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Juventus took another big step towards a second successive Serie A championship, taking a 2-0 win at Bologna on Saturday.
The defending champions struggled early on to break down a dogged rival, but once Mirko Vucinic gave his side the lead just after the hour mark it was all too easy, and victory was assured when Claudio Marchisio doubled the lead 12 minutes later.
With things all square at the break, Vucinic finally put the champions ahead after brilliantly turning Naldo with his back to goal and, clean through on Gianluca Curci in the Bologna goal, he powered an unstoppable shot to put his side in the ascendancy.
Victory was assured 17 minutes from the end when Bologna's defence was ripped open by a brilliant sequence of passes, and Claudio Marchisio was the beneficiary as he stayed onside and stroked the ball passed Curci to put his team 2-0 up and end the game as a contest.
The win moves Juventus 12 points clear on top of Serie A, although Napoli can cut the deficit to nine with victory on Sunday over Atalanta at the San Paolo.
In Saturday's other match, an Alejandro Gomez brace powered Catania to a 3-1 home win over Udinese, putting them into seventh place on the table.
Gomes netted in the 49th and 67th minutes, and when Francesco Lodi scored in the 71st minute the match was as good as over, although Luis Muriel did score a late consolation for the visitors.
Serie A wrap: Balotelli strikes twice for Milan
18 March 2013
Mario Balotelli continued his hot form with a double in AC Milan's 2-0 home win over Palermo in Sunday's Serie A action.
Balotelli has been a hit ever since signing for Milan from Manchester City in the January transfer window and his latest double means he has scored seven goals in just six games for his new club.
Palermo sit bottom of the table and entered the fixture without a win in 15 matches, meaning they were rank underdogs at the San Siro.
And they were behind after just eight minutes when Balotelli gave his side the early lead from the penalty spot.
Palermo battled hard and had nine shots on goal – Milan only had 12 – but they failed to convert the chances that came their way.
Balotelli made them pay with a second strike 24 minutes from time and that was enough as Milan remained two points behind the second-placed Napoli.
The Naples-based club also won, although they left it late in a 3-2 home success against Atalanta.
Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani had not scored in his last nine matches so a fourth-minute penalty was the perfect boost for his confidence.
A Paolo Cannavaro own goal levelled proceedings before half-time but Cavani's second – scored with 25 minutes to go – restored the advantage for Walter Mazzarri's side.
Former Napoli midfielder German Denis silenced the Stadio San Paolo crowd on 73 minutes with another leveller for the visitors.
Napoli were nervous but still went in search of a winner and it came with nine minutes left thanks to Macedonian striker Goran Pandev, to the relief of Mazzarri and the club's fans.
Other results on Sunday saw Fiorentina defeat a 10-man Genoa 3-2 in Florence.
Genoa – who are just a point above the relegation zone – threw away a point when substitute Mattia Cassani scored an own goal with 13 minutes left.
Late goals to Adrian Stoian and Cyril Thereau helped Chievo to a 2-0 win at Pescara while Siena and Cagliari played out a goalless stalemate.
Roma gave their hopes of European football next season a huge boost with a 2-0 home win over Parma, while city rivals Lazio slipped up at Torino.
Erik Lamela gave Aurelio Andreazzoli's team the lead after seven minutes at Rome's Olympic Stadium, with veteran hit man Francesco Totti making sure of the victory in the 70th minute.
Lazio, meanwhile, were undone by a 78th-minute goal from Torino's Brazilian forward Jonathas.
Vladimir Petkovic's side had been undermanned since the dismissal of French defender Michael Ciani in the 16th minute for a second bookable offence, but they were resolute in defence until Jonathas finally found a way through late on.
Roma move to 47 points, level with Inter Milan - who have a game in hand after their clash with Sampdoria was postponed - and Lazio.
Totti may still have Italy future, hints Buffon
The Juventus goalkeeper has added his weight behind growing support for the Roma forward to be recalled to the international fold
Ambitious Roma target Allegri
The Giallorossi have set their sights on luring the AC Milan head coach to the capital after cooling their interest in Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini
Napoli set sights on Alejandro Gomez
The attacker could be on the move in the summer transfer window as the Stadio San Paolo side have shown an interest in signing him, but they may have to cough up around €15 million
Mourinho hints he would like Inter return
The Real Madrid boss has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, and will have ignited rumours he could go back to San Siro with his latest comments
'Extraordinary' Balotelli showing great focus, says Prandelli
The Azzurri head coach also gave his reasons for choosing Alessio Cerci, while explaining that he wants his players to forget about the Malta match for now and focus on Brazil
Antonini: I want to play in the Premier League
The 30-year-old left-back has revealed a desire to play in the Premier League amid speculation linking him with a move away from Italy
Pogba: I want to be Pogba, not Vieira
The midfielder says he is ready to make the next step in his career after earning his first international call-up
Juventus fight to ward off Conte interest
The Bianconeri have become alarmed after their head coach hinted that he is disillusioned with the Italian game
There's no doubting Kovacic's talent, says Stramaccioni
The young coach has tipped the 18-year-old for stardom, but has stressed that he will take things one step at a time with the midfielder
I hope Conte will remain at Juventus for many years, says Marotta
The club's CEO is thrilled with the work of the Bianconeri boss and strongly believes he will be at the helm for the foreseeable future
Balotelli: Milan want to win all remaining games
The controversial attacker is full of ambition for the remainder of the season, and is determined to help his new team to success
Balotelli banishes Barcelona blues as AC Milan continue Champions League charge
The striker netted twice more for the Rossoneri as they recovered from their midweek disappointment to keep the pressure on second-placed Napoli
Caceres sustains head injury in traffic accident
The Uruguay international could face a spell on the sidelines after sustaining injuries in a road accident at the weekend
'Messi strike a moment of beauty' - Galliani
The AC Milan CEO has claimed that he has seen few goals better than the Argentine's opener against his side on Tuesday
Napoli did not deserve bad run, says Cavani
The Partenopei ended a seven-match stretch without a win on Sunday and the Uruguayan is hoping it will start a revival
Now is Balotelli's time to shine, insists Allegri
The Rossoneri coach believes this is the best time for the 22-year-old to showcase his quality and be a leader after his double gave Milan impetus to push for second place
Balotelli: Milan can be as good as Barcelona
The striker scored both goals in the Rossoneri’s 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday afternoon, but he dismissed suggestions that he could have prevented the side’s European exit
Andreazzoli focused on short-term at Roma
The Giallorossi head coach remains realistic about his side's ambitions for the remainder of the campaign, refusing to dwell too much on the prospect of a Champions League berth
We have sent out a strong message to our rivals - Buffon
The Juventus captain believes that victory over Bologna has further underlined his side's credentials, not just to the rest of Serie A but also to their Champions League opponents
Conte: It annoys people when we win
The Juventus coach believes that Bologna boss Stefano Pioli took offence to his celebrations after his side's 2-0 win at Dall'Ara purely due to their status
Balotelli: Too many stories are invented about me
The Italy international has insisted rumours of his eccentric behaviour are false and that he gets on well with all of his former coaches
Ibrahimovic deal impossible, says Marotta
The Juventus director admitted that his side have spoken to Paris Saint-Germain about the Swede, but says they cannot afford the star
Ronaldo the best I played with - Cordoba
The former Colombia international remembers the Brazilian with great affection, ranking him above many of the world-class team-mates he shared a dressing room with
Allegri: AC Milan defying the odds in Serie A
The Rossoneri boss defended Stephan El Shaarawy’s recent poor run of form and hailed his team’s “extraordinary” performance against Barcelona
Stramaccioni worried Europa League exit will affect Inter
The Nerazzurri boss also insisted that he has always given 100 per cent, regardless of whether or not he is sacked before the end of his current deal
I did not speak to Nedved about Ibrahimovic, insists Leonardo
The Brazilian has made it clear that the striker's future was not discussed with the Old Lady legend during Friday's Champions League draw in Nyon
Conte calls on Juventus fans to end racist chants
The successful trainer has told the Old Lady's supporters not to repeat recent racist chants as he feels they should be cheering for Juve instead
Ranocchia: Inter fully behind Stramaccioni
The defender has made it clear that the team want their coach to stay put as they are gunning for third spot in the table
Fiorentina's Jovetic fuels Manchester City rumours
The Premier League champions have negotiated a first option agreement for the 23-year-old with Fiorentina, who would prefer not to sell to domestic rivals Juventus
Fiorentina can win the Scudetto, says Rossi
The attacker is optimistic about his side's chances of Serie A success, and is full of praise for team-mate Borja Valero
The Serie A clash was due to take place on Sunday evening, but persistent heavy rain and more forecast for the remainder of the day has seen the surface become unplayable
Sunday evening's Serie A match between Sampdoria and Inter has been postponed due to poor weather conditions.
Persistent heavy rain has been falling throughout the morning in Genoa, and with more forecast for the remainder of the day, the decision was taken to call off the game which was due to take place at 20:45 CET.
A statement on Sampdoria's official website confirmed: "Because of the weather alert and deteriorating meteorological conditions expected for this evening, the Sampdoria-Inter match scheduled for 20:45 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris has been postponed."
The home side will instead play a training match at 15:00 CET this afternoon at their training base.
The news will no doubt be frustrating for Inter, who had hoped to keep pace with the likes of Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio in the race for the top three this afternoon, with all three of their closest rivals playing later today. Sampdoria are currently in 11th place, level on points with Parma and Bologna.
The match has been rescheduled for April 2nd at 18:30.
The Juventus coach believes that Bologna boss Stefano Pioli took offence to his celebrations after his side's 2-0 win at Dall'Ara purely due to their status
Juventus coach Antonio Conte has defended his exuberant celebrations in the wake of his team's 2-0 win against Bologna on Saturday.
Rossoblu counterpart Stefano Pioli took offence to the 43-year-old's actions, labelling them disrespectful, but the former Siena boss has claimed that he is only objecting due to antipathy towards the Bianconeri.
"If I can’t even celebrate with my fans after such an important victory, I don’t know what you can do any more," Conte told reporters after the match.
"I know that it annoys many people when we win, but there was no lack of respect whatsoever. There are so many other horrible things elsewhere, like throwing rocks at team buses, so what's wrong if I want to celebrate with my fans?
"To be happy at winning another Scudetto is considered a lack of respect? I was just celebrating alongside my fans, while the gestures were spontaneous towards my daughter."
The Dall'Ara win took Juve 12 points clear at the top of the table, but Conte has warned his team not to get complacent in the title run-in.
"We’ve taken a big step forward, but there are still 27 points to play for. We're achieving important things and must continue," he continued.
"Today we faced a team who approached the fixture off the back of three victories, and if we had lost we would have handed a boost to the sides behind us.
"Instead we deserved to win and I’m happy with how the lads played. We play good football and I'm proud of this team.”
Cassano names baby ‘Lionel’ after Messi
The Italian revealed his belief that the Argentina forward is "the best player in football history", and said he eventually convinced his wife that it was not such a bad idea
Balotelli won’t end up like Adriano, says Prandelli
The Brazil striker’s form and work ethic plummeted through his career, but the Azzurri boss is adamant that the AC Milan forward will avoid his fate
Inter to open Cirigliano talks with River
The Nerazzurri have long admired the 21-year-old and are set to start negotiations with the Argentine side over a move to Serie A
Constant: Milan want second place
The Guinea international says overhauling league leaders Juventus would be too difficult, but the club want to finish runners-up
Chiellini ruled out of Brazil game
The Juventus defender will not have recovered from his ankle injury in time to take part in Thursday's friendly encounter
Galliani: Allegri welded to Milan bench
The 2011 Serie A champions have made it clear that they have no intention of letting go their coach amid strong interest from Roma
Anelka targets Champions League & Scudetto double
The 34-year-old wants to win both trophies with Juventus this season and is hoping to end his career in Turin
Totti may still have Italy future, hints Buffon
The Juventus goalkeeper has added his weight behind growing support for the Roma forward to be recalled to the international fold
Ambitious Roma target Allegri
The Giallorossi have set their sights on luring the AC Milan head coach to the capital after cooling their interest in Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini
Napoli set sights on Alejandro Gomez
The attacker could be on the move in the summer transfer window as the Stadio San Paolo side have shown an interest in signing him, but they may have to cough up around €15 million
'Extraordinary' Balotelli showing great focus, says Prandelli
The Azzurri head coach also gave his reasons for choosing Alessio Cerci, while explaining that he wants his players to forget about the Malta match for now and focus on Brazil
Antonini: I want to play in the Premier League
The 30-year-old left-back has revealed a desire to play in the Premier League amid speculation linking him with a move away from Italy
Pogba: I want to be Pogba, not Vieira
The midfielder says he is ready to make the next step in his career after earning his first international call-up
Juventus fight to ward off Conte interest
The Bianconeri have become alarmed after their head coach hinted that he is disillusioned with the Italian game
There's no doubting Kovacic's talent, says Stramaccioni
The young coach has tipped the 18-year-old for stardom, but has stressed that he will take things one step at a time with the midfielder
I hope Conte will remain at Juventus for many years, says Marotta
The club's CEO is thrilled with the work of the Bianconeri boss and strongly believes he will be at the helm for the foreseeable future
Balotelli: Milan want to win all remaining games
The controversial attacker is full of ambition for the remainder of the season, and is determined to help his new team to success
Balotelli banishes Barcelona blues as AC Milan continue Champions League charge
The striker netted twice more for the Rossoneri as they recovered from their midweek disappointment to keep the pressure on second-placed Napoli
Caceres sustains head injury in traffic accident
The Uruguay international could face a spell on the sidelines after sustaining injuries in a road accident at the weekend
Napoli did not deserve bad run, says Cavani
The Partenopei ended a seven-match stretch without a win on Sunday and the Uruguayan is hoping it will start a revival
Now is Balotelli's time to shine, insists Allegri
The Rossoneri coach believes this is the best time for the 22-year-old to showcase his quality and be a leader after his double gave Milan impetus to push for second place
Balotelli: Milan can be as good as Barcelona
The striker scored both goals in the Rossoneri’s 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday afternoon, but he dismissed suggestions that he could have prevented the side’s European exit
The Giallorossi head coach remains realistic about his side's ambitions for the remainder of the campaign, refusing to dwell too much on the prospect of a Champions League berth
Aurelio Andreazzoli has said that he would prefer to focus on Roma's next game against Parma than worry about lofty end-of-season goals.
The Lupi drew 1-1 with Udinese last week, a result which has left them eighth in Serie A and seven points behind AC Milan in third, making their bid for European football next season a huge challenge.
However, Andreazzoli claims he is unconcerned by the talk about Roma’s ambitions, stating that he will only focus on the next game.
"People wouldn't take me very seriously if I started talking about the Champions League at the moment," the 59-year-old was quoted by Asroma.it.
"There are lots of teams ahead of us and I prefer not to talk about it. And if I start talking about other targets that are considered less important I could be misinterpreted and seen as someone who's happy to settle for less.
"I prefer to take things one day at a time - you can't make calculations about the future.
"The other week we were five points off the last Champions League spot, now we're further behind and lots of people have gone all negative."
Roma host 12th-placed Parma at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday and Andreazzoli was under no illusions as to the significance of the game for the club’s supporters.
"We must pull out all the stops tomorrow so that we can get the three points and meet our fans' expectations,” he continued.
"And obviously also because it's important for our league position."
Roma have won three of their five games since Zdenek Zeman was sacked on 2nd February and have 44 points from 28 games.
Extra Time: Cassano names baby ‘Lionel’ after Messi
By Miles Chambers
Mar 19, 2013 6:20:00 PM
The Italian revealed his belief that the Argentina forward is "the best player in football history", and said he eventually convinced his wife that it was not such a bad idea
Inter forward Antonio Cassano has revealed that he has named his newborn son Lionel due to his “love” for Barcelona icon Lionel Messi.
The Argentine scored 91 goals in competitive matches in 2012 and won his fourth Ballon d’Or in a row, and the Nerazzurri star has said that his admiration for the attacker influenced the naming of his child.
“I named him Lionel because I’m a massive fan of the best player in history. My wife wasn’t keen, but then I convinced her,” he told Italian TV programme Undici.
“In my opinion, Messi is the most important player in history. I’m in love with him on a footballing level.”
Lionel, who was born on Monday night, is Cassano’s second son after his firstborn Christopher (perhaps Cassano’s version of Cristiano?!).
Extra Time thinks that it is probably a good thing that Cassano did not follow Gerard Pique’s formula of naming his son after a club the other side of the Mediterranean: Milan.
After all, Real Sociedad doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as Lionel, does it?
Conte: I want to remain at Juventus for 10 to 15 years
By Stefan Coerts
Mar 20, 2013 9:55:00 AM
The Bianconeri boss has dismissed suggestions that he could be on his way out of the club, and says he wants to emulate Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's success
Antonio Conte has insisted he has no plans to leave Juventus any time soon as he dreams of winning more silverware with the Serie A champions in the next 10 to 15 years.
The 43-year-old hinted at a move abroad at the weekend as he feels there is a lack of respect for Juve in Italy, but the successful coach has now made it clear that he is happy to remain at the Bianconeri for the foreseeable future.
"When my career at Juventus is over in 10 to 15 years, I might have the desire to move abroad. However, I hope that day is still far away," Conte was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.
"We won the Scudetto last year and want to repeat that success this term. And there's always the dream of winning the Champions League."
The former Italy international then went on to stress that he aims to become as successful with Juve as Sir Alex Ferguson has with Manchester United.
He added: "The comparisons with Ferguson are quite flattering. It would be amazing if I could emulate him and win as many trophies as him, and perhaps even more."
Mourinho: Benitez tried to remove my photos at Inter
By Nicholas McGee
Mar 20, 2013 1:00:00 AM
The 50-year-old built a close relationship with his players at San Siro and believes the Spaniard was envious of that connection during his tenure with the Nerazzurri
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has launched a scathing attack on Rafa Benitez, accusing the Spaniard of attempting to remove any memory of his time at Inter.
The Portuguese led the Italian giants to Champions League glory in 2010 before being replaced by Benitez after his move to the Spanish capital.
However, the former Liverpool manager was dismissed from his post at San Siro after just six months and Mourinho believes the current Chelsea interim boss struggled to replicate the relationship he had developed with the Inter players.
He told RTP1: "Benitez wanted to remove my photos, but they came back once he was gone."
Mourinho was also keen to distance himself from comparisons with Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas, who served under the 50-year-old in his spells at Porto, Chelsea and Inter, although claimed to be aware of his success prompting youngsters in his native Portugal targeting coaching careers.
"I don't see anything of myself in Andre Villas-Boas. He has accessed places others couldn't. I follow his career regularly," Mourinho added.
"I know there is a Jose Mourinho effect in the young Portuguese. There is a lot of young people who dream about being a coach. Twenty years ago the youngsters wanted to be players, not coaches."
There has been much speculation regarding the Madrid boss' future, with rumours suggesting that a return to England could be on the horizon and Mourinho confirmed that he is unlikely to seek employment outside mainland Europe.
He said: "I don't see myself managing outside Spain, England, Italy or France."
The Real Madrid boss has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, and will have ignited rumours he could go back to San Siro with his latest comments
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has hinted that he would like to return to Inter.
The Portuguese has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this year, with Paris Saint-Germain rumoured to be interested in his services.
However, the former Chelsea boss has reignited talk of him revisiting Serie A and San Siro in the future and he revealed the superb times he had at the Nerazzurri.
"I spent two fantastic years in Italy, at Inter," he said in a message for the Coordown (Co-ordinator of people with Down Syndrome) charity.
"I do not know if I will go back someday, but if I do it will be with great pleasure and excitement."
Mourinho won the Champions League for the second time in his last season at Inter, completing the treble after beating Roma in the Coppa Italia and topping Serie A.
The coach failed to lift the European trophy while at Stamford Bridge after joining from Porto glory, but he is targeting his third Champions League success in his third season at Madrid.
The Blancos face Galatasaray in the quarter-finals having edged past Manchester United with a controversial 2-1 win at Old Trafford after a 1-1 draw on home turf.
Niang: I want to be better than Henry
The French youngster has admitted his fondness for Paris Saint-Germain but dismissed any notion of wanting to leave AC Milan in the foreseeable future
Sneijder: Mourinho would not have let Inter force me out
By Stefan Coerts
Mar 23, 2013 10:20:00 AM
The attacking midfielder believes the current Madrid boss would have stood up for him, but understands Andrea Stramaccioni had little other choice
Wesley Sneijder believes Jose Mourinho would not have allowed Inter to force the Dutchman out like what happened under Andrea Stramaccioni.
The Netherlands international was frozen out at Inter over a contract dispute in the first half of the 2012-13 campaign, before eventually leaving the Nerazzurri for Galatasaray in the January transfer window.
Sneijder realises that Stramaccioni had been left with little other choice but to obey club president Massimo Moratti's orders, yet he feels Mourinho would have done things differently.
"Stramaccioni did not let me play, but I understand his decision. He's only 36 years old and had the chance to coach a big team like Inter," Sneijder told De Volkskrant.
"He had to follow Moratti's orders. He could not have done things against the president's wish ... He explained it all to me before I left the club.
"Obviously, this would not have happened with Mourinho in charge."
Mourinho left Inter for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 after he had guided the Giuseppe Meazza side to a historic treble.
Cavani 'loves' Napoli, insists agent The striker's representative has revealed the Uruguayan is happy in Naples and is not looking to depart the Italian side - despite growing interest from a number of clubs
Draxler 'honoured' by Inter interest The Germany international feels flattered that several big clubs are keeping tabs on him, but has stressed he has an ongoing contract with his current team
Diego Milito solely focused on Inter return The experienced attacker is determined to return to the pitch as soon as possible and is not contemplating hanging up his boots just yet
Tottenham target Osvaldo 'non-transferable', claims former agent Andre Villas-Boas has been warned that the Argentine-born Italian striker is considered indispensable to Roma by Dario Decoud, one of the player's former representatives
Vidal: Inter clash will be a fight to the death The Chile midfielder is looking forward to the Old Lady's first game after the international break, and has stressed the reigning champions are in fine shape physically
De Rossi hits back at critics over Roma form The 29-year-old midfielder has been lambasted by some for his lack of goals for Giallorossi this season, but has defended himself after finding the net for Italy against Brazil
Juventus and Schalke to meet over Draxler The Bianconeri are keen to secure the signature of the teenage midfielder as his stock continues to rise
Stekelenburg determined to be first choice Netherlands goalkeeper The Roma keeper is determined to force his way back into recognition after being overlooked by Louis van Gaal in recent times
Clasie open to Fiorentina move The Netherlands international has caught the attention of the Serie A side and could be interested in a switch to the Viola
'Balotelli has the right attitude for Italy' - Buffon The veteran goalkeeper has hailed the AC Milan star's positive attitude and feels he proved himself worthy of the Italy jersey
I’d be packing my bags for Milan, admits Santon The Italian full-back says he is happy with the Premier League club but a potential transfer to the Italian giants could persuade him to move back to his homeland
Vidal: I would like Sanchez to join Juventus The former Leverkusen star is relishing the prospect of potentially teaming up with his Chile team-mate at the Serie A champions
Mudingayi: Light at the end of the tunnel The Belgian midfielder is on his way back after a lengthy injury layoff, even though a comeback still seems far away
‘Racism is a dangerous disease’ - Kevin-Prince Boateng The AC Milan star says discrimination must no longer be ignored by the authorities, saying it spreads like malaria
Bayern can win the Champions League, says Toni The former Roten forward believes the Bundesliga leaders have the potential to beat another of his old clubs, Juventus
Juventus back among European elite, says Marotta The Old Lady director feels proud with his side's return to the European top this season, and is dreaming of winning more silverware
Cambiasso is my role model, says Benassi The promising youngster has singled out the Argentine midfielder as an example to follow, and is eagerly anticipating the match versus Juventus
Pirlo lauds Conte as 'one of the best' The Italy international has nothing but positive words for the Juventus boss and hopes he will stay with the club for many more years to come
Niang: I want to be better than Henry The French youngster has admitted his fondness for Paris Saint-Germain but dismissed any notion of wanting to leave AC Milan in the foreseeable future
Balotelli won’t end up like Adriano, says Prandelli The Brazil striker’s form and work ethic plummeted through his career, but the Azzurri boss is adamant that the AC Milan forward will avoid his fate
Inter to open Cirigliano talks with River The Nerazzurri have long admired the 21-year-old and are set to start negotiations with the Argentine side over a move to Serie A
Mourinho backs 'honest' Pandev in coaching vote controversy
By Livio Caferoglu
Mar 23, 2013 3:10:00 PM
The Napoli star insisted that he voted for the Portuguese rather than Vicente del Bosque in the Coach of the Year award, despite Fifa's claims to the contrary
Jose Mourinho has backed Goran Pandev for showing "honesty and strength" in disputing the validity of his voting slip for the 2012 Coach of the Year award.
The 50-year-old last week intimated at a possible fix in determining the winner of the accolade Vicente del Bosque, but the world governing body insisted that the FYROM captain nominated the Spain boss, releasing an image of his ballot paper.
"Pandev was one of those that called me. Others prefer to remain anonymous, and I can only respect that. I appreciate Goran's honesty and strength," Mourinho said at an event in his hometown, Setubal.
"My intention was to explain why I didn't attend the gala, not why I didn't win. I probably wouldn't have won it anyway, but things are now clear to me and no-one can criticise me, period!"
Pandev had insisted that the ballot paper Fifa published was not his own: "All I can say is that the signature that appears on the fax is not mine. Jose Mourinho was my choice. Everyone knows that," he told Calciomercato.
"We all know strange things go on here, but we can't change the way it is. Neither me nor Mourinho can."
And in another twist, Fifa released an official statement to challenge Pandev's integrity, claiming that the ex-Lazio man should demand an explanation from his country's football association.
"If Pandev doesn't recognise his vote, he should hold his country's federation accountable, not us," it said.
'Balotelli can become one of the best players in the world' - El Shaarawy
The Italian forward feels his AC Milan and Azzurri team-mate has matured of late and the future is bright for both of them
Galliani: Allegri will remain with Milan
The Rossoneri CEO has insisted that the former Cagliari boss will not be leaving San Siro, despite interest from Roma
Quagliarella revelling in 'dream' Champions League adventure
The Italy forward has been a key member of the Bianconeri's run to the last eight and is looking forward to their tie against Bayern Munich
Alexis Sanchez keen to stay at Barcelona
The Chile international has been strongly linked with a move back to Serie A with reigning champions Juventus, but he remains committed to the Blaugrana
Abate hoping for long Balotelli stay at AC Milan
The right-back wants his Italy team-mate to stay with the Rossoneri for the forseeable future after making a big impact in his first few months at the club
Manchester United would consider €12m-plus Vidic sale as AC Milan size up move
The Serbian centre-back is the Rossoneri's prime summer target and, with his contract expiring in 2014 and injury problems causing concern, the Red Devils would entertain bids
Balotelli can be Italy's racism cure, says Riva
The legendary ex-Italy international claims that the AC Milan forward can become a figurehead in their battle against "disgusting" discrimination in the country
Milan can finish second this season, believes Bonera
The Rossoneri defender is confident that his side will qualify for the European competition next term, and insists he wants to remain at San Siro beyond this summer
Podolski brushes off Juventus rumours
The Germany international says he is enjoying life at Arsenal following his summer move from Koln and has no plans to seek another change of clubs in the coming transfer window
Balotelli's arrival has not hurt El Shaarawy's form, says Bonera
The forward has hit a lull in recent weeks, but his team-mate does not think that it is connected with the signing of the former Manchester City player
Balotelli has star quality, says Galliani
The director has praised the January signing and thinks he could win the Fifa Ballon d'Or at some point in the future
Buffon cools talk of Champions League glory
The 35-year-old goalkeeper is hesitant to discuss how far Juventus can progress in this year's tournament with the challenge of Bayern Munich looming
My father berated me for missed Brazil chances, reveals Balotelli
The AC Milan striker believes he is becoming more likeable to opposition fans, insists he is improving all the time and reiterated Kevin-Prince Boateng’s anti-racism stance
'I have to say thank you to Magath' - Barzagli
The Juventus defender believes that his former coach was instrumental in his development into a consistent performer
Quagliarella praises the quality of Serie A
The 30-year-old says he rates the domestic competition highly ahead of the Derby d'Italia with Inter, and casts his eye on the Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich
Cavani guarantees goals, says Gamberini
The Napoli defender believes that his team-mate is a constant threat to the opposition and will be vital in their final nine games this season
