Batistuta plans Premiership move in summer

Gabriel Batistuta has confirmed his intention to leave Roma next summer and move to the Premiership.

The Argentinian legend, his country‘s top scorer at international level, plans to quit Italian football after 12 seasons – according to his agent.

“He wants to play in England, but he has a contract with Roma until June 2003. We have already informed Roma that he will be leaving in the summer,” his agent Settimio Aloisio told PA International.

Aloisio has been told by Batistuta to find him a high-profile English club, and while he would prefer to play in London, the former Fiorentina frontman would consider a move out of the capital.

Chelsea and West Ham are among clubs reported to be interested in the 33-year-old who has played a bit-part role for Roma this season.

“His family want to go to England. His children, his wife and Gabriel are all studying English,” added Aloisio.

“We are in contact with English clubs. He would prefer a London club but if there are other clubs interested in him we will have to study them. He does want to join a Premiership club.”

Interest has not come exclusively from England though, with a possible switch to the Primera Liga or J-League also an option.

He could even stay in Serie A, but that is not where his ambitions lie.

“He has had offers to play in Spain, Italy and Japan,” said Aloisio. “But he has confirmed that he wants to move to the English Premiership.”

Batistuta‘s contract with Roma expires at the end of June, and coach Fabio Capello has been making plans to cope without him by introducing youngster Antonio Cassano to the first team this season.

They have a wealth of attacking options, making Batistuta disposable once his contract expires.

With Francesco Totti, Marco Delvecchio, Vincenzo Montella and Cassano, Roma will still possess one of the most feared strikeforces in Serie A.

They have, however, made a disappointing start to this campaign and are currently eighth in Serie A, well off the pace set by high-flyers AC Milan and Lazio.

Batistuta has made just five starts in the league, scoring four goals, and has been mostly used off the bench.

He scored six goals in 23 Serie A appearances last season, after hitting 20 in the previous campaign when Roma won the Scudetto.

Batistuta moved to Italy in 1991 when he left Boca Juniors to sign for Fiorentina.

He stayed with the now-extinct Viola for nine years before joining Roma.