Roma, Roma, Roma! [To Be Read in a Jan Brady Voice]

By: Martha | January 9th, 2008

Come get me, Sven! God damn, but Sven Goran Eriksson really, really wants Mancini. I still don’t get it, but he’s not backing off that insane rumor of a couple days ago, which suggested he’d be willing to package Rolando Bianchi and a mint in exchange for the Brazilian’s services. Well, the Bianchi thing has sort of faded away, but SGE is still really, really fired up about getting Mancini, to such a degree that he actually used the phrase “money isn’t a problem for us” in front of a reporter. Not only that, but he also made a comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo, and generally just slobbered all over himself in a frenzy of desire. Do you think he forgot that Rosella can read? Channel 4 thinks any Mancini move would have to wait until summer, but be that as it may, at this rate it’s almost impossible to imagine Roma would hold onto the guy — I mean, he’s been good for them and all, but a mint is a mint. How can you say no to that for a moody guy whose contract talks have been stalled since ever?

Hoping to leave (only temporarily), meanwhile, is keeper Gianluca Curci. He wants to play, goddammit, and is aggitating hard for a loan, despite refusing to go out at one point last summer, presumably because he didn’t want to leave his poor, pregnant wife at home alone. Roma want to keep him, but five months of regular play else where is a win for them and a win for Curci, who not only wants games, but also wants a chance to work his way into the Euro 2008 set-up, which he ain’t gonna do sitting on the Olimpico bench. The only drawback is that, if he leaves, Roma would be left without a backup keeper trusted by Luciano Spalletti. Oh, maybe not. Spalletti has started telling the press that he’s totally comfortable with Júlio Sérgio Bertagnoli backing up Doni. If that’s true, Curci may well be on his way out to one of many suitors (goal.com claim Sampdoria are the front-runners); if it’s not and Spalletti actually was being ironic when he praised Bertagnoli, Curci could end up very disappointed indeed.

And, finally, a possible arrival: The Great Vargas. After about 36 hours of frenzied activity on the Juan Manuel Vargas front, Catania’s own “administrative delegate” (whatever that is) Pietro Lo Monaco is positioning Roma as the most likely destination for their defensive stud. Varga’s agent has been crowing about a move, trying to drum up even more interest and, probably seeing € signs dancing before his eyes, Lo Monaco, too, is totally into the idea of a summer departure. According to the Catania man, Roma expressed interest in Vargas last summer, the two clubs have a great relationship, and Catania are all but definitely selling. So, if Lo Monaco is to be believed, it sounds like as long as Roma offer the right price, come summer they’re in like Flynn.

ETA: Looks like Roma will let Curci go, and will also bring in a new backup keeper.