Levski's coach denies Chelsea interest in Arsenal trialist

By Aries

The story so far: Levski winger Nicolay Dimitrov spent a week last month at London Colney undergoing trials with Arsene Wenger and his boot room staff. Afterwards Dimitrov and his club made statements to the effect that Arsene Wenger has been impressed by the player.

Arsenal sent faxes to his club Levski asking permission to watch Dimitrov during a friendly match against Dinamo kiev at their winter training camp in Israel.

“The Independent” comes out only last week with the news that Arsenal are likely to make an offer for the player.

Now “Tribal Football” publish a story that Avram Grant is interested in the player himself and his fellow player Domovchiyski (currently on trial at Blackburn):

“Chelsea to look at Levski Sofia pair Dimitrov, Domovchiyski” Tribal Football’s headline read.

In their story they state that Levski assistant coach Emil Velev confirmed to Bulgarian sport paper “Sport 1” that he received a phone call from good friend Chelsea coach Avram Grant asking about both Dimitrov and fellow striker Valeri Domovchiyski.

Well we have news for you.

Levski assistant coach Velev has categorically denied to the same newspaper that he ever made such a statement!

‘I have not talked about Nico (Nicolay Dimitrov) and Domo (Valeri Domovchiyski) with Grant” he said.

“I conversed with Аvram Grant a couple of days ago, because we know ourselves from the time that I spent in Israel. The writings in the media are though absolute guesses.

We did not talk about Nico or Domo. He told me that he was thinking about signing Berbatov or Аnelkа. He only asked about Israeli player Eli Zizov whom he knows from Israel”

In fact the Bulgarian sports paper “Gong” has also published the same story with Levski’s assistant coach denying the statements he is supposed to have made.


They also publish a photo which has been doctored to show Grant and Levski’s assistant coach arm in arm!