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.