Fiorentina coach: Babacar 'not there mentally'

• 10 mag 2016

A key member of Fiorentina's staff has stated that Fiorentina 'will struggle to part with Josip Ilicic' and that he'll only leave if they sign a player of similar calibre, a target of Juventus  

Massimo Orlando is known around Florence for wearing the Viola's colours from 1990 to 1994.

Now coaching the team's youth setup, he had a few things to say about Khouma Babacar, a transfer target for Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace. 

“It's unfortunate that Sousa and Babacar were never on the same page" he told Radio Blu, "but I can understand the Coach, Babacar just hasn't been there mentally this season”. 

Speaking of playmaker Josip Ilicic, the former Milan flop said that he "is Fiorentina's performer of the season, I don't think it'll be easy for Paulo Sousa to do without him. 

“It's only logical that he should only leave if the club is able to sign Denis Praet”. 

@EdoDalmonte