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Summary Virtus Bologna and Bryants management are working very intensely to try and create a deal.
Kobe Bryants management and Virtus Bologna have released a joint statement saying they are working very intensely to bring the Los Angeles Lakers star to Italy during the NBA lockout.Bologna president Claudio Sabatini had said on Friday that he had reached a tentative deal with Bryants agent Rob Pelinka for a 10-game contract worth more than $3 million (€2.22 million).Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna and the management of Mr. Bryant are working very intensely to try and create this important deal, Mondays statement said. Reaching such a complex deal requires both sides maximum attention for every little detail.Everyone wants a positive outcome to the deal, the goal of which is Kobe Bryants presence in Italy, economic interests for the 17 clubs in Serie A and more attention for all of Italian basketball.However, the deal hinges on other clubs altering their schedules to ensure Bologna has five home games during Bryants 10-game contract. Bologna also wants its opening five away games played in Italys biggest arenas, and wants to avoid an early season bye.Smaller clubs Cremona and Varese have been reluctant to alter their schedules, although the Italian league said Saturday it was intervening to help arrange an agreement.I hope that very shortly well have a deal, Sabatini said Monday, according to the ANSA news agency. I want to thank Kobe, who demonstrated again overnight that he wants to return to Italy.Bologna would need to have the deal signed by the end of this week to register Bryant before its opening game with Roma on Sunday.
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