News + Rumors
•In last week's internationals: Kuzi started and played all 90 minutes for Serbia in their 2-0 win over the Faroes, Vargas started but got hurt and left early in the first half as Peru lost 0-1 to Colombia, and Melo started, went all 90 minutes, and assisted on the winning goal in Brazil's 2-1 win over Paraguay. The Italians played a couple friendlies -- first against New Zealand, and then, informally, against some local team -- and Gila was great, scoring two goals in both [NZ highlights here; Gila dedicated his goals to the Viola fans and the administration], despite playing fewer than 30 minutes in the latter match. Gambit played all of the NZ match and was horrible (Gazzetta gave him a 4.5), while Monty came off the bunch in that one and did some good things in his 30 minutes on the pitch.
•Just so everyone knows, Corvino loves olive trees because of their suffering and strength [video of full interview here]. &hearts
•A Romanian paper published a new interview with the chilling-in-Miami Mutu today, in which he confirms that he's staying in Florence, and also says he wants to have another baby this year. (Hopefully his wife doesn't find out from reading the paper.)
•Pazzo turned up in Florence last week to pick up some stuff he'd left at the Viola facility (clothes he really hates, presumably, since he hasn't needed them since January) and to say hi to the staff members who were around. (Cesare wasn't there, because he was out golfing for charity.)
•While Corvino was in Milan last week, he had dinner with his old homie Rino Foschi (now Torino's DS) and Napoli's DS Pierpaolo Marino. They said it was just a meal between friends, so surely he and Rino weren't talking about Bianchi or Dzemaili. Definitely not.
•Zauri just did an interview with a Lazio fan site, and said really nice things about his time in Florence, particularly that he "found companions and leaders who have made [him] feel at ease from the first day of withdrawal." Daw.
•Santana's agent has again reassured the press that his client will be ready to go on the first day of camp, and says they're waiting to meet with Corvino about his extension -- apparently they "must consider some issues." That doesn't sound good.
There's very little of substance going on right now, but I feel the need to do these round ups a couple times a week in order to keep from being buried by the stories. So, here's a huge pile of rumors and links.
•Bayern suit Uli Hoeness has added his voice to the denials that Seb is going anywhere -- he says they've not even talked to Fiorentina, so everyone just needs to chill. Gambit, in particular, will be very happy to hear this, because he was absolutely freaking out when the media as him about the rumors the other day. &hearts
•The most consistent name in rumors over the past few days has been that of Lecce defender Andrea Esposito who, despite playing for a bad team, had a great season and received an NT call from Lippi as a reward. Lecce value him at €7 million and, though earlier this week Roma were thought closest to signing him, it's now being reported that Viola have supplanted them and are in a good position -- Corvino has a good relationship with Lecce, and supposedly was there at the end of the week to try to get the price down. The media says Fiorentina have actually offered €5 million, but Lecce's DS says he's not heard from Fiorentina or Roma.
•There are about a zillion other defensive targets being mentioned, including Felipe, who Fiorentina really want but can't afford (€15 million is a lot, and Udine don't sound like they're budging), Santacroce (whose agent says he's heard nothing), Oleguer from Ajax, the ever-present LDS, who doesn't want to extend with Lazio but who costs a ton, Andreas Beck, about whom nothing seems to have changed, Rafa Marquez (?!), and Marco Motta, who had one bad meeting with Roma and suddenly is fair game or everyone on earth, including Fiorentina.
•Apart from Esposito, the other story that's come up a lot and been developing is the one about Juve wanting Pasqual which, for once, actually seems to be true. His agent says they'll be meeting with Corvino sometime in the next week or so, and it sounds like he's going to be playing hardball -- Fiorentina want Pasqual to sign an extension (because it will mean he won't be available on a free next summer, and they'll be able to ask more for him now), but it doesn't sound like he's got any intention of signing one, particularly since Juve are rumored to be offering him €2 million/season. (Weirdly, this week's fansite odds sheet only has him as 20% to leave.)
•In addition to Motta, another couple Romans have been popping up in rumors this week: Brighi and Perrotta. Much like Motta, Brighi apparently had a bad meeting with Roma, and is suddenly being seen as a midfield option, particularly because he was at kid at Parma when Cesare was there. His agent, while saying that he's sure Brighi would love to work with Cesare again, insists he's staying at Roma. Hmmmm. Perrotta, meanwhile, is apparently being moved out at Roma, and Corvino (allegedly) has already met with his agent, even though his salary is probably more than Fiorentina would want to pay.
•Despite rumored (then denied) stupid offers from Milan, it's pretty much impossible to imagine that Jojo would be sold. Bari, Bologna, and Livorno (the latter only if they win promotion), however, have all approached Corvino about taking him on loan. Corvino, apparently, isn't having it, at least not right now.
•Pellessier and Bianchi are still at the top of the vice-Gila list, but now they've (allegedly) been joined by Caracciolo (Noooooo!), Marco Di Vaio, who's mad at Bologna (this was a big week for bad meetings), and supposedly could be had for only €7 million (or possibly in exchange for Di Carmine and Lupoli), and Juninho, who's only the list entirely because his contract has ended with Lyon and his free kick magic would come for free. Out of nowhere, there's also Acquafresca, whose girlfriend lives in Florence, and with whose agent Corvino has supposedly already met.
•After allegedly receiving offers from both Atletico Madrid and Sevilla and considering a move to Spain, Kuzi says he's staying, and will sign that extension soon. (Alternately, the club may be considering sending him to Valencia in exchange for the expensive Albiol.)
•Samp wants Pubes, but think he ought to take a pay cut for the privilege of playing for them. Corvino doesn't care about that, but he does objected to the fact that Samp are only offering €4 million for a player he values at €7 million. (They also want Gobbi, but there are no numbers being thrown around about him yet.)
•Mazuch's move to Anderlecht, according to the Belgian press, is finally done: He's going on loan, and if Anderlecht want to keep him, they only have to pay €1.3 million.
•And, finally, baby updates: According to Gazzetta, Diakhate is going to Figline and Tagliani to Cremonese (both loans), while a bunch of clubs are interested in taking Di Carmine on loan, including Ascoli, since Lupoli's salary is apparently too much for them.
•Just so everyone knows, Corvino loves olive trees because of their suffering and strength [video of full interview here]. &hearts
•A Romanian paper published a new interview with the chilling-in-Miami Mutu today, in which he confirms that he's staying in Florence, and also says he wants to have another baby this year. (Hopefully his wife doesn't find out from reading the paper.)
•Pazzo turned up in Florence last week to pick up some stuff he'd left at the Viola facility (clothes he really hates, presumably, since he hasn't needed them since January) and to say hi to the staff members who were around. (Cesare wasn't there, because he was out golfing for charity.)
•While Corvino was in Milan last week, he had dinner with his old homie Rino Foschi (now Torino's DS) and Napoli's DS Pierpaolo Marino. They said it was just a meal between friends, so surely he and Rino weren't talking about Bianchi or Dzemaili. Definitely not.
•Zauri just did an interview with a Lazio fan site, and said really nice things about his time in Florence, particularly that he "found companions and leaders who have made [him] feel at ease from the first day of withdrawal." Daw.
•Santana's agent has again reassured the press that his client will be ready to go on the first day of camp, and says they're waiting to meet with Corvino about his extension -- apparently they "must consider some issues." That doesn't sound good.
There's very little of substance going on right now, but I feel the need to do these round ups a couple times a week in order to keep from being buried by the stories. So, here's a huge pile of rumors and links.
•Bayern suit Uli Hoeness has added his voice to the denials that Seb is going anywhere -- he says they've not even talked to Fiorentina, so everyone just needs to chill. Gambit, in particular, will be very happy to hear this, because he was absolutely freaking out when the media as him about the rumors the other day. &hearts
•The most consistent name in rumors over the past few days has been that of Lecce defender Andrea Esposito who, despite playing for a bad team, had a great season and received an NT call from Lippi as a reward. Lecce value him at €7 million and, though earlier this week Roma were thought closest to signing him, it's now being reported that Viola have supplanted them and are in a good position -- Corvino has a good relationship with Lecce, and supposedly was there at the end of the week to try to get the price down. The media says Fiorentina have actually offered €5 million, but Lecce's DS says he's not heard from Fiorentina or Roma.
•There are about a zillion other defensive targets being mentioned, including Felipe, who Fiorentina really want but can't afford (€15 million is a lot, and Udine don't sound like they're budging), Santacroce (whose agent says he's heard nothing), Oleguer from Ajax, the ever-present LDS, who doesn't want to extend with Lazio but who costs a ton, Andreas Beck, about whom nothing seems to have changed, Rafa Marquez (?!), and Marco Motta, who had one bad meeting with Roma and suddenly is fair game or everyone on earth, including Fiorentina.
•Apart from Esposito, the other story that's come up a lot and been developing is the one about Juve wanting Pasqual which, for once, actually seems to be true. His agent says they'll be meeting with Corvino sometime in the next week or so, and it sounds like he's going to be playing hardball -- Fiorentina want Pasqual to sign an extension (because it will mean he won't be available on a free next summer, and they'll be able to ask more for him now), but it doesn't sound like he's got any intention of signing one, particularly since Juve are rumored to be offering him €2 million/season. (Weirdly, this week's fansite odds sheet only has him as 20% to leave.)
•In addition to Motta, another couple Romans have been popping up in rumors this week: Brighi and Perrotta. Much like Motta, Brighi apparently had a bad meeting with Roma, and is suddenly being seen as a midfield option, particularly because he was at kid at Parma when Cesare was there. His agent, while saying that he's sure Brighi would love to work with Cesare again, insists he's staying at Roma. Hmmmm. Perrotta, meanwhile, is apparently being moved out at Roma, and Corvino (allegedly) has already met with his agent, even though his salary is probably more than Fiorentina would want to pay.
•Despite rumored (then denied) stupid offers from Milan, it's pretty much impossible to imagine that Jojo would be sold. Bari, Bologna, and Livorno (the latter only if they win promotion), however, have all approached Corvino about taking him on loan. Corvino, apparently, isn't having it, at least not right now.
•Pellessier and Bianchi are still at the top of the vice-Gila list, but now they've (allegedly) been joined by Caracciolo (Noooooo!), Marco Di Vaio, who's mad at Bologna (this was a big week for bad meetings), and supposedly could be had for only €7 million (or possibly in exchange for Di Carmine and Lupoli), and Juninho, who's only the list entirely because his contract has ended with Lyon and his free kick magic would come for free. Out of nowhere, there's also Acquafresca, whose girlfriend lives in Florence, and with whose agent Corvino has supposedly already met.
•After allegedly receiving offers from both Atletico Madrid and Sevilla and considering a move to Spain, Kuzi says he's staying, and will sign that extension soon. (Alternately, the club may be considering sending him to Valencia in exchange for the expensive Albiol.)
•Samp wants Pubes, but think he ought to take a pay cut for the privilege of playing for them. Corvino doesn't care about that, but he does objected to the fact that Samp are only offering €4 million for a player he values at €7 million. (They also want Gobbi, but there are no numbers being thrown around about him yet.)
•Mazuch's move to Anderlecht, according to the Belgian press, is finally done: He's going on loan, and if Anderlecht want to keep him, they only have to pay €1.3 million.
•And, finally, baby updates: According to Gazzetta, Diakhate is going to Figline and Tagliani to Cremonese (both loans), while a bunch of clubs are interested in taking Di Carmine on loan, including Ascoli, since Lupoli's salary is apparently too much for them.