Serie A 2004-2005 #13 De ontknoping!

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Palermo threaten to turf out Toni

Despite scoring 50 League goals in two seasons, Palermo admit they are ready to sell Luca Toni and bring in Andrea Caracciolo as his replacement.

“Toni cannot expect to get any more money out of Palermo,” slammed President Maurizio Zamparini. “His current wages will not be increased. It is true that he is now an Italian international, but it’s not as if we cut his salary when we were in Serie B.”

Fresh from netting 20 goals in 35 appearances this season – almost half of the Sicilians’ total tally of 48 – Toni’s agent requested a meeting to discuss his future, but was given short shrift.

“If Toni wants to earn more money then he’d better hope that Milan, Juventus or Inter come to buy him,” added Zamparini.

The notion that this is no mere empty threat came when Brescia patron Gino Corioni revealed this weekend that the club had made an offer for Andrea Caracciolo. “I think Palermo is in his future,” he confirmed.

Caracciolo’s similarity in style and stature to Toni would suggest he is being drafted in as a replacement rather than a partner.

This has alerted all the big clubs to Toni’s availability and the former Brescia man could be a cheaper alternative to Alberto Gilardino for Milan.

Zamparini himself also pointed out that Fiorentina are another option. "I know that Cesare Prandelli likes Toni a lot, so they would certainly be interested in signing him."

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Op maandag 27 juni 2005 07:37 schreef DIGGER het volgende:

[..]

Zou wat zijn, als je look-a-like naar Fiorentina zou gaan...

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Op maandag 27 juni 2005 00:10 schreef -Vaduz- het volgende:
Torino dus back in A. De verlenging bood geen uitkomst dus telde de hogere plaats van Torino op de ranglijst.

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Genoa in ‘match-fixing’ probe

The 2004-05 campaign is over but Serie B champions Genoa may still not be playing in the top-flight next term, as an investigation into alleged match-fixing gathers pace.

The port club secured their place in the First Division with a 3-2 win over Venezia on the last day of the season.

However, an enquiry has since been launched with club officials from both sides being formally suspected of collaborating to achieve sporting fraud.

Local magistrates, from Genoa and Monza, have already questioned Genoa chief Enrico Preziosi, his son Matteo and director general Stefano Capozucca.

A probe was launched after police acquired recordings of numerous telephone conversations between players and officials.

Venezia’s sporting director Giuseppe Pagliara has also been assisting the enquiry after he was found with a suitcase containing 250,000 Euros. He insists that cash was for transfer market operations between the two sides.

Although the prime focus of the investigation is on the Genoa-Venezia game, the Rossoblu’s matches with Cesena, Empoli, Catanzaro and Piacenza are also being looked into.

All clubs deny any wrongdoing and the investigation continues.

If found guilty, Genoa could be handed an array of punishments ranging from a fine, points deductions or possible exclusion from Serie A.

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Toni ponders Fiorentina option

Luca Toni says he would consider joining Fiorentina after Palermo surprisingly opened the door for his exit.

The giant target man was a key figure in the club’s UEFA Cup qualification after scoring 20 goals in Serie A.

But Palermo are ready to cash in on the forward amid claims that the Italian international wants a salary increase.

"Is my future in Florence? Having enjoyed a good season, there are a number of teams interested in me," Toni said on Monday.

"Fiorentina are a great club and are returning to the stage that they deserve when you look at their past.

"They have a solid structure and have a great Coach in the shape of Cesare Prandelli. We’ll see what happens because there is nothing for the time being."

Toni looked like he was certain to remain in Sicily, but the fact that the club are closing in on Brescia’s Andrea Caracciolo speaks volumes.

"I don’t know what can happen in the future because a lot of things are changing at Palermo," he added.

"Caracciolo? He is a great player and would be a good signing. We are not the same type of player but we are not wildly different either.

"It certainly won’t be easy to play together but it isn’t up to me to decide whether we can play together. That is up to Coach Gigi Del Neri to decide."

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Juve take back Chiellini

Juventus have completed the signing of Giorgio Chiellini from Fiorentina, but a blind auction will be needed to resolve the futures of Fabrizio Miccoli and Enzo Maresca.

All three players spent last term in Florence as a result of co-ownership deals that were struck in the summer.

Juventus took up their option to re-sign Chiellini after his impressive form this term led to a full international call-up for the Under-21 starlet.

The Turin giants have paid £3m for the left-back, despite initially trying to offer Stephen Appiah and Ruben Olivera, and they now own 100 per cent of his contract.

However, no deal was agreed regarding Miccoli and Maresca despite Juventus’ desire to sell, as they look to raise the cash necessary to fund their summer transfer campaign.

Fiorentina refused to meet Juve’s asking price as they instead wanted to extend their co-ownership deals for another season.

That means that the two clubs will now each submit one secret bid to the Italian Football League, with the team who offers more money taking control of the player.

Fiorentina will also need to make blind bids with Udinese and Perugia in order to resolve the futures of Martin Jorgensen and Christian Obodo respectively.

In other transfer news, Everton have completed the £5m capture of Danish international defender Per Kroldrup from Udinese.

Roma now fully own Under-21 international goalkeeper Gianluca Curci as he was previously shared with Palermo.

The two clubs also renewed their co-ownership deals for Cesare Bovo, who spent last term on loan at Parma, and Valerio Virga. The first will stay at Roma, while Virga will move to Sicily next season.

Palermo will also have Massimo Bonanni on their roster after Roma had earlier today brought him back from Vicenza.

Emiliano Bonazzoli will remain with Reggina after they agreed to renew their co-ownership terms with Parma.

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Collina hasn’t blown final whistle

The Italian Football authorities are set to give Pierluigi Collina special permission to continue refereeing in Serie A and B.

The official, renowned as the world’s best, should have retired this summer because he had reached the maximum age for a referee.

But the man in black, who turned 45 in February, is to be given special dispensation to work for one more season, once the new rule is passed by the Italian Football Federation.

Collina will therefore be able to take charge of Italian League and European Cup games next term, but will not be eligible for the 2006 World Cup Finals - as his new retirement date will be June 30, 2006.

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Gerrard is real Juve target

Despite being linked with Arsenal star Patrick Vieira, reports today suggest that Steven Gerrard of Liverpool is actually Juventus’ real transfer objective.

The Italian champions are looking for a new central midfielder, as the club confirmed yesterday when they expressed their admiration for Vieira.

"I think that Juventus are more willing to make a play for a midfielder rather than (Roma’s Antonio) Cassano, as this is the area we most need to strengthen," said director general Luciano Moggi.

"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."

Reports are now gathering pace in England that the Frenchman could be on the move, but whispers in Turin claim that Juve are actually more interested in Gerrard.

Boss Fabio Capello is believed to have asked his club to make a bid for the Liverpool captain, as the Coach desperately wants a new partner for Emerson in the heart of the team.

The England international is undoubtedly one of Europe’s best which has also seen him linked with a move to Real Madrid and Chelsea in the past.

However, tempting Gerrard to quit his hometown club for Turin, especially after winning the Champions’ League last term, will be some task.

Other possible midfield targets for the Bianconeri include Inter’s Cristiano Zanetti and Santos Mozart of Reggina.