Several media reports linked Ivan Basso with the Barloworld team but team manager Claudio Corti denied that the team
is negotiating with Basso.
Claudio Corti said: "According to reports around the world, people seem to think I am keen to sign Ivan Basso. It's true
that I had some contact with Basso aproximately a year and half ago when he was initially cleared but I want to clarify that
Team Barlworld and Ivan Basso are not holding negotiations ." Corti concluded: "We are still defining our plans for with 2009
and beyond with the main sponsor and so it's unthinkable that we could be holding talks at this moment with any rider."
Basso won the overall of the Giro d'Italia in 2006 and could be a future teammate of 2007 Giro winner Danilo Di Luca.
Di Luca told Italian daily sports Gazzetta Dello Sport: "I know him [Basso, editor] since I was a kid. I think it would be
wonderful to ride in a team with him."
