“Fiorentina? I wouldn’t just walk there to complete the move, I’d do so naked,” he recently noted. “I hope to realise this dream soon as I have been a Viola fan for some time.”

Moratti To Meet With Mourinho?

(IMG:http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2007/12/02/Mourinhobig3.jpg)

According to British newspaper 'The Observer', Inter president Massimo Moratti is fed up with coach Roberto Mancini following yesterday's defeat to Juventus and is planning talks with Jose Mourinho.

Yesterday Inter suffered another defeat in an important game against Juventus, and saw Roma move within four points of the top spot. Unsurprisingly, questions are once again being raised about coach Roberto Mancini's future, and today British daily The Observer writes that president Massimo Moratti is already preparing to hold talks with the currently unemployed former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Of course, these rumours already surfaced right after Mancini announced his intention to leave the club following the Champions League defeat to Liverpool, only to take back what he said the day after. But according to the British newspaper, this time it's Moratti who has decided to go for the Portuguese coach, after the bitter disappointment of losing at home against their bitterest rivals.

It seems Moratti will first contact the coach's agent Jorge Mendes, and according to rumours Moratti was taken aback by Mourinho's intention to take control of the whole technical area of the club. Only on that condition will Mourinho take over from Mancini as new coach of the Italian champions.

http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=632532

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)   Oh I'm sorry for you guys, maybe soon ya all will have to change your signitures/avatars cause they'll represent the Interisti!

But I'm not the one to lable that as a done deal. Whasn't it that Mourinho to Milan a done deal not so far ago? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I don't remember Jose being a done deal, although he was linked with us.

And jose to them is a terrible thing indeed, especially as we don't seem to have the same incentive (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Guidolin axed, Colantuono back
Monday 24 March, 2008

Stefano Colantuono has been re-appointed as Palermo boss after Francesco Guidolin was sacked on Monday.

The latter’s departure was expected after the 3-2 home defeat to Genoa on Saturday and Guidolin’s subsequent post-match comments.

“After examining the developments of the last few days, there are no longer the necessary factors in place for Palermo to confirm their faith in Mr Francesco Guidolin,” read a club statement.

“As a result, he has been relieved of his job as first team Coach. That role has been handed to Mr Stefano Colantuono who will take charge of training tomorrow afternoon.”

This is the fourth time in his career that the former Bologna and Vicenza tactician has been replaced by fiery President Maurizio Zamparini.

Guidolin was re-appointed as Rosanero boss just four months ago after Colantuono – his successor – was axed after the 5-0 drubbing at Juventus.

During his fourth stint at the helm, inconsistency reigned supreme as the side collected just 18 points from 13 games.

Colantuono [pictured], who was initially hired in the summer after his heroics at Atalanta last season, will face a tough test on his return as the Sicilian club travel to Napoli at the weekend.

Palermo were expected to fight for a top six finish during this campaign, but are currently in 12th place with just 36 points from 30 games.

Blog: Luciano lingers
Disgraced former Juventus director Luciano Moggi may be banned from football until 2011, but Paul Watson suggests that he should also be gagged…

The summer of 2006 was a bruising time for Italian football as the Calciopoli scandal rocked the nation. However, painful as the process was, the aftermath of the verdicts brought the refreshing feeling that purgation had taken place. The men who had dragged the name of calcio through the mud were banished from the Empyrean and the game could move on and heal.

Or could it? Over 18 months have passed, but the spectre of main culprit Luciano Moggi still haunts Italy’s newsstands. The ex-transfer guru seems to have an opinion on every issue and amazingly people still want to hear what he has to say. Over the last few weeks, we have had to endure the pantomime villain’s claims that he would have signed Cristiano Ronaldo at Juve, grimace through his ‘expert’ analysis of the Roberto Mancini situation and wince at his deluded take on the Calciopoli scandal.

While Moggi’s inane punditry is galling enough, the true fear is that he may return to playing an active role in the game. After his initial trial, Moggi announced that he didn’t feel football had a place for him anymore and he wouldn’t be back. Yet another questionable statement from the professor of prevarication. Last week, he appealed his five-year ban and Lucky Luciano insists that he will take an active role in football once more, despite seeing his suspension upheld.

Rather than show any remorse for his wrongdoings, Moggi has chosen the solipsistic path and insists that we mere mortals don’t understand what happened at Juve. Maybe so, but we know enough to realise that calcio is a happier place without the likes of Luciano. Any return would undermine everything that has been done to restore faith in Italy’s beloved game.

Maybe he should follow up on his promise that he will enter politics. While Moggi insists that 75 per cent of Juventini would vote for him – a total of around nine million fans – I reckon I could canvas a similar number of signatures on a petition to have him banished to an uninhabited island. Then again, maybe Italian politics is the best place for Moggi, I’m sure a man of his moral fortitude would fit right in.

Another year for Nedved?
Tuesday 25 March, 2008

Juventus veteran Pavel Nedved is set to begin talks over a contract extension to spend one more year in Turin.

Many expected the 35-year-old to hang his boots up when his current deal expires this summer, but reports suggest that the lure of Champions League football has changed his mind.

Nedved has made over 200 appearances for the Bianconeri since arriving from Lazio in 2001 and remains a key figure for Claudio Ranieri’s side.

Despite this term’s disciplinary problems, the club are believed to be keen to offer the Czech hero another year.

However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Nedved will have to accept a sizeable pay cut, just as Paolo Maldini did at Milan.

Juve’s directors are waiting to meet with agent Mino Raiola, who is currently conducting business in Brazil, but an appointment is expected within the next month.

Inter fear over Ibra injury
Wednesday 26 March, 2008

Fears are growing over the fitness of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the towering striker could miss Inter’s crunch game against Lazio on Saturday.

Ibra has been suffering from a left knee problem for several months, but has continued to play through the pain barrier.

However, the complaint seems to have worsened and the 26-year-old opted to skip Sweden’s friendly against Brazil in order to see respected sports medic Hakan Alfredsson.

Alfredsson has reportedly told the former Ajax man that there is no need for an operation at present, but has scheduled a follow-up appointment next month.

While Ibrahimovic’s condition won’t necessarily banish him to the sidelines, Beneamata boss Roberto Mancini is expected to start Hernan Crespo and David Suazo to give Zlatan’s knee a much-needed rest.

The underlying fear is that playing through such an injury could be storing problems up for Ibra’s future and surgery may be necessary at the end of the campaign.

Julio Cesar: I’m scared
Wednesday 26 March, 2008

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar has admitted that he is “scared” by the Nerazzurri’s recent slump as it seems they could let the Scudetto slip.

A month ago the title race seemed to be over with Roberto Mancini’s side running away with the honours, but a disastrous month has seen things turn around.

Inter now lead Roma by just four points after losing the Derby d’Italia to Juventus last weekend and they are showing signs of nerves as they approach Week 31’s trip to the capital to face Lazio.

“Roma are in excellent form, but at the moment it’s not the Giallorossi who are scaring me but Inter,” Julio Cesar admitted to Tuttosport.

“The title is ours to win or lose. We have to stay calm and just talk amongst ourselves – perhaps that is the hardest challenge to overcome.”

Julio Cesar is currently with the Brazil squad awaiting tonight’s friendly away to Sweden.

I agree. I hate it when great players who clearly still have the ability think about retiring. It's a waste of talent. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)