Bianchi’s Going to Lazio, That Bastard
By: Martha | January 23rd, 2008
[I'm probably not going to be around for the rest of the day, but will be back with Coppa news and buckets of rumors tomorrow.]
It’s all over the mercato sections of the Italian sports media this morning that Rolando Bianchi is working out the final details of a loan move to Lazio, even as we speak. He reportedly spent yesterday meeting with both Claudio Lotito and Torino chairman Urbano Cairo, and whatever Lotito promised was evidently more appealing to the striker, despite the fact that Toro are way, way more desperate for attacking firepower. Curses!
Nothing is official yet but the details are trickling out, and it’s thought the agreement with Manchester City includes the option for Lazio to buy Bianchi for about €12 million, almost exactly what City paid for him last summer. There’s no word on how much the loan is costing Lazio, but last week it was suggested that Toro were expecting to pay just €250,000 for five months of Bianchi, which would suit the spendthrift Lotito just fine. If Lazio do, in fact, end up buying the striker, his contract will reportedly run through 2012, and will earn him about €800,000/season. (Whether this fixes Lazio or not, if it goes through it will certainly mark the end of those short-lived stories of Bernardo Corradi returning to Rome, as Ginkers pointed out in the comments.)
Word on the street is that Bianchi is already in Rome, and could have his medical and official introduction as early as today; assuming his papers go through on time, he could be available to unleash hell on poor Torino next weekend.
Edit: The deal is now official, and it’s being reported that it is, in fact, a sale rather than a loan; Lazio will spread payment of the €12.5 million price over the next three years.
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Bianchi’s move is official now:
http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=90104
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United States
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Thanks, Francesco.
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How the hell does a team that is 143 M$ in debt afford a 12.5M$ striker ?
I just love the Italian school of economics
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It sounds like they’ll probably sell one of the big boys now — got keep that -€140 million solid.
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Lazio has big boys? Really? I mean outside of Zauri, Pandev and Rocchi do they really have anyone that can come close to getting more than a couple million? They won’t sell DeSilvestri I don’t think. And if that’s true, then how much are you really strengthening yourself if you sell off Pandev or Rocchi and bring in Bianchi. Rolando is better than he’s shown at Man City but he’s not head and shoulders above Lazio’s two current strikers (at least not in my opinion). Ok, enough about Lazio.
How about talking through how Mutu gets away with his shameless dive and Zalayeta gets a two match ban for his dive (which was nowhere near as blatant)? Yes, I’m bitter.
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Probably a bad choice of adjective, Joe, sorry — “big boys,” to me, means Pandev or Rocchi, pretty much. Lotito was already trying to sell Rocchi, now he’s got (more of) a financial reason to move him, which is depressing as hell for Lazio.
(Wasn’t Zalayeta’s rescinded on appeal, though?)
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Pandev has already mentioned a couple times he’s on his way out, and has said a deal with Bayern is in place. There’s no way he’s staying with the orphaned baby slappers past this season.
If it’s a loan plus full purchase clause, they’ll prolly us the Pandev money from the summer. Bianchi has replacement written all over him.
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you know…Bianchi is really going to Lazio because he didn’t want to change jersey colors…the celeste really suits him. ha
oh, another rumor floating around is that Lazio are going to finalize a deal for Zaccardo…Utter nonsense.
Our defense is a huge problem and Zaccardo isn’t close to the worst offender in that regard. Selling him off? Do we want to give up 6 goals a game instead of 4? Dai….
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Zalayeta’s first dive (against Juventus) originally came down as a two-match ban but was rescinded. His latest dive was against Torino in the last game before the break. Truth be told, his “dive” against Torino really wasn’t one at all…the one against Juve? Well, that’s another matter.
The deal for Bianchi doesn’t make Lazio any better. If they’re going to lose one or both of their current top men, then it’s either a wash or a net loss. Too bad for Lazio. Lotito has a mountain to climb.
I really am all for either handing out or rescinding cards after the match based on video evidence. It just kills me that it’s not enforced equally.Posted from
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Selling Zaccardo to Lazio? Where do they come up with this shit? I’d definitely like to see Zaccardo move to the center of our defense though.
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Ricci -
That could be a possible move considering the other rumor floating around - Palermo apparently going after Fiore-merda’s Balzaretti. I could see him coming in and Zaccardo teaming up in the middle, possibly.Posted from
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why is lazio haten by everybody????!!!!!!!!!!
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Tamim, I’m one of the few people around here who actually like Lazio, I just like Torino more.
(And, Chris, Bayern aside, Pandev is now apparently desperate to go be part of the Toon’s Keegan!Revival. Excellent.)
Lorenzo, are you talking about Balzaretti or Zaccardo in the middle? Balza in there sounds terrifying.
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Martha -
I was referring to Zaccardo moving to the middle (that’s where he eventually wants to end up). I would not put Balzaretti there, for sure!Sorry about that one! :)
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i am a roma fan but i don’t hate lazio….my second favorite is torino
so why don’t you blog for torino?Posted from
United States
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