Franco Baresi has stunned Fulham by saying ‘nothing is official’ after the Whites had announced him as their new director of football yesterday.

The Italian legend, currently a vice-president at AC Milan, told his current club’s official website that he was surprised by that development despite previously teasing the fact that he could succeed Jean Tigana as Fulham’s manager next summer. Baresi was quoted in the Italian press as saying, “There is nothing certain or official. Within one or two days I will be able to confirm what is happening. At the moment I am only evaluating Fulham’s offer.”

Baresi would initially focus on scouting, player recruitment and overseeing the club’s academy and women’s side whilst Tigana would take charge of first-team affairs and coaching with his assistant manager Christian Damiano and fitness coach Roger Propos.