Alieu Njie has revealed just how close he came to joining Crystal Palace before deciding to move to Fiorentina instead.
The 19-year-old Sweden Under-21 international left Torino during the summer after the Italian club agreed to send him to Fiorentina on loan with an obligation to buy.
Crystal Palace had made several attempts to sign Njie before that deal was completed. Their first proposal was worth € 10 million plus € 7 million in bonuses before the Eagles increased the guaranteed fee to between € 12 million and € 13 million, as per Sport Witness. Torino still rejected the offer.
Palace made a late attempt to sign Alieu Njie
Alieu Njie has now explained that Palace continued to push right until the end, even making a final attempt while he was already travelling to Florence for his medical.
“It was a tough decision. Because I wanted to leave Italy. But I thought Fiorentina made me a very good offer, so I couldn’t refuse,” Njie told Expressen.
Asked how close he came to joining Palace, the youngster admitted the move nearly happened.
“I was close some days, but Torino rejected their offer every time.”
The Eagles then made one more push as Njie travelled to complete his Fiorentina switch.
“When I was on my way to Florence to do my medical, they (Crystal Palace) tried to hijack me. But I told them it would be Fiorentina or nothing.”
“They wanted to make one last attempt, but I had decided on Fiorentina. They were too late. Fiorentina was the best for me and I am very happy.”
