Published: Thursday, 12th June, 2008 08:30
Inter deny Murty dream testimonial
By Anthony Smith
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Waiting game: Reading skipper Graeme Murty will have to wait until next summer to stage his testimonial match.
GRAEME Murty has been forced to postpone his testimonial match until the end of next season after the Reading captain was snubbed by a string of top European clubs – headed by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
Murty, 33, had hoped the Italian giants would provide the illustrious opposition needed to make the one-off showpiece match at the Madejski Stadium a roaring success.
But those plans were immediately thrown into turmoil the moment Reading were relegated from the Premier League.
The testimonial had been pencilled in for Wednesday, August 6 which falls between Reading’s pre-season friendly with Aston Villa and the start of the league season.
But as the Championship campaign now begins a week earlier than the Premier League, Inter were unable to squeeze a trip to Berkshire into their hectic schedule.
It is believed fellow Italian clubs Fiorentina and Lazio were also contacted but gave an identical response.
As a result, members of Murty’s testimonial committee were left with no choice but to put back the game until next year by which time they are confident of signing up world class opponents.
A disappointed Murty said: “It is a great shame because it would have been a big, big game for me personally.
“But more than that to see a club of Inter’s stature over here would have been a massive game for Reading and the fans.
“I’m sure this would have really fired up the supporters’ imagination for the coming season.”
Murty initially hoped to stage his testimonial against Scottish giants Celtic, the club supported by his Glasgow-born father.
However, that idea was shelved following consultation with Thames Valley Police because their resources are already stretched throughout the summer months.
Now Murty’s testimonial committee members have begun seeking new opposition, although it is not known if Inter remain on their list.
However, there is no suggestion the Italian giants pulled out on the orders of Mourinho who was managing Chelsea when Petr Cech suffered life-threatening injuries following an accidental collision with Stephen Hunt at the Madejski Stadium in October 2006.
Testimonial committee member Sue Roberts confirmed: “We are now planning to hold the testimonial match at the end of next season.
“We are already in negotiations with a number of big clubs. We are determined to give Graeme the game he thoroughly deserves.”
Murty was signed from York City for £700,000 by the late Tommy Burns in summer 1998 and has made 338 appearances for the club.
l Michael Duberry is poised to sign a new one-year deal this week.
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