Weekend News Roundup (Go Ahead, Italian Press — Call Me a Scab)

By: Martha | June 30th, 2007

Damn, Gabby. The press in Italy are on strike today. I’m not clear on what that means, since I have a Saturday Gazzetta dello Sport in my sweaty little palms and at least some websites have been updated, but who am I to question the planning of Italian unions?

•Ronaldinho was in Milan on Thursday. Oooooooh!

• Barcelona have reportedly pulled out of the Chivu!Sweepstakes, only to be replaced by Real Madrid. Though, since Real don’t actually have a manager, they’re probably not going after the defender quite as hardcore as they would if they knew their direction for 2007-2008. There’s still no word on where Chivu will end up, but we know he’s definitely leaving Roma. That’s something, at least.

•Not that it’s news to anyone, but the loose lips of the Son of Berlusconi have confirmed for everyone that Milan are chasing Samuel Eto’o this summer — some talks have reportedly already taken place. Shocking, I know.

•For reasons no one is able to discern, Lyon have approached Fabio Grosso with a surprisingly substantial offer. (And the Inter fan in me says “Go! GO!” and makes shoo-ing motions with her hands.) According to La Gazzetta – whose website will not be updated until tomorrow morning out of respect for The Strike — the deal is thought to guarantee the defender £1.7 million per season, more than half again what he’s earning at Inter, and the club would get £3.7 million, which is what they spent for Grosso last summer. Um, ok. Please explain to me why this didn’t happen yesterday, if it’s for real. Inter! What are you waiting for?

• Juve, AKA The Italian Spending Machine, are set to offer £5 million for Man United defender Gabriel Heinze. That amount looked likely to secure them the player, but now that evil Rafa Benitez has jumped into the fray, Heize’s arrival in Italy is suddenly in question. (Also, apropos of nothing, The Sun think Rafa’s beard might just be the worst facial hair ever.)

•Though it’s not being reported very widely, Spanish paper Marca claims an Inter rep was in Seville yesterday, asking about the availability of former Juve property (and former Italian U21 international) Enzo Maresca. According to Marca, Inter have already agreed personal terms with the player and only need to work things out with Seville; the predicted asking price for the midfielder — expendable, apparently, thanks to the impressive production of Christian Poulsen — is about €5 million.

•From now on, the Coppa Italia final will consist of only one game. Finally! And, if Michel Platini gets his way, the winner might one day go into the Champions League. Think that would help with attendance for the tournament?

•Serie A is officially starting on August 26. Yes, Roberto Donadoni is pissed.