Barzagli in Battle With the Man
By: Martha | June 16th, 2007
Remember the sudden change of direction for Andrea Barzagli earlier this week? He seemed destined for Fiorentina, only to turn around and start trudging towards Juve, with no explanation for the change of plan.
Well, though Barzagli himself is still on vacation (in New York, for the stalkers among us you), his agent yesterday gave an interview to violanews.com in which he revealed the Florence club as his client’s first choice. (In other words, “If it were for he it would come of race to the Fiorentina.”) According to agent Claudius Orlandini, the only reason Barzagli isn’t a Fiorentina player right now is Palermo: Maurizio Zamparini is reportedly pushing the defender towards Juventus, ostensibly because they’re offering money and young players, whereas the Viola deal would be cash-only.
Really, it’s hard to know what the truth is here. Fiorentina seem an obvious destination for Barzagli, both because they’re awesome and because he’s from that area; he’s got no personal reason to go to Juventus.* On the other hand, though, Orlandini was talking to a Viola website — no matter what the reality of the situation, it’s good politics to tell them how great their club is and how desperate his client is to join them, right? I’d like to see him talk to a Juve news site next, just to see what that conversation would be like.
For their part, Palermo are either being smart negotiators or turning entirely evil. If Juve really are offering quality young players, Zamparini would be nuts not to pursue that option. It’s hard not to suspect, though, that he’s punishing Barzagli here, blocking his path to the club he wants to join because of the player’s honest-but-ill-advised attack on Palermo’s treatment of Eugenio Corini. Whatever his motivation, Zampa is reportedly in talks with Juve now.
*As always, thanks to Lisa (AKA The Font of Palermo Knowledge) for the tidbit about Barzagli’s hometown, as well as the early info on the press conferences.
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Comments
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Another reason Palermo want to push him to Juventus is that Juventus would put Fabrizio Miccoli on the platter, and new Palermo coach Stefano Colantuono wants to flank Amauri with two quick support strikers which would be Edison Cavani and Fabrizio Miccoli (I guess that means the end of David Di Michele…)
Posted from
United States
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I saw that Miccoli was also being discussed, but it wasn’t clear to me that he would be part of the Barzagli deal, but rather was another one that might happen. Are the two connected, then? I missed that, thanks.
Posted from
Portugal -
martha. zampa and co refuse to do any dealings with fiorentina. for the toni reason, that gyspy-game reason, and many other reasons. so good luck drea.
Posted from
Canada -
I’d somehow blocked out the gypsy thing, Rose — thanks for the reminder. What’s the story with the Toni deal, though? I mean, I know he went from pink to purple, but I don’t remember any unpleasantness at the time — what (other massive thing) am I blocking out?
Posted from
Portugal -
I would love to see Barzagli come “home” but Zampa is a real thorn in the side of that deal. I don’t think the Toni sale has anything to do with it but I do think the last game between Fiorentina and Palermo (when the Viola scored with a Palermo player on the ground) will have played a part. Also, Fiorentina are a direct rival in the UEFA Cup this year. Finally, I don’t think Zampa and Della Valle are the greatest of pals…
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Ah, it all makes a little more sense now. I was also unaware that Miccoli was being discussed as part of the Barzagli transfer.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
it’s not so much that toni left, it’s how he left. fiore just kinda dangled the contract infront of him and didn’t leave for anytime to make negotiations through it. zampa wants to avoid missing out on barganing. and like ginkers said, they are direct rivals, not only in uefa, but in serie a as well. you don’t want to give your assests away to your enemy.
Posted from
Canada
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