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Napoli: Hands off HamsikThursday 8 May, 2008
Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has told Juventus that they won’t be able to snatch midfield ace Marek Hamsik.
The Slovakian star joined the Vesuviani from Brescia in the summer and has been very impressive in his maiden Serie A season.
A number of sides, including Manchester United and Juventus have been linked with the 20-year-old, but it seems unlikely that he will be moving.
“What are Juve’s chances of signing Hamsik? I don’t think they have a hope,†Marino said in the Corriere dello Sport.
“We don’t want to give anyone false hope – nobody will get their hands on our jewels and Hamsik is one of those.
“Besides, to be honest we haven’t received any offer from the Bianconeri.â€
Rather than selling in pre-season, Napoli are looking to strengthen in the hope of UEFA Cup qualification next year.
“I like Raffaele Palladino, but there are also other players that I am interested in,†Marino explained.
“I think that we need to bring in four top-quality players at the end of the season, just as we did last year.â€
channel4 It would make me sad to see this guy play for any other Italian team than Napoli or Milan.
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Reports: Juve have Ufo promiseThursday 8 May, 2008
Juventus are being linked with a shock free transfer swoop for Fiorentina defender Tomas Ujfalusi.
The 29-year-old’s contract at the Stadio Artemio Franchi expires this summer and the Czech international has refused to sign a new deal.
Spanish side Sevilla were expected to pounce for Ujfalusi after expressing an interest several months ago, but negotiations hit a brick wall.
Atletico Madrid have been tipped to take advantage of the situation, but now there are suggestions that Ufo has already made a verbal agreement with Juve.
The Bianconeri are looking to strengthen their squad in pre-season in preparation for a title challenge next term and have already added Swedish international Olof Mellberg to the back line.
But the shopping spree isn't likely to end there and Ujfalusi would be an equally valuable and economical recruit.
Ujfalusi has 64 international caps to his name and has made more than 100 outings in the Fiorentina shirt since arriving from Hamburg in 2004.
channel4 Damn it! Hope it's not true.
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Bayern prepare Rino raidThursday 8 May, 2008
Gennaro Gattuso could be in line for a bumper contract at Bayern Munich if he chooses to quit Milan.
Many believe that the Azzurri midfielder will end his nine-year spell with the Rossoneri this summer as the club look to freshen up their squad.
The arrival of French star Mathieu Flamini has already called Gattuso’s position into question and there could be further additions.
Gattuso has hinted that he would be happy to try his hand abroad, especially in England, but his main suitors are German champions Bayern Munich.
Bayern President Franz Beckenbauer has admitted that Rino would be “ideal†for his squad and the club are expected to table an offer to bring him to the Allianz Arena.
According to Studio Sport, Gattuso will be approached with a four-year contract worth around £4.5m annually – a fee that his current employers can’t match.
Vice-President Adriano Galliani is determined that the former Rangers man will stay at San Siro, but it is now looking increasingly likely that his future lies in the Bundesliga.
channel4
This post has been edited by dst: May 8 2008, 05:59 PM