Inter Make a Trouble-Free(ish) Signing! Maybe.

RT, I think Schuster is planning on employing a 4-3-3 often, that's why I wouldn't be surprised. 2 world class guys for each position isn't that unrealistic, esp for the galacticos. (Plus a few of those guys can play on the wings) And they have to go ahead and replace those Kaka dreams with someone right? Ibra is certainly not far off.

And this was post Suazo. FT is one of those guys that doesn't impress for a ST if you look at his stat sheet but he really does do much much more than score goals. He is high quality (40m quality is another question).

As far as 16 year olds go, production means next to nothing. It's then athletic ability that matters. Especially the taller/bigger kids. It takes longer to grow into their bodies. I wouldn't worry about him, I've seen him. He's going to be phenomenal.

Eh, Inter never have enough strikers. But...RVN, Raul, Higuain, Saviola, Robinho, AND Ibra? Crazy, yet I wouldn't put it past Real...

On the other hand, it could be Torres was intended as a centennial splash, though I'm not sure I rate him as highly as that. Still probably would've been bad news for Adriano, as Martha says. Then again, I'd seen this report as well, but didn't catch the alleged timetable of the bid? Before or after Suazo was official?

Regardless, I do think Inter would like to begin reducing Crespo's role. If he's starting nearly every week again, it probably means Suazo and Adriano (yet again) have disappointed.

Oh and between injuries and squad competition, Slavkovski had a surprisingly unproductive year with the Primavera. At this point, Mario Balotelli might be the hotter prospect. And yes, this 16 year old kid already has his own website:

http://www.mariobalotelli.it/

It was a direct quote, so take it for what it's worth. But I do know Moratti made a 26m GBP bid for FT last summer and was rebuffed, and we all know that Moratti did make a bid this summer (even FT said so). So I'd believe it.

You make a good point about Adriano/Crespo but FT, who was The Guy at Atletico, is not going to take kindly to sitting on the bench for 1/2 the games while he waits for Crespo to fade (and do you remember his form at the end of last year? Fade? Hells no). Nor would he take kindly to being one of 5 rotating strikers in largely a 2 man system, even if Adriano left. Even Mancini must know that.

Anyway, they already have Crespo's replacement, Swedish phenom Goran Slavkovski. Dubbed 'Zlatan v 2.0' Which absolutely frightens me to no end. And I think Adriano will be staying, it's like an abusive relationship. they know they should part ways but they just can't make that final step.

I wouldn't trust anything Atletico's president says. Nothing against him specifically, although Tim at La Liga Loca has detailed some of his...interesting behaviour in the past, it's just that most La Liga presidents can't be trusted to be honest. Including ours.

I didn't hear that, was it from a fairly reliable source? Or, like, Marca or something? That's scary, if it really happened and in fact implies something like you're suggesting.

Though couldn't the other side of the coin be wanting to dump Adriano, if possible, and planning ahead for phasing Crespo out as he ages? I mean, what Inter have now up top will work just fine, thanks, but who would say no to replacing Adriano and Crespo with Torres?

Mad Martha, I forgot to ask a few days ago if you saw that statement from Atletico Madrid's president that a bid from Moratti had dwarfed Liverpool's for Fernando Torres. FT made the decision to move to Pool and they respected his decision because of the loyalty to his hometown club. This is very strange considering Pool paid out an absurd 30m+ euros (36m I think - including Luis Garcia's valuation). So Moratti was offering 40m+ for ANOTHER striker?

I'm thinking something is going down in Milan. Cruz and Recoba might be out, but you don't replace them with Fernando Torres. Especially not with Crespo, Z, Suazo and Adriano on the depth chart. I wonder if Zlatan's contract negotiations aren't going so well and Madrid is really coming in with that 50m euro bid as rumored a few weeks ago. Or unless they're planning on playing a 3-2-5.

Strange happenings.

He played for Lazio.. enough said..

Also, if that swap does happen, could that be the absolute worst swap of official websites ever?

I'm assuming they'd have to buy him out first, which would sooth everyone's ego because Moratti wouldn't actually have to write a check to Roma, just Ternana. Then send over a player that has never played for him. Roma could get a player who was actually taken directly from Lazio, which appeals to their desires for revenge as well as get rid of a player who doesn't want to play for them.

Serie A clubs are run by a bunch of 5 year olds.

And don't tell me you'd be surprised if teams in Italy offered up players they didn't actually own. Especially Pietro Leonardi.

If it is just a loan, and should this kid get stuck on the bench and complain, Inter can always terminate the loan in January. Seems a relatively low-risk gamble.

And how Inter could offer him to Roma without actually buying him is a bit confusing. Unless there's just more to the story...

It was inevitable:

Inter to offer Luis Jimenez for Chivu.

Fucking hell no.

Jesus. Did you look at the pictures, RT? He definitely thinks quite highly of himself. Though so does Ibra, so it could work in theory.

The difference, of course, is that Ibra is always first choice; not so much for Jimenez, at least not right away. We'll see if he can handle sitting on the bench.

This guy certainly isn't lacking in ego. Check out his site (Spanish only). Be sure to note the theme song he has selected for himself.

http://www.elmagojimenez.cl/

He only started 9 (comparison, Chippen started 17) and he was mainly a sub.

He's talented, no doubt but he just never really impressed me. Also, there's that whole Lazio uniform thing too. (Biased? Maybe? Nah.)

Whatever is was, he still sounds like someone I want far far away from Roma. Alienating yourself from 2 clubs isn't exactly a great character reference.

He made a fair number of appearances in the second half of the season (when he was there), though I don't know how many were starts. I clearly see all the wrong games, because he looked good in the handful I saw.

And link me up with the early contact stuff, I want in on the conspiracy!

I definitely think if there is an Inter investigation this could become Trouble Not-So-Free(ish). Inter contacted him a looooooong time ago before he had refused to play for Lazio again.

Luckily, he never impressed me and didn't even play much at Lazio (which means you really suck).