A Pair of Deals For 30-Somethings (Maybe) Nearing Closure

By: Martha | January 8th, 2008

Maniche is blue Bright and early this morning, it was reported that Torino had more or less given up on their dream of bringing Cristiano Lucarelli back to help them score some damn goals, and were turning their eyes elsewhere. It’s not surprising, then, that today’s La Gazzetta tells us that Parma, one of Toro’s two main rivals for the big man’s services, are on the verge of solidifying an agreement with Shakhtar, and that Lucarelli is due to arrive in Italy any day now.

According to the paper, Parma — currently just four points above the drop zone — will pay Shakhtar €2 million for a five-month loan, and will have the option of paying an additional €4 million to make the move permanent in June. That total cost is about €2 million less than what Shakhtar paid for Lucarelli last summer, but if Parma end up wanting to keep him, the Ukrainian side surely won’t miss his massive, nearly €4 million/season salary. (Parma, however, might balk a bit at it, since it’s more than double what any of their players earns right now.)

Meanwhile, up the E35 in Milan (thank you, Google maps), negotiations are continuing to bring Maniche to Inter. It was first reported this morning that the deal would be finished by afternoon, but things have gotten a bit more complicated, and it’s now said to be a matter of days, not hours. Depending on which rumors you believe, the clubs are either going to agree a loan with the option to buy, or Atletico Madrid are asking for more than Inter want to pay, and talks have been put on hold for 24 hours while the Nerazzurri go bother Juve about Almiron.

Even if Inter try to play hardball for a few hours, it seems likely this deal will get done. Maniche wants to leave and he wants Inter (it’s being reported he’s already refused lucrative moves to Spurs and Middlesborough), while Atletico Madrid obviously would love to get something for him rather than paying him to rot in the stand for five months. And, as well all know, Inter need some bodies in their midfield, even if they are 30 and wide, and he’s got to be a cheaper option for them than Almiron (who Wikipedia right now says is about to go on loan to Olympiacos).