Last week it was reported that Peter Sagan and the new Fernando Alonso team had reached an agreement that would see the Slovakian join the new squad, with a yearly salary of 3.3 million Euro. However, Paolo Bettini who is set to play a prominent role in the project, refuses the claims and says that he would have to sign at least 3 riders for the reported figure.

This year's hot topic on the transfer market is set to be the future of Peter Sagan whose contract with the Cannondale team will expire at the end of the year. Speculation about his future team is already rife, with Sagan himself admitting that a lot of teams have already shown interest.

Last week it was reported that his future may have been determined before the battle for his signature had begun for real, with La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that the Slovakian had reached an agreement with the new Fernando Alonso team that would see him earn a yearly salary of a massive 3.3 million Euro. The new team is yet to get off the ground but will start to operate in 2015 and has reportedly secured funding from a major Dubai company, possible Etihad.

Just before Christmas, Paolo Bettini stepped down from his role as Italian national coach to take over a leading role in the new project and the Italian is highly involved in the signing of riders that will make up its first roster. Visiting yesterday's opening Italian race, the GP Costa degli Etruschi, however, he was quick to deny the rumours, saying that he could now allow himself to spend so many money on just a single rider.

"I think his manager [Giovanni Lombardi] has gone over the top with his financial requests," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "If he's got someone to offer him that much I can't understand why he's not signed already. But I spoke with Alonso and he was clear. For that amount we could get three riders; one to stay on his [Sagan's] wheel and two to win the race."

The Alonso team has been linked with several riders but has also made it clear that it does only intend to sign riders who existing contracts will expire at the end of the season. This rules out riders like Joaquim Rodriguez and Alberto Contador who both have a good relationship with Alonso.

Bettini refuses the suggestion that they have any new riders in place and refuses the suggestion that it will be hard to get any stars in their first year, even if he admits that it will be hard to win a grand tour.

"It's not true that there are no big-name riders available," he said. "About 80 to 90 riders are out of contract and half of those are interesting to us. About 12 to 15 riders are a priority because they are excellent riders. Of course it will be almost impossible to win the Tour or a major stage race in 2015."

Media have speculated that the team will have a clear Spanish or Italian flavour but Bettini was also quick to dismiss that idea.

"Neither Italian nor Spanish, Alonso was clear on this. We will be international," he said.

In general, Bettini gave the impression that the plans for the team are not too advanced.

"Our team only consists of three people: me, Alonso and his manager Abad," he said. "Everyone is interested to get involved with us but I haven't even signed a contract yet. I can assure you that nobody signed, no sports directors, no riders and no staff. Former rider Jose Luis] Rubiera is Fernando's good friend but he will not be part of the team. For now, everyone is interested in joining us but we have nothing in hand, not even a sponsor. Maybe we will know a bit more in the next few days in Dubai."

His last remark refers to the Dubai Tour which will take place from Wednesday to Saturday and where a big part of the cycling world will be present.