Toulon have allegedly begun negotiations with Leicester Tigers over a transfer fee for Italian international prop Martin Castrogiovanni.
A long-term target for the French side, representatives from Leicester are scheduled to meet with Toulon millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal on Thursday according to L'Equipe.
Toulon will have to pay a transfer fee for Castrogiovanni given that he is under contract with the Tigers for at least another season.
"Castro" has become a cult figure both at Leicester and throughout the Premiership since his arrival in 2006, having won three Premiership titles with the Tigers and gone on to win 82 caps for Italy.
If the transfer goes through, Castrogiovanni will find himself competing with former All Black Carl Hayman for the tighthead spot, raising speculation that Georgian prop Davit Kubriashvili will leave at the end of the season.
Comments
Lucasrg says...
Just last week Castrogiovanni said in an interview in Italy that he would like to move to Toulon as soon as he could, even before the 6N. He just can't coup anymore with Cockerill (spell?)...no much play time in favour of Cole. He feels he can still delivery so that is way his sentiment.
Posted 19:27 18th January 2013
Bones7 says...
@ leinster_goy, don't be silly mate, Fidel Castro is far too young for Toulon to sign, maybe in a few years! There are lots of ways to get round salary caps, buying players houses, cars, things like that. Fair enough to Castro, he's put in a great stint at Leicester, he is not quite at his peak anymore and his appearances have been growing less and less regular lately. Leicester can clean up on selling a commodity they probably don't really need with Dan Cole on the books and Toulon can increase their scrum dominance. Say what you like about Toulon, I admire them as a club. Boudjellal is crazy, but he is a rugby fan, investing his own money into his home town side. It's not like some oil baron buying a football club as a business move, he is a rugby man putting his money into rugby and I salute him for it.
Posted 11:10 18th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
If if if Leicester can get Kubriashvilli it might work better for them. coke and Castro both depart over 6 nations etc. Kubri' is close to as good, I guess less expensive and at 26 has a good few years ahead of him and more potential vs Castro 5 yrs older.
Posted 10:31 18th January 2013
leinster_goy says...
thought it meant fidel castro, for a moment
Posted 08:20 18th January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Not only do Toulon want to scrum well, they also want to ensure that no other team can compete in this area. They are cleaning up in terms of big name props.
Posted 01:04 18th January 2013
sirtidychris says...
errm don't french teams have a salary cap ? 7million or something surely Toulon are being a bit dodge now ?
Posted 12:54 17th January 2013
lawynd says...
Best of luck to Castro if he goes, he's been an incredible player for Leicester over the years and richly (pun not intended) deserves a last hurrah on the French Riviera. In the meantime, here's to hoping he can go out with a bang with another Premiership winner's medal and a Heineken Cup winner's medal...starting by cheering him on at Welford Road on Sunday!
Posted 12:46 17th January 2013