappy with the rotation system used by manager Gianluca Vialli, who leaves players out of the team even if they are playing well. He also dismissed suggestions that his wife and children were homesick.
He admitted, however, that he'd had talks with the club about his future and, without saying when, felt he wanted to go home to Denmark.
"This is nothing to do with the very famous rotation system at this club. I have also seen speculation about my family apparently being not settled," the former Broendby, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, AC Milan and Glasgow Rangers striker said.
"They are quite settled in London but this is purely down to myself. You get to a certain stage in your career and in your personal life when you want to get back to your roots.
"I feel like this now and this is why we have had these discussions."
The news conference followed reports in Denmark that FC Copenhagen, coincidentally Chelsea's Cup Winners Cup opponent next week, had tried to hire the striker.
"No agreement has been made with the Chelsea Football Club," FC Copenhagen manager Flemming Oestergaard said in a statement.
Trading in FC Copenhagen shares was suspended briefly on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange following the reports of Laudrup's transfer. The shares rose by 14 percent.
British and Danish media quoted unidentified Danish sources as saying Laudrup had been offered a three-year playing contract at Copenhagen, plus a further seven years as general manager of the club where his father is in charge of merchandising.
Laudrup did not play in Chelsea's 4-1 League Cup win Wednesday night over Premier League leader Aston Villa.
Laudrup, who played for the Danish team which stunned the soccer world by winning the 1992 European Championship, quit international soccer after Denmark was ousted by Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals this summer.
Laudrup joined the Danish side in 1987 and scored 21 goals in 82 matches.
His elder brother, Michael Laudrup, retired after the World Cup following a standout 17-year career.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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