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Moggi: We want Vieira
Juve director general Luciano Moggi has confirmed they’re ready to push for Patrick Vieira and are playing the waiting game with Antonio Cassano.
“I think that Juventus are more willing to make a play for a midfielder rather than Cassano, as this is the area we most need to strengthen,” he told Turin-based newspaper ‘Tuttosport’. “If Vieira was on the market then we’d already have made a bid. He’s undoubtedly a champion, but Arsenal don’t want to release him.”
This might not be entirely true, as the Frenchman is said to be increasingly unhappy with the lack of European success at Highbury. He will be out of contract in 2007 and, as he approaches 30, is eager to test himself in Serie A again following a brief spell at Milan under Fabio Capello.
The money to bring Vieira in could come from another Premiership club, as Chelsea have made an offer for David Trezeguet.
“We have spoken to the Stamford Bridge side, certainly,” confirmed Moggi. “It was the same kind of conversation we had with Real Madrid for Gianluigi Buffon. We answered that our stars are not for sale.”
The transfer guru is notorious for manipulating the media and it is widely believed Trezeguet will leave Turin this summer. If Chelsea are willing to pay £20m for the oft-injured Frenchman, then that cash could be re-routed to sign Vieira and perhaps even Cassano.
“At the moment I have to say that Cassano will stay at Roma. If by August 31 he was still available and the Giallorossi didn’t expect £13m, then we might reconsider the situation.”
There are new reports that Real Madrid are reviving their interest in the fiery youngster and would appease Roma by offering to keep him at the Olimpico on loan until 2006. With this in mind, Juve are trying to resolve the status of Fabrizio Miccoli, Enzo Maresca and Giorgio Chiellini – all part-owned by Fiorentina – to use them as part of their transfer deals.
Marcelo Zalayeta is another valuable option on the market to cut down some of these superstar prices.
“Zalayeta has asked us for a meeting and would gladly stay at Juve for life, but he is frustrated at spending so much time on the bench,” concluded Moggi. “I understand his position, although it isn’t easy for us to part with such a good player.”
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Inter enquire after Vucinic
Lecce announced they have told Inter that Mirko Vucinic is not for sale after the San Siro giants made enquiries.
“The Nerazzurri did contact us to ask about Vucinic and whether he was available for transfer,” revealed director Carlo Regalia on ‘Radio Radio’. “We explained that we have no intention of releasing him.”
Vucinic has made quite an impact on Serie A since Lecce’s top scorer Valeri Bojinov moved to Fiorentina in January, netting 19 goals in 28 appearances.
Milan are also said to have shown an interest in the Serb, but he seems set to stay on at the Stadio Via del Mare.
“I told Vucinic to remember that the most difficult year is the one where you must confirm your talents,” added Regalia. “He told me he’ll gladly stick with us.”
Lecce have a long history of selling their top stars for a good price, such as Javier Ernesto Chevanton and Bojinov, so the move is not entirely out of the question.
“The problem is that his wages are just £100,000 per season. If someone comes in with an offer of £1.4m, then Vucinic won’t be quite as happy to remain with Lecce.”
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Lazio bid for Bolano
Lazio are interested in Parma midfielder Jorge Bolano, while Espanyol man Toni Soldevilla is preparing to move to the Stadio Tardini.
The Biancocelesti have reportedly already lodged an offer for Colombian Bolano, who has spent the last six years in Italy with Perugia, Sampdoria and Lecce.
The 28-year-old has been specifically requested by new Coach Delio Rossi (pictured), who already worked with the player at the Stadio Via del Mare in 2003-04.
It’s claimed there is a £1m price-tag on Bolano’s head, so Lazio are more likely to sign him on a loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Parma are looking to bring in a new defender to replace Daniele Bonera, who is expected to move on to Juventus in the summer.
Toni Soldevilla will be out of contract from Espanyol in 2006 and wants to make the move on loan for the final year.
“I will join an Italian club, but for the moment I cannot say anything more,” explained the Spaniard. “At the moment, the important thing is for me to leave Spain and start a new chapter in my life. I hope to have the same success I had here.”
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Pizarro and Ricardinho for Roma
David Pizarro has confirmed his desire to join Luciano Spalletti at Roma, while the club is also in talks for Brazilian midfielder Ricardinho.
“David was already interested in joining the Giallorossi before, let alone now that Spalletti is in charge,” explained his agent Fernando Hidalgo.
The Chilean midfielder has also been linked with Juventus and Inter over the last six months, but seems to have set his heart on the Stadio Olimpico.
“Udinese know that he wants to leave. As soon as a concrete offer is received, we will go to the directors and put pen to paper. Roma are without a shadow of doubt his preferred option.”
Pizarro is not the only South American who is of interest to the Giallorossi, as reports suggest they are in negotiations for Ricardinho.
The 29-year-old Santos midfielder is considered to be a perfect replacement for Emerson and already has an EC passport. His price-tag is £4.4m, but Roma face competition from Real Madrid and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.
Talks are also continuing with Diego Placente, who is out of contract from Bayer Leverkusen. The 28-year-old left-back’s agents have been in the city since Friday and it’s believed the final details will be whittled down on Monday.
Completing this signature quickly is an imperative, as there is the possibility that FIFA will impose a ban on Roma’s overseas transfer activity as a result of the Philippe Mexes saga. If their appeal against Auxerre’s protest is not successful, this could stop them signing new players for a year.
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Makinwa: I'll join Inter on Monday
Nigerian sensation Stephen Makinwa has told a television station that he expects to be wearing the Inter jersey by Monday.
“I hope that my move to the Nerazzurri is completed on Monday,” said the striker. “I am very happy to have reached this stage of negotiations so quickly.”
The 21-year-old has made quite an impact on Serie A since joining Atalanta in the January transfer window, scoring six goals that almost saved them from relegation, and is still co-owned by the Bergamo club and Genoa.
He had been heavily linked with Milan and Palermo, but his friendship with fellow Nigerian Obafemi Martins proved to be the key.
“I chose Inter because it is my dream to play for a big club where I can challenge for the Champions’ League and Scudetto. Besides, I’ll have no problem settling in if I can hook up with my good friend Martins.”
However, with so many strikers already at Roberto Mancini’s disposal and his similarity in style to Martins, it is possible that Makinwa will be loaned out to gain some more top flight experience.
“Nobody has spoken to me about spending time at another club,” assured the former Modena hitman. “As far as I can see, that isn’t going to be an issue.”
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Mancini turns his back on Roma
Amantino Mancini’s new agent has confirmed that the Brazilian has no intention of staying at the Stadio Olimpico, alerting Juve, Inter and Real Madrid.
“Amantino wants to leave Roma,” announced new representative Gilmar Veloz. “At this moment in time he is not at the centre of any negotiations, but the club knows full well what his intentions are and he has already put in a transfer request.”
Mancini was a gamble when he was signed two seasons ago as a replacement for Marcos Cafu, as he had spent most of the previous campaign on the bench at Serie B minnows Venezia.
However, he turned into one of their most impressive players and scored some spectacular goals, including a backheel flick in the Rome derby.
It has become clear for several weeks that he wishes to move on and even changed representative – taking on Emerson’s agent Veloz – to facilitate the next step in his career.
Inter, Real Madrid and Juventus have all expressed an interest in the winger, although reports suggest Mancini wishes to join Fabio Capello and Emerson in Turin.
The situation could yet turn ugly, as he only renewed his contract with the Giallorossi a few months ago. “I wasn’t his manager at the time,” explained Veloz. “At this stage, it’s all up to Roma.”
Should Juventus fail to capture Mancini, then they are looking overseas for viable alternatives. These include Arsenal man Robert Pires and Real Madrid starlet Guti.
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Sheva "offered to Real Madrid"
Transfer guru Ernesto Bronzetti has revealed that Milan once offered Andriy Shevchenko to Real Madrid, while Walter Samuel is on the verge of joining Inter.
“I was on the boat on the coast of Ibiza with Real President Florentino Perez and Rossoneri Vice-President Adriano Galliani when Shevchenko was offered to us,” revealed the consultant. “The striker was coming off a difficult period of his career, but Perez preferred to sign Ronaldo instead.”
As Ronaldo left Inter in 2002 and Shevchenko had scored just 14 Serie A goals that season, it is easy to track back to the time of this sensational offer.
Real and Chelsea have repeatedly made £30m bids for the Ukrainian in recent years and all have been rejected out of hand by Galliani. There were even reports that Ronaldo was interested in a return to Serie A football.
“It’s all talk! Ronaldo and David Beckham are the only players they will never sell because they are talented and precious commodities on a media level.”
Bronzetti continues to work for Madrid and gave the ‘Corriere dello Sport’ newspaper some insight into the rumoured double move for Walter Samuel and Santiago Solari.
“The deal to bring Samuel and Solari to Inter should be completed on Monday or Tuesday. We are waiting for the Confederations Cup to end, as Samuel is a consummate professional and wants to concentrate on Argentina’s campaign.”
The Santiago Bernabeu outfit has also been linked with a bid for Antonio Cassano, but again Bronzetti believes otherwise.
“The only Coach who can control Cassano is Fabio Capello, so he’ll go to Juventus. I expect Roma’s Amantino Mancini to do the same.”
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Brescia zoom in on Zeman
Newspapers in Italy claim that Parma have agreed a deal with Zdenek Zeman, but Brescia insist they are going to make one last stab for his services.
“I have been tracking this Coach for the last 20 years,” confessed Brescia President Gino Corioni. “I still believe we can bring him to the Stadio Rigamonti. We are courting him openly and if Zeman doesn’t come now, then he never will.”
The Rondinelle are looking to rebuild following their relegation to Serie B, but face stiff competition from top flight outfit Parma.
“We have had a few problems in negotiations over the last few days, but hope to have a final answer next week.”
President Corioni also made an intriguing statement on star striker Andrea Caracciolo, who has been linked with Juventus, Lazio and Roma. “I believe that Palermo is in his destiny,” said the patron.
Another player unwilling to stay with Brescia in Serie B is Luigi Di Biagio, who in his time with the club has developed from a midfielder to a classy central defender.
“We have had a chat with Lazio representatives, but so far nothing more than that,” noted his agent Dario Canovi. “He has a contract with Brescia and must speak with President Corioni before making a decision on his future, but I think at the end of the day he’ll find a Serie A club.”
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Samp bring back Bazzani
Fabio Bazzani admits he’s set to return to Sampdoria and will be replaced at Lazio by Bologna’s Igli Tare.
“I honestly haven’t heard from anyone apart from my agent,” explained the striker. “In any case, my contract is owned by Sampdoria and I must wait for their decision.”
Bazzani was loaned out to Lazio in January following a bitter row with Coach Walter Novellino, but failed to make an impact in the capital and scored just three goals in 15 Serie A appearances.
“What happened at Samp, even if it wasn’t terribly clear, is in the past now,” added the Italian international. “If the club decides to keep me then I would be honoured to wear that jersey again.”
The Blucerchiati shelled out £2.5m to sign the striker from Perugia in 2002 and are not ready to release him for less than that now.
Lazio will not meet that price-tag, especially as they are looking at cheaper alternatives for the centre-forward role. The current favourite is Bologna’s Albanian giant Igli Tare, who in turn should make way for Udinese benchwarmer Dino Fava.
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Materazzi considers Viola move
Cesare Prandelli outlines his plans for the new Fiorentina and Italian international Marco Materazzi admits he could join in.
“I haven’t heard anything from Inter yet and have a contract until 2009, so I don’t think they are eager to sell,” stated the defender in newspaper ‘Il Giornale della Toscana’.
“We have received an offer from Fiorentina and if the clubs think it a good idea then I would certainly evaluate the situation. The Viola are a very important side in Italian football and I’d be willing to look at this opportunity, although I have never pushed Inter to release me.”
There have been reports throughout this year that Materazzi’s time at the San Siro was coming to an end, although up until now he had mainly been linked with Lazio.
Fiorentina are looking to reinforce every area of the team after just avoiding relegation and will build around new Coach Cesare Prandelli’s tactics. Several new signings – Christian Brocchi of Milan and Parma goalkeeper Sebastien Frey – have already been completed on loan deals.
“Brocchi is a fantastic player, especially when it comes to character,” said the ex-Parma tactician. “Frey has natural talent and can yet improve, while Manuel Pasqual is also impressive. We already have an explosive trident attack with Fabrizio Miccoli, Giampaolo Pazzini and Valeri Bojinov, while Hidetoshi Nakata just needs to find his confidence again. Everything is possible and we need to ensure the squad is balanced.”