More Boring Odds and Ends (But at Least We Had an Armed Assualt Today)
By: Martha | July 11th, 2007
Really, the news today is nothing but PR crap: Adriano wants 20 goals (great, thanks for sharing), David Suazo never wanted to go anywhere but Inter (as if he’d pledge his love to Milan at this point), and the Tinkerman thinks managing Juve is like driving a Ferrari (super). If you’re still awake, here are some bits of news that have actually happened, desperately unexciting though most of them admittedly are:
•Palermo have sold central defender Cesare Bovo to Genoa, yanking him right out from under Torino who had hoped to retain the player, either by extending the loan he was on with them last season, or by buying him outright. You snooze you lose, Toro.
•Another day, another Lucarelli rumor: Today he’s wanted in Ukraine, by Shakhtar Donetsk. Um, yeah. Unless they’ve got a Qutar-style budget, that seems a profoundly unlikely move for any sane, productive Italian to make. Apart from everything else, imagine the weather!
•Everyone but Roma reportedly want Christian Wilhelmsson.
•Supremely pretty French winger Yoann Gourcuff has extended his deal with Milan through 2012; he signed a one year extension yesterday and turned 21 today. Perhaps there was some personal significance to pledging his life to the club while he was still a minor? The number of shots Gourcuff will be doing tonight aside, it’s a great move by Milan to wrap him up for as long as possible, because this kid will make a huge difference when he starts getting consistent time on the pitch.
•Things are looking a little grim up front in Palermo, where Amauri’s recovery from surgery is going much slower than anticipated. He’s now expected to miss the start of the season, so the Rosanero are suddenly in the market for a stiker or two.
•Reports everywhere indicate that Sven Goran Eriksson is set to make Rolando Bianchi his first signing at Man City. If the reports are true, getting the fourth-leading scorer in Serie A — and he’s only 24 years old — for less than £10 million is quite a coup for Eriksson. Must have been working those old Lazio connections to score a discount, or something. (Would those work with Reggina?)
•Thanks to his brand, spanking new deal with the club, Antonio Di Natale will be at Udinese through 2012. Why yes, he will be 35 years old by the time his contract runs out. Why do you ask?
•Don’t look now, but Calciopoli is just getting started.
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the amauri article is fake. let’s not worry ourselves silly over fake news.
Posted from
Canada
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Rose, I like how you think. I’m officially assuming Amauri is fully fit and training as we speak.
(And Sofia — are you surprised?)
Posted from
Portugal -
Shakhtar does have Qatar style-money. And some reports are saying he is likely headed there.
They could pay him exponentially more than anyone in Italia would be willing to. Remember that offer from Zenit St. Petersburg where he was offered 3m euros per but he turned it down for Livorno?
Some of those RPL/UPL teams do have insane amounts of (oil mostly) money. Plus, the quality of those leagues is increasing rapidly.
Posted from
United States -
ohh martha i am never surprised by any illeagal activity involving the moggi family…however i must admit i am slightly surprised that honest pimp lippi’s son is involved. i mean i knew he was but when i found out i was surprised….its sad, his father must be soooo ebarassed
Posted from
Canada -
This could get unboring real quick. Roma’s “closer” (the money woman) just left Trigoria 15 minutes ago to go somewhere, nobody knows where yet. For the record, she never get did on the plane to Barca last time after Chivu turned down their offer. So this obviously means something, it’s only 75 mins after Becali and Prade met.
I’m terrified.
Posted from
United States -
Wait, so those stories about her going to Spain before were false? How do you know this one is true, then? Maybe they’re just yanking your chain, pretending something is going on.
Posted from
Portugal -
She reportedly had purchased tickets to go to Spain that night/mmorning but never actually went when Chivu turned down Barca.
This one is from reports saying she is physically leaving Trigoria to head somewhere.
Posted from
United States -
Hopefully to the Saras offices in Milano to pick up a cheque and a player and drop off Chivu to Moratti!
Posted from
United States -
Yeah, that’s sort of looking like the only option these days. Though maybe she’s going to Florence to fetch a Bulgarian. Or Manchester, to pick up a Jersey kid!
Posted from
Portugal -
Paolo, have fun with Chivu (I’m fairly sure youre an Inter fan). He’s a great libero, but when he has to man-defend against world-class opposition in a big game, it could get ugly. Good guy for most Serie A games, though.
It’s become quite clear that Roma doesn’t rate him as highly as many others. They wouldn’t negotiate, just gave him a take-it or leave-it offer which they knew he wouldn’t accept.
If she’s not headed to Milan, it’s prolly Ukraine, Palermo (Rinaudo) or Reggio Calabri.
Posted from
United States -
Chivu’s playing out his contract, no Inter. Prade:
“Chivu ha fatto un danno incalcolabile alla Roma. Comunque rimarrà con noi e domenica partirà in ritiro con la Roma. Resterà in giallorosso fino al termine del contratto, nel 2008. L’Inter si è tirata indietro. Il rumeno rimarrà alla Roma, partirà domenica per il ritiro. Non andrà nè in Spagna nè a Milano”.
Hopefully they let him rot on the youth team. I wouldn’t be surprised esp with Prade saying he has done massive damage to the club.
Posted from
United States -
Thanks, Chris. It won’t surprise me if he ends up playing regularly, as if none of this had happened — it seems like that’s how stuff like this always shakes out, no matter how illogical it is.
Posted from
Portugal -
I feel accusing Chivu of ‘damaging’ Roma is going a bit far. So he’s not cooperating with their desire to cash him in with a year left on his deal? Roma signed his contract too, did they not? In the end, it feels as if Roma wanted Chivu’s transfer ($$$) even more than the player. I just don’t see how they can claim any moral high ground when they’re just as obligated as Chivu to see the deal out.
Anyway, I doubt this saga is truly over. Inter likely need to replace Grosso (even if just a reserve for Maxwell), and we’ve yet to see anyone linked besides Chivu.
Posted from
United States -
I think that’s been the underlying point, he’s more valuable to Roma as cash than he is as a player. They decided that a long time ago. I completely agree here as well. He’s a great and talented athlete, but he’s not a great defender. He’s sexy to the casual fan, but he makes a lot of mistakes. After watching him regularly for a few years, I can think of 15 CB’s I’d rather have. The reason Real/Barca wanted him was for his libero abilities, not as a stopper.
The damage is the fact that he and Moratti negotiated a contract behind Roma’s backs. That’s very illegal and will likely result in some sort of investigation/intervention. Without that, Chivu would’ve shut up and signed an extension or accepted the deal to Real. Moratti directly cost Roma 18m euros. That’s the damage. Chivu was directly involved in that.
Posted from
United States -
And, I just saw this, it looks like Roma is going make this a legal matter. Bravo, Rosella.
That’s bad news for Moratti, Becali and Chivu. Moratti especially, because now the Suazo situation will likely be drawn into this. I’d bet anything he doesn’t want people going through his closet.
You wanted some scandal, Martha? Looks like you might get it.
Posted from
United States -
Well, tapping-up players is an issue in itself. I’d prefer Inter didn’t do it, yet it does happen and I highly doubt Roma (and most other clubs) are completely innocent. If Inter are indeed guilty, I apologize. Not that that’s worth anything to you.
That being said, your ‘damage’ inflicted by Chivu is highly speculative. It’s also a bit naive to think an agent wouldn’t be resourceful enough to gauge the market value of his client, regardless of any illegal approach.
As for Chivu’s defensive ability, I too am concerned, but perhaps he wouldn’t have to defend much with Zanetti, Cambiasso, and Vieira in front of him (or is that just my own wishful thinking)? Really though, I’m very curious to know if Mancini prefers him leftback or in the center.
Posted from
United States -
Roma are notoriously innocent after the Mexes saga. Too polite, in fact. That’s been documented. The problem here is said market value. Moratti set his value at 5m. Is he deserving to be one of the top 5 (or top 3) paid defenders in the world? Not even close. No one would match that and Moratti knew it. Becali even said he had Moratti’s “word” on an agreement (stupid stupid man speaking in front of cameras).
I’d expect Chivu to float between LB & CB, but he is unquestionably best suited as a LB - even if he isn’t speedy. The funny part is the ‘joga bonito’ teams wanted him as the libero/LB, understandably so. They want to score goals - defending is #2. How the hell does he fit into Inter’s scheme? Of course with that much depth they could play 3 entire teams with different formations and tactics.
You know what I don’t like about this place? The Inter fans are too nice. Why can’t you all be dickheads? Fuck all of you. I’m going to bed (or trying to).
Posted from
United States -
Ha! That last bit has made staying up worthwhile. Now I too can go to sleep. And maybe in the future we can get Martha and Paolo to be dickheads, if only to humor you.
Posted from
United States -
You may not believe this, but I was just lamenting my own lack of dickheadedness last night. Clearly I’m a shitty fan, because I just can’t get myself worked up enough to fight with someone just because they’re silly enough to support another team. Or, you know, hate Figo or something. Perhaps if I start a strict steroid regiment, however, I can change that.
Posted from
Portugal -
Sort of like RT, whenever a particular scandal emerges in Italy, my first thought is “Well no shit.” It’s just a question of when something gets under the right person’s skin, and they get mad enough to raise some hell, and get some evidence out of the various Vaults of Corruption around the country.
Even if Inter DID misbehave in this situation (And, honestly, how many clubs would say “Does Rosella know about this? Because until we have a note from her, there will be no talking. NO TALKING!”), to believe they’re alone in that sort of behavior is to be outrageously naive. That doesn’t make it ok at all, but to single them out in court is laughable.
Posted from
Portugal -
no one is singling them out… in the past years chelsea, madrid and a host of other teams have been accused of doing this… they havent been legally punished for it but in terms of reputation, it has done some harm.. but really who cares about reputation in these times… people forgot about the whole ibra fiasco (from what i have heard he got signed by inter when he was on the verge of signing for milan) pretty damn quickly after he started banging in the goals..
however, its unfair to say everyone does it.. from what i have seen and i may be wrong.. teams like liverpool, roma(after the whole mexes dealio), man united, barca, have been pretty well behaved in terms of such transfers where the deal with the club is struck first and then deal with the player.. i wont bring up milan because im a fan and in no way can be unbiased in any opinion regarding them..
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
K, I do understand the distinction you’re making, and I accept that not EVERYONE does it. (Though to say “Well, Roma don’t do it anymore” and assume that makes them blameless seems like a bit of a reach. It’s not as if the Mexes debacle didn’t happen, or something.)
You’re right, though, that all that’s been damaged to this point is reputations, and when it’s Ibra or a good reputation, most (not all) clubs will pick the striking every single time. If an investigation happens and Inter do suffer concrete consequences (apart from a fine, which will mean nothing to them) for this and the Suazo deals, it could lead to more caution in this area, at least for a while. Or at least greater subtlety …
Posted from
Portugal -
ofcourse roma arent blameless, i guess what i am trying to say is that, it seems they learnt from the mexes incident because they got punished for it.. and like you said, if inter madrid or chelsea do get punished for it, it would probably make them behave more respectably in the future
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
but that seems unlikely… inter recently got “assigned” a scudetto, madrid were the first team who FIFA allowed to reject their player’s national call-ups and chelsea can throw money at anything that moves… they have enough power to walk all over any organization with any authority…
ps. i just couldnt help my self with the assigned digPosted from
United Arab Emirates -
[...] know how Yoann Gourcuff sign a long-term extension with Milan over the summer, despite the fact that he never plays? Well, if reports in France are to [...]
Posted from
United States
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