Following this afternoon's meeting between Giuseppe Barone and Giancarlo Antognoni, Fiorentina must, regrettably, accept Antognoni's decision not to continue his working relationship with the club. 

The club had offered Antognoni the role of youth academy technical director believing that his innate ability for spotting young talent made him the perfect fit for an area of fundamental importance for the future of any club. The youth academy and scouting area plays an even more central role in Fiorentina plans, as demonstrated by the club's decision to invest in youth with the Viola Park.

ACF Fiorentina, president Commisso and his family, director general Giuseppe Barone, sporting director Daniele Prade, the rest of the management team and the Viola Family would like to thank Giancarlo Antognoni for everything he has done for Fiorentina over the years and wish him all the very best for the future, on both a personal and a professional level.

Giancarlo will forever be a Viola legend.