Nedved denies defeatism claims
Monday 18 June, 2007

Pavel Nedved has denied declaring that Juventus are unlikely to qualify for next year’s Champions League. “I never made any forecast.”

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They win the Scudetto? But... but... em...Ranieri...

Juventus sign Iaquinta – official

Serie B champions Juventus have completed their expected swoop for Udinese striker Vincenzo Iaquinta.

The 27-year-old has been linked with the Turin giants for some time and has today completed an £8m move.

"I believe that I am the right age to realise this dream,” said the World Cup winner. “I like pressure and I cannot wait to start this new adventure.

"I have grown up year-on-year and after seven seasons in Udine the moment has arrived to make a jump in quality.

“I now need to test myself with a challenge that only a great club like Juventus can offer, in Italy and in Europe.”

Iaquinta, who has signed a five-year contract in Turin, scored 14 goals in Serie A last term and may have been brought in to replace David Trezeguet at the club.

“He is an important player, another World Cup winner who will help to write history at this club,” noted Juventus director general Jean-Claude Blanc.

“He is a professional who we welcome and a player who will add experience and quality to a squad which is enthusiastically hoping to offer fans the satisfaction they deserve.

“There is no doubt that this is another forward step in making a competitive squad on our return to Serie A.”

Born in November 1979, Iaquinta arrives after his development at the Stadio Friuli. He has also enjoyed spells at Padova and Castel di Sangro.

Juventus are also reportedly close to signing Empoli midfielder Sergio Almiron and Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza

Moratti conferma Cruz

Intervenendo al sito FiorentinaNews, il presidente Massimo Moratti ha confermato anche per la prossima stagione l'argentino Julio Cruz. "Tutti gli anni leggo che partirà dall'Inter - ha detto Moratti -, e tutti gli anni resta e risulta anche decisivo. Affermo senza mezzi termini che rimarrà anche quest'anno".

Though many would disagree with me .. He is a good striker and scores consistently. Lippi didn't just play him (at the WC) just for the hell of it. He could be one of Juve's best players

Exactly what I said when rumours about him first started. I'd certainly rather have him than Suazo. 

Exactly what I said when rumours about him first started. I'd certainly rather have him than Suazo. 

Iaquinta is a poacher. He can't create much and is very slow. Here is his all time record:

271 games: 77 golas

Suazo is a SS/ ST. He is physically strong and the fastest striker in Serie A. He creates and scores. Here is his all time record:

264 games: 105 goals

You have to be either blind or biased to not realize which is the better choice.

If Gila continues his 'awful' Milan career at the same level for 6 years, he'll be Milan's 5th all-time top scorer. Stats are what you make them.

So how does an awful player play 8 years and become one of the teams greatest scorers in thier history? Stats are silly.

That's so funny and so incorrect.... Stats = Facts. Especially for a striker. And you seem to know a thing or two about them as with Lampard's case. Gila has confidence struggles. He is a different example. Just like Oliveira . If Suazo can't produce the goods, he will be shipped off. But in terms of what we need, Suazo is exactly what we need and Iaquinta is exactly what we don't need. 

Yes, I use stats alot myself, it helps put a point accross.

But a player is only as good as his most recent season, both Suazo and Iaquinta scored the same last season. More than half of Suazo's were penalties.

I do think Suazo is better for us than Iaquinta as he'll fit the team, I just don't think he's good enough.

Ah well. Everybody has their own opinion, people disagree. It'd be less entertaining if we didn't. 

Well, the club already have Gilardino and Oliveira who are firing blanks for the most part of their season

Haven't they heard of viagra or what?? Poor poor Alice. Come to India baby...

roma just signed juan ( by far the best brazilian CB ATM). juve and roma making excellent signings while galliani has his head up his ***

Wasn't Juan the one who dreamt about Milan-job? 

Best brazillian CB? I don't like him TBH. Lucio, Alex, Cris and Luisao are better than him, to me.

My prediction of Juve winning the league isn't looking so stupid after all. Especially if they were to keep Trezeguet.

Juan is great! Very good signing for Roma... he's surely better than Mexes in my view.
Because of them getting Almiron and Tiago?? The need CBs, Full-Backs and they need a DMF!! In their current state they will be conceding 2-3 goals per game average!! Oh, and they also need to keep Trezeguet, he's their only real forward... Del Piero is nothing anymore, he can't even give them 4th place!

Juan is great! Very good signing for Roma... he's surely better than Mexes in my view.

roma just signed juan ( by far the best brazilian CB ATM).

Fernando Torres: missione di Branca, ma andrà al Liverpool

13:01 del 23 giugno

Secondo la stampa spagnola, settimana scorsa il dt dell'Inter, Marco Branca sarebbe stato a Madrid per allacciare i primi contatti con l'Atletico per Fernando Torres.
Il 23enne centravanti spagnolo sembra però destinato a vestire la maglia del Liverpool, che sarebbe sul punto di acquistarlo per 36 milioni di euro. Per rimpiazzarlo, l'Atletico Madrid sta pensando al serbo Zigic del Racing Santander.

Official: Caracciolo Joins Sampdoria 

Forward Andrea Caracciolo has officially parted ways with Palermo and moved to Sampdoria.

Sampdoria have announced Andrea Caracciolo’s arrival after losing Quagliarella to Udinese.

Caracciolo was already set to leave the Rosaneri, as his relationship with the fans and coach Francesco Guidolin had become strained, and the ex-Palermo forward has revealed that he didn’t think twice about joining the Blucerchiati (blue-ringed).

"This was not the first time that my name had been linked with Sampdoria, so it was this long-running interest that flattered me," said Caracciolo.

"When I was offered the opportunity to complete the negotiations, I took less than a second to accept.

"I am truly happy to be here. This will be a very important season for me, one where I must really prove a point.

"There are several fine players here and more will arrive. The Sampdoria project is an interesting one and convinced me immediately."

Ranieri: This is my Juve
Sunday 24 June, 2007

Claudio Ranieri discusses a trident attack, aiming for a Champions League place and why Juventus will be “a real pain for everyone.”

The former Parma and Chelsea boss will lead the Bianconeri back into Serie A after their year of purgatory in the wake of Calciopoli and he has ambitious plans for 2007-08.

“At the very least we are working towards a Champions League spot. When we met the club immediately said there was the money to bring them back to where this side was accustomed to being – as high up the table as possible. The directors kept their word,” he told the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport.’

This week alone Juve have signed Sergio Almiron from Empoli, Lyon’s Tiago Mendes, World Cup winner Vincenzo Iaquinta, Cristian Molinaro of Siena, Piacenza’s Antonio Nocerino and Domenico Criscito from Genoa.

“Both Tiago and Almiron have the technical abilities, but also the determination and work rate needed in that midfield role. They have the personality of a leader.

“These players mix the offensive and defensive play and are also as versatile as I had requested. They’re two real Juve players and that comforts me, as the midfield is the brain of the team.”

The Tinkerman is already planning several options in his line-up for next season and the transfer campaign isn’t over yet.

“Considering their versatility we could have Almiron, Tiago and Cristiano Zanetti in a three-man midfield. Or Pavel Nedved, who can play a central role with those two.

“As for defence, I am more than covered on the left with Molinaro, who I faced at Siena and noted he guarantees great pressure down that flank, Criscito and Giorgio Chiellini. On the right I’m fine with Alessandro Birindelli and Jonathan Zebina.”

With David Trezeguet refusing the latest contract extension, the shape of the Juventus attack is up in the air.

“Why can’t Iaquinta play alongside Alessandro Del Piero and maybe even Trezeguet? I am curious to see what the pre-season period will tell me,” explained Ranieri.

“I have been tracking Iaquinta for six years and complimented him after a friendly between Udinese and Chelsea, as even if he was a little rough, you could see he had the characteristics of a great player.

“In fact, now he is a World Cup winner. I like him because he never gives in and fights for every ball. This is the Juve spirit of the warrior that we need.”

The ultimate Bianconeri fighter is Nedved, but next week the player will announce whether he’ll retire or continue playing for another year.

“Like everyone, I hope he’ll stay. He suffered in Serie B, so why should he not take this team in hand and lead them back into Serie A? I think he will continue, as he is like those batteries that never run out of charge.”

There are reports this weekend that Juventus have approached Fabio Cannavaro to tempt him back to Turin after a year at Real Madrid. Ranieri’s comments on their future transfer plans suggest this is the case.

“We haven’t finished yet, as we are still missing something in defence,” explained the Coach.

“A central defender needs to be a leader, someone who commands the area, has the tactical intelligence to point the way and allow the other defenders to be aggressive.”

The current World and European Player of the Year certainly seems to fit the bill.


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Roma rage over Inter-Chivu talks
Sunday 24 June, 2007

After the David Suazo chaos, Inter have again been accused of an illegal approach, this time to Roma’s Cristian Chivu.

It is well known that the Nerazzurri are interested in the defender, but Barcelona are close to a deal – according to Spanish newspaper ‘Marca’ with the official announcement coming on Monday – and a new saga could develop.

‘Marca’ insist that the Romanian will move to the Nou Camp in exchange for £8m plus Ludovic Giuly.

Today ‘Il Romanista’ alleges that Coach Roberto Mancini telephoned Chivu personally to convince him to choose Inter instead.

This infuriated the Giallorossi, who have already felt the burn of these unorthodox transfer techniques this season.

“Roma will never go behind another club’s back,” stated general manager Rosella Sensi.

“Roma have chosen a professional approach and will stick with it right to the end. Inter have chosen another and we respect their decision.”

It is claimed that if Chivu does turn down the move to Barcelona in order to join Inter, then Sensi will report them to the FIGC and FIFA for an illegal approach.

There was a hint of this problem earlier this weekend, when transfer guru Ernesto Bronzetti revealed the background to the negotiations with Barcelona.

“Roma thanked Barcelona for not going directly to the player first,” he told ‘Radio Radio.’

It would be the second time the Nerazzurri have been involved in controversy for contacting players under contract this summer.

Cagliari already revealed that Roma had asked after Suazo back in February, but had kept their promise to the club not to contact him directly until the campaign had concluded.

“Roma were the side who requested Suazo in February and I asked them not to contact the player, as I was afraid it would distract him,” revealed Cellino on ‘Radio Radio.’

“They waited until the end of the season and acted in a very professional manner, but Suazo already had a deal with Inter. Unfortunately, the respect Roma showed me could well have penalised them.”

That same technique created chaos after Milan agreed a £10m transfer with Cagliari for the player, only for them to back out several days later upon realising he had already signed for their San Siro rivals.

Inter are also in the headlines after an investigation was launched into their financial practices, alleging the club was not stable enough to qualify for the 2005-06 season.

Today financial newspaper ‘Il Sole 24 Ore’ claims that the Nerazzurri have the worst economic problems in Serie A, running at a loss of £122m this year.

The debt is covered by an increase in capital performed by oil baron Massimo Moratti and the shareholders.

Juventus ran at a loss of £24m following their demotion to Serie B and the consequent loss of several sponsorship contracts.

Of the ‘big’ clubs only Milan made a profit at £1.6m thanks to the £30m sale of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea.

In Serie A the healthiest finances belonged to Udinese, who ended up with a profit of £4.4m.


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[David Trezequet has renewed with the zebras through 2011.]