Jumat, 24 Juli 2015

Juventus Squad for First Pre-Season Friendly

Juventus are set to take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly in St. Gallen, Swtizerland.

Head coach Massimiliano has announced his squad to partake in the game, with many new faces including new arrivals set to make their debuts.

Kwadwo Asamoah has remained in Torino in an effort to recovery from his knee injured that he suffered last season.

The List:

1 Buffon, 3 Chiellini, 4 Caceres, 6 Pogba, 7 Zaza, 8 Marchisio, 9 Morata, 14 Llorente, 15 Barzagli, 17 Mandzukic, 19 Bonucci, 20 Padoin, 21 Dybala, 24 Rugani, 25 Neto, 26 Lichtsteiner, 27 Sturaro, 28 Khedira, 33 Evra, 34 Rubinho, 38 Audero, 41 Clemenza, 42 Parodi, 43 Tello, 44 Cerri , 45 Vadala

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IFD Special Report: Andrea Pirlo’s American Dream

Andrea Pirlo was officially presented as a New York City Football Club player at a press conference in Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, and despite all the talk of MLS being a “retirement league” or Pirlo being at the end of his career, the legendary playmaker strongly asserted his determination to continue performing at an elite level and take his role here as seriously as any other. Our New York correspondent was present in the press room.

Pirlo cut an elegant figure in his first official New York press conference, finely dressed and with a calm and dignified demeanor. He spoke quietly, in a thoughtful, measured Italian quickly rendered into cheerful American English by his interpreter. His intelligent dark eyes occasionally flickered around the room, glancing from one face to another, but otherwise his expression revealed none of his inner thoughts.

The reputation of the MLS seemed to be the main thing on the minds of most of the journalists in attendance. Conventional wisdom holds that the United States is merely a “retirement league”, a sort of circus in which aging European superstars ply what’s left of their trade as shadows of their former selves for large paychecks and extravagant lifestyles. Many of the initial questions from journalists hinted at that reputation, with one asking Pirlo directly if the fact that his salary would be lower than original reports indicated showed a “true desire to play for New York City FC.” Pirlo replied with equal directness, “Money has never been the point for me, what matters is the game. I’ve always been able to play for love of the game and not for the salary.”

“I’m not the kind of guy who likes to end up on magazine covers,” continued Pirlo when asked if gaining fame on a new continent was part of the reason for his move. “I didn’t come to America as a tourist or to be part of an advertising campaign, I came here to play football. This is what I do, this is what I enjoy doing and this is what I do well. Of course I’d like to help MLS grow and become better known, but my responsibility is to play football as well as I can.”

“Whenever anyone writes about you, your age inevitably comes up,” asked another journalist. “How do you respond to that, as far as how much your age will affect how you will do?”

“Well, unfortunately I can’t turn back time, my age is what it is,” replied Pirlo dryly. “I’m not that old, and my desire to play is as strong as it’s always been, my desire to give my best to the team. Besides, I don’t think some of the other players are all that much younger than me, so if people want to keep talking about my age, let’s just let them talk.”

Pirlo’s message was clear: For him, this is not a retirement tour, and he is not here to cash in. Unlike other European stars of years past – David Beckham being an oft-cited example – Pirlo currently has no intention of assuming the role of publicity figure, business partner or “ambassador to MLS”. Like Giorgio Chinaglia before him – or, perhaps, Sebastian Giovinco in the present day – Pirlo considers this move not as a step down, but just another step forward in his life as a footballer, a new adventure and a new team, to be taken every bit as seriously as any other.

Following the press conference, the avowedly young at heart Pirlo visited some kindred spirits, making a surprise appearance at a training session of the Downtown United youth soccer academy. The club is affiliated with NYCFC, and all the children had been given commemorative jersey t-shirts with “Pirlo 21” emblazoned on the back, but none of them had been told that a special visitor was arriving.
Pirlo strolled calmly onto the pitch, kicked a few lazy passes back and forth with one of the coaches, then suddenly one little boy’s voice rang out: “Oh my God, you guys, Pirlo is really here!”
“Pirlo!” “Look, it’s really Pirlo!” “He really came!” The excitement quickly reached levels only achievable by large groups of kids and Pirlo’s stoic poker face from the press conference vanished, replaced by a delighted smile as he lobbed a few of his famous free-kicks at a lanky preteen goalkeeper and enjoyed a few rounds of monkey-in-the-middle with the youngest players. The afternoon ended with a group photo staged with Pirlo in the midst of all the youngsters, some of the bravest of whom went in for hugs and high-fives. Pirlo by that point looked like a kid again himself, as if he were at the very beginning of his career, full of the excitement and pride of a new adventure and the joy of a life spent chasing one’s dreams.

Andrea Pirlo visits a children's soccer practice at Pier 40 in lower Manhattan.

Andrea Pirlo visits a children’s soccer practice at Pier 40 in lower Manhattan.

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Is it time for Mario Balotelli to come Stateside?

IFD takes a closer look at how a move to the MLS for Mario Balotelli could be just the thing to restart his career.

Mario Balotelli has reached a crossroad in his career. The 24-year old Italian has lived a full life in calcio, experiencing both glory and anguish.

Coming the 2011-12 season in which he won the Premiere League title with Manchester City and was the driving force for Italy in reaching the Euro final it seemed as though Balotelli was poised to take the next step in his career, but that was not the case. Balotelli had falling out with manager Roberto Mancini, who brought him to City to give him a fresh chance away from the criticism at Inter.  He was sent back to his former city, but this time playing for rival AC Milan.

Balotelli’s time at Milan can be described as successful, but not without drama. He transferred in January of 2013 and in that half season was a force, scoring 12 goals in 13 games. He was less successful in 2013/14 and was once again sold to a Premiere League side, Liverpool. Despite high praise from Liverpool manager Brenden Rodgers there were few opportunities for first team action. Following the recent signings of Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke along with his support of former teammate Raheem Sterling it would appear that there is no room for Balotelli within the club.

Where does that leave Balotelli? What is his next step? In my eyes the right decision is to come to the land of opportunity and live the American Dream.

Major League Soccer has established itself in the United States, celebrating 20 years of existence and recently signing the most lucrative television contract in league history. With the increased revenue there has also been in influx of talent from across the globe. The MLS has historically provided former greats a place to play out their twilight years in coveted cities at a good salary as designated players.  If Balotelli were to come to the MLS this would finally give the league a young star who has proven himself at the highest level of competition and still has the potential to improve.

Italian players are not foreign to the MLS, and with players like Sebastian Giovinco and Andrea Pirlo playing there has been increased coverage of the league abroad, especially in Italy. La Gazzetta dello Sport publishes content frequently on the MLS and that will surely increase once Pirlo begins to play for NYCFC. Balotelli moving to the MLS will help his cause much more than spending time on the bench at Liverpool. Antonio Conte has previously stated that playing in the MLS is “an opportunity that as a soccer player I would’ve taken immediately. I never had the experience overseas and it’s very formative.”

Balotelli is just what the MLS needs, a polarizing figure who has a lot to offer to the league. Most people have an opinion about Super Mario, be it positive or negative. His personality and style of play will likely be the topic of conversation on a regular basis, and keep the league top of mind in the eyes of the North American sports landscape.

A move to the MLS will be a mutually beneficial experience for both Balotelli and the league. He will once again get another fresh start, thousands of miles away from the aggressive journalists and critical pundits. He can focus on his craft and regaining a spot on the Italian National Team while improving his image in a new country. The league has been devoid of young DP superstar since inception and this one comes with a personality to boot. It is yet to be known what the next chapter in the Mario Balotelli saga is but I am hoping it takes place in the United States.

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Kamis, 23 Juli 2015

IFD Exclusive: NYCFC Coach on Pirlo: “We think this will be a perfect fit”

Italian Football Daily was present for the official presentation of midfielder Andrea Pirlo for NYCFC.

With the addition as distinctive as Andrea who has a distinctive style of play, are you looking at changing the tactical scheme of how NYCFC plays or is it more likely that Andrea will have to adapt to NYCFC?

“I think that it has always been our goal and objective to play a style that would really suit Andrea. I can tell you that we haven’t always achieved that goal in all our games this year, but it has been our directive and or objective to play a very much possession style game, a dominate game, a game where we are looking to dictate the tempo of the match. With somebody who happens to dictate the tempo of the match very well, we think this will be a perfect fit,” Kreis concluded.

MORE

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OFFICIAL: Carpi loan in Croatia International Bubnjic

Carpi has agreed to a deal with Udinese for the transfer of player Igor Bubnjic to the Biancorosso. The Croatian defender born in 1992 arrives at Carpi with the formula of a year long loan.

Bubnjic made 20 appearances with the Friuliani in all competitions (Serie A, TIM Cup, Europa League). In addition, he has two caps with the Croatia national side.

 

Past Record
2014-15 Udinese, Serie A, 6 appearances.
2013-14 Udinese, Serie A, 7 appearances.
2012-13 Slaven Belupo, Serie A (CRO), 25 appearances. 1 goal
2011-12 Koprivnica, Terza Divisione, 13 appearances. 2 goal
2011-12 Slaven Belupo, Serie A (CRO), 9 appearances. 1 goal

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Juventus’ Trip to Germany Can Only Go Right

By Patrick Stoll

Juventus have made a move into Germany. It is not the team, but rather the directors of the club. And they are not playing any matches, but are rather playing the game of the transfer window. And the way I see it, it can only go right for them.

The Juventus directors, including Giuseppe Marotta, flew to Germany early this week, with the intention of coming back with an addition to the Italian double-winning side. After the sale of Arturo Vidal to German giants Bayern Munich, the Bianconeri intend to fill his spot with a younger talent for the future.

There are three names that have been mentioned in the conversation of Juventus in Germany. One of them is Wolfsburg’s Belgian starlet Kevin De Bruyne. The 24-year-old moved to Germany in January 2014, after being pushed out at Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, and went ahead and set a record for the most assists in the Bundesliga last season with 20. He also put ten goals in the back of the net. He is a bright young star, and would surely add to Juventus’ roster.

The second name, and possibly the brightest and shiniest one of the bunch, is Bayern’s own Mario Götze. The 23-year-old German international, the hero of Germany’s 2014 World Cup win, moved to Bayern from rivals Borussia Dortmund after the 2012-2013 season, just after Dortmund lost to Bayern in the Champions League Final. He scored 15 goals last season in 48 appearances in all competitions, including nine goals in the Bundesliga. He is considered to be one of the world’s brightest young stars, as even German retired star Matthias Sammer said in 2010 that Gotze “is one of the best talents (Germany has) ever had… He’s an exceptional player, has good speed, is extremely creative, and has outstanding technical skills.” A midfield consisting of 23-year-old Gotze and 22-year-old Paul Pogba is one that people dream about, and that you can only find in FIFA games, but it could soon be a reality, with two future legends on the field.

The third and final possible solution in Juventus’ search for an attacking midfielder is Julian Draxler, the German international for Schalke 04. Draxler is just 21 years old, and is another player who is considered to be one of the world’s brightest young stars. The midfielder, who is mainly used as a winger, is reportedly Juventus’ first choice out of the three players, and would also be the cheapest. He played in just 15 games in the Bundesliga this past season with only two goals due to injuries, which have been an acknowledged concern. Regardless, he is rated highly around the world, not only by Juventus, and also has been linked to Arsenal and Manchester United recently.

Looking at the three, any one of the three can greatly help Juventus in their German blitz for an attacking midfielder. Gotze is more of a false nine, and can play on either wing or in the middle. Draxler has said that he is comfortable in the attacking midfield spot, but is mainly sent out by Schalke on the wing, which he also excels at. De Bruyne is another who can play on either wing thanks to his speed.

Starting with De Bruyne, it seems like he is the least likely to end up in black and white stripes come next season. He is the oldest of the bunch, and Juventus have been linked to the other two far more extensively. In addition, Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici was quoted a figure of at least €60 million. That is a hefty price for any player. Gotze was sold to Bayern for €37 million. On Tuesday it was reported that after seeing the heavy price tag for De Bruyne, Juventus would scratch him off their list, leaving either Gotze or Draxler to fill the spot of Vidal.

News also broke on Tuesday that Schalke allowed Juventus to talk with Draxler about joining the Turin club and negotiating terms for a potential contract. Draxler would be the cheaper option to Gotze, but would also be the younger one.

While Juventus have been given permission to negotiate with Draxler, the fee is not set yet, and neither is his potential contract. Juventus have offered €25 million for the no. 10, but Schalke have been reported to want about €10 million more than that. A fee of €35 million may just end up to be a bargain for one of the most promising young players in Europe, injury problems aside. Draxler also wants a salary in the range of €6-€8 million a year, more than double what he makes now.

It is also worth noting that Draxler had a release clause of €45 million, which expired in June. Schalke, who just finished 14th in the Bundesliga, is already looking for a replacement, since Draxler sees his time with the blue German side as finished. One name that keeps coming up for them is Xherdan Shaqiri, the former Bayern and current Inter player, who has been extensively linked with a move away from the Nerazzurri.

“Corriere dello Sport” reports that Draxler has already reached an agreement with Juventus, but Schalke and the Old Lady still need to work out details.

Frankly, this move makes all the sense in the world for Juve. It is not a bad price for a player who, as long as he stays healthy, could rise to one of the best in the world. He fits naturally in the no. 10 role in Coach Max Allegri’s 4-3-1-2 formation, and since Roberto Pereya is the only natural no. 10 they have right now, they are going after the right position at the right time. If you imagine the likes of Draxler feeding the ball to Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Simone Zaza and Alvaro Morata, that presents an attack force that is intimidating, powerful, creative, and very young (aged 21, 21, 29, 24, and 22, respectively).

Now consider if Juventus were to miss out on Draxler. It looks like it is becoming more and more likely every day, but if the club missed out on their number one target, they would move to possibly the best second target for a transfer we would ever see. Gotze is just 23. He is one of the best young players in the world. He has proven himself on the biggest stage in the sport. He has also expressed some displeasure with his lack of playing time under Pep Guardiola in the past. He would cost more than Draxler, and would most likely want higher wages, but he would fill that playmaking role just as well and naturally. He would also be able to play a little further back in the midfield, due to his all around talent and skill. He would pair with Pogba for a world-class creative duo that could remain world class for a long, long time.

Juventus have a hole to fill in their roster. They lost Andrea Pirlo, and have plugged that hole with Sami Khedira. They lost Carlos Tevez, and have replaced him with Zaza, Dybala, and Mandzukic. Now they have lost Vidal, and look set to replace him with Draxler, or even Gotze. Even if they were to end up with De Bruyne, Juventus would have made a great, talented, young addition to their club, as they look to the future and try to add to their already crowded trophy case. In the end, Juventus’ trip to Germany can only go right.

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Rabu, 22 Juli 2015

Suarez to Fiorentina: How the Spaniard fits into la viola lineup

Mario Suarez has been set to make his move from Atletico Madrid to Fiorentina, the day after la viola lost an International Champions Cup game to PSG.

After giving up Stefan Savic to the La Liga side, Fiorentina have made a deal to snag up Suarez to come to Firenze for a reported 15 million euros.

The departure of Savic leaves a huge gap in the defense that Fiorentina must address before the end of the mercato period. With rumors of Mario Gomez also set to leave the Italian side, Fiorentina have plenty of work to do by August.

Now with the addition of Suarez coming the other way from the Savic deal, he is a player that can expect to bring plenty of dimension to la viola’s lineup. Having spent most of his career at Atleti, moving his way up the youth ranks, the 28 year old defensive midfielder departs to seek more playing time, as last year he made only 11 starts and 20 appearances total for the rojiblancos.

Suarez’s success from Spain is impressive, as his last five-year spell at Atletico Madrid he won a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey Championship, a Spanish Supercup, two European Supercups, a Europa League title, and made an appearance in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2014.

At 28 years old, Suarez still has some of his best years ahead. His style of play is a mediano type, where he can sit in the midfield in front of the defenders to connect the flow of the game.

Suarez will also be set to play in next season’s Europa League after Fiorentina finished fourth last season. The Firenze club are picking up an experienced midfielder, in addition to him having a Europa League title already under his belt from 2012.

With Suarez’s addition to the squad, we will likely see new coach Paulo Sousa continue to play the 4-3-3 formation that was popular with Montella last season:

Alonso, Rodriguez, Basanta, Tomovic; Valero, Suarez, Joaquin; Rossi, Babcar, Bernardeschi

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