JUVENTUS PUNTA VARGAS IN EXCHANGE FOR AMAURI. BRUNO ALVES COMES IN DEFENSE
The Juventus market isn't over yet, on the contrary, days of great work await Marotta. Because, in addition to supporting the team according to Conte's needs, there is still a too numerous squad to thin out. The easiest to place, at the moment, seems to be Amauri: in fact, the strong interest shown by Fiorentina has been added to the polls of Palermo, Genoa and Parma, which through its DS Pantaleo Corvino is carrying on the negotiation with the lights off. The centre-forward would be a very welcome player, especially if Alberto Gilardino were to leave at the end of the market (Marseille but above all Genoa are in the running for him). Here then is that the negotiation to bring Vargas to black and white could take shape, after Viola had rejected first Martinez and then Iaquinta as counterparts. Corvino's counter-request was Quagliarella, but Juventus said no. Marotta would like 7-8 million for Amauri, who also has a very onerous contract. Fiorentina Vargas estimates him at around 15 million, but there is room for finding an agreement.
The other name to be held in high consideration as a winger is that of the 24-year-old Dutch Eljero Elia from Hamburg: in the next few days, in fact, a black and white emissary will be in Germany to start negotiations. For the young Dutchman Marotta is ready to put 8 million euros on the plate plus any bonuses. He let it be known that he really likes Italy and Juventus, especially after the last disagreement with coach Oenning, who replaced him after only 45 minutes in the first Bundesliga match lost against Borussia Dortmund.
In addition to the tall full-back, Juventus continues to search for at least one central defender (but it cannot be excluded that two may arrive, in order to divert Chiellini to the left wing), with the name of Lugano (but Juve also follows Alex of Chelsea) always in pole position. In Turkey we are experiencing days of great turmoil due to what has already been renamed as the "Turkish Calciopoli", a scandal that is involving many clubs, including Fenerbahce, owner of the Uruguayan's card. Lugano has a release clause of 3,5 million, but in the event that Fenerbahce were relegated for illegality, they could release themselves and end up on the market on a free transfer. Marotta is ready to take advantage of it.
Meanwhile, another hypothesis for the defense is making its way: it is the 29-year-old Bruno Alves. The Portuguese wants to leave Russia (the card belongs to Zenit), and the Bianconeri could help him. It remains to solve the problem related to the card, which only last year the Russian company had paid 22 million euros to Porto. There is no shortage of competition (above all Villas Boas' Chelsea, who know their compatriot well and are insistently asking Abramovich for it), but Juve could play the Bonucci card, requested by Zenit in recent weeks. Owner of the Portuguese national team, physically powerful and also an expert in the international arena, Bruno Alves has a rather rich palmares on his side (four Portuguese championships, a Cup and a Portuguese Super Cup won with Porto; a Russian Premier League and a Russian Super Cup won with Zenit), so much so that it ended up in Marotta's notebook who is closely following the negotiations.
But Juventus, as mentioned, must also thin out, and in the next few days it could be the turn of the young Swedish Ekdal, who has returned to black and white after his experience at Bologna, who is one step away from leaving Turin again. It was the player himself who confirmed it to the Fotbollskanalen newspaper: “I think I'll change team soon. I will go where there is more opportunity to play. Cagliari? I've read in the papers, but I don't know which is the hottest destination. However there is no hurry, there is still time before the market closes”.
SNEIJDER, THE WEEK OF GOODBYE. THEN THE ATTACK OF TEVEZ
The obstacle of the Italian Super Cup has been overcome, from now on every day is good for Wesley Sneijder's farewell. Before the away match in Beijing, nothing could be said, not least in order not to undermine an already hot environment, but now the negotiations will get underway. To tell the truth, if we were to listen to what comes from England, we should be talking about a sale that has already been concluded on the basis of 36 million euros. All done then? No, it is impossible to conclude a negotiation of this magnitude within hours of an official commitment. There may be, however, that during the recent trip to Dublin where Inter played against City, Moratti (present for the occasion) spoke with the Citizens managers, thus laying the foundations for an agreement to be formalized upon returning from Beijing. It is no coincidence that after the match against Milan, Marco Branca also spoke of Sneijder: "Since he is one of the strongest players in the world, it is clear that there have been polls – explained the director of the technical area -, but there has been no contact as advanced as the media understand it, and no price has been set. I can also repeat that it is non-transferable, but if a super offer arrives, what about it?”. Simple, it is accepted, as it seems by now to be Moratti's intentions, who has well understood how to raise cash it is much better to deprive yourself of Sneijder rather than Eto'o, also in the light of Gasperini's tactical choices, who sees the Dutch as a midfielder rather than as an attacking midfielder, although he employed him behind the Cameroon player in Beijing.
In the evening, the statements from the person concerned also arrived, in some ways sensational, who declared to the Dutch magazine Voetbal International: “Am I away? I've read but I can honestly say I don't know anything, what I do know is that the money is needed for Inter and apparently my price is the best one for sale. I have five days off after the friendly against England on Wednesday. I expect my future to be clear by then. City or United? I can say very little about United and City's interest: I haven't spoken to either of them, so I can't say much about my future now."
The money collected from the sale of Sneijder will allow Inter to launch themselves on the market in search of those players Gasperini is asking for: the objectives are Casemiro for the midfield and Tevez for the attack. For the Brazilian, however, there are complications, because the San Paolo management has made it known that they want to interrupt the dialogue with the midfielder's agent, Julio Fressato: "He is offering the player to all the clubs - said Adalberto Baptista, manager of the club -, as long as I'm here, I won't deal with him anymore. Casemiro's contract is valid until February 2015. The player's clause is 65 million dollars. San Paulo will only sell if the release clause is paid."
But Inter also has the need to sell. At the start there are certainly Mariga, Muntari, Rivas and a young man (one between Santon and Caldirola), even if Branca admitted that it is not so simple: "Some of the starters refused the destinations" admitted Branca. Among these there is Mariga, very close to Real Sociedad, where he will go on loan with the right to buy for the Spaniards, set at 9 million euros.
MILAN, GATTUSO ASKS FOR A MIDDLEFIELD
In Beijing, after the Milan-Inter match, there was also time to talk about the transfer market. Gattuso did it, one who never sends things to say: "In midfield I see people with more or less the same characteristics, we need a player capable of getting the team going". Pirlo's departure has left its mark, and Gattuso has a very clear sketch of possible substitutes: “Aquilani and Montolivo are two quality players. Aquilani fits in more, we all know Montolivo, he's been in the national team for years ”. An important investiture for two players who were already in the sights of via Turati anyway. Aquilani is currently a "prisoner" in Liverpool, although the Reds are no longer betting on him. If Liverpool's request drops to around 8-10 million, Milan could think about it. The same goes for Montolivo: expiring in June 2012 (but as early as January he could agree with another club), Fiorentina are currently asking for 10-12 million. Too much for a player who in less than a year will be taken for free. Hence, Milan would be willing to put no more than 5-6 million on the plate.
ROME, THE FIRST ASSAULT ON NILMAR FAILED
They returned from Spain with a fistful of flies in hand. Rome's emissaries, who went to Villarreal convinced they could snatch the striker Nilmar from the "Yellow Submarine", had to deal with the sudden increase in demand by President Roig. The initial request of 24 million euros didn't scare Sabatini, who offered 11 million euros plus bonuses. No way, Roig (the same one who rejected all the offers for Giuseppe Rossi) said no. That's why Roma are thinking about the alternatives, namely Abel Hernandez from Palermo and Palacio from Genoa, perhaps proposing to Preziosi Borriello as a counterpart.
In the meantime, news from Portugal is bouncing that Fernando is close to Roma. According to the newspaper 'A Bola', Porto's failure to call up the 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder (nicknamed "O Polvo", the octopus, due to the large number of balls recovered in each match) for the Super Cup final against Vitoria Guimaraes would be a signal of the Dragoes' decision to sell the player despite a contract until 2014. Fernando's current cost, 15 million euros, is however considered too high by the Giallorossi club.
LAVEZZI, TOTTENHAM TRYING. BUT ATLETICO MADRID FALLS ON THE "POCHO".
It is understood that the relationship between Lavezzi and Napoli has deteriorated a bit, especially in the light of what has happened in the last few days. First the declarations of De Laurentiis, who invited him to take on greater responsibilities by avoiding "star-like" attitudes, then the decision to let him go to Porto Cervo for a week (a choice which, beyond the facade declarations, the president has not at all shared). Lastly, the constant market rumors that see the Argentinian further and further away from Naples. De Laurentiis has managed, for the moment, not to be tempted by the big names who would like Hamsik and Cavani, but for the "Pocho" it's a different story. The fault of a low, too low termination clause (31 million euros) and therefore within the reach of those who can afford an investment that is not too expensive. Rumors of an interest from Tottenham are bouncing from England, but in the last few hours the name of Atletico Madrid has popped up overwhelmingly. Manzano, new coach of the Colchoneros, sees Lavezzi as the ideal replacement for Aguero, who has just moved to City. Precisely thanks to the 45 million deal concluded by the red and white, there is no shortage of cash in hand, and the release clause of 31 million thus becomes more than within the reach of Atletico, who would like to give their fans a number 10 egg to worthily replace the beloved “Kun” Aguero.
BALOTELLI, THE LAST DISAPPOINTMENT. LEONARDO KO AT DEBUT
The latest disappointment is called the Community Shield, with his City leading 2-0 at half-time and then coming from behind until the final 2-3 by their rivals United: it was not a pleasant Sunday for Mario Balotelli, who hoped to raise the first trophy of the season in England, and which instead saw the sensational comeback materialize first from the field and then from the bench, replaced in the second half by Mancini. He disappeared in the locker room, and everyone immediately thought about breaking up, only to then come back to the bench gloomy a few minutes later. He's not doing well in Manchester, he said it over and over again, this latest disappointment could make him want to pack his bags even more. If it were up to him, he would already be in Milan, but City don't want to sell him out and Milan can't afford to spend certain amounts.
In France, on the other hand, Leonardo's adventure on the PSG bench got off to a bad start, defeated at the "Parco dei Principi" on the first day of the French championship by Lorent. Pastore, as soon as he was introduced, was not on the pitch, and who knows if the boos that accompanied the Paris Saint Germain players at the end of the game might lead Leonardo to spend more. After all, the sheikhs want to win, and the 45 million euros spent on Pastore make it clear that they are willing to do anything to do so.
