Diakite snubs Russian riches

The agent of Lazio’s Modibo Diakite says the Frenchman has turned down a big-money offer from Russia.

The defender is out of contract at the end of the season and has been strongly linked with a move to Napoli.

“Diakite has turned down an important bid from Russia,” Diakite’s agent, Ulisse Savini, told Tuttosport.

“The technical project takes precedence over the economic aspect.

“We’ll be very happy if talks with Napoli end positively. There has been a phone call with Napoli and we’ll talk about it next week.

“The interest is there, but we can’t say that it is done until pen has been put to paper.”

The 25-year-old arrived at the Stadio Olimpico from Pescara in 2006.