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More Serie A matches fall victim to extreme weather conditions After Juventus' trip to Parma was called off yesterday, two more matches in Italy's top flight have been postponed on Wednesday evening due to the poor weather
Feb 1, 2012 11:25:00 AM
By Enis Koylu
More Serie A matches are set to fall victim to the extreme weather conditions gripping Italy, after Juventus' trip to Parma was called off just 45 minutes before kick-off.
Bologna's clash with Fiorentina has officially been postponed, with the Stadio Renato Dell'Ara club confirming the weather as the cause.
"The game between Bologna and Fiorentina game that should have been held today, Wednesday February 1 for Matchday 21, has been postponed due to bad weather," a statement on the club's official website read.
Another game that will not be taking place as originially scheduled is Catania's trip to Siena, with the hosts saying that concerns over safety prompted the decision.
"The security operations group, which met this morning, took the view that there were concerns over safety for the conditions for the match between Siena and Catania," the club confirmed.
Elsewhere in Italy's top flight, Atalanta's match with Genoa, Cesena's trip to Napoli, Udinese's meeting with Lecce, Lazio's encounter with Milan and Palermo's visit to Inter remain unaffected.
Arsenal ignore their problems once again, Wolfsburg sign a new team - the losers of the January transfer window
We take an in-depth look at the dealings from the last month, picking out which teams failed to sign their targets, which had moves back-fire, and which were overall duds
Feb 1, 2012 12:30:00 PM
Much was promised in the January transfer window, but in the end, relatively little actually happened. In spite of widespread rumours linking them with moves, Carlos Tevez, Keisuke Honda, Giovani dos Santos, Lucas Barrios and more stayed put.
And as proposed deals collapsed left and right, many teams failed to bring in the reinforcements they had sought last month. Some even acted to sell first, assuming the eventual signing of a player who never came. Indeed, as the deadline struck, there were many 'losers.'
Below, we take a look at the teams that suffered most during the January transfer window.
AJAX
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IN A NUTSHELL
Failed to sign a much-needed winger, and sold the wrong player
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They were in the market for a new winger as in their current squad only Derk Boerrigter and Miralem Sulejmani are Ajax quality, and announced on deadline day that they wanted to sign Heerenveen star Luciano Narsingh. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old ruled out a move to the Amsterdam ArenA shortly after.
To make things even worse, Ajax lost one of their biggest talents for a relatively small fee as Netherlands Under-19 star Ouasim Bouy left the club for Juventus. The midfielder turned down a contract offer in December, and would have been available on a free this summer. Therefore, Ajax had little choice but to cash in on Bouy now.
And to cap a not so successful month, they failed to offload Mounir El Hamdaoui to Fiorentina. The Morocco international is one of the top earners in Amsterdam, but has not played a single game since April after falling out with head coach Frank de Boer. A move to the Viola seemed to be on the cards, but eventually fell through after Ajax demanded a bank guarantee minutes before the window closed, and Fiorentina could not present one on that short notice.
ARSENAL
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IN A NUTSHELL
Needed full-backs, signed an unproven, injury-prone midfielder
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Much of the damage was already done even before Deadline Day for Arsenal, who lost all three of their Premier League games this month largely because Arsene Wenger has had no fit full-backs in his squad.Arsenal should have signed a left-back, even on loan, to see them through this injury crisis while the news that Jack Wilshere could be out until the end of the season has left the Gunners lacking drive in midfield.
Despite having the highest ticket prices in the country and public proclamations that there is money available, Arsenal made just one signing this month, a €750,000 deal for relatively unknown Borussia Dortmund teenager Thomas Eisfeld.
The risk for Arsenal now is that they miss out on the top four finish this season and find themselves in a vicious circle in the summer, when it will be difficult to attract top quality players without the incentive of Champions League football.
LAZIO
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IN A NUTSHELL
Targeted forward reinforcements, but weakened their attack
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In a rare position of strength going into January, the Biancocelesti had high hopes of backing up their elevated league position with a good transfer campaign. However, despite sitting in the box seat in the race to sign Keisuke Honda, they ended up just missing out on the Japanese international's signature, and their late bid to raid Villarreal for Nilmar as a second choice option proved fruitless.
And while they have not lost names of note, they have certainly lost numbers. Djibril Cisse's summer move never came off, with only his debut goal against Milan to show for his 18 league games. But, due to the Honda and Nilmar failures, he has not been replaced.
Elsewhere, Antonio Candreva - who has flattered to deceive in countless settings over recent years - and Emiliano Alfaro have both come in, but they are the only incomings to offset six departures as an already shallow squad just got lighter.
Failing to sign the striking quality they sought while also reducing their squad size does not add up to a good month for Lazio.
MARSEILLE
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IN A NUTSHELL
Indirectly and unwittingly strengthened their rivals
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In a glorious case of irony, Marseille helped strengthen the top contenders for the Ligue 1 title, PSG. In letting Lucho Gonzalez leave for Porto, L'OM set in motion a string of transfers that ended with Thiago Motta moving to the Paris club.
Gonzalez had been struggling this season and was an acceptable loss for Marseille. However, his arrival at Porto allowed the Portuguese side to loan Fredy Guarin to Inter, which in turn facilitated PSG's move for the Brazilian midfielder.
Now, with nine points separating them from the leaders, Marseille have dug themselves an even greater deficit than before. A seemingly harmless move gone awry.
VILLARREAL
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IN A NUTSHELL
Aimed high, had to settle for a second-choice striker
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Having lost star midfielder Santi Cazorla in the summer, Villarreal got off to an awful start in La Liga, winning just one of their first nine games and lurking in the relegation zone before suffering another big blow as they lost striker Giuseppe Rossi to a serious injury.
The January window was just around the corner, though, and seemed an ideal time for the club to strengthen their struggling squad. A new striker was the priority, but the defence had also looked sub-standard and the midfield short of quality following the departure of Cazorla.
The club set their sights on Tottenham's Giovani dos Santos, but failure to free funds through the sale of Nilmar means the club were unable to sign the Mexican, and are stuck with an injury-prone and under-performing forward who does not want to be at the club.
Meanwhile, the deadline-day arrival of Argentine Alejandro Martinuccio looks like a Plan B at best and the squad remains short in other areas. The only plus point: the club have found some form under new coach Jose Molina. But they remain in the bottom three and desperately need to avoid further injuries if they are to beat the drop. This transfer window was a missed opportunity for Villarreal.
WOLFSBURG
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IN A NUTSHELL
Sold (almost) entire team, signed a new one
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When Monchengladbach host Wolfsburg on Saturday, Marco Reus & co. will recognise only a couple faces from the last time the two sides squared off. During the transfer window, Felix Magath made no fewer than eight signings, and sent away six either on loan or as full transfers.
Wolfsburg's willingness to freely move players in and out of the Volkswagen Arena is risky, and to some extent nonsensical. The Lower Saxons stand in mid-table now, and have absolutely no chance of qualifying for the Champions League. But with just five points separating them from potential relegation to the 2. Bundesliga, to roll the dice by making such wholesale changes is to take a massive risk.
It would be unfair to write off Wolfsburg's new signings already, but their policy has a familiar tune with an unsavoury precedent, and smacks of despair. Time will tell whether Magath has signed the next Dzeko, Misimovic and Grafite - or whether he simply signed the next batch of duds to be shown the door in six months.
Racing Club on verge of signing Lucas Pratto - report The striker has failed to nail down a regular starting berth with the Rossoblu and the Boca Juniors youth team product is now set to return home on an 18-month loan deal
Inter star Wesley Sneijder expects to be fit for Roma clash The Netherlands international took a knock during Wednesday night's draw with Palermo at San Siro and was replaced midway through the second half
Hernan Crespo confirms Parma exit The Argentine looks set to join Indian Premier Soccer League outfit Barasat after he chose to bring down the curtains on a glittering 16-year stint in Europe
Inter register Diego Forlan, Angelo Palombo & Andrea Poli for Champions League The Nerazzurri have added the Uruguayan striker and two additional midfielders to their roster for European club football's elite tournament, with Olympique de Marseille next up
'I want to win Serie A and the Champions League' - Martin Caceres keen to taste success at Juventus The newly-recruited Uruguayan defender has wasted no time in outlining his ambitions at the Turin giants, and insists he will play anywhere Antonio Conte chooses to deploy him
Juventus' Giuseppe Marotta promises more signings in the summer The Bianconeri director has made it clear that the Turin club will continue to add to their ranks at the end of the season after making three January signings
Stephan El Shaarawy named in AC Milan's Champions League squad Massimiliano Allegri has opted to bring the young forward into the European fold, but there is still no place for Filippo Inzaghi, as the Rossoneri's 25-man selection is finalised
Roma's Luis Enrique: We have to improve in all areas The Stadio Olimpico coach was far from pleased with his side's defeat on Wednesday night, and stressed his team will go nowhere if they do not start to get better
CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda looks forward after transfer to Lazio collapses at the last minute The Japan international, who by all accounts had come to terms with the Serie A side, has already put the collapsed deal behind him as he looks to prove his worth in Moscow
Inter's Claudio Ranieri: Palermo draw was an advert for football
The 60-year-old coach said that the match at the San Siro was a great spectacle which honours the game and admitted that the draw was a fair result
AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri: Loss to Lazio will do us good
After being left bitterly frustrated by his side's inability to break the Biancocelesti down, the Rossoneri boss believes that his side must learn how to win ugly
Massimo Moratti: Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Motta lacked the desire to stay at Inter
The Nerazzurri supremo admitted that the Brazil-born midfielder's heart was not committed to remaining at the club, also commenting on Ranieri's dilemma with Sneijder
Djibril Cisse: Lazio played me out of position
The forward, who scored just one goal in 18 Serie A appearances, repeatedly stated that he wanted to prove himself at Stadio Olimpico but left for England on deadline day
New Inter signing Fredy Guarin out for at least three weeks - report
Club doctors discovered during the player's medical on Tuesday that the Colombia international has a calf problem which could require up to a month on the sidelines
Massimo Moratti: Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Motta lacked the desire to stay at Inter
The Nerazzurri supremo admitted that the Brazil-born midfielder's heart was not committed to remaining at the club, also commenting on Ranieri's dilemma with Sneijder
Feb 1, 2012 9:37:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Inter president Massimo Moratti has declared that Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Motta did not wish to stay at the Serie A side.
Inter signed for the Ligue 1 side on deadline day of the January transfer window in a €10 million deal after growing unhappy at his lack of first-team opportunities at the club this season.
"It was hard for us to hold on to Motta," Moratti told Sky Sport Italia. "If a player lacks the heart to stay it is only fair to allow him to make other choices.
"He is a great professional, but he made a choice."
Questioned about Wesley Sneijder's role in the team, Moratti admitted that coach Claudio Ranieri is still trying to find the best way to make full use of the Dutchman.
"Sneijder wants to play and he has a strong character," Moratti added. "He always wants to play and he can make the difference with his determination."
Manchester City's Carlos Tevez still intent on going to Italy or Spain
The unsettled Argentine insists that he would only consider a move to Serie A or La Liga, despite his transfer to AC Milan failing to materialise in the January window
Juventus keen to open contract talks with Gianluigi Buffon - report
The Italy international has a contract until the summer of 2013, yet the Bianconeri are very keen to keep him at the club until he hangs up his gloves
Inter midfielder Angelo Palombo insists AC Milan did not approach him
The former Sampdoria star has revealed that he did not receive an offer from the Rossoneri in the January transfer window and thus chose to join their city rivals
Vincenzo Iaquinta targets Juventus return after Cesena loan
The experienced striker is keen to impress with the Seahorses in order to earn return to the Turin-based club at the end of the season
Fredy Guarin thrilled with Inter move: This club is an institution
The Colombian midfielder is over the moon with his move to San Siro and says he is interested in learning the Italian language in order to settle in at the club
Roma director Walter Sabatini hints at Simon Kjaer departure
The Danish defender has failed to impress at the Stadio Olimpico and the Serie A side says the club are considering not signing the player at the end of the season
Inter's Zanetti: I didn't tell fans to shut up
It was reported in the Italian media that the Argentine had reacted angrily to criticism from the Nerazzurri faithful but he claims that he only took issue with one supporter
Lega Calcio switches Serie A kick-off times
The Italian Football League has decided to act after seeing four matches from the midweek round of games called off because of adverse weather conditions
Serie A preview: Snow threatens round 22 3 February 2012
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Round 22 of the Serie A is in doubt as heavy snowfalls threaten to disrupt or postpone the league programme.Four midweek league matches were postponed after some of the worst winter weather in recent years played havoc with fixtures.
League leaders Juventus were one of the clubs affected, with their match at Parma a casualty on Tuesday.If the fixture list survives the bleak forecast, Juve can extend their one-point lead when they take on struggling Siena on Sunday.New signings Martin Caceres and Simone Padoin could make their debuts.
AC Milan, hot on Juve's heels in second place, face a tough home task against Napoli. AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani wants the Napoli match postponed with temperatures set to plummet to below minus 10 degrees.
"All the weather forecasts for the next few days predict hazardous weather conditions, the likes of which have not been seen in Milan for 27 years,'' Galliani wrote in an open letter to league president Maurizio Beretta."In these conditions I strongly believe that playing a game ... would be very much more than unsuitable."
Kick-offs in the AC Milan v Napoli and Roma v Inter Milan fixtures have already been moved forward to Sunday at 3pm.Third-placed Udinese will look to keep in touch with Juve when they travel to Fiorentina, who have an impressive home record of five wins.Cellar-dwellars Novara will hope to give themselves a fighting chance of escaping relegation when they faces Cagliari.
The other two teams in the drop zone, Lecce and Cesena, are level on 16 points, three from safety.Lecce host Bologna and Cesena and Catania meet in other lower table encounters.In other matches, Genoa play Lazio, Chievo Verona meet Parma and Palermo tackle Atalanta.
The Italian Football League has decided to act after seeing four matches from the midweek round of games called off because of adverse weather conditions
Feb 2, 2012 4:00:00 PM
By Mark Doyle
The Lega Calcio has announced that all but one of this weekend's Serie A games will kick off at 15.00CET because of complications caused by the recent cold snap.
The adverse weather conditions in Italy at the moment resulted in four matches being called off in midweek, including leaders Juventus' clash with Parma at the Ennio Tardini.
With temperatures set to remain below freezing in the coming days, the Italian Football League has decided against having any evening kick-offs this weekend.
Consequently, two planned Saturday fixtures, Cesena against Catania and Roma versus Inter, will both now get underway at 15.00CET.
The same goes for Milan's clash with Napoli at San Siro, which had originally been pencilled in for 20.45CET that night.
The meeting between Genoa and Lazio at the Luigi Ferraris will go ahead as planned at 12:30CET on Sunday.
Hugo Campagnaro says criticism towards Napoli is unfair
The Argentine defender has dismissed the notion that Napoli are in crisis, while stating that the team is unbeatable when they play at their best
Roma's Francesco Totti: We 'absolutely' want to defeat Inter
The veteran midfielder has asked the club's fans to express their support for the team and highlighted the importance of defeating the Nerazzurri
'We need a win' - Inter's Diego Milito targets victory against Roma
The Argentine striker has called on his side to take the three points from Sunday's match, while adding that there is nothing special behind his current rich vein of form
David Pizarro claims he rejected Juventus for Manchester City because of Roberto Mancini
The 32-year-old says he opted to join the Premier League leaders on loan from Roma because of his work with the Italian coach in the past and praised his boss' leadership
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini: Scudetto is now a two-horse race
The versatile Italy international is refusing to underestimate the threat posed by Udinese and Inter but he feels that his side and AC Milan are the clear frontrunners
Agent dismisses talk of bust-up between Miroslav Klose and Lazio sporting director Igli Tare
The Germany international sat out the midweek victory over AC Milan through injury but there have been reports that the player actually had a falling out with the Albanian
Roma-Inter switched to Sunday
Lega Calcio had previously moved the game to an earlier kick-off on Saturday to combat the adverse weather conditions but it is now set to go ahead the following day
Inter coach Claudio Ranieri: Sneijder injury scared me
The Netherlands international was forced off midway through the second half of the draw with Palermo but the playmaker confirmed on Thursday that he only suffered a minor knock
PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti: Borriello needs more game time at Juventus
The Bianconeri signed the former Italy international on loan from Roma at the start of last month’s transfer window but he has seen just nine minutes of Serie A football to date
Genoa's Sebastien Frey: I spoke with Paris Saint-Germain last summer & Bayern Munich have wanted me in the past
The French goalkeeper has revealed talks with the current Ligue 1 leaders and the Bavarians, and stressed that Fiorentina have missed their chance to become a top team
CSKA Moscow director general Roman Babaev blames Lazio for Keisuke Honda move breaking down
The Japan international was subject to a deadline day offer from the Italian side, but the two clubs failed to agree a fee, with the Russians berating Edy Reja's men
No undersoil heating, chaotic organisation, ancient terraces & the stadium problems that must be addressed after the midweek mayhem in Serie A
The 21st round of the Italian league season was decimated by the weather, throwing up all sorts of question marks about provision and decision-making across the peninsula
No undersoil heating, chaotic organisation, ancient terraces & the stadium problems that must be addressed after the midweek mayhem in Serie A
The 21st round of the Italian league season was decimated by the weather, throwing up all sorts of question marks about provision and decision-making across the peninsula
Feb 3, 2012 12:00:00 PM
By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Editor
Many eyebrows were raised in late-July when the 2011-12 Serie A calendar was revealed. It had nothing to do with who played who on opening day, nor the timing of the Milan or Rome derbies, and the final day pairings were the last thing on people’s minds. Instead it was the decision to again schedule a midweek round at the end of January that had many talking.
While last season’s 23rd round went ahead unscathed, it was a shivering collection of supporters that made their way to the 10 Serie A grounds, and it surprised many that the Lega Serie A were willing to push their luck again this year. Many players from the top flight expressed surprise that midweek evening fixtures would once more be forced on them, with Fiorentina’s Valon Behrami raising the issue once more on Twitter earlier this week.
But after only six games went ahead due to the snow this week, and Inter’s home game against Palermo played in farcical icy conditions which put players at risk, there are a number of issues which need to be looked into for the same situation not to arise in future seasons.
NO UNDERSOIL HEATING
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The first problem came in terms of the lack of protection against the elements. Four games fell to the inclement weather and at least one other should have gone with them. In every case, the only thing used to protect the pitch from the snow was a series of tarpaulin sheets. In the 21st century, this is frankly ridiculous.It hardly takes the brightest or most scientific of minds to realise that the tarps are completely ineffective.
Allowing the snow to settle on the huge strips is little more preventative than leaving the turf uncovered and crossing your fingers. The white stuff is too much for these sheets, meaning that when tractors or brushes are used to clear the tarps and unveil the pitch, all that remains is an icy surface ill-equipped for top class football.
Handheld snow blowers do little more than clear the surface snow, making the pitch look greener but doing nothing to thaw the grass underfoot. The widespread lack of undersoil heating – brought about because of the local authorities’ ownership of most stadiums – needs to be addressed.
CHAOTIC ORGANISATION
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It was clear from around 15.00 on Tuesday that the match between Parma and Juventus was going to be a victim to the weather, yet it somehow took until after 19.00 for the inevitable decision to be confirmed.
Then on Wednesday we had the bizarre situation whereby the Atalanta-Genoa clash was called a no-go just 15 minutes before the scheduled 18.00 start, only for the judgement to be reversed. A pitch inspection was then made a full 30 minutes after the intended kick-off time, at which point the few fans to have braved the weather were put out of their misery.
Such a lack of common sense and blatant disregard for supporters is absolutely mind-boggling. Supporters had trekked through snowy, slippery and often icy conditions on the streets of Parma and Bergamo to find they would just have to turn back again without seeing their sides in action.
That the games were called off was completely understandable. That nobody was willing to go ahead and make an immediate decision when conditions were clearly not suitable is unforgivable. It is no coincidence that both of these games were due to get sole TV coverage across the country. Fans need to come first, not bank balances.
PATHETIC IGNORANCE OF THE FANS' INTERESTS
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“We could have played the game at 15:00,” said Juve coach Antonio Conte after the Parma clash was called off on Tuesday. Yes, Antonio … Brilliant idea. Why not alienate the fans some more just after they have been royally shafted?As if it was not enough to be dragged out to the stadium through the snow then sent straight back home, the Bianconeri boss was proposing that in future it should be made even more difficult for supporters to attend their teams’ games.
If matches that were under threat were suddenly all changed to midweek afternoon kick-offs, it would be all too easy for Serie A to be treated with as much contempt as the Coppa Italia, which has countless later-round fixtures rearranged to late-afternoon starts.
The last thing a league with dwindling attendances and supporter apathy, plus a sense of contempt towards those who attend, should be considering is midweek afternoon kick-offs. Conte’s claims were scandalous when placed into this context.
This should not be seen as a personal attack on Conte though, his words were simply a reflection on the general disregard for supporters, completely out of place though they were.
ANCIENT UNCOVERED TERRACES
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Another thing which makes supporters not want to bother turning up is the rickety state of some of the stadiums around the country. At some there remain temporary standing areas which have been in place for a number of years, rusting away under rain and snow, while there are swathes of uncovered terracing at 11 of the 18 current Serie A venues.In the spring, summer and even autumn, this hardly qualifies as a problem, with most fans basking in the warm seasonal weather in front of the national sport. But in winter, it is a different story entirely.
Italy has a very distinct climate, particularly in the north of the country. In the summer it is generally very hot, but in the winter it can be unbearably cold. Even on Thursday night, as Novara faced up to Chievo at the Stadio Silvio Piola, the remnants of two days’ worth of snow made the terraces an unforgiving place to be despite the artificial pitch allowing for the clash to be played as scheduled.
With each new announcement of plans for a new home venue for a Serie A club comes the hope that the Juventus Stadium blueprint will be followed. It is the least the fans deserve if they are to be expected to continue braving near-arctic conditions for two months of the season.
WINTER BREAK LENGTH & TIMING
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It is high time that the timing of the winter break is looked at. Two seasons ago, the break came one week too late, with a freezing cold weekend preceding the seasonal closedown. But most years it is during January that the worst of the weather arrives.Now, it is impossible to arrange the season around a weather forecast six months in advance, but more must be done to ensure that the winter break serves its initial purpose. These days it is used as a good chance to rake in a few extra euros with a trip to the likes of Dubai, while also giving the players Christmas off.
But the supposed reason for a winter break is the avoidance of playing in the most inclement weather conditions, and to that end, a change in timing should be looked at. The final weekend of 2009 was largely bearable, but for the decision to go ahead with an Inter v Lazio evening kick-off played in -12C weather.
That particular issue could have been avoided had the game been scheduled as one of the afternoon matches, when the temperature had yet to drop below zero, with one of the southern teams hosting the evening game (Roma’s home fixture that day kicked off at 15.00 in 10C sunshine).
In most years, it is during January that Italy will have its coldest, snowiest weather, meaning a winter break from mid to late January is likely to result in more fixtures going ahead as planned. With more consideration offered to southern teams hosting evening matches at either side of such a break, this would all result in more games remaining unaffected by the weather. A three to four week break during January would surely be more effective than the current situation, at least until there are more venues suitable for hosting winter fixtures.
REDUCTION OF GAMES
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A longer winter break would, of course, mean squeezing the calendar elsewhere. As already outlined, the intense summer heat makes for similarly uncomfortable viewing midway through the year, so the idea of extending the league season into June with largely evening fixtures is not necessarily a goer, even before taking into account any objections Uefa would have to such a decision.So it begs the question as to what else can be done, and the reduction of Serie A fixtures is one idea which arises.
As a huge enthusiast of the Italian game, this writer would be the last person to ask for less matches normally, but the quality of football and playing conditions would surely both increase markedly if the calendar is shortened to 34 rounds.
Serie A was only extended to a 38-game season due to the Caso Catania of 2004, and had nothing at all to do with preserving or increasing the quality of the product. There are too many teams in the top flight sitting in a comfort zone for long spells of the campaign these days, with at least one club invariably becoming stranded at the bottom of the standings.
The lack of competitiveness of teams 19 and 20 needs to be addressed. This could combine with the need to relieve the pressure on referees, TV companies and the game’s authorities to get games played in January - all forcing the Lega Serie A’s hand over reducing the size of the top flight.
Roma-Inter switched to Sunday
Lega Calcio had previously moved the game to an earlier kick-off on Saturday to combat the adverse weather conditions but it is now set to go ahead the following day
Feb 3, 2012 3:15:00 PM
Roma's Serie A showdown with Inter at the Stadio Olimpico has been moved to Sunday as the current cold snap continues to wreak havoc with the Serie A fixture list.
Lega Calcio had already decided to switch the scheduled Saturday evening game to a 15:00CET kick-off but they have now also opted to move it back 24 hours to give it the best possible chance of going ahead.
However, Cesena's clash with Catania, which had also been rearranged for 15:00CET on Saturday, has now been postponed because of the adverse weather conditions.
Sunday's programme remains intact, but the scheduled evening kick-off between Milan and Napoli at San Siro has been moved to 15:00CET.
The meeting between Genoa and Lazio at the Luigi Ferraris will still go ahead as planned at 12:30CET on Sunday.
The heavy snowfall in Italy over the past few days resulted in four matches being called off in midweek.
Lega Calcio has now announced that Parma versus Juventus and Atalanta against Genoa will now take place on February 15 at 18:30CET.
Meanwhile, the games between Bologna and Fiorentina and Siena and Catania have been rescheduled for the same time on February 21.
Marcello Lippi: Juventus set to dominate Serie A once more
The Turin club have taken a while to recover from 'Calciopoli' but the man who led them to five titles in two separate spells feels that they are now poised to reign supreme again
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent hints at Real Madrid interest
The Sweden international did not settle well during his one season at Barcelona but the striker's representative has suggested that he might be open to a return to La Liga
Introducing AC Milan new boy Lucas Roggia: Alexandre Pato without the frills
The Rossoneri spent the entire duration of the transfer window pursuing Carlos Tevez but they ended up signing Maxi Lopez and a Brazilian who is even unknown in his own country
Inter's Claudio Ranieri looking forward to facing former team Roma
The Italian says that the attacking mentality of Luis Enrique's side should mean that there will be space at the back for his men to exploit, which will create a lot of chances
AC Milan's Antonio Cassano will not return this season, claims neurosurgeon
The 29-year-old Italy international has been out of action since November after undergoing heart surgery and talk that he might make a comeback in April seems wide of the mark
Palermo's Bortolo Mutti admits Josip Ilicic has struggled with second-season syndrome
The Rosanero boss is of the opinion the Slovenian was showered in praise too soon by parts of the Italian media, and as a result has not matched his exploits from last season
Inter tried to sign Genoa's Juraj Kucka in January, claims agent
The player's representative says the Nerazzurri had originally attempted to push his proposed transfer forward, but later suggested it was best he stayed put in Liguria
Walter Mazzarri hoping Napoli bounce back with 'perfect performance' against AC Milan
The boss of the Partenopei admits he is frustrated with his side's poor return in front of goal, but is hopeful they can generate a positive response to their defeat to Genoa
AC Milan's Alessandro Nesta to miss Napoli clash due to muscular injury
The champions have been dealt a blow ahead of their key Serie A fixture against Walter Mazzarri's men, after the experienced stopper was forced off the training field on Saturday
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri: We are not having a disappointing season
The Italian is not worried about his team's recent performances and believes Walter Mazzarri's men will be difficult opponents at San Siro this weekend
Fiorentina star Stevan Jovetic: I want to win the Ballon d'Or one day
The 22-year old has spoken of his ultimate ambition in the sport and defended his team-mates after the Viola have come under some heavy criticism this season
Agent: Lazio offered more than €10 million for Nilmar
The player's representative in Italy revealed that his client came very close to joining the Serie A side on the final day of the winter transfer window
Daniele De Rossi expected to sign new Roma deal next week - report
The Italy international looks set to renew his contract with the Serie A club in the next seven days, shunning offers from both Manchester sides in the process
Lazio defend their efforts to sign Keisuke Honda
The Biancocelesti insisted that their bid for the Japan international was more than adequate and hit out at critics who they feel are trying to unsettle the squad
Juventus' Antonio Conte: No matter the bookmakers' odds, AC Milan are still favourites for the Scudetto
The Turin giants are frontrunners in the race for Serie A for the first time since Calciopoli but the league leaders' coach wants to downplay the surrounding media hype
Thiago Motta may have been the best transfer of the January window, but he won't be as important for PSG as he was for Inter
While signing the Italy international has undoubtedly boosted the quality of PSG's squad, his talents risk being camouflaged at the Parc des Princes, Robin Bairner explains
Juventus' Andrea Pirlo wants to stay top of Serie A with Siena win
The Bianconeri are a point ahead of AC Milan in the race for the Scudetto but their Italy international is keenly aware that they face a difficult opponent on Sunday
Roma's Luis Enrique insists his side can beat Inter: We are on the right track
The Giallorossi have improved after a poor start to the campaign and, despite a 4-2 defeat to Cagliari last time out, their Spanish coach is confident of victory on Sunday
Introducing AC Milan new boy Lucas Roggia: Alexandre Pato without the frills
The Rossoneri spent the entire duration of the transfer window pursuing Carlos Tevez but they ended up signing Maxi Lopez and a Brazilian who is even unknown in his own country
Feb 5, 2012 9:00:00 AM
By Samuele Maggio
Just before the close of the transfer window, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani announced the signing of Lucas Roggia. It was not a signing that most Rossoneri fans had been anticipating.
However, the 21-year-old Brazilian is managed by none other than Mino Raiola. So just who is this latest South American to have landed at San Siro and why have Milan chosen to pluck him from obscurity?
"He's a pacy striker with great technique and great talent," he enthused. "He's still very young and raw, so he's not ready for the first team, but he has the potential to become a great attacker in the future."
As Andre points out, Lucas is definitely one for the future, not yet ready for the first team. Indeed, he made just two appearances for Internacional in the Brazilian championship before Milan decided to snap him up. Consequently, there is little chance of Massimiliano Allegri throwing him straight into the Rossoneri's starting line-up.
LUCAS ROGGIA
FORWARD | AC MILAN
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VITAL STATISTICS
Name
Lucas Roggia
Position
Forward
D.O.B.
21/06/1991
Born
Santa Maria, Brazil
Height
177cm
Weight
75kg
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However, there is no denying the youngster's talent - as underlined by the fact that Raiola, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent, has decided to take him under his wing.
"He has the kind of excellent ball control when moving at speed that makes him a truly modern forward," he said of his latest protege. "On the other hand, however, he's still a bit inaccurate in front of goal. He loves to hold on to the ball, which makes him a bit unpopular with team-mates at times."
A Brazilian forward, quick and small, schooled in Internacional, with rebellious curls - the comparisons with current Milan forward Alexandre Pato draw themselves. However, Andre is quick to point out that Lucas is not quite at the same level as his compatriot just yet.
"We're saying that they have similar characteristics and he could look a bit like Pato, but he still has to improve a lot and he's still not well known, even in Brazil," he explains.
He has the kind of excellent ball control when moving at speed that makes him a truly modern forward
- Mino Raiola
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So what of his chances of emulating Pato's success at Milan? Andre is not expecting Lucas to make an instant impact at San Siro.
"At the moment he is a player from a small club, but one that has the qualities to become a great player for a great team," he reasoned.
"Seeing as he had yet to find himself in the Brasileiro, it's difficult to believe that he could establish himself in Serie A yet.
Serie A wrap: Roma crush Inter as top two fail to score 6 February 2012
Roma thumped Inter Milan 4-0 while high-flying Juventus and AC Milan were held to goalless draws in the Serie A on Sunday.Two first-half goals from Juan and Fabio Borini gave Luis Enrique's Roma a commanding lead going into the break at the Stadio Olimpico.
Former Chelsea forward Borini added a third early in the second half of the game before Barcelona loanee Bojan Krkic put the game beyond any doubt in the dying minutes of the match.The win puts Roma within two points of fifth-placed Inter on the table, but with a game in hand, to be played on Tuesday against Catania.
Serie A leaders Juventus were held to a 0-0 home draw against relegation-threatened Siena while second-placed AC Milan could not find a way past a stubborn Napoli side in another goalless stalemate.In bad news for Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for a petulant slap on Salvatore Aronica.
Udinese missed a chance to join AC Milan on points after they lost 3-2 at Fiorentina, despite taking the lead.Antonio Di Natale's early strike was cancelled out by a Stevan Jovetic penalty and the Montenegro international was to score from the spot again in the second half. Mattia Cassani also netted for Fiorentina and they held on for all three points despite Romanian Gabriel Torje's late consolation.
In other matches, Bosko Jankovic bagged a double for Genoa as they beat a 10-man Lazio 3-2, while Atalanta were also reduced to 10 men in their 2-1 loss to Palermo.Parma won 2-1 at Chievo while matches between Lecce and Bologna, and Novara and Cagliari, ended without a goal.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss Juventus clash after receiving three-game ban
The Swedish ace has been ruled out of the club's next three Serie A matches, including the clash against Juve, after it was ruled that his gesture represented violent conduct
Marcello Lippi says Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas is worried about facing Napoli in the Champions League
The World Cup-winning coach says that Villas-Boas is not too confident for the upcoming Champions League tie, while hailing Napoli's growth in the last few years
Esteban Cambiasso admits Roma were superior 'in all aspects' to Inter
The Argentine midfielder admitted that the Stadio Olimpico side deserved to the take the three points as his club were outplayed during the whole 90 minutes
Gianluigi Buffon not thinking about new Juventus deal
The experienced goalkeeper is focussing on his performances for the Old Lady as he believes that there will not be any issues with renewing his contract with the club
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: I do not regret spells with Real Madrid & AC Milan
The Netherlands international has looked back at his time in La Liga and Serie A with a positive outlook of the experience and is enjoying playing in Germany
Gianluca Pegolo feels Giorgio Chiellini is Juventus' best attacker
The Siena goalkeeper was not impressed with the Bianconeri's front line in the 0-0 draw between the sides at the weekend, and feels the powerful defender was their biggest threat
Scudetto now a two-horse race between Juventus & AC Milan, but Inter destroyers Roma could soon be challengers with a stronger defence
While the top two continue to give each other a break, the country's most attacking outfit could be just a couple of signings away from becoming a real force
Ivan Cordoba: Inter have to start all over again with humility
The Colombian defender has urged the Nerazzurri to get back the basics following their poor run of form, which included a 4-0 thumping by the Giallorossi at the weekend
Juventus director Beppe Marotta demands respect from referees after Siena draw
The director of the Serie A leaders believes that the referee of Sunday's match lacks experience and did not have the courage to award his side a clear penalty
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's gesture was not violent
The Rossoneri chief thinks that the Swedish star's action was not overly aggressive and believes that he will be back in action by the time the club visit Juventus
AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri says Zlatan Ibrahimovic 'deserved' to see red against Napoli
The Italian coach thinks that the Sweden international's sending off was correct and says that his side put in a good performance against the San Paolo club despite the scoreline
Javier Zanetti rues Inter display against Roma: It was our worst performance this season
The Nerazzurri captain was disappointed with the team's display and revealed they will only analyse what went wrong in Tuesday's training
Gianluigi Buffon feels Siena draw is a missed opportunity for Juventus
The goalkeeper has expressed his disappointmen with the Bianconeri's draw, and feels they missed a chance to extend their lead over fellow title-challengers AC Milan
Claudio Ranieri: Inter can not go on like this
The Nerazzurri coach has voiced his frustration with his side's recent form, and admitted that things have to change
Franco Baldini: Daniele De Rossi has signed new five-year deal with Roma
The influential midfielder had an expiring contract with the Giallorossi, but has now opted to sign an extension until 2017
Fabio Borini: Today Roma were almost perfect in beating Inter
The U-21 Italy international was full of praise for his side following Roma's 4-0 victory over Inter today, saying the team plays the game in the way they want
Valon Behrami: Joining Juventus would have been betraying Fiorentina
The Switzerland international was linked with a move to Turin in January, but felt a transfer would have made him a traitor
Zamparini: I've found an Arab investor who will deliver the title to Palermo
According to the Rosanero supremo, a wealthy businessman, Ahmed Al Zubeidi, is willing to pump €5 billion into the Sicilian outfit over the next five years in chase of glory
Japanese in Europe: Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa contributes on both ends while Yuto Nagatomo's Inter flops Once again it was Shinji Kagawa who put in a superb performance in another Dortmund win, while many other Japanese players in Europe struggled to make an impact
Feb 6, 2012 3:45:00 AM
By Gyo Araiwa & Dan Orlowitz
In Germany, things cannot currently go wrong for Shinji Kagawa who had another match to remember when Dortmund visited Nurnberg for the Bundesliga's Friday night game.
The 22-year-old was a decisive factor in the champions' 2-0 win as he not only provided the assist for the second goal by Lucas Barrios, but kept his side from falling behind clearing the ball off the line in the 11th minute.
In what started out as a difficult game against a spirited Nurnberg side, Kagawa created numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes. Having nearly scored with a backheel in the 36th minute himself, his pass to Sebastian Kehl could have led to another goal, but the play was controversially ruled offside. The result propels Dortmund to the top of the table as no other team in the top four was able to win.
Augsburg collected another valuable point on the road after Hajime Hosogai's team managed to record a 2-2 draw at Hoffenheim. The former Urawa Reds man, again playing the full match, had a solid game and showed attacking awareness as it was his cross into the box which led - after flicked on - to Sascha Molders opening goal in the 31st minute.
STAR OF THE WEEKEND
Shinji Kagawa
His team may have gotten off to a slow start but Kagawa was a key contributor to Dortmund's victory, which helped them take sole control of the Bundesliga table.
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In the Eredivisie, Vitesse's Mike Havenaar made his first European start, and provided his first assist when he perfectly trapped a low cross before passing to Nicky Hofs who scored with a volley. In the second half Havenaar received a cross from team-mate Michihiro Yasuda before being fouled in the box and earning a penalty, which Alexander Buttner failed to convert. Havenaar was replaced on 81 minutes.
Germany
Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart): Had a good chance early on in his first start for the Swabians in five games, but wasn't able to leave his mark in the 2-2 draw in Leverkusen until he was substituted in the 76th minute. Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart): Didn't make the squad for the 2-2 draw away to Leverkusen. Atsuto Uchida (Schalke): Found himself outside the matchday squad, watching a 1-1 draw against Mainz from the stands of the Veltins-Arena. Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg): The Samurai Blue skipper was an unused substitute in a goalless draw at home against Borussia Monchengladbach. Yuki Otsu (Borussia Monchengladbach): Didn't feature in the Foals' roster for the 0-0 at Wolfsburg. Takashi Usami (Bayern Munich): Featured on the Bavarians' bench for the 1-1 draw at Hamburg. Kisho Yano (SC Freiburg): Is taking a trial at second division Swiss side FC Aarau. Takashi Inui (Bochum): Helped his team winning a free kick which led to Bochum's opening goal in the 19th minute, but was wasteful on numerous other occasions in the narrow 2-1 home win against struggling Hansa Rostock.
Italy
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter): Started at left half but his Inter had their second poor performance of the week, following up the 4-4 draw on Wednesday with a 4-0 loss to Roma on Sunday. Takayuki Morimoto (Novara): Not included in scoreless draw against Cagliari
England
Tadanari Lee (Southampton): Was not selected for Southampton's scoreless draw. Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton): Watched Bolton's 2-0 loss to Norwich from the stands.
Belgium
Eiji Kawashima (Lierse): Made his 24th straight full appearance in Belgian play, but his team lost 2-0.
Netherlands
Maya Yoshida (VVV): Full appearance in 3-1 loss at Excelsior Robert Cullen (VVV): Came on in the second half for his first playing time in three matches. Yoshiaki Takagi (Utrecht): Watched Utrecht's 2-0 win over Ajax from the bench.
AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri says Zlatan Ibrahimovic 'deserved' to see red against Napoli The Italian coach thinks that the Sweden international's sending off was correct and says that his side put in a good performance against the San Paolo club despite the scoreline
Feb 5, 2012 7:58:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that Zlatan Ibrahimovic's sending off in AC Milan's goalless home draw against Napoli on Sunday was justified.
The Serie A holders were reduced to 10 men near the hour mark after Ibrahimovic lost his head and slapped Salvatore Aronica as he placed his right arm around the back of team-mate Antonio Nocerino.
Ibrahimovic is now facing the prospect of a lengthy ban as a result of his action, but Allegri has guaranteed he is not afraid to learn the number of matches that the Swedish striker will have to miss.
"I am pleased with [referee Nicola] Rizzoli," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. "I had not seen anything at the time, but after watching it on TV Ibra deserved to be sent off.
"I am not worried about his absence, regardless of the fact that he is a key player for us."
Despite Milan picking up just one point from the match, Allegri noted he was satisfied with his side's display.
"It was important to turn in a good display against a team that was able to cause us problems," he explained.
"Then we were reduced to 10 men, but we did not stop playing. This point has allowed us to recover the spirit that we must have to target the Scudetto.
"Of course that we have to improve in certain situations, but we did not run many risks, even when we were a man down."
Milan failed to take advantage of Juventus' goalless draw against Siena, but Allegri the difference between his side and the Bianconeri, who still have one game in hand.
"Juve arenot breaking away, because they are just one point ahead," he added. "Even if they win that other match, the gap is not a concern."
Zamparini: I've found an Arab investor who will deliver the title to Palermo According to the Rosanero supremo, a wealthy businessman, Ahmed Al Zubeidi, is willing to pump €5 billion into the Sicilian outfit over the next five years in chase of glory
Feb 5, 2012 12:40:00 PM
By Mark Doyle
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims to have found a potential investor who believes that the club can win the Serie A title inside three years.
According to the Rosanero supremo, an Arab businessman, Ahmed Al Zubeidi, is willing to pump €5 billion into the Sicilian outfit over the next five years.
"I have already found an investor," Zamparini told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "In mid-March we will present a three- to five-year project, with the aim to deliver the Scudetto to Palermo inside three years.
"It's a hope. The Arabs have money, but have zero visibility and football provides so much visibility.
According to Al Zubeidi, he will invest an initial "100 to 200 million euros" which will, in part, fund the construction of a new stadium.
Palermo are currently eighth in the Italian league standings, 16 points off the top under the stewardship of coach Bortolo Mutti.
Chelsea keen on move for Juventus' Milos Krasic, reveals agent The Blues are one of a number of clubs monitoring the Serbian international winger with the player open to a switch to Stamford Bridge, according to his representative
Filippo Inzaghi believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic's three-game ban is excessive The 38-year-old says that the Swedish striker did not deserve more than a two-match suspension and revealed that he is ready to step up in his absence
Official: Genoa loan Lucas Pratto to Velez The forward has returned to South American shores after an unhappy six-month spell in Liguria, where he racked up just one goal in 14 Serie A appearances for the Gialloblu
Diego Milito hopes Rodrigo Palacio will swap Genoa for Inter The Argentine hinted that he would like his side to try and bring in his fellow countryman, and reflected on the possibility of returning to former club Racing in the near future
Barcelona set sights on AC Milan defender Thiago Silva - report The Catalan giants are looking to strengthen their defence this summer, and have earmarked the Brazilian as the perfect signing and they believe a €30m bid may be enough
Daniele De Rossi becomes highest paid Italian after Roma extension - report The Giallorossi star has leapfrogged Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as the Serie A's top Italian earner after penning a new long-term deal earlier this week
If Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for Juventus Scudetto showdown, then bet against AC Milan retaining the title The Swede has been handed a three-match ban which will keep him out of the top-of-the-table clash, and if the decision is upheld it spells trouble for the Rossoneri
Radja Nainggolan's representative insists there is no agreement between Juventus & Cagliari over summer move One of the Belgian midfielder's agents has made it clear that his client's future is still undecided as both clubs have not agreed terms over a potential summer move
Javier Zanetti: Inter are not giving up and will fight for the Champions League and Scudetto The versatile defensive midfielder has stressed that the Nerazzurri must shake off their current poor run of form, and refused to rule them out of the Scudetto race
Stevan Jovetic intends to honour new Fiorentina contract The Montenegrin forward has been linked with Real Madrid and Arsenal in the past but he claims that he has no desire to leave the Artemio Franchi
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic accepts responsibility for red card
The Rossoneri have already stated that they will contest the suspension but the Sweden international believes that he needs to start learning from his mistakes
AC Milan to appeal Zlatan Ibrahimovic's three-match ban
The Swedish ace has been ruled out of the club's next three Serie A matches, including the clash against Juventus, after it was ruled that his gesture represented violent conduct
AC Milan's Adriano Galliani hints Carlos Tevez deal with Manchester City unlikely to be resurrected
The Rossoneri did their utmost to bring the Argentine to San Siro in January and it now appears that they are unlikely to try again at the end of the season
Roma's Fabio Borini an example for all Italian youngsters, says agent
The 20-year-old forward has now netted five goals in 11 Serie A games for Luis Enrique’s side this season after arriving at the Stadio Olimpico from Chelsea via Parma
Valon Behrami: I rejected Juventus offer because Fiorentina made me feel important
The Swiss midfielder admitted that rejecting a move to the Turin-based club was not an easy decision but stressed he is happy with life in Florence
Daniele De Rossi becomes highest paid Italian after Roma extension - report The Giallorossi star has leapfrogged Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as the Serie A's top Italian earner after penning a new long-term deal earlier this week
Feb 7, 2012 10:15:00 AM
Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi has become Serie A's highest paid Italian player following his contract extension with the Giallorossi, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
The Italy international inked a new deal with the Stadio Olimpico outfit until June 2017 earlier this week, and will earn €6.5 million under the terms of the agreement.
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was the previous highest paid Italian in Serie A, currently is on an annual salary of €6m at the Bianconeri.
De Rossi is not the Italian league's top earner yet following his recent pay rise as AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic earns €9m per year plus €3m in bonuses.
Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder is believed to be on €6m per annum.
The 28-year-old De Rossi allegedly held talks with Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Anzhi Makhachkala in the past few weeks, but turned down the chance to earn €10m per year abroad.
