Use the hashtag #IFDLiveblog on Twitter to discuss the latest rumors for today’s deadline day.
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In his post-match interview with Mediaset Premium, the Milan captain said,:
“The derby is always a special match, it sounds obvious but it’s true. I believe the team merited this night, it’s a just reward for a group like ours. We must now not think of Europe but for Palermo. We must take it one game at a time because if you look too far ahead you hit your first obstacle.”
On his recent change in the way he plays, he said,:
“Certainly I have changed my way of playing, I have to give equilibrium to the team. I try to do my best. It’s the second derby I win as captain, of course this 3-0 win provides a different flavour. It’s a special night, everyone deserves praise. We believed in ourselves even in the most difficult times. I dedicate this win to the fans who have had little joy the past few years.”
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“Empoli is a very tough team to overturn a deficit against, I’m proud of my players and their willingness towards me. They are true professionals: Humble and have bags of quality. I have a great honor in managing great players, that are above all, great people as well.”
Maurizio Sarri coached Empoli for 3 seasons and this was Sarri’s second game back against his old side, “Today I saw a lot of friends. These people are important to me, and I learned a lot from them.”
On the support of the fans: “Our fans are giving us a great boost. Not only when we are winning, but also when we need to recoup a deficit.”
On Insigne: “Insigne is one of the best Italian talents. Im very happy with him. On the field he’s ready to sacrifice himself for the betterment of the team.”
“My dream? To have a great match against Lazio and return to Naples with 3 points.”
Napoli play Lazio on Serie A’s match day 23 midweek action. They will play away at the Stadio Olimpico di Roma in search of retaining first place.
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It’s a story we spoke about two weeks ago when the news first came out on Juventus’ interest for Castrovilli. Since then, the trail had gone cold but it seems that tomorrow could be the day the deal becomes a reality.
It’s a scenario that’s been building since the middle of November, according to Alfredo Pedulla. Tomorrow Juventus will meet with Bari’s directors and try to find a deal before 11PM Italian time.
Bari has given the go-ahead, if Castrovilli signs with Juventus, he’ll be sent quickly to a Serie B side to gain more experience. So far, only Ascoli has been named as a suitor.
The post Juventus to decide on Bari’s crown jewel Castrovilli tomorrow appeared first on IFD.
The former Manchester City boss told Premium Sport,:
“The results are clearly not positive and we haven’t played any great games. Compliments to them as they won but the result is unfair. We concede too much, we have to work hard to get out of this poor run of form. My sending off? I didn’t say anything offensive, but that’s how they are.”
On the refereeing incidents –
“I truly don’t know what to say about the events. We lost 3-0. We played a good game, there was a sending off in the first half that wasn’t given. I want to know if the rules are the same for everyone. The ref was a disaster along with the other officials. We played a good game and after the missed penalty there was a drop in intensity and the game was done.”
On his reported middle finger to the fans –
“Yes, I did give the middle finger when I was leaving. I was being insulted by fans who shouldn’t have been there as there should have been stewards. I said I did it, if we’re only here to start controversy then I don’t know…
On his decision to start Santon –
“Santon was feeling good and wasn’t playing for a while, I needed something fresh. These past few months have gone wrong and I don’t believe that we should have lost all these game. Our defence has to return to being our strength like at the beginning. We have to play between the lines and score goals. I take all the blame. for this.”
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As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are not slowing down in their pursuit of Pescara striker, Gianluca Lapadula and a meeting is being set up between Pescara President Daniele Sebastiani and Juventus Sporting Director, Fabio Paratici for tomorrow. The Serie B side have already made it clear that the 25-year old will not be sold for anything less than €5 million. Di Marzio also reports that Napoli and Chievo have been tracking the performances of Lapadula.
The idea is for Juventus to bring the striker to his hometown of Turin in June after keeping him at Pescara for the remainder of the season. This will be a boost for the Delfini who have been staying in the hunt for an automatic promotion to the top flight.
Lapadula has been on an absolute tear for Pescara since his signing from Parma via free transfer this past summer. He currently tops the Serie B goalscoring charts with 14 goals in 23 games and has collect seven assists along the way.
The post Juventus To Meet Again With Pescara Tomorrow For Lapadula appeared first on IFD.
GOALKEEPER:
Handanovic (5.5): Conceded three goals but none can really be attributed to a mistake of his. The Slovenian keeper will consider himself unlucky to have conceded after his impressive save on M’Baye Niang for Milan’s third.
DEFENDERS:
Davide Santon (4.5): It was strange to see him start as rumours are linking him with a move away from the club and they appear to have taken their toll on him. The former Newscastle man was terrorized by Giacomo Bonaventura throughout the game.
Jeison Murillo (5.5): The Colombian defender wasn’t his usual self at the back and conceded three goals for the second time in a week.
Miranda (5.0): Like his defensive partner, Miranda looked vulnerable at times. Lost Carlos Bacca on Milan’s second goal.
Juan Jesus (5.5): The Brazilian captained the side but didn’t enjoy that great of a night at left back as Keisuke Honda got the better of him on multiple occasions.
MIDFIELDERS:
Marcelo Brozovic (4.0): Easily his worst performance in an Inter shirt. The Croatian midfielder struggled immensely throughout and couldn’t find his range of passing.
Gary Medel (6.0): The Inter midfielder was his usual combative self in the middle of the park but was unable to provide the side with anything of note. Despite this, he was the nerazzurri’s best midfielder even if that is not saying much.
FORWARDS:
Ivan Perisic (4.0): Not exactly the best night for Inter’s Croatian midfielders as Perisic was among the team’s worst players in the final third. The former Wolfsburg man was ineffective throughout and was hooked by Mancini later in the half.
Eder (6.0): The newly-acquired Italy international was the liveliest Inter player on the night but should have got his name on the scoresheet in the first half when he snatched at his header.
Adem Ljajic (5.5): The Inter man was yet another player who struggled to do anything of note in the final third. However, he did look dangerous on occasion.
Stevan Jovetic (5.5): Mancini opted to go with him over Icardi on the night and the former Manchester City man let his boss down. While he tried his luck with a few shots, Jovetic will be kicking himself when looking back at this performance.
SUBSTITUTIONS –
Mauro Icardi (4.0): The Argentine striker looked miserable on the subs bench and then confirmed his poor run of form with a missed penalty when his side were down by a goal. Milan would go on to score another two goals on the night.
Alex Telles (n/a): The Brazilian came on with a few minutes to spare.
Felipe Melo (n/a): The former Juventus man came on with fifteen minutes to spare and didn’t do anything to change his side’s fortunes.
COACH:
Roberto Mancini (4.0): The Inter tactician got his tactics wrong and then compounded his misery by getting sent off and flipping off the Milan faithful. Overall, not the best of nights for Mancini.
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“This season we have altered between great displays and matches in which we have dropped points. We have shown however that we can beat the sides above us in the table. Now, we must climb back up the table. I don’t like to get carried away because we have had lots of ups and downs so far this season.
“Let’s enjoy tonight’s win though as a 3-0 victory like this will live long in the memory. Honda is a hard worker, he tracks back, he wins the ball and the coaches sees this. Honda is a key player for us. On the right of midfield, he is doing well and he has a decent foot for crossing too.
“I was really, really impressed with Kucka tonight. He has incredible physical abilities while Alex was fantastic. He was hampered by injuries last season but he’s a top player. Otherwise, he would not have played for so many big sides throughout his career.
“But let’s keep our feet on the ground. We are only in sixth place and let’s see what happens now on Wednesday versus Palermo. Bacca is extraordinary. He has one chance and he makes it count. He reminds me a bit of Inzaghi. He’s ruthless in front of goal and he has now scored 13 goals this season.
“The President enjoyed the win, even if it must be said that he is a Milanese citizen first of all and he has never cheered against Inter. For all that he has done over the past 30 years, we owed him a night like this.
“The entire squad is behind he coach. You can say what you want but I know when players are against the coach. Even in the most testing times, and I always told the president, the players have been with the coach. The first goal was the most memorable one for me tonight.”
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Donnarumma (7) – Nearly a massive mistake on a botched clearance, but was able to recover and make history again. Not only the youngest player to debut in the Derby della Madonnina, but now it will be remembered as a cleansheet.
Abate (7) – Provided some offense down the right hand side today, nearly had an assist in the first minute. Kept things tidy in the back from his flank. Job well done.
Alex (6.5) – It’s not too often a central defender has a big say in the early going of a match on the offensive spectrum, but Alex had a tremendous header that opened the scoring for the Rossoneri. He also made a few crucial interceptions. His final score is brought down because of the penalty he gave away to Icardi for an erroneous kick on the ground. Had Icardi scored, it could have been a much different game.
Romagnoli (7) – Quiet game for the young Italian. Possessed the ball well, passed well, made a few interceptions. He kept things very tidy in the back and did well to stave off the early onslaught from Inter’s 4 man attack. Job well done for the former Sampdoria defender.
Antonelli (6) – Another lesser involved player for AC Milan, most important factor is the cleansheet. Only knock on him is 25% of his passes were misplaced.
Honda (7.5) – Just what the doctor ordered. A wonderful game from the Japanese winger. A beautiful cross on the first goal, and nearly had a few more assists due to his excellent runs. A day to remember for the Japan international.
Kucka (8) – G-R-I-N-T-A. It’s like he drank 5 energy drinks before kick off today. He did not stop from the first whistle to the last. The engine room for Milan and provided Montolivo and Bonaventura cover. Excellent game for the Slovakian.
Montolivo (7.5) – He’s beginning to find a rhythm and he’s become a rock in the midfield. He leads the league with the most interceptions, and his passing today was strong.
Bonaventura (7.5) – The hustler of the Milan midfield. Hurried lots of passes and gave Brozovic problems the whole day. Excellent pass to Niang for the third goal. Besides that, he continues his march to Antonio Conte’s Italy squad.
Bacca (8) – He’s on fire, there’s no other way to put it. His finish to make it 2-0 was absolute fantastic and deserves all the credit he is receiving. The Colombian would be the hottest striker in Serie A if it weren’t for Gonzalo Higuain.
Niang (8.5, MOTM) – A goal and an assist to cap off a big derby day performance for Niang. He was frequently on the ball, made good runs and was always available. Two additional shots on target kept Handanovic on his toes. Perhaps his best all around performance? I’ll let you decide.
Subs:
Boateng (N/A) – Came on late, not enough time to adequately judge.
Bertolacci (N/A) – Came on late, not enough time to adequately judge.
Balotelli (N/A) – Came on late, not enough time to adequately judge.
Coach:
Mihajlovic (8) – He played his strongest eleven and got the result he needed. This game could have been 5-0, arguably the best performance for the underfire Milan coach.
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The 28-year-old told Mediaset Premium: “We were unlucky. In the last few minutes we were nervous and not ourselves. There was a confrontation of two different styles on the pitch today, we wanted the three points but we did not succeed.
“The result is regrettable because we created some important chances but failed to score.”
Despite lacking goals, the tie still produced plenty of entertainment. Udinese’s Danilo was sent off before half-time for two fouls on Filip Djordjevic, earning him a pair of yellow cards in the space of ten minutes.
Keita failed to convert an open goal for The Biancolesti, which proved costly. Substitute Alessandro Matri was given his marching orders five minutes from time for dissent, leaving a bad taste in the mouth at the final whistle.
Today’s draw leaves Stefan Pioli’s men in eight position in the Serie A table, six points of AS Roma who currently hold the final Europa League position in fifth.
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Goalscorer M’Baye Niang spoke to Sport Mediaset after the tremendous 3-0 thumping over rivals Inter Milan.
“We’re all very happy, it was super important to win after the loss the return leg, since the beginning of the season, we’ve said that we wanted to get to Europe, if we continue down this path, we can get where we want.”
“Rumours with Leicester? I was certain about playing this derby, I’m very happy to have scored a goal and to remain here. The coach has faith in me and I need to repay him because he relaunched me after being out for 4 months with an injury. We’re always with Mihajlovic, When you work hard, the results come.”
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According to Alfredo Pedulla, Lazio left-back Edson Braafheid is open to a move down to Serie B with Salernitana. The seldomly-used defender took time to mull over the idea of a possible transfer but has since had a change of heart. Salernitana themselves are said to be accelerating towards a deal to bring the Dutch defender in before the end of the window.
The 31 year-old’s only appearance for Lazio this season was a 14 minute substitute feature versus Fiorentina on January 9th.
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According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan midfielder Nigel De Jong is very close to calling an end to his time at Milan and signing on with MLS club, the Los Angeles Galaxy. There are said to be only small details left to finalize for the move to be official. The midfielder is reported to have already said his goodbyes to his teammates and will not be selected for today’s Derby della Madonnina against Inter.
De Jong has been at Milan since 2012 when he was signed from Manchester City. He has made 96 appearances across all competitions in the last four seasons, scoring seven goals and collecting three assists.
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Throughout the game, be sure to follow our liveblog of all the action right here. Feel free to tweet us at @ItalianFD or join us in the comments section below!
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“It was an intense match and tough on a physical level. The draw is a just result. The pitch was not in good condition to play on, but better than nothing to get a point on the road.”
Fiorentina hall further behind Napoli and Juventus and could fall out of a Champions League spot if Inter win the Derby della Madonnina this evening.
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In his post-match interview with Sky Sport 24, the former Milan boss said,:
“The team had a good game from a technical point of view, not conceding anything to the opposition. The players approached this game the best way possible. The guys deserve a lot of the credit while Chievo didn’t do anything wrong.”
Did you enjoy the game?
“It was a fun game to watch, other than the last few minutes of the first half. The players are growing from a mental point of view, especially the youngsters who are following the lead of the veteran players.”
Morata woke up.
“Morata was scoring in practice a lot, and when a striker scores in training, they score in games.”
Today you guys approached the game in exemplary fashion.
“Today we took a lot of shots on goal. The players were good at speeding up the play. The last play against Carpi is stuck in my memory we risked throwing our difficult comeback away. We can’t forget where we were after ten games, which only makes our games more tense.”
Where can the team improve?
“There are margins of improvement for the team. The players are maturing every game. The veteran players are doing great things and are guiding the others with their great mentality. The season is still a long one and winning away from home is important.”
Will you watch the derby?
“It will be a fascinating game like always. I won’t be able to watch the Napoli game because I’ll be on the plane.”
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In his post-match interview with Mediaset Premium, the Spaniard said,:
“I’m happy because we played a good game. We needed to win to keep up the pace for first place. We cannot stop.”
Is it true that when your head’s clear, the plays follow?
“Yes, football is like this. There were times that I did incredible plays but the ball didn’t go in. Now I’m extremely happy as the team is playing the best they could, it’s hard to play against us. We have to continue like this.
Are you feeling better physically?
“I’m feel better physically. My head is clear, and I repeat, I’m very happy for the team.”
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Empoli has been a nightmare for Napoli in the most recent match-ups between the two clubs. Already earlier this season, Empoli was able to hold Napoli to a 2-2 draw at home and almost came away with the victory. Last year Napoli was only able to salvage a point against Empoli with two terrible performances.
With the way things stand, Empoli is currently in 8th place in the Serie A. The squad has some bright young players including Riccardo Saponara who is an offensive star and Lorenzo Tonelli who is having an impressive season defensively. The club even has veteran leadership at the front of the attack in Massimo Maccarone who is having a great season with 9 goals thus far. Empoli has drawn their last two matches, but have only lost once total in their past 5 Serie A matches. This team has shown that it has enough in the tank to compete with the Partenopei.
Although Napoli and Empoli tied 2-2 earlier in the season, it is a different Napoli that has been playing of late. The 2-2 draw was only the third game of the season for a new Azzurri side under the watch of first year coach, Maurizio Sarri. With the chemistry seemingly increasing between the Napoli teammates week in and week out, one can expect a different Napoli side this time around. The Partenopei have won 5 consecutive Serie A matches thanks to all phases of the team clicking, but the brilliance of Gonzalo Higuain has truly helped the team shine. Higuain leads all scorers in the Serie A with 21 goals. Napoli sits at the top of table with 47 points, but Juventus is right behind them at 45. They must work hard against Empoli and battle for a victory to ensure that they remain in first place. The fans at the Stadio San Paolo will be ready to cheer on their beloved club.
Napoli’s Recent Form in Serie A: WWWWW
Empoli’s Recent Form in Serie A: DDWLW
Head to Head: As mentioned previously, Empoli has gotten the better of Napoli recently. Empoli defeated the Azzurri 4-2 at home last season and then drew 2-2 against Napoli at the San Paolo. Earlier this season away at Empoli, Napoli was able to come back for a 2-2 draw.
Napoli: Formation – 4-3-3
Suspended: None
Injured: Alberto Grassi
Callups: Reina, Gabriel, Rafael, Maggio, Hysaj, Strinic, Ghoulam, Albiol, Koulibaly, Chiriches, Luperto, Valdifiori, Allan, David Lopez, Hamsik, Chalobah, El Kaddouri, Callejon, Insigne, Mertens, Gabbiadini, Higuain
NAPOLI’S Probable Starting XI: (4-3-3) Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Valdifiori, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuain, Insigne
Empoli Suspended: None
Injured: Costa
Callups: Skorupski, Pugliesi, Pelagotti; Zambelli, Laurini, Tonelli, Camporese, Mario Rui, Diousse; Bittante, Maiello, Zielinski, Paredes, Buchel, Saponara, Croce, Piu, Krunic; Pucciarelli, Maccarone, Livaja, Mchedlidze.
EMPOLI’S Probable Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) Skorupski; Laurini, Tonelli, Camporese, Mario Rui; Zielinksi, Paredes, Buchel; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone
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It’s been an interesting season for each of the Milanese clubs. For the rossoneri, they’ve found it difficult to maintain consistency, not just within the league but also in the Italian Cup. One week, Siniša Mihajlović and his men could take the pitch and really show us all something special. The next, we find them battling to the final whistle in order to collect a single point against a relegation-tested side like Hellas Verona.
With the nerazzurri, things have not been going smoothly. After a red hot start to the 2015-16 Serie A season in which they controlled sole possession of first for the majority of the first half, they have tailed off dramatically. Most of their wins earlier on came from a narrow margin, but it has caught up to them in recent weeks. Now, they are no longer at the top. In fact, they are falling quickly and if they aren’t careful, it can mean no European competition for next season.
Siniša Mihajlovic’s side fell to Inter earlier on in the season 1-0 thanks to a goal from the recently sold midfielder Fredy Guarin. Surely Milan want revenge on their bitter rivals and in their favor, they catch them at the perfect time. Inter have been reeling for weeks now and can’t seem to find that same magic from earlier on this season which saw a stout defense shutout the opposition on the regular, paired with the timely goals that seemed to always turn the outcome in their favor.
For this match, it will be much of the same dependance on the usual standout performers: Giacomo Bonaventura and Carlos Bacca.
Both will be tasked in carrying Milan to victory, much like they’ve done all year when they have won. The Italian winger, who nearly chose the blue and black two summers ago, has been dynamite for the rossoneri scoring 5 goals to pair with a more impressive 9 assists. He’s been prone to finding the back of the net or providing for a teammate when the club is in dire straits. As for Bacca, Milan finally has a solid striker who can consistently bury the few chances he’s given. The ex-Sevilla hitman has scored 10 goals already and is among the league’s best when it comes to goal scoring conversion rates. But for Milan, they will need something to come from the midfield. Whether it be the surprisingly impressive Juraj Kucka, Riccardo Montolivo or Andrea Bertolacci, it’s understood that in order for Milan to get the result they so crave, it’s going to take something special from the middlemen.
Projected Starting XI (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Abate, Zapata, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Honda, Montolivo, Bertolacci, Bonaventura; Bacca, Niang
For Inter, this match could decide their fate for the Scudetto chase. As it stands, Mancini’s group sits comfortably six points ahead of Roma for 4th, but recent trends show they are more inclined to dip deeper beneath the top three rather than climb into it. However, despite their prolonged skid, they are tied on 41 points with Fiorentina for the coveted third spot in the league table, while also being just six points from Napoli for the top slot. Because both Napoli and Juventus are rolling through anyone in their way, this derby has major implications for Inter as they hope to keep pace with their league rivals.
Inter relied heavily on the centre-half tandem of Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo for the majority of the season. Both defenders formed one of the top pairings in Europe, but have recently struggled to maintain dominance. Murillo has been clumsy of late, getting sent off with two yellows against Juventus in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final.
In addition, Samir Handanovic has not been able to keep the opponents off the scoresheet, which could also be attributed to the sporadic play in the back of Mancini’s setup. Regardless, the Slovenian keeper remains key for Inter if they want to complete the two-match sweep of their hated neighbor on Sunday. Handanovic and company do have to be weary of Mario Balotelli who did pose a threat in very little time off the bench in the first meeting this year. It’s unlikely he starts but Mihajlović understands that Balotelli is a difference maker and he can sway the result in favor of the rossonero in an instant.
Projected Starting XI (4-3-3): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Telles; Brozovic, Medel, Kondogbia; Perisic, Icardi, Ljajic
This match has all the makings of another classic Derby della Madonnina. Inter are stumbling but know what’s at stake on Sunday. This result could make or break their title hopes. For Milan, a sixth place finish can be vastly improved upon with a huge victory against a well-rounded – and deep – Inter side. Whichever midfield shows up to play will ultimately decide this match.
Despite their far from predictable play, the nod goes in favor of the Rossoneri in this one. 1-0 in a narrow, but extremely exciting, bout.
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“What struck me was how emotional the lads were in hugging each other at the final whistle, as if a weight had been taken off their shoulders. That shows me what psychological condition the team was in” Spalletti told Sky Sport.
“Tonight I saw three goals, some more good scoring opportunities and also a good control of the game. At that point we saw the pleasure of a team playing the ball, because they felt the result was safe and they felt liberated.”
When asked about El Shaarawy and his goal, the Giallorossi coach had a few good choice words for the newly signed player.
“He came from the outside, so had the enthusiasm that allowed him to try something different, he is happy to be a part of this club and this family, so had the courage to try that moment of madness. Hopefully it’ll catch on throughout the team.”
Totti came in as a substitution at the 60th minute mark, replacing struggling Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko.
“When Totti plays and has the ball at his feet, its remarkable. He [Francesco Totti] doesn’t feel pressure. He always finds the corners in the game because of his past, his natural talent and the confidence of his own ability. There’s moments during the game that you realize Totti can’t do what Dzeko can do, he can’t last a full 90”
Rudiger marked his debut on RWB remarkably by playing magnificent soccer that was a revelation to most people who watched the game.
“I spoke to Rudiger and he never had played wing back before, he did magnificent. It worked because Zukanovic sat a little deeper so we always had three back to cover the spaces”
“Now there are great Coaches in Serie A who know how to find ways around systems, so we have to adjust and become more fluid in attack and defense. Frosinone did what everyone does at the moment, they see us struggling and pounce, so we get anxious and hold back”
“When players attack, we have to play quick football to catch them off guard. A definite thing we must work on is conceding goals and covering long balls over the top
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According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Inter Milan negotiators were in France yesterday to watch Ligue 1 match between Marseille-Lille as they were monitoring Marseille defender Rolando.
30- year-old Rolando is a player that club owner Erick Thohir has tried to bring back to Inter previous times before to bolster their back line.
Negotiations did not go as well as Inter had hoped, as Marseille are firm on keeping the Portuguese defender in France.
Inter, however, were also impressed with another player: Lille’s Sofiane Boufal. The 22-year-old Moroccan attacking playmaker caught the eyes of Inter market men during yesterday’s match. The Moroccan has six goals and one assist to his name and he is a name Inter would like to add to their ranks before the market becomes too hectic. Lille are aware of Inter’s interest and negotiations could begin right away.
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Stepan El Shaarawy couldn’t ask for a better debut, scoring a lovely back-heeled goal and a win for the Italian. Here’s what he said to Sky,:
“It’s very satisfying. I’m so happy to start good with a victory. The back heel? I tried it and luckily it went in! Unforgettable emotion after that goal. I’m happy for win, we need consistency. We aim to put some wins together to get some momentum going. I learned the back heel from Ibrahimovic, I learned some things in training! My problem has been drifting out of games but with Roma’s quality in the midfield I can get more involved and be decisive. My objective here at Roma is to give my career a turning point. It wasn’t going well at Monaco and I’m here to get back on my feet. I feel like I’ll be able to express myself with this squad.”
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Miralem Pjanic spoke to the Mediaset following Roma’s 3-1 win at home to Frosinone, here’s what the goal scorer had to say:
“We wanted to win, it was tied during the match, we had to avoid drawing and finish the game off.”“This week we worked a lot and we found strength and confidence. Today’s win was important.”“We need to continue like this, it should be normal. Wins facilitate everything, confidence comes with it.”“We had a good game today hut it means nothing, we have another hard match Tuesday. We’ll enjoy this win and prepare for Tuesday.”
“Today we played well and could have scored more. We could have managed the game better but we did good overall.”“The coach knows us more day by day and knows our abilities. He has an idea of football and he implements it. Today Rudiger played right-back because of injures but everyone played good. The team worked very good this week. We dedicate the win to the fans and now we must make the wining streak go longer.”“Totti or Dzeko? The coach knows. We are all ready and he plays those who are better. We all need to be prepared for the coaches decisions. We will try our best to stay high in the standings.”
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As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, La Liga club Rayo Vallecano have signed Manuel Iturra on loan from Udinese. The deal will mark a return to Spain for the 31-year old who wore the jerseys of Real Murcia, Granada and Malaga before signing with Udinese on a free transfer this past summer.
Iturra made 19 appearances across Serie and the Coppa Italia, collecting only one assist. He is a former youth product of Chilean’s club, Universidad de Chile.
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As reported by multiple outlets in Italy such as Corriere dello Sport, 24-year old midfielder Jacopo Sala has joined Sampdoria on a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. Sampdoria made the announcement official via their website:
”U.C. Sampdoria S.p.A. is pleased to announce the loan signing with compulsory purchase of Jacopo Sala from Hellas Verona F.C. The midfielder born in Alzano Lombardo, Bergamo on 5 December 1991 has put pen to paper on four-year deal until 2020. Sala, who has chosen the No.22 shirt, will train with his new team-mates for the first time today”
Sala played 19 games for Hellas Verona without recording a goal or assist. Prior to signing with Verona, he spent time in Chelsea’s youth system and at Bundesliga club Hamburg SV.
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Here are the main points discussed by Sousa
On Genoa
“Tomorrow’s match will require significant intensity both physically and mentally as Genoa will be pressing us the whole game. During the week I saw my lads with lots of intensity. It will be a difficult match also due to the venue and environment. We want to bring home the three points.”
On waiting for a reinforcement on defence
“This is a story since August, I don’t want to discuss it or else I will be like a cry baby. The club knows what is needed, I made them understand what is required to compete at certain levels. In the meantime I have to find internal solutions with the players at my disposal and find the right equilibrium to get results.”
On the new acquisitions
“Everyone training with great intensity, the new players are available if needed. We must work hard if we want to compete. Tello is an important player, very fast and able to beat a defender one on one. He can create chances and space for his teammates with his speed.”
What changes will you make with your new players?
“We tried different things that we have in the past. We can change the midfield, add some variety without compromising our principles and style of play. We can also change formation, but the team must fully embrace it for me to go ahead with it. All the new players will get involved slowly but surely.”
What didn’t work with Mario Suarez?
“Adapting to Italian football was not easy for him. I was unable to help him integrate well.”
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Latest reports from Italy suggest President Massimo Ferrero is trying to give coach Vincenzo Montella two key players to make up for letting Eder go to Inter Milan. Striker Fabio Quagliarella is slowly closing in on a return to Samp as Torino seem to have accepted a deal that would send three million plus bonuses to the Turin club with the 32-year-old Italian heading the other way to Sampdoria.
Sampdoria are also looking to bring in attacking playmaker Mati Fernandez from Fiorentina. Montella is keen on the 29-year-old Chilean international for Sampdoria’s attack as he coached Fernandez at Fiorentina.
The market is becoming inflamed in these last few days, as always, but Montella has a calm head and is keen on acquiring these two attacking options.
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In his pre-game interview, he told reporters,:
“12 wins in a row? Records don’t interest me because there are still a lot of games left. There are 17 games left and it doesn’t matter if we win 12 in a row. 14 wins or 15 wins in a row don’t even matter. We could win our last eight games of the season but if it doesn’t result into anything, it means nothing. Bonucci will play, and I’ll decide tomorrow about Chiellini. Rugani is doing well, just like Caceres. Luckily, I have all my defenders.”
Is there a possibility you make a last minute signing?
“Our last minute signing is Pereyra, who is among the callups against Chievo. It’s useless to buy another player {to replace Mandzukic}. He won’t be out until the end of the season and he’ll return within a month. We hope that he can come back for the first leg of the Champions League. He will play in the return leg, at worst.
Are you staying at Juventus?
“Will I stay for next year? You’ll have to ask the club…if they’ll fire me tomorrow. (smiles) Our objectives remain the same: The league, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League, hopefully reaching the final and winning it.”
Who is the favourite for the Scudetto?
“Inter? They aren’t favourites, today Napoli are in first but the nerazzurri remain a candidate for the Scudetto. This is football, they have great balance. Wednesday, Juventus played a great game against a good Inter side. Let’s not forget what they were saying about Juve at the beginning of the year.”
Without Mandzukic, what do you think about your current situation up front?
“Morata scored a great goal, it’s been a few weeks that he’s impressed in training. Now he has to return to scoring in the league. There’s also Zaza. I have to play the players that give us the best chance of winning. Zaza has the best scoring rate. With Mandzukic’s injury, there’s more room for everyone.”
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Goalkeepers: Lezzerini, Sepe, Tatarusanu
Defenders: Alonso, Astori, Gilberto, Pasqual, Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic
Midfielders: Blaszczykowski, Borja Valero, Costa, Fernandez, Vecino, Verdù, Tello
Forwards: Ilicic, Bernardeschi, Kalinic, Babacar, Zarate
Injured: Badelj
Suspended: none
Probable Starting XI and formation – graphic courtesy of Gazzetta Dello Sport
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During Wednesday’s 3-0 Coppa Italia victory over Inter Milan, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev was present at Juventus Stadium. Vasilyev met with Juve leaders who have once again displayed their interest in 21-year-old Portuguese attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva. As much as Juve had shown interest, however, it seems as if the potential move will have to wait until June. Monaco has expressed how important Silva is to the team this season and Juve must also show the door to a few players before they can acquire Silva. This does not look to be something that can be done with merely a few days left in the market, however, there is still hope.
While the focus was mostly on Bernardo Silva, reports say the meeting took a turn when Juve asked about teammate, and fellow countryman, 29-year-old Portuguese centeral midfielder Joao Moutinho. Moutinho seems to be a more feasible acquisition for Juve come June, however, negotiations to bring either player to Juve during this winter market are still ongoing.
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The list of callups for Juventus’ game against Chievo is as follows,:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon, Emil Audero, Norberto Neto.
Defenders: Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Daniele Rugani, Martin Caceres, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Alex Sandro.
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio, Simone Padoin, Juan Cuadrado, Stefano Sturaro, Roberto Pereyra, Hernanes.
Forwards: Simone Zaza, Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala.
Suspended: Patrice Evra.
Injuries: Mario Mandzukic, Mario Lemina, Kwadwo Asamoah, Rubinho.
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“It’s not decisive but it is important. Winning the derby is always a boost for morale and confidence. Like any match it’s worth three points and it’s important for us so that we can stay up there with the leading pack.
“We have to try and perform well and win this game thinking about where we want to be ourselves, not who is behind us.”
There were of course questions about Inter’s latest signing, Eder Citadin Martins.
“It was a great opportunity for us to add something different to our striking options. He can come in very handy but we can’t expect him to come in and instantly change everything by himself. He’ll need a bit of time to settle in.
“When assessing your moves in the transfer market you have to decide what’s best for you. Eder is an extra option as he can play anywhere up front and he does it well.”
“January is a strange month for everyone, not just us. You can have dips in form for many reasons and it happens to all teams. Hopefully we’ll get out of this rut quickly. We did brilliantly to stay top until 6 January but the season is still long and we can make up ground again. We have to keep working hard – that’s what got us up to the top in the first place.
“Nothing serious has happened. We’ve gone through a run of games in which we perhaps deserved more, or at least not to lose. We did well before then though and that’s why we we’re still up there with the top teams.”
The coach was also quizzed about his relationship with president Erick Thohir.
“I know some people wrote there were problems between me and the president but it’s not true. He’s not the sort of person who gets all worked up like we Italians do if we lose a game. He knows we’re following a path and that it takes time. He’s happy with what we’ve done so far. We always aim for the top and we have an excellent relationship.”
Mancini went on to field questions about a number of different players
“It’s not easy for a lad like Gnoukouri when he’s not playing. He’s made it to Serie A and he’ll get other opportunities. It’s important for a lad his age to be playing more regularly.
“Ever Banega is a very good player who will be a free agent at the end of the season but for now he belongs to Sevilla.
“Felipe Melo is an experienced player who knows how to deal with lots of different situations. Sometimes he makes mistakes, as we all do. Things don’t’change in the dressing room just because you don’t get results for two or three games. We all have to start doing better if we think we’ve done less well the week before.
“Nagatomo is a smashing lad. Even when he’s not playing he’s always very professional in training. He’s doing well at the moment so yes, he has a chance of playing tomorrow.”
Chinese network Le Sports then asked Mancini about Fredy Guarin’s move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
“I hope Guarin can be a success in China. I like him a lot as a player and as a person. He scored in the last derby and he’s a top-quality footballer. I wish him all the best for his time in China.”
Finally, the coach revealed some of his starting line-up for the derby: “Handanovic, Murillo, Miranda, Medel, Brozovic.”
*The press conference was retrieved from Inter’s official club website
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Here’s the full Nerazzurri squad:
Goalkeepers: 1 Handanovic, 30 Carrizo, 46 Berni;
Defenders: 5 Jesus, 12 Telles, 21 Santon, 24 Murillo, 25 Miranda, 33 D’Ambrosio, 55 Nagatomo;
Midfielders: 7 Kondogbia, 17 Medel, 27 Gnoukouri, 77 Brozovic, 83 Melo;
Forwards: 8 Palacio, 9 Icardi, 10 Jovetic, 22 Ljajic, 23 Eder, 44 Perisic, 97 Manaj.
Jonathan Biabiany missed training today with flu and his conditions will be monitored again tomorrow morning. If he’s declared fit, he’ll be included in the squad for the Milan Derby.
Probable Lineup: (4-4-2) Handanovic – Telles, Miranda, Murillo, Nagatomo – Perisic, Brozovic, Medel, Ljajic – Icardi, Eder
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Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà reports Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have requested information and the former club has already made an offer.
Galatasaray have offered a loan to buy with €500,000 upfront with a buyout clause at €9 million.
Yesterday, Schalke 04 made a similar offer but AC Milan decided that they do not want to sell the Brazilian on a loan basis.
Adriano, who called off a move to China earlier this month has been on the market but Milan only want to sell him, not on a loan basis.
The ex-Shakhtar Donetsk striker has scored 5 goals in 21 appearances for AC Milan this term.
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Use the hashtag #IFDLiveblog on Twitter to discuss the latest rumors
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According to Alfredo Pedulla, Chievo are discussing the possibility of signing Ternana center-back Biagio Meccariello and believe they can come to an agreement in the upcoming days. The 24-year old is likely to not renew his contract with Ternana. Should Chievo close out a deal with him, it will be his first experience playing in Serie A. Empoli are also believed to be tracking the center-back.
Meccariello has played in 12 games across all competitions for Ternana this season. He spent the last 4 seasons at the club since his signing from Fidelis Andria in 2012.
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It had not been the season the club had envisioned, the expected promotion attempt had never materialised and the club was set to be facing into another year of third division football. For some another year in Lega Pro is seen in a positive light but the Tigri are not one of them.
Cremonese are by no means a big name in calcio but it is a club that has spent a vast chunk of its history in Serie B. They have also gate crashed Serie A on a number of occasions most notably in the late 80’s early 90’s.
Those days sadly are long gone and on this particular Saturday the Cremona team bus was pulling itself up outside the Stadio Carlo Speroni rather than the San Siro. Their opponents, Pro Patria, season had been going even worse as the club struggled to wriggle itself from the relegation mire, something that in the end would only be achieved by the bankruptcy of Monza and Venezia.
For once though on this overcast afternoon in front of 923 paying spectators the Bustocchi showed what they were capable of doing. As they outplayed Cremonese over the 90 minutes earning a well-deserved 3-1 win.
With the vast majority of the small crowd shuffling off home with smiles on their faces, one man made his way from the dugout to the dressing room rather less pleased. Little did this man know that less than a year later he would go from managing in front of less than 1000 people to being lauded for the work he is doing in Serie A.
Marco Giampaolo was born on August 2nd 1967 in Bellinzona, Switzerland. It would be in the coastal Abruzzan town of Giulianova however where he would grow up and indeed start his football career. It would prove to be a rather unremarkable career spent in far lower reaches of the Italian professional game, mostly with his hometown club of Giulianova but also with the likes Licata and Gualdo.
Indeed, the highest he would ever rise was to Serie B with Fidelis Andria and that only lasted for one season in 1995/1996. In fact, it was his younger brother Federico where most of the footballing talent seemed to have trickled down to. As he experienced a rather more enviable career with the likes of Genoa, Pescara and Juventus, although he never actually played for the Old Lady.
Marco though was soon to find that his true calling in the sport was not on the pitch but rather off it. He was offered the position of Assistant manager with Pescara for the 2000/2001 and from there a burgeoning career blossomed.
The following season he would return home to Giulianova taking up the same role with the club as he had with the Delfini. Another year on and he was with Treviso where he continued his apprenticeship for two more seasons.
His big break would come in the 2004/2005 season when he was appointed manager of Serie B side Ascoli. This wouldn’t be Italy though if the appointment was not met with a bit of a caveat. Giampaolo did not have his full coaching licence and as such was not eligible for the position.
To get around this the club brought in Massimo Silva as the manager and gave Marco the official title of assistant although it would be him that was actually running the show. The Picchio would end the season in fifth spot but were beaten by Torino in the play-offs. Marco though would earn plenty of plaudits for how his side played.
Then in a remarkable twist of faith it emerged that Ascoli’s conquers Torino had been denied a place in Serie A due to the club’s shoddy finances. Ascoli in turn benefited by being plucked from Serie B and given their spot in Serie A.
Now the next season is one that is rather quickly forgotten about by Calcio fans as it was the year of Calciopoli. For Ascoli though it proved a rather successful campaign as the young and talented tactician guided his club to a very credible tenth spot.
This caught the eye of Cagliari who swooped in and appointed him to their hot seat for the following year. The Rossoblu at this time was under the ownership of Massimo Cellino one of the most famous manager eaters on the peninsula. Marco was about to find out that he was not the one to satisfy the owners appetite.
By December 2006 only five months into the job he was given the boot. He was recalled to the post in February of 2007 but sacked again in November of the same year.This did little to dent his reputation as one of Italy’s brightest up and coming tactician and soon enough he was handed a new job with Siena.
In his first season with the club he managed to keep Siena in the division, no mean feat in itself, but more impressively he did it be garnering a record points haul for the club. That summer (2009) rumours began to spread that Giampaolo was in contention for the Juventus job.
The Bianconeri were still struggling to get back to their very best after the whole Calciopoli affair and had recently sacked manager Claudio Ranieri. With the club looking to rebuild with a young Italian manager at the helm, Marco’s name was propelled to the forefront of the list.
In the end Marco would miss out on the job, with it being handed to former Juve player Ciro Ferrara. It would prove a disappointment to miss out on the chance of a life time yet it also showed how high a standing he was held in.
Sadly, for Marco that standing was about to hit the rocks. The start of the second season with the Robur was nothing short of a disaster and he was relieved of his duties before October was even out. The following May he took over at Sicilian club Catania. He still had enough goodwill in the bank and a reputation of playing good football that many expected him to bounce back.
That bounce never materialised and before a season was out Marco had been handed his P45 once again. With two dud seasons now on his CV Marco needed a good year if his reputation was not to plummet.
He was next appointed at Cesena and cutting the story short, it went very poorly. Lasting only ten matches, achieving the lowest points per game total of his career.
The succession of failures had actually hit so bad that it would not be for nearly two years before he was handed another chance in the game, with Brescia in Serie B. Things however could not have possibly gone worse at the club.
His appointment was met with distain by the fans who clamoured for his predecessor. Not to long after that he handed in his resignation which was rejected by the club.
Giampaolo though had made up his mind and promptly went AWOL, failing to turn up for training. Even his brother Federico stated that he could not get hold of him as his phone was turned off. Three days later he finally resurfaced back in Giulinova. His contract was then promptly rescinded.
He maintains that it was all a misunderstanding and that he was not suffering from depression at the time as had been suggested.
For all intents and purposes Marco’s career was over at the highest level he now looked just unemployable. Indeed, he came dangerously to stepping away from the game altogether and admits he would have done so if he had not been offered the job at Cremonese.
The half a year in Lega Pro rejuvenated him as he clawed the Grigirossi up to a more respectable position. Even so it was a big surprise when he was plucked to replace the Napoli bound Maurizio Sarri.
It has however proven an inspired move so far by Empoli. As the club sit in the dizzying heights of eighth. Further to that they have done it all whilst playing some attractive football. He may never get that Juventus job he came so close to but Marco Giampaolo’s career which was dead has been reborn.
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After the cancelled deal between Luiz Adriano and one of the free spending Chinese clubs, Milan have been looking to offload the forward to a new destination.
The strange story picked up even further after Adriano started against Alessandria in the Coppa Italia. But now Milan may have found a potential suitor in the Bundesliga.
Schalke 04 is in for the Brazilian attacker. The issue is the formula, says Gianluca Di Marzio. Milan doesn’t like what the Germans offered, a loan with a right to buy.
The Rossoneri want to sell him full stop, and isn’t taking into consideration other proposals. For the moment, Milan is waiting on new offers and with only 3 days to go in the mercato, it’s tough to say whether one will arrive or not.
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First Guidolin, now Paloschi. The Welsh side continues to Italianize itself.
Swansea City completed the signing of 26 year old Italian striker Alberto Paloschi from Chievo Verona. The AC Milan youth-product will get his chance to shine in the Barclays Premier League with one of Italy’s finest tacticians, Francesco Guidolin.
The club today released an official statement addressing the move.
““Swansea City have completed the signing of Chievo striker Alberto Paloschi for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.The 26-year-old, who will wear the number nine shirt, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal at the Liberty Stadium.He becomes the club’s first senior arrival of the January transfer window and will link up with Head Coach Francesco Guidolin, who he worked with during his time at Parma.Paloschi began his career with Italian giants AC Milan, making his senior debut in February 2008 under then-manager Carlo Ancelotti.”
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It’s almost done for the transfer of Barba to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, who have changed their offer to a loan to an obligation to buy after 10 appearances. Now Barba will have to make less than 10 appearances in order for the automatic buyout clause to be activated.
Empoli have been steadfast on not selling their players in January, but Barba seems ready to make the move abroad.
The Tuscans already have his replacement in hand, as the ex-Juventus and Cagliari defender Lorenzo Ariaudo will move to replace him. Currently, Ariaudo is at high-flying Sassuolo.
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The Frenchman has scored two goals in ten Serie A games this season, and The Rossoneri have the shock Premier League leaders that Niang is not for sale.
The proposed bid is understood to have been comprised in three parts. Milan would receive €10m immediately, another €5m in June and an additional €1m if The Foxes qualify for next season’s Champions League.
“Milan don’t want to sell M’Baye because they have a lot of confidence in him,” Niang’s agent Moussa N’Diaye told British newspaper The Guardian.
“He is doing well and everything is good for him in Italy so they have rejected the interest. It’s good for him that English clubs are taking an interest in his career but at the moment he is happy to stay.”
Niang arrived at the San Siro from Caen in 2012 and has since had loan spells at Montpellier and Genoa. The player’s current contract runs until 2019.
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Some notable absentees are the injuries Alessandro Florenzi, Lucas Digne and Vassilis Torosidis who will be sidelined due to muscular problems. With the absence of Florenzi and Digne we can see El Shaarawy maybe get his first start after recently coming over from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco
Goalkeepers: Lobont, Szczesny, De Sanctis
Defenders: Rudiger, Castan, Maicon, Gyomber, Emerson, Manolas, Zukanovic
Midfielders: Nainggolan, Pjanic, De Rossi, Keita, Vainqueur, Ucan
Attackers: Dzeko, Totti, Salah, El Shaarawy, Sadiq
Probable lineup : Szczesny – Rudiger, De Rossi, Manolas – Torosidis, Pjanic, Vainqueur, Nainggolan, Digne – Salah, Dzeko
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According to La Gazetta dello Sport, Roma-owned Luca Mazzitelli, currently on loan at Brescia, is wanted by at least four Serie A clubs following his performance in Serie B this season. Sassuolo, who are known to sign blossoming Italian talents, want to win the sweepstakes for the young midfielder. The Neroverde already signed Roma’s former Primavera captain Lorenzo Pellegrini last summer for €1.2 milliom and could offer Mazzitelli a similar proving ground in the top flight.
Sampdoria have recently thrown their name into the hat for the 20-year old at the request of manager Vincenzo Montella. The former Catania and Fiorentina manager is familiar with Mazzitelli, having previously coached him during his time in Roma’s Settore Giovanile (youth sector). Furthermore, in the last week, Genoa and Bologna have also begun tracking the youngster’s performances at Brescia.
Mazzitelli is being valued at around €2.5 to €3 million and any possible transfer for him will likely only occur in June. Roma are reported to want a buy-back clause inserted as they do not want to risk losing control of a player with a very bright future ahead of him. In 20 games so far with this season Brescia, he has scored once and collected four assists. He spent last season on loan at Lega Pro club Sudtirol, playing 24 games in Girone A.
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Sassuolo’s transfer policy is a simple one: Invest in young players who have the potential to grow at the club and keep them competitive for years to come. After securing both Stefano Sensi and Marcello Trotta, the neroverdi have signed Rogerio. The Brazilian winger arrived in Italy today to undergo his medicals. After his medical, he will join the club.
Sassuolo paid 1.5 million euros for the player and worked together with Juventus to sign him, as they have done on many occasions in the past as seen with Simone Zaza and Domenico Berardi among others.
Rogerio is supposed to be a highly-rated Brazilian talent that Juventus will keep a keen eye on. If his development goes as planned, a move to the bianconeri should not be discounted.
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As announced on Bologna’s official website, FC Montreal players Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Marco Dominguez, Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla and David Choinière will participate in a training camp at the Serie A side from February 13th to February 27th. Bologna’s Technical Director, Pantaleo Corvino, commented on the experience for the four Canadian youth players:
”The arrival of these four players, coming from a different football school and culture then ours, is an opportunity for them and our players to meet. It is an enrichment, both on a technical level and on a human level.”
Meilleur-Giguère, Tabla and Choinière were members of the Impact’s U18 squad last season and will compete in their first USL season with FC Montreal this year. Dominguez will be entering his second USL season after playing in 21 games last year, scoring and assisting once.
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Diego Perotti has been on the market this entire month, and at one point is was even reported that he had said goodbye to his teammates at Genoa.
However, El Shaarawy was signed by Roma, and despite Iturbe and Gervinho being offloaded, things became complicated for Perotti’s move to Roma.
Roma still wants to conclude the deal quickly for a loan to buy, but they now need Genoa to clarify their position on the winger.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, it’s not done there. Milan and Leicester and waiting in the wing to see what happens and if they will intervene. The last hours of the mercato will be volatile for Perotti, as now it is largely unknown where he will end up.
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According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Zukanovic’s move to Roma is now official. The player arrives to Trigoria last night to embark on his new adventure. This is the club’s official statement about the signing,:
“The club has acquired Sampdoria’s Ervin Zukanovic on a temporary basis until the 30th of June 2016 for a fee of 1.2 million euros. The agreement includes an option to make the move permanent ahead of the 2016-2017 season for a fee of 2.8 million euros.”
The 28-year-old has made 16 appearances in all competitions for Sampdoria this season scoring three goals.
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According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Fabio Quagliarella is really close to joining Sampdoria from Torino. Another player who will be joining the club shortly is Hellas Verona’s Jacopo Sala. Going the other way, however, is the blucerchiati’s Pawel Wszolek as well as Pedro Pereira on loan.
After losing Eder to Inter and Zukanovic to Roma, Sampdoria didn’t waste any time replacing them. In addition to Quagliarella and Sala, Vincenzo Montella’s side have already secured Andrea Ranocchia and Dodo from Inter. With the side hovering dangerously over the relegation zone, the need for reinforcements was there. Massimo Ferrero didn’t waste any time and has already signed a number of established Serie A players.
When it comes to Sala, the versatile midfielder was once one of Italy’s brightest prospects. After an impressive first season with Hellas Verona, the midfielder failed to replicate that form. At Sampdoria, he will have ample opportunities to prove his worth.
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Napoli has been searching for a new left sided player since Zuniga left, and Vasco Regini seems to fit the bill.
The Partenopei pushed hard for Lorenzo Tonelli of Empoli, but the Tuscan side refused an offer of €10 million for the defender, but all in vain.
After being turned down for Tonelli, the Napoli directorship plotted a move for Regini of Sampdoria, which progressed quickly.
Regini, 25, has played in 16 games so far this season for Sampdoria, although now it looks like he will be moving to the south.
This deal could go official today if the player passes the exams.
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Inter announced today on their official site the long awaited move of Eder to the Nerazzurri.
Below is the official statement made by the club, welcoming the now Ex-Sampdoria striker.
MILAN – F.C. Internazionale would like to announce that Eder Citadin Martins has signed for the club from U.C. Sampdoria.
Eder joins on a two-year loan deal which could be made permanent upon the fulfilment of certain conditions. He has signed a contract with Inter running until 30 June 2020.
“I’m delighted to be here. I’ve worked hard for years to play for a big club like Inter,” said Eder as he put pen to paper.
CEO Michael Bolingbroke welcomed Eder to Inter on behalf of the entire club: “We’re delighted to welcome Eder to the team. He’s a top quality player with international experience. He’ll give a new dimension to our play and represents another option for Roberto Mancini.”
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Leo Lacroix, is the name of the hour for Inter, currently playing for Swiss side Sion but seems to be on the way out.
In the end of the summer window, Roma and Inter tried to sign Lacroix but the deal fell apart. Now Inter is very interesting and are deciding on if they can close the deal or not. They are also considering the costs and whether to do a purchase or a loan to buy, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Negotiations could be concluded on the basis of a loan with an obligation to buy.
Lacroix is the newest name for the Nerazzurri defense.
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According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Newcastle have now emerged as a potential destination for the Ivorian forward. After failing to reach an agreement with Fenerbahçe, the English side decided to make an advance for Doumbia. The striker is said to be a big fan of moving to Newcastle. The Premier League side, on the other hand, have already made an offer for him and are in constant talks with Roma. In the next few days, it’s entirely possible that the 28-year-old will make his way to England.
Before returning to Roma from his loan spell with CSKA Moscow, the player made 19 appearances in all competitions scoring nine goals and registering five assists. Now that his loan spell has expired, the giallorossi are looking for new suitors as he reportedly doesn’t fit in Luciano Spalletti’s plans.
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According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Antonio Nocerino has been in discussions with MLS club DC United however both parties are far from an agreement. The interest does not stop there for the central midfielder as another MLS club Orlando City and La Liga’s Getafe have entered into the discussion for him.
Getafe may be DC United’s real challenger for Nocerino‘s signature. The Spanish side are moving forward quickly, having made contact with the Italian in the last few hours. It will be up to him to decide which destination will be best for his future.
Nocerino appeared only twice for Milan this season in Serie A, following loan stints at Parma, Torino and West Ham.
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