Melo + Natali + Moar Rumors
•For anyone who's not seen them, there are tons of Gila wedding pictures here, and the Chi scans are here.
•Though the Melo-to-Juve deal is not yet official, Juve have confirmed talks, and the lack of denials from both sides speaks volumes, particularly given how quick they were to dispute similar reports over the weekend. If Marchionni doesn't scuttle the whole thing by demanding more money, most of the press agree that the deal is Marchionni + €20 million, and that Melo's pre-contract is for €2.5 million for each of five seasons. ETA: Corvino has confirmed there's an agreement in place with Juve, but it won't be official until Melo and Juve get something worked out.
•With Melo presumed gone, the chase begins for his successor. Though there have been big, expensive names in the conversation for a while -- Ledesma, Dogfish and D'Agostino are all valued at about €15 million -- the current focus is on Dzemaili, from Torino. Supposedly Corvino and Foschi (who insists Dzemaili's not for sale) have already had informal talks about him, and will start to get down to brass tacks today; co-ownership will cost about €4.5 million, but Corvino would rather buy the whole player, for €7-8 million rather than the €10 million-ish Torino are said to want. (In my dream last night, Dzemaili was being really vague, and refused to tell me whether he was coming to Fiorentina or not. I think he knew more than he was letting on.)
•Marchionni, who's at least half a Viola player no matter what happens with Melo, is being a huge pain -- Monday he told the press he'd not talked to anyone yet, and had no idea what the clubs had even decided. Now it seems he's demanding more money: Fiorentina are reported to be offering him €1.3 million for each of three years, while he wants "at least" €1.5 million. Dammit. Who knew he'd use that accounting degree for evil?
•Two consequences of the Marchionni arrival are that the Drenthe saga is over -- Corvino himself said so, so it's gotta be true -- and that Pubes is now extremely expendable, something his agent all but acknowledged earlier this week when he said he was waiting for "a move" by Fiorentina. Based on current rumors, that move could well be talks with Samp, who are very interested in Pubes; La Viola would want €5-5.5 million for full ownership.
•During Natali's presentation yesterday, Corvino also talked about Pasqual, saying he'd been offered an extension (of either two or three years, the reports don't agree), which needs to be signed before the team go into camp, otherwise he'll be on the market (something that might please Inter and Stuttgart). Santana, however, hasn't been offered an extension, and Corvino doesn't seem at all interested in changing that -- that might explain the talks Santana's agent confirms he's currently having with Roma.
•Despite confusing and contradictory translations and reports, it doesn't really sound like Vargas is too interested in Fenerbahce and the raise a move there would offer him, though he won't rule anything out. Plus, Corvino insists he's not actually gotten an offer for El Loco (Happy, Cheryl?), so the whole thing might be moot.
•With Cruz ruling Fiorentina out as a destination because he wants to start, the new, favorite vice-Gila prospect is none other than Morientes, who's out of contact at Valencia and is looking for a club. The only problem is that he came off the bench for a lot of last season there, and never seemed very happy about it -- one wonders whether the rumored offer of €1.5 million + cash for each goal would be enough to convince him to play that role again. Less exciting than Mori but perhaps more practical are a couple Inter players: Suazo (who would have to take a pay cut) and Obinna have recently been rumored to be in Fiorentina's thoughts, both via one-year loans.
•Defender rumors, as usual, are always changing: Interest in Cassetti is back, talks with Lazio over LDS (possibly involving Dainelli) supposedly continue, and the Portuguese press claim Fiorentina are again interested in getting Luisao from Benfica.
•Always dreamed of watching a Viola match with ADV? Now's your big chance, and it's for a good cause, too!
•The decision on Mutu's giant Chelsea!fine is expected to finally be handed down in about a week.
Confession time: He's Toro, so I love him already.
(The newspapers all have him projected as a starter -- we'll see if that actually happens.)
Even if you're not biased, he seems pretty awesome, right?
I mean, he dresses like an adult, seems like he can string two words together, and is thrilled to be in Florence. What's not to like?
Plus, you know. He's not exactly hideous.
Corvino's been chasing him for four years, and that's probably not entirely because of the fact that he wears nice, white shirts.
•Though the Melo-to-Juve deal is not yet official, Juve have confirmed talks, and the lack of denials from both sides speaks volumes, particularly given how quick they were to dispute similar reports over the weekend. If Marchionni doesn't scuttle the whole thing by demanding more money, most of the press agree that the deal is Marchionni + €20 million, and that Melo's pre-contract is for €2.5 million for each of five seasons. ETA: Corvino has confirmed there's an agreement in place with Juve, but it won't be official until Melo and Juve get something worked out.
•With Melo presumed gone, the chase begins for his successor. Though there have been big, expensive names in the conversation for a while -- Ledesma, Dogfish and D'Agostino are all valued at about €15 million -- the current focus is on Dzemaili, from Torino. Supposedly Corvino and Foschi (who insists Dzemaili's not for sale) have already had informal talks about him, and will start to get down to brass tacks today; co-ownership will cost about €4.5 million, but Corvino would rather buy the whole player, for €7-8 million rather than the €10 million-ish Torino are said to want. (In my dream last night, Dzemaili was being really vague, and refused to tell me whether he was coming to Fiorentina or not. I think he knew more than he was letting on.)
•Marchionni, who's at least half a Viola player no matter what happens with Melo, is being a huge pain -- Monday he told the press he'd not talked to anyone yet, and had no idea what the clubs had even decided. Now it seems he's demanding more money: Fiorentina are reported to be offering him €1.3 million for each of three years, while he wants "at least" €1.5 million. Dammit. Who knew he'd use that accounting degree for evil?
•Two consequences of the Marchionni arrival are that the Drenthe saga is over -- Corvino himself said so, so it's gotta be true -- and that Pubes is now extremely expendable, something his agent all but acknowledged earlier this week when he said he was waiting for "a move" by Fiorentina. Based on current rumors, that move could well be talks with Samp, who are very interested in Pubes; La Viola would want €5-5.5 million for full ownership.
•During Natali's presentation yesterday, Corvino also talked about Pasqual, saying he'd been offered an extension (of either two or three years, the reports don't agree), which needs to be signed before the team go into camp, otherwise he'll be on the market (something that might please Inter and Stuttgart). Santana, however, hasn't been offered an extension, and Corvino doesn't seem at all interested in changing that -- that might explain the talks Santana's agent confirms he's currently having with Roma.
•Despite confusing and contradictory translations and reports, it doesn't really sound like Vargas is too interested in Fenerbahce and the raise a move there would offer him, though he won't rule anything out. Plus, Corvino insists he's not actually gotten an offer for El Loco (Happy, Cheryl?), so the whole thing might be moot.
•With Cruz ruling Fiorentina out as a destination because he wants to start, the new, favorite vice-Gila prospect is none other than Morientes, who's out of contact at Valencia and is looking for a club. The only problem is that he came off the bench for a lot of last season there, and never seemed very happy about it -- one wonders whether the rumored offer of €1.5 million + cash for each goal would be enough to convince him to play that role again. Less exciting than Mori but perhaps more practical are a couple Inter players: Suazo (who would have to take a pay cut) and Obinna have recently been rumored to be in Fiorentina's thoughts, both via one-year loans.
•Defender rumors, as usual, are always changing: Interest in Cassetti is back, talks with Lazio over LDS (possibly involving Dainelli) supposedly continue, and the Portuguese press claim Fiorentina are again interested in getting Luisao from Benfica.
•Always dreamed of watching a Viola match with ADV? Now's your big chance, and it's for a good cause, too!
•The decision on Mutu's giant Chelsea!fine is expected to finally be handed down in about a week.
Confession time: He's Toro, so I love him already.
(The newspapers all have him projected as a starter -- we'll see if that actually happens.)
Even if you're not biased, he seems pretty awesome, right?
I mean, he dresses like an adult, seems like he can string two words together, and is thrilled to be in Florence. What's not to like?
Plus, you know. He's not exactly hideous.
Corvino's been chasing him for four years, and that's probably not entirely because of the fact that he wears nice, white shirts.