Viola Slam United Approach

Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino has taken a swipe at Manchester United for luring Pierluigi Gollini to Old Trafford.

The Italy Under-17 goalkeeper revealed on Thursday that he had accepted an offer to join United's Academy.

Yet Corvino is glad that even more of the Tuscan outfit's youth players were not persuaded to move to England.

The Viola official claims a host of their promising youngsters have been targeted by Premier League clubs before opting to continue their development in Italy.

"Fiorentina's sporting director Pantaleo Corvino has taken into consideration the comments made by player Pierluigi Gollini and is surprised by his decision," read a statement on the club's official website.

"He takes the opportunity to thank players (Niccolo) Fazzi, (Saverio) Madrigali, (Leonardo) Capezzi, (Federico) Bernardeschi and (Luca) Lezzerini, who have decided to remain with the Viola club and not be lured by false illusions of English sirens in recent days.

"Of the 150 players that have decided to go abroad, no-one has been able to earn a place in the first team."

Defender Michele Fornasier left Fiorentina's youth set-up for United in 2009 and is one of three Italians in their Academy squad along with Alberto Massacci (Empoli) and Davide Petrucci (Roma).

None have threatened the first team yet and although Federico Macheda has made several appearances, the 19-year-old striker was loaned out to Sampdoria last season and is unexpected to establish himself as a regular at United.