by The Guardian - United Kingdom, Oct 18, 2000
Middlesbrough are to throw more money at their
mounting problems by trying to sign Zvonimir Boban
from Milan. The 32-year-old midfielder, currently
earning pounds 35,000 a week in the reserves,
met Middlesbrough officials in Italy yesterday and
Boro are believed to be offering him a three-year
deal at close to pounds 50,000 a week, approaching
that of his Croatia team-mate and Boro striker Alen Boksic.
Boban leapt to prominence when he attacked a
policeman in 1990 after a match between Croatia Zagreb
and their Serbian rivals Red Star Belgrade. He joined Milan
shortly afterwards but Alberto Zaccheroni currently
claims he is unfit.
Although Boban has 51 caps, his arrival may not appease
Middlesbrough fans who have not seen a home win since
March and have been clamouring for younger legs in
the team. Their three-man midfield on Monday, when
they lost at home to Newcastle, had a combined age of
93 in Christian Karembeu, Paul Ince and Robbie Mustoe.