Between field and market. After August XNUMXth, it's time to get serious: no more more or less exotic friendlies or tours around the world, now we need to think about the championship and the Champions League. In fact, this evening Roma will officially start the season with a very important match, a real watershed that will condition (for better or for worse) a good part of the way. Opposite there will be Porto, also loaded by the pit of Dragao, a basin in which the hosts have collected several excellent scalps. “We are a strong team with players ready to face matches like this – explained Spalletti in the press conference. – Everyone will have to give their best but I am convinced that we can do well”.
“This preliminary could change our entire season – echoed De Rossi. – However, the same goes for them too, I expect a good battle between two competitive teams ready for anything”. In short, tension is skyrocketing and it doesn't matter if it's just the seasonal debut: participation in the Champions League, as well as making sense of last season, would also be essential for this one that is about to begin and not only from a technical point of view . In fact, it is useless to remember that around 30 million are dancing between the "big ears cup" and the Europa League and this considering only the group stage.
Spalletti will face the challenge with a 4-3-3 formation with Szczesny in goal (Allison should be on the bench), Florenzi, Manolas, Vermaelen and Juan Jesus in defense, Nainggolan, De Rossi and Strootman in midfield, Salah, Dzeko and one of El Shaarawy (with a slight advantage) and Perotti in attack. Choices also made for Porto that Nuno Espirito Santo will field with the following 4-2-3-1: Casillas in goal, Maxi Pereira, Felipe, Marcano and Alex Telles in the back, Danilo Pereira and Herrera in the midfield, Corona, André and Otavio on the trocar behind the lone striker André Silva.
Spalletti won't be able to count on Bruno Peres but the wait is destined to end soon: the Brazilian has in fact signed the contract and will already be available for the second leg. An important operation, with Roma obtaining the player on a onerous loan (1 million) from Turin with the redemption obligation set at 14. But the market is certainly not limited to just the Giallorossi team. In fact, the negotiations continue to involve all the big companies, very busy in view of the final rush.
Inter are just waiting for the definitive yes from Sporting Lisbon to embrace Joao Mario: a wait which, according to the latest news, could already end today. The agreement with the Portuguese has been reached (10 million for the onerous loan, 35 for the mandatory buy-out) and Kia Joorabchian, mediator between the Nerazzurri and the green-and-whites, is now working on the details. Once the purchase of Joao Mario is closed, Ausilio will focus on the transfers (but watch out for the usual Gabigol, who ended up in Manchester United's sights), starting with Brozovic, now too many given the arrivals in the midfield.
Juventus likes the Croatian a lot but at the moment Inter don't seem willing to negotiate, although anything could happen until August 31st. In fact, the bianconeri are completing various outgoing operations which, combined with the collections on Pogba and Morata, will allow the last two purchases for Allegri. In Corso Galileo Ferraris coffers will arrive 21 million for Coman (Bayern has decided to redeem him), 15 for Pereyra (one step away from Mazzarri's Watford) and 25 for Zaza (the striker has accepted Wolfsburg). In addition to Brozovic (hard to reach at the moment), Witsel and Matuidi like the usual ones, but the feeling is that Marotta won't speed up much. New signing in the home stretch also at Milan, where Galliani, after the run aground in the Bentancur affair, squeezed decisively on José Sosa.
Principito's agent (a far from brilliant past in Naples) is already in Milan and the Rossoneri, for their part, have reached an agreement in principle with Besiktas on the basis of 7,5 million. Now they are just waiting for the arrival of the midfielder, decisive, despite him, in definitive abandonment to the Cuadrado dream: in fact, Sosa will occupy the last available non-EU place (the other is Gustavo Gomez). In the meantime, the transfer of Matri to Sassuolo is official: the attacker, released for free by the Rossoneri, has signed a two-year contract worth 1,5 million per season.
