Tuesday News Roundup: Who Doesn’t Love Lucarelli?

By: Martha | May 29th, 2007

Azzurri Gila •After tearing up Serie A all season, Cristiano Lucarelli finally scored an Azzurri call-up for a competitive match. And, according to Lucarelli, it’s about damn time: “Considering my statistics over the last four seasons, I certainly have not been given my fair due.” Somehow, though this would be completely repellent behavior from anyone else, it seems right coming from him — it’s not as if Lucarelli is ever going say nice things for the sake of making life easy for himself. (Also, he does have something of a point. If he’d just learn to shut up, he’d probably have many more caps right now.)

•It sounds like Nesta’s vague statements about retiring from international play were more serious than any of us thought — Roberto Donadoni, at least, thinks he’s done for good. Oh dear.

•It’s surgery time in Milan: Paolo Maldini and Alberto Gilardino’s are both in Atwerp (of all places) today for knee surgery, Maldini to get his left cleaned up (again), and Gila to have “cysts removed from the outside meniscus of the right knee.” Yech.

•Speaking of Gila, Juve are allegedly preparing a £15 million bid for him, and they want us to know that, no matter what we’ve heard, the discussions have not once included the word “Buffon.”

•In addition to Gila, Juve are also (still) targeting Frank Lampard, at least according to the Rumor That Won’t Quit. The latest is that they’re willing to spend £17 million for the Chelsea midfielder who, though he’s not publicly agitating to get away, seems to be in quiet contact with any number of clubs. It’s been suggested that the combination of Lampard’s advancing age and his full-contact style of play might make Chelsea willing to part with him now, on the assumption he’ll break down sooner than later, and it’s best to get value while they can.

•Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, Marcello Lippi (AKA the Pimp of Calcio) insists he’s had no contact with Juventus, and is certainly not on the verge of taking over there. And even if he was, it wouldn’t matter to Gigi Buffon. In case you were wondering.

•And, finally, the people at Tribal Football insist Fiorentina are about to swoop in and steal everyone from newly relegated Chievo. And when I say “everyone,” I mean Franco Semioli (a deal for whom was allegedly hammered out weeks ago), Victor Obinna and Sergio Pellissier. Make of that what you will.