Serie A Transfer Update (August 5th)

It's been a fairly lively week for rumors in the Italian Serie A's transfer market, with Tuttosport and Il Corriere Dello Sport naming many link-ups between players and clubs that have been flatly rejected by those involved. Firstly, a bit of a shock hit the peninsula when a possible link between Milan and Ronaldinho was quickly mentioned, but Milan rejected this, saying he's just too pricey at 85.5 million pounds. Ronaldinho also said he would certainly not leave Barcelona this summer. Milan is more likely to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Juventus, Massimo Oddo from Lazio, Hernan Crespo from Chelsea, or any of a long list of want-aways who want to be at A.C. Milan.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan is only slightly less active with transfer link-ups right now. They just extended Marco Materazzi's contract, and are looking to buy want-away Luca Toni from Fiorentina, though some in the Fiorentina camp say he won't be going anywhere. Inter Milan already used some of this summer's transfers in a 1-1 draw against Ajax in the Amsterdam Tournament, including Olivier Dacourt from Roma and Maicon from A.S. Monaco. Neither of their biggest signings played, however, Fabio Grosso from Palermo or Patrick Veira from Juventus.

Livorno Calcio had one bit of news this week, that being that Cristiano Lucarelli, rumored to go to Juventus, will be staying, and so will World Cup tertiary goalkeeper Marco Amelia.

A.S. Roma has been heavily linked with Inter's David Pizarro, as Roma manager Luciano Spalleti has voiced a desire to sign him above anyone else, and Pizarro's agent has pleaded for an offer to be made. None have come so far, however.

Christian Vieri, former Italian national team striker, has had a bad few last years, injured for most of them and at one point transferred from Inter to Milan, then to Monaco in less than twelve months. He was now signed with Sampdoria to likely finish out his career, but it seems his career may now end before he even plays for them. He is likely to sign on to do a television reality show, which would make him unavailable to even play for the season, effectively retired. Surely this has been an eventful week for the Serie A.

UPDATE: Simone Barone, World Cup champion, has just confirmed his planned move to recently promoted Torino.

Source

• http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug5g.html
• http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug5e.html
• http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug5h.html
• http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug5c.html

Date

Sat 08/05/06, 4:47 am EST