Palermo confirm interest in Javier Pastore

Last updated : 11 July 2011 By Daily Mail

Chelsea and Manchester City face competition from an unnamed Italian club for the signature of Javier Pastore.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini revealed that the club are one of five interested in the attacking midfielder.

The Argentina international is set to leave the Sicilian outfit this summer with several top European clubs, including Chelsea, City and Barcelona, in the race to acquire the 22-year-old's services.

'There are five clubs keen on Pastore and one of them is Italian,' said Zamparini to Stadionews. 'It's not Napoli or Juventus.'

The highly-rated playmaker, who is currently competing at the Copa America, joined Palermo in 2009 from Huracan for 19million euros (?16.8m) and was the team's leading scorer in Serie A last season with 11 goals.

Pastore is valued at 50m euros (?44m) and is under contract with Palermo until June 2015.

International duty: Pastore (left) takes part in an Argentina training session

'There is a 99% chance that Pastore will leave,' said Zamparini.

'But I think that without him the team will be able to fight to qualify for the Champions League.'

Palermo finished fourth in Serie A and will play in the preliminary stages of the Europe's leading club competition.

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail