The final rush has begun. The market enters its hottest phase, the one in which decisive choices are made, for better or for worse. The first day of the championship highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of our big teams, who will now try to fill any gaps in the last hectic days of negotiations, always keeping an eye on the budgets of course.
The most succulent news of this week concerns Ljajic, who definitively entered into a break with Fiorentina. After Montella's harsh words ("This story bored me, I no longer have the will or time to wait, also because he's not serene"), the facts arrived: the Serbian was not called up for the match against Catania. In short, relations are now at an all-time low and it seems difficult (but not impossible) for the parties to mend. Today the player's father and his agent Ramadani will have the last decisive meeting with the purple club: the black smoke seems inevitable.
And so a real market thriller will break out, with Rome, Atletico Madrid and Milan at the window. The Giallorossi seem to be the favourites, given that the transfer of Lamela to Tottenham is now a done deal, the Spaniards represent the best solution for Fiorentina, the Rossoneri for the player.
Speaking of Milan, tomorrow's match against PSV is undoubtedly the hub of the transfer market. Should it go well, Galliani will receive new lifeblood to strengthen the squad. In addition to the Serbian and the timeless Honda, the CEO is aiming for an important central defender (Astori or Sakho), truly essential to give the team competitiveness.
Inter is also looking for the big shot, increasingly enticed by the prospect of bringing Samuel Eto'o back to the Nerazzurri. The operation is not easy, but as Massimo Moratti admitted, nothing is impossible. The Cameroonian has already been in Milan for a few days for family reasons, given that his loved ones have never left the Lombard capital, which says a lot about how much the Inter hypothesis attracts him. The third wheel, however, is a heavy one: Josè Mourinho. The Special One has always had a huge influence on Eto'o, and Chelsea certainly can't be defined as a second choice, even as regards the economic aspect. That's why his manager Claudio Vigorelli has flown to London, but that doesn't mean that the games are done. The blues are only offering an annual contract which, however tempting (5,5 million a season, 1 more than the Nerazzurri are offering), does not fully satisfy the player. Furthermore, Mourinho considers him the alternative to Rooney, Chelsea's real market target.
For Inter, however, Eto'o would be a very first choice, as can be seen from the two-year proposal presented to his attorney. They are hot hours, the story will be defined in a short time, in one sense or another. Despite the excellent results, Juve are also looking around to further strengthen an already very strong squad. Practically nuanced Zuniga (the Colombian indeed is negotiating the renewal of the contract with Napoli), Marotta is about to turn to Nani. In fact, the Portuguese will expire with Manchester United in 2014, which is why the English would sell him at a settlement price (13 million negotiable). The idea is tantalizing, but the signing of the player, who has already scared Garcia's Roma, is holding back the enthusiasm. On him then there are also the ubiquitous Paris Saint Germain and Monaco, a fierce competition that creates many problems for Juventus. Which in any case has no intention of passing out and could even decide to stay that way.
