Holiday Odds and Ends

By: Martha | August 16th, 2007

Arturo It’s a holiday in Italy, which seems to mean that everyone turns off their cell phones and goes to the beach, where they somehow manage to avoid talking about transfers or engaging in any sort of scandalous behavior. Which sounds nice and all, but it doesn’t do us much good, does it?

•According to a girl who claims to have Sven Goran Eriksson’s old cell phone number (I am not making this up), Inter recently offered him Cesar on loan. Via a text message. Of course they did.

•Torino are trying to tempt Fiorentina into a co-ownership deal for young striker Arturo Lupoli, who arrived from Arsenal just this summer. Desperate for firepower now that David Di Michele (who has been playing in preseason matches, oddly enough) will be out for the three months, the Turin club have reportedly offered €1 million, and presumably would expect the 20-year-old to play with them this season.

•In a move that surprises no one, Lazio are claiming innocence for the crowd trouble and racist chants at their Champions League match on Tuesday. Because, you know, THEY didn’t do anything, it was just those nasty fans. Why, who could possibly control them?

•Jean-Alain Boumsong seems determined to spend this season sitting on his ass at Juventus, counting his £1.6 million salary instead of playing, because he’s steadfastly refusing to go anywhere on loan. He’s tying to pressure the club into selling him outright but, really, what footballer doesn’t want to play somewhere? It’s not as if he wouldn’t have gotten paid had he accepted a loan to Lyon, or something.

•Sunderland are the latest club to be associated with Juve’s Giorgio Chiellini, who Claudio Ranieri recently insisted would be going nowhere. According to very vague sources, the English club will table a significant offer, and attempt to woo the player himself by more than doubling the salary he currently earns. Hopefully Juve will turn down the deal just to spite the cocky little bastard.

•Napoli may or many not be interested in Porto’s Helder Postiga, but they definitely want Juve’s Manuele Blasi — Monaco may be throwing a monkey wrench into that deal, though.

Some Related Serie A Posts:

Category: Champions League, Fiorentina, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Rumors & News, Serie A

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Martha

Plus, Marco, the story originated in The Sun, which we all know is a bastion of reliable journalism. It's GOTTA be true. (:
Marco

That Eriksson cellphone story might in fact be true Martha.

Kwsport article

Gazzetta article

They don't tend to report these kinds of unconfirmed rumours in Italy. Right? :D
Fred

If Lupoli is not like G. Rossi, then who can play as the second striker except Mutu? We can't expect Mutu to play every UEFA Cup, Italian Cup and leauge match.

I remember I read somewhere that Lupoli was confident he was not worse than G. Rossi. That's why I thought they are alike.
Francesco

Lupoli is a prima punta or out and out striker, so he is not like G. Rossi. He is more of a Pippo Inzaghi type striker, but he has better technique on the ball.
Fred

It was reproted Reginaldo wanted first team football, which Viola will fail to satisfy him.

It is said Lupoli is like G. Rossi. Do you guys know what type of forward he is. I tried to watch his soccer at youtube. But I didn't figure out.
Francesco

well tmc, I think that's why the Italians came up with co-ownership. All these clubs were constantly loaning players out and getting no profit from it. So they figured why not come up with this co-ownership idea where it sort of works as a loan but you're getting a good amount of money as well.
tmc

This Lupoli situation is why the Italian system of co-ownership is so interesting. I do like the idea that a club taking a player on loan should have to put up some money in return for securing the player's services.

It would be good for Fiorentina to make sure Lupoli gets playing time this year on a regular basis. But, I don't think they need to loan him out to do this. Right now the depth chart at striker is Pazzini, Mutu, Vieri and then Lupoli. With all of the games Fiorentina has, I'm sure he'll get to play his share of matches. Plus, if they do loan him out/co-own him to Torino, the 4th forward spot will be occupied by players even younger and less experienced than Lupoli (Lepiller or Di Carmine - a combined 2 first team appearnces between them).

Hopefully they don't do this, but who knows. I didn't see the sale of my man Reginaldo coming either.
Sofia

dear god please make boumsong go to lyon before the realize who he is...