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After an excellent transfer window, Inter now need to show they're true Scudetto hopefuls
The Nerazzurri made great strides in the summer market, but Roma's visit marks the start of a period which will decide whether they can push Juventus close in the title race
Sep 2, 2012 8:00:00 AM
COMMENT
By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer
Last season marked the first time in eight years that Inter had finished without a title, but after the close of the summer transfer window on Friday many in Italy had them down as the unofficial kings of the market. Roma’s visit to San Siro on Sunday evening gives the Nerazzurritheir first real chance to justify the claims of those supporters who believe that Andrea Stramaccioni’s outfit can now be true Scudetto challengers once again. While champions Juventus brought in one of Serie A’s finest in Kwadwo Asamoah and added depth with the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Mauricio Isla, Lucio and Paul Pogba, their only purchase in attack – their main weakness in 2011-12 – was that of Nicklas Bendtner. The Dane has his positives, but he remains a far cry from some of the targets the Bianconeri had in their sights during the close season. Inter, on the other hand, have progressed markedly as a unit thanks to their summer trading.
Julio Cesar’s significant dip in form saw him shipped out for Samir Handanovic, arguably Serie A’s best keeper outside of the big three in recent years. They also brought in Matias Silvestre to replace Lucio, the under-performing Giampaolo Pazzini was swapped for Antonio Cassano plus cash, and other quality additions were made in the shape of Rodrigo Palacio, Alvaro Pereira and Walter Gargano.
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[TD="width: 80%, align: left"]ANTONIO CASSANO
WALTER GARGANO
SAMIR HANDANOVIC
GABY MUDINGAYI
RODRIGO PALACIO
ALVARO PEREIRA
MATIAS SILVESTRE[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%, align: left"]MILAN
NAPOLI
UDINESE
BOLOGNA
GENOA
PORTO
PALERMO [/TD]
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</tbody>[/TABLE] With new faces being brought in to each department, Inter suddenly look more capable of making forward strides than they were last time around. After a campaign which saw them led by three different coaches as they missed out on the Champions League by a significant margin, they were badly in need of an injection of class, and they appear to have got that. Title favourites they most definitely are not, but they can make a decent claim to be Juve’s most dangerous rivals this term, on paper at least.
But now that the deals have all been done – until January at least – it is on the field that Inter must back up the work which has been carried out, and Zdenek Zeman’s Roma arrive in town tonight to give them a real test of their mettle. Two unconvincing displays have been endured at San Siro in the Europa League already this season, and it was against the same Giallorossi that they opened their home campaign last term, picking up their only point under the ill-fated reign of Gian Piero Gasperini.
This time around feels different, but feeling and doing are two different things. Victory over Pescara and a good transfer campaign have given Interisti reason to believe, but the errors which have turned their European run so far into a rollercoaster ride need to be addressed if they are to strike any kind of real fear into Juventus. Some may nonchalantly throw up an arm and say, “It was only the Europa League,” but a failure to learn from what were effectively competitive pre-season friendlies would be foolhardy in the least, and Stramaccioni must tackle the issue immediately.
The forward line is looking good, with Cassano, Diego Milito and a rejuvenated Wesley Sneijder keeping out the likes of Palacio and Philippe Coutinho in last week’s league opener, while in midfield Gargano has added a real sense of diligence and direction. But there needs to be greater decision-making shown from the back four, with Juve and Milan both having shown over the past couple of years that it is in keeping opponents out that a title is truly won and lost. An inability to deal with their failures in this department could seriously undermine what has been an excellent summer for the club.
Until the introduction of Cassano, amidst his boisterous taunts in the direction of his former club across the city, Inter’s progression had gone on largely unnoticed, but a win against their first notable opponents of the 2012-13 campaign would signify that a huge step forward can be made on the field, too. This is where the long road back to the top begins.
I'm happy for Pazzini, says Moratti
The Inter president insists he does not bear any bitterness towards his former employee, who hit a treble for AC Milan in their 3-1 victory over Bologna at the weekend
Zanetti: Inter are just at the beginning
The veteran defender has stressed that the Giuseppe Meazza side are still some way off their peak, and feels that the team needs to grow to achieve success
Juventus would have preferred to beat Udinese on equal terms, says Marotta
The Bianconeri director was pleased with his side's win, but felt the circumstances in which they bagged the three points took the shine off the result
'We can still improve' - Zeman sends out bold statement after Roma win
The Giallorossi coach is confident his side will go from strength to strength following their fine victory over the Nerazzurri on Sunday
'A psychological problem' - Stramaccioni unhappy with concentration in Roma defeat
The Italian tactician blamed a poor mental state for his side's 3-1 defeat to Roma on Sunday, bringing an end to the club's excellent start to the season
'Conte is the real coach' - Carrera taking inspiration from suspended boss
The Old Lady destroyed 10 man Udinese in Serie A on Sunday, but the club's caretaker coach insisted the banned Italian remains the driving force behind their fine start
'The referee lacked common sense' - Udinese supremo Pozzo lashes out after Juventus defeat
The Zebrette chairman criticised the red card shown to goalkeeper Zelkjo Brkic early in the first half of his side's clash with Juventus, claiming it ruined the game as a contest
Pazzini proud to be compared to Filippo Inzaghi
The former Inter forward struck a delightful treble on his full Rossoneri debut against Bologna, and was compared to the former Milanese legend by club CEO Adriano Galliani
Juventus are as good as Barcelona, insists former midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi
The retired Italian international has said that he believes the Bianconeri are as good as the Catalan giants, whilst also speaking positively of some of their key players
Juventus maintained their winning start to the Serie A season by cruising to a 4-1 victory over Udinese at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday.
Arturo Vidal opened the scoring from the penalty spot 14 minutes after Udinese goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic had been shown a straight red card for taking out Sebastian Giovinco.
Mirko Vucinic doubled Juve's advantage just before the interval with a sublime finish before strike partner Giovinco tapped in to make it 3-0 early in the second half.
The latter then doubled his tally in emphatic style, firing home from just inside the area on 71 minutes, rendering Andrea Lazzari's late strike a mere consolation.
Roma announced themselves as possible title contenders with an impressive 3-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza
Francesco Totti was the star of the show at San Siro, setting up Alessandro Florenzi for the opener before creating a second for Pablo Osvaldo - who was sent off late on for a second bookable offence - after Inter had drawn level with a deflected effort from new boy Antonio Cassano.
Roma then put the seal on a fine win when substitute Marquinho, who had come on during the first half for the injured Daniele De Rossi, fired home with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Lazio eased to a 3-0 win over Palermo to move up third courtesy of two predatory strikes from German marksman Miroslav Klose and another from Antonio Candreva.
The hosts always looked good value for the three points a week after Napoli punished Palermo in similar fashion.
Napoli scraped past Fiorentina to maintain their faultless record and stay in the top three.
Montenegrin international Stevan Jovetic struck three minutes from time for Fiorentina, who missed several earlier opportunities, after Napoli had gone two goals to the good, with a Marek Hamsik header going in off Borja Valero and Blerim Dzemaili also scoring.
Catania edged Genoa 3-2 in a thriller thanks to Francesco Lodi's late free kick after Gonzalo Bergessio's double had put them up 2-1 earlier on.
Cagliari shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with 10-man Atalanta, who were denied the win by Albin Ekdal in stoppage time after the home side had also missed two penalties.
Daniel Gastaldello scored the winner for Sampdoria in a 2-1 victory over Siena to keep their unbeaten record intact while Parma ran out comfortable 2-0 victors over Chievo.
Robin van Persie was an impossible signing for Juventus and any Italian club, says Giuseppe Marotta
The Bianconeri official revealed that signing the Dutchman would be a hard task for any side from the peninsula, whilst clarifying what happened with Dimitar Berbatov
Sep 2, 2012 4:45:00 PM
By Mohammed Ali
Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that signing Robin van Persie was impossible for any Italian club during the transfer window.
The Bianconeri official also insisted that there was no wrongdoing against Fiorentina in regards to the potential transfer of Dimitar Berbatov, who eventually snubbed the two teams in favour of Fulham.
Nevertheless, Marotta revealed that whilst signing the former Arsenal captain was an objective, the transfer fee was not a feasible option for any Italian side in the current climate.
"Last year we were able to hit a record [that is] hard to beat [such] as ending the season unbeaten. We had some goals and not all of them have been achieved," the 57-year-old toldSky Sport Italia.
"I take the example of Van Persie. [He] is impossible for an Italian club right now. Spending €30 million on a player, not to mention the wages, is not feasible [for] Juve or for any other club in Serie A.
"[The] Berbatov case? I hope to meet with President [Andrea] Della Valle soon to clarify the situation of Berbatov, but I want to clarify that there was no misconduct against Fiorentina.
"We made an enquiry after the player said he did not want to go to the Viola, but it was off very shortly because he said he preferred Fulham."
Marotta also turned his attention to the Champions League group stage, where the Serie A holders were drawn against Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk and Nordsjaelland.
He continued: "We are pleased to return to an important competition like the Champions League. Although we can't say [we are] on par with the four or five most important clubs in Europe, we will focus especially on the way we play and on strengthening.
"[Progressing from] the group is within our reach, even though there are dangers hidden around the corner. Just look at Basel and Apoel last year."
Genius Totti exposes Inter's frailties to show why Juventus are in a league of their own
The legendary veteran opened up the Milanese at will at San Siro, and it will take a brave man to bet against the Scudetto holders after they thumped Udinese
Sep 3, 2012 8:00:00 AM
COMMENT
By Kris Voakes at San Siro
It was fancy, it was fluid, and it was great fun to watch, but for Inter fans, their 3-1 defeat to a Francesco Totti-inspired Roma was a reminder that their side have a lot of growing up to do – and fast – if they are to challenge Juventus for the Scudetto this season.
The Giallorossi skipper rolled back the years to help his troops tear an abysmal Inter defence to shreds, with the movement between he, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Alessandro Florenzi down the Roma left being the feature of a hugely deserved victory at San Siro.
The No.10, looking as fit and as content as he has in a long time, capped his excellent display with a magnificent through-ball for Osvaldo to put Roma back in front, having also supplied the final ball as Florenzi ghosted into space to grab the first-half opener. By the time Marquinho turned in Osvaldo’s nonchalant ball from the left wing, Inter had been beaten into submission by their visitors’ superior energy, ideas, desire and movement.
It started from the midfield, where Florenzi put in a fantastic shift on the left before switching to the right after Daniele De Rossi left the fray with a foot injury and performed equally admirably. Panagiotis Tachtsidis was also heavily influential, while Mattia Destro stretched Inter whenever called upon.
“Yes, they were younger, they were faster, they were more positive,” said Roma coach Zdenek Zeman of his midfield after the match, agreeing with the assessment that it was in the centre of the park that the Giallorossi laid the groundwork for their win.
Imperfect harmony | Inter struggled to demonstrate the fluency that Roma had in spades
It also reflected badly on the Nerazzurri. If Roma were younger, faster and more positive, it was in part due to the fact that their hosts were laboured, slow and negative. On top of that, their defensive work was horrible.
Florenzi found space for Roma’s first goal thanks to Walter Gargano allowing the youngster to run and Matias Silvestre paying no attention to the advancing opponent. When Osvaldo made it 2-1, he did so peeling off an Inter back four that had been warned countless times, with a handful of previous runs having just about fallen foul of the offside flag. One was bound to stick, and when it did there could be no complaints.
Silvestre and Andrea Ranocchia planted a cherry on the icing by allowing Marquinho time and space for the final goal, but Luca Castellazzi, who did little to inject confidence and authority into his defence all night, should still have effected a save from the narrow angle.
It was not as though Roma’s defence had been all that much better though, more that Inter couldn’t make the most of it. Their front six – unlike that of the Lupi – gave the impression of a group thrown together at the last minute. There were occasionally impressive individual moments, but nothing seemed to be working as a unit.
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[TD="colspan: 3, align: center"]INTER'S HOME RECORD IN 2012-13[/TD]
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[TD="colspan: 3, align: center"]
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[/TR]
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[TD="width: 40%, align: left"]Games Played Wins Draws Losses
3 7[/TD]
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</tbody>[/TABLE] Antonio Cassano’s goal came with a touch of fortune, his shot cannoning off the outstretched leg of Nicolas Burdisso and spinning in off the far post after Leandro Castan had allowed the striker to turn and shoot. Arguably, Cassano shouldn’t have started. He still looks a long way off match fitness, and was replaced after only five minutes of the second period having spent the majority of his time on the field looking rather irritated by the hotch-potch approach of his new side.
The movement of Roma’s front three was not matched by Diego Milito, Wesley Sneijder and Cassano, with Yuto Nagatomo and Javier Zanetti also penned back so much that overlapping runs were a real rarity as Inter lacked new angles of attack. Each neat flick or slick pass from a white shirt was a reminder of what was missing from theNerazzurri.
The performance, perhaps more so than the result, leaves nobody in any doubt that Andrea Stramaccioni has a hell of a job on if Inter are to become the real deal under his leadership. Yes, there are a lot of new faces in his squad, but they have had more competitive fixtures than anyone else in Italy this term, giving them more chance to blend. Alvaro Pereira apart, every one of these players had worn blue and black before.
What Inter were missing was any kind of direction, any kind of out-of-the-box thinking. They were one-dimensional, lacking pace of both movement and passing. Stramaccioni said afterwards that Inter lacked something psychologically, but they handed over that particular baton when they allowed Roma the freedom of the park and offered nothing in return. If they really harbour hopes of chasing down Juve this term, then much has to change, starting with the coach’s approach to his team’s style and also with some of his team selections.
They need all of this to happen sooner rather than later, with Juventus already threatening to run away with the league. Their 4-1 win at Udinese came with the compulsory hint of controversy, but it also demonstrated just how easy they find some of the very same things that Inter and the rest are lacking.
Zeljko Brkic was hugely unfortunate to see red in the 14th minute for his foul on Sebastian Giovinco despite there being no doubt that it was worthy of a penalty. The time has come for referees to stop pulling a red card out for every single foul made by a goalkeeper. A clear goalscoring opportunity, it was not, with Giovinco having Danilo immediately to his left and Maurizio Domizzi to his right as Brkic made contact. There was still much work for the little striker to do, and as such, the Serbian should not have been ejected.
Either way, the Bianconeri more than likely would have won a fixture they dominated almost from start to finish against an Udinese side suffering a hangover from the double blow of their Champions League knockout and a summer transfer window which saw the heart ripped from their first team.
Giovinco would add two cool second-half finishes to his account after Arturo Vidal had converted the early penalty and Mirko Vucinic slid home the killer second on the stroke of half-time, with Andrea Lazzari’s first goal in an Udinese shirt coming too late to have any kind of effect.
Such is the Friulani’s demise at the moment that one Inter fan watching the game on TV outside San Siro commented: “They’re dead. Udinese are dead, dear God.” But many more performances like the one the same fan would witness a couple of hours later inside the Meazza, and Inter’s assault on the top three could quickly head the same way, with Juventus already looking more than ready to dance on their grave.
ELSEWHERE…
The weekend got underway with an excellent display from Torino as they overcame Pescara 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, but there was more than just Christian Terlizzi’s first-half sending-off at the heart of the Delfini’s demise. Giovanni Stroppa’s side have lost both of their opening two games by three-goal margins after a summer which saw them shorn of their coach Zdenek Zeman as well as their four most impressive players. Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Verratti and Marco Sansovini have been replaced by functional enough players, but the impact of those they have lost is already being borne out in their results.
Anybody who caught a glimpse of the San Paolo pitch on Sunday will rightly wonder how on earth a Serie A match could be allowed to take place on what resembled a potato field. The pitch was heavily sanded across its entire surface, meaning Napoli and Fiorentina played out what should have been an exciting fixture on what might as well have been a beach. The home side eventually won 2-1, but coach Walter Mazzarri could offer no answers after the match, saying that he wasn’t sure who was responsible for the disgraceful conditions. He did add that his club need to “sort it out”, which nobody can disagree with.
Miroslav Klose helped to ensure that Lazio kept their 100 per cent record, while Antonio Candreva scored the goal of the weekend as the Biancocelesti saw off a shocking Palermo 3-0 at the Olimpico. The German twice took advantage of dreadful defending in the six-yard box by Giuseppe Sannino’s side, but the pick of the strikes was the former Juventus and Livorno midfielder’s piledriver into the top corner after shaking off a tackler 30 yards from goal. Vladimir Petkovic’s men may well have a lot to live up to after finishing fourth last term, but they've started on the right foot.
Giampaolo Pazzini got his Milan career off to a magnificent start with a hat-trick at Bologna on Saturday, giving Massimiliano Allegri a couple of weeks of breathing space after a testing start to the campaign. The former Inter man got up after a controversial penalty award to put Milan ahead, then cleaned up after Federico Agliardi dropped a simple cross in the second half. His third was the pick of the bunch though, showing all of his striking instinct to divert Antonio Nocerino’s effort into the bottom corner. Thetripletta was enough for him to earn a recall to Cesare Prandelli’s Italy squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta, while his booking for a high boot showed that he’s already been taking ninja lessons from new team-mate Nigel De Jong!
I scored with my hair, claims Hamsik after Fiorentina victory
Borja Valero appeared to get the final touch on Napoli's first goal of the evening, but in a bid to keep the goal, the Slovak remarked his mohawk made the all-important connection
Sep 3, 2012 4:10:00 PM
By Livio Caferoglu
Marek Hamsik has claimed that his goal in Napoli's 2-1 success over Fiorentina on Sunday bounced off his hair.
The Slovakian midfielder put the Partenopei 1-0 up in the second half, but replays showed that Borja Valero may have got the last touch as the ball looped over Emiliano Viviano and into the net.
Nonetheless, in a cheeky way to keep the 'headed' attempt attached to his name, Hamsik believes his signature mohawk played a significant role in giving his side the lead.
"An own goal? I hit the ball with my hair," said Hamsik after the match. "We've registered two major victories, so we can now move forward.
"As always, the objective is to win. I am glad to have scored, but it does not matter who does. Collecting points is the main thing, and so far we have succeeded."
The state of the San Paolo pitch on Sunday has since come in for widespread criticism, and Hamsik admitted the playing surface was not up to scratch and must be rectified quickly.
"We are just at the beginning of the season, and we have to continue like this and correct the mistakes we made in the first half, especially in midfield," he added.
"We saw little of the ball, but then we were able to break the deadlock and come out of our shell. The pitch was terrible and we hope it gets better soon, it's hard to play on such a surface."
Hamsik's match against Fiorentina was his 221st for Napoli, and the Slovakian vowed to continue give his all, while also voicing his delight at his team-mate Edinson Cavani's signing of a new deal at the club.
"Edi is a champion and I'm glad he is staying. As for me, I always want to win, and I want to do so with Napoli," he commented.
"I don't know if it's for the best, but I'm happy here; playing for the team and working hard to improve. I want to win with this shirt."
'He still has that bit of magic to unlock a defence' - Carlo Garganese on Juventus legend Del Piero
With the Italian veteran set for a move to Sydney FC, Goal.com looks at what the Turin favourite has to offer
Del Piero joins Sydney FC
The Italy international has decided to continue his career in Australia after reaching an agreement with the A-League side over a two-year contract
AC Milan have option to sign Bojan on permanent deal, confirms Barcelona vice-president
The Spanish attacker joined the Rossoneri on a one-year long, and although Barca have the possibility to block a move, he could stay at San Siro for longer
Spalletti: Galliani wanted me as AC Milan coach
The successful coach has been in charge of Zenit since 2009, but has stated that he could have been head coach at the San Siro side if things had gone differently
Cavani wants to stay at Napoli until 2017, says agent
The prolific forward recently signed a new deal with the San Paolo side, and is ready to fulfil his contract and stay put for five more years
Zambrotta will not be joining Roma, says agent
The 35-year-old had been linked with a free transfer to the Italian capital but his representative has poured cold water on those rumours
'Jovetic stay is a beautiful thing' - general manager Sandro Mencucci thrilled with decision
The Viola chief praised the work of the club president in convincing the 22-year-old to remain in Florence whilst also expressing his joy at a successful transfer window
Genoa set to sign Peruvian starlet Andy Polo from Universitario de Deportes
Peru's brightest prospect is set to make a switch to Italy after the two clubs agreed a fee worth around €1m for the pacey striker
'Netherlands are working on a fresh start,' says AC Milan defender Emanuelson
The left-back has assured the Oranje faithful that the national team are doing their best to recover from an embarrassing display at the European Championships
Juventus match date angers Torino chairman Cairo
The Granata chairman has hit out at the league governing body, complaining about the time-frame between his side's Coppa Italia commitments and the derby game
Nesta: Pazzini-Cassano exchange was good for all parties involved
The former Italy international feels the deal that saw the two former Sampdoria team-mate switch clubs makes sense, and added that Italian football is in decline
Official: Jorge Martinez leaves Juventus for Cluj
The Italian champions have offloaded the attacking midfielder to the Romanian club, where he will have the chance to feature in the Champions League
Cassano not fit enough for Italy, says Prandelli
The former AC Milan attacker was somewhat surprisingly left out of the team, but his exclusion is down to a lack of sharpness rather than for tactical reasons
Inter need to be patient, says Branca
The Serie A giants' director feels they have a bright future ahead of them, but added that the 2010 Champions League winners need a bit of time to hit top form
Giovinco: I have never considered myself a top player
The 25-year-old attacker has played down his ability despite an impressive start to his second stint with the Bianconeri following his summer return
AC Milan midfielders Montolivo & Boateng sustain injuries
The Rossoneri pair will spend up to three weeks on the sidelines, as the Italy midfielder contracted a muscle strain, while the Ghanaian's hand was operated on
The man who was at the centre of the Calciopoli scandal has praised the 28-year-old Italy forward, and castigated the Bianconeri for not signing him
Sep 4, 2012 1:15:00 PM
By Alex Mott
Former Juventus managing director Luciano Moggi has claimed that Inter made a mistake selling Giampaolo Pazzini, and that the Serie A champions should have signed the in-form striker instead of AC Milan.
Moggi, who has a lifetime ban in football due to his role on the 2006 Calciopoli scandal, insisted that the Nerazzurri should have kept hold of the former Sampdoria man, and that he would have been well suited to the Bianconeri.
“It is a well-trodden path at [Massimo] Moratti's Inter that they can't find a suitable partner for [Diego] Milito,” he told newspaper Libero. “But Inter's cast-off is now shining for Milan.
“He was recommended to Juve, but instead they tried to get that unobtainable 'top player'.
Pazzini would be a brilliant partner for [Mirko] Vucinic, but instead they have opted for [Sebastian] Giovinco."
And reflecting on the Giovinco transfer, the former Juve chief was also unhappy with the cost of the deal.
“[His former club] Parma wanted a high price for a player who was already black and white in their heart, and I think the situation could have been handled a lot better,” he said.
Del Piero, who ended his 19-year association with Juve when leaving on a free transfer at the end of last season, has signed a two-year deal worth an annual 1.6 million euros to complete the biggest transfer in the history of Australian football.
Liverpool's failure to sign a new striker on transfer deadline day had forced them to attempt to sign Del Piero as back-up to Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini, but the forward shunned the chance to move to Anfield at such a late stage.
Del Piero, who scored 208 goals in 513 appearances for Juve, will explain his decision in a press conference in Turin on Wednesday afternoon.
"It is a special day for me," Del Piero said. "I'm happy to announce that I have signed agreement with Sydney for the next two years.
"I'm happy to begin this adventure and I want to thank all the teams that I have talked to. There was no better option than this, thank you Sydney FC and everyone in Australia.
"A lot of clubs contacted me, Italian teams too and I thank all of them. Today my new adventure starts and my emotions are mixed.
"I thank Sydney for this opportunity and his fans that already adopted me. I will discover a fantastic city and a fantastic country. I am grateful to my family for being with me in every moment.
"I will continue to cheer Juventus. In Australia I will be able to deepen my passion for rugby. Above all I'm here to score a lot of goals and to try to improve Australian football with my experiences. I hope Australian people love football."
Del Piero will play with the same Number 10 he donned at Juventus, Tony Pignata, Sydney's general manager, said in Turin.
"This signing is a major coup for Sydney FC and marks a historic day for football in this country," club chairman Scott Barlow said in a statement. "This is for all Australian football fans".
Football's popularity in Australia trails behind the rival football codes of rugby league and Australian Rules in the congested domestic market place.
With most of Australia's best players plying their trade abroad, the top flight A-League has suffered from lack of star quality since it was launched for the 2005-6 season.
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, England striker Robbie Fowler and Socceroos John Aloisi, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton were among the best known players to have graced the league before Del Piero's signing.
The presence of Kewell, now departed, and Emerton, who will play alongside Del Piero for Sydney FC, helped push attendances past the average mark of 10,000 last season.
Del Piero's arrival could not have been more timely time for the A-League.
The Football Federation of Australia (FFA)'s TV deal, which comes with the sweetener of the hugely popular Socceroo matches, expires at the end of the season and the arrival of such a high profile player can only help negotiations.
The new season begins in early October with twice champions Sydney FC taking on New Zealand's Wellington Phoenix across the Tasman Sea in their opener on October 6.
Inter spied on Vieri to make sure he behaved, says lawyer
The Nerazzurri have revealed that they kept a close eye on the former Italy international to make sure he behaved in a fitting way
Sep 6, 2012 10:45:00 AM
By Stefan Coerts
Lawyer Fabio Iudica has revealed that Inter spied on Christian Vieri during his spell at the club in order to make sure he followed the club's internal regulations.
The former Italy stirker filed a lawsuit against the Nerazzurri and Telecom Italia after it came to the fore they had spied on him, and a Milan court decided this week that they have to pay him €1 million.
"Why was Vieri spied on? To check that he was behaving in a manner coherent with Inter's internal regulations, that's all," Iudica told Sky Sport 24.
"Were other people involved? I don't think anyone else is involved. My own view is that this matter will not go to the sporting justice system, nor will Vieri himself even.
"The ruling explains that Christian Vieri's career was in no way harmed by the events that were established by the ruling – an initial ruling, let us remember.
"His right to privacy is the only aspect concerned. All the other factors for which Vieri has requested damages have been dismissed. That's why we are not worried."
Vieri wore the Inter jersey between 1999 and 2005.
Nigel de Jong: I dreamt of joining AC Milan as a kid
The Netherlands international is over the moon with his move to San Siro, and is eager to challenge for top honours with the Rossoneri
Van Persie would have been a bad choice for Juventus, says Marotta
The Turin giants eventually opted against signing the Dutchman, but are pleased with their overall transfer activity, while still keeping tabs on Ogbonna and Llorente
Official: Ziegler leaves Juventus on loan for Lokomotiv Moscow
The Switzerland international will continue his career in the Russian top flight after both sides reached an agreement over a temporary deal
Zanetti: Inter need to improve
The experienced Argentine has admitted that they can't afford to keep on disappointing their home fans, while laughing at the media's criticism
I never thought about leaving AC Milan, says Mexes
The France international is relieved to be on the mend from injury, and is also pleased that he is still a Rossoneri player after a difficult transfer window at San Siro
Montolivo: I'm at AC Milan to replace Pirlo
The versatile midfielder is looking to emulate the current Juventus star at San Siro, while stressing that he is not a trequartista
Giovinco can make the difference at the highest level, says Buffon
The veteran goalkeeper has nothing but positive words for the tricky attacker, and feels he is ready to make an impact at international level
Ravanelli: Australia will offer Del Piero a new way of life
The former team-mate of the Juventus legend understands why he chose Sydney FC and could not contemplate a move to another Serie A club
FIGC monitoring the repair of Napoli's San Paolo pitch
The Italian Football Federation are working closely with the Partenopei in order to help restore the terrible condition of the turf, ahead of the return of Serie A next week
'I am aware of the rivalry' - Manchester City signing Nastasic not seeking Vidic advice
The Serbian defender, who joined from Fiorentina on deadline day, insists that he will not look to his compatriot for guidance due his status as captain at Old Trafford
Fiorentina want Berbatov to pay for airline tickets after transfer snub
The Italian club have stated their intention to pursue the Bulgarian striker for funds to cover the travel expenses outlaid for him during their chase to sign him in the summer
Rossi tips Juventus & Napoli as favourites for Serie A title
The 51-year-old believes the two perennial rivals are the league's most complete sides, while he touched on his bust-up with Adem Ljajic and plans to reform Italian football
The flamboyant Portuguese feels his Italian counterpart is a great coach, and believes Juventus can go far in the Champions League this term
Sep 6, 2012 7:40:00 AM
By Stefan Coerts
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has nothing but positive words for Juventus colleagueAntonio Conte, and feels the former Italy international is quite similar to him as a trainer.
The 43-year-old, who is currently suspended for failing to report two instances of match-fixing during his time in charge of Siena, guided the Bianconeri to the Serie A title last term, and the former Inter boss is full of praise for him.
"The fans call Conte the Italian Special One? I like that. I feel honoured. He is a bit like me," Mourinho was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.
"I like Conte a lot as a coach. He knows what he wants and is a real winner. He has a lot of charisma."
The Madrid boss then went on to discuss Juventus' chances in the Champions League, and expects them to go far in the competition.
"Can Juventus surprise in the Champions League? Let's not kid anyone, Juventus are a big team in Europe and it would be absolutely normal if they go far in the competition.
"Yes, it would be a surprise if they go all the way and win the Champions League after not playing in Europe last year. But it would not surprise me at all if they make it to the quarter or semi-finals."
Juventus will have to compete with Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk and Nordsjaelland in Group E of the Champions League.
Milan wanted Barcelona midfielder Xavi, says his Mum The 32-year-old's mother has claimed that the Italian giants made an offer for her son while he was playing for Barca's B team
Sep 7, 2012 1:45:00 PM
By Paul Mullin
Barcelona midfielder Xavi could well have made his name in the red and black of AC Milan rather than the scarlet and blue of the Blaugrana, according to the player's mum.
The Spain international caught the eye of Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani when he was just a teenager and the Serie A outfit did their best to tempt the playmaker to San Siro.
“Galliani came and put an offer on the table when Xavi played for Barcelona B, offering him a four-year contract,” Maria Merce Creus told TV Cuatro.
But she remained insistent that even though there were quality players in front of her son at the club, she had no doubt he would be a success at Camp Nou.
“At the time he had Pep Guardiola in front of him, but inside of me I thought it would tear the family apart completely if he went," she revealed.
“Besides, I always thought that although it might be difficult, he would be a success at Barcelona.”
Pirlo: Juventus want to do well in all competitions
The influential playmaker is full of ambition and has set his sights on silverware both in Italy and in Europe following last year's success
Sneijder: Inter can beat Juventus
The Netherlands international feels the Nerazzurri can go for the title, while adding that their Milan rivals will also be in the running for the Scudetto
Napoli are Juventus' main threat - Zola backing former club to be Serie A challengers
The ex-Partenopei player believes the Naples club are The Old Lady's biggest contenders along with Roma, but feels Milan and Inter are not strong enough to challenge
Roma midfielder De Rossi facing injury lay-off
The Italian will miss Tuesday's 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malta on Tuesday with a thigh strain that may rule him out for several weeks
'With Handanovic, Inter have a goalkeeper in place for 10 years' - agent
The 28-year-old made the switch to San Siro earlier this year, and his representative believes that the Slovenian can become a mainstay at the club
Giuseppe Rossi almost went to Roma, claims striker's agent
The former Manchester United front-man almost sealed an 11th-hour move to the Giallorossi, but is still five months away from returning to competitive action
Roma well equipped to win the league, says Napoli coach Mazzarri
The Partenopei boss has indicated that the club from the capital are more than capable of challenging for the Scudetto, citing them as the main rivals to the Bianconeri
Baresi tells Cassano: Talk less and play more
The Rossoneri legend took to the side's television channel to brand the 30-year-old's decision to make several thinly-veiled attacks against his previous club as unwise
Burdisso 'dreamt' of playing for Roma
The Argentine defender spoke of his long-standing attraction to the Giallorossi, and maintained they would step up their challenge for honours during the campaign
Lichtsteiner: There is absolutely no reason to leave Juventus
The wing-back has made it clear that he is very pleased with the conditions at the Bianconeri, and that a transfer is not an option for him
We gave Silvestre to Inter because I didn't like him, says Zamparini
The controversial president has explained his decision to offload the defender, and has suggested he could sell the club following criticism from fans
Fiorentina tell Jovetic he will be allowed to leave in 2013
The Serie A outfit managed to hold on to their star player this summer, but are ready to cash in on the attacker at the end of the season
Stramaccioni: A key season awaits Inter
The Nerazzuri coach believes that the current campaign is very important as they aim to challenge for honours once again after a below-par year
The Inter president has highlighted the importance of the season ahead, and is full of praise for the young coach, who took over from Claudio Ranieri in March
Sep 8, 2012 5:25:00 PM
By Renger Dotinga
Inter president Massimo Moratti has voiced his confidence in young coach Andrea Stramaccioni, claiming that appointing the former Primavera boss was a simple decision.
The Nerazzurri have been through a string of trainers since Jose Mourinho left the club in 2010, and the San Siro supremo turned to the 36-year-old, who had previously been in charge of the youth ranks, in March.
The appointment brought with it an upturn in results, and Moratti has been delighted with Stramaccioni's impact on the club's fortunes.
"It didn't take a lot of courage to choose Stramaccioni," the 67-year old explained at a press conference. "He seemed to have all the features to do the job and I wasn't mistaken."
Many Italian clubs have found themselves in dire financial situations in recent months, with Inter's city-rivals AC Milan being forced to sell the likes of Thiago Silva, but Moratti is confident about his side's future.
"We are in an economic situation that should give the strength to find positive values. I think Inter will be a model company and investment."
Inter will return to action after the international break when they travel to Torino on September 16.
Filippo Inzaghi 'calm and peaceful' on managerial debut
The former AC Milan striker takes charge of the club's youth set-up later on Sunday, and insists that he wants to inspire his new charges
Sep 9, 2012 1:55:00 PM
By Mohammed Ali
AC Milan youth coach Filippo Inzaghi has said that he wants to convey his passion to his players, as he nears his managerial debut later on Sunday.
The 39-year-old brought the curtain down on a glittering career at the end of the 2011-12 season, scoring the winning goal against Novara, before taking up the reins of the club's Allievi Nazionali set-up.
Inzaghi's charges take on Bologna in their first game of the season, with the former Italy international hopeful of a good result.
"I am calm and peaceful about this new experience. I've worked with these guys for three weeks," Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
"I hope they play a good match. I [have prepared for] this by studying the opponents and picking the team that I thought was most useful.
"Hopefully I've sent these guys my passion. I am clearly at the beginning of this career as a manager, but I think I've already been able to give these kids tips on diet, and on the rules an athlete must follow in order to remain the best."
Sneijder rules out move to Manchester by pledging future to Inter
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER PUBLISHED: 10:34 GMT, 10 September 2012 | UPDATED: 10:34 GMT, 10 September 2012
Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has ruled out a move to the Premier League before his contract expires in 2015.The 28-year-old has been linked with both Manchester City and Manchester United in recent years after helping Inter win the Champions League in 2010.But the Dutch playmaker has no plans to leave the Italian giants in the near future.
Staying put: Wesley Sneijder plans to remain at Italian side Inter Milan
'I want to stay at Inter,' Sneijder told Gazzetta dello Sport. 'I have never, never thought about leaving Inter. I like the team, the city, the club, and I also like the coach [Andrea Stramaccioni].' He understands players, like president [Massimo] Moratti.'Stramaccioni talks a lot with me, about everything. This lets me feel his faith and this is good for each player.'
Wanted man: Sneijder was courted by bother Manchester clubs this summer
Sneijder has not yet decided what he will do when his contract expires with the Nerazzurri but admits he could return to former club Ajax.
'Never say never, but now it’s too soon to think about [returning to the Amsterdam club],' he said. 'I have a deal with Inter until 2015 and I want, as a minimum, to remain until the end of the contract.'
Pazzini calls for AC Milan consistency
The Italy international says the Rossoneri can have a successful campaign if they approach every game with the same level of intensity
Buffon fired up for Champions League return
The Azzurri shot-stopper missed hearing the signature music during the Bianconeri's recent absence from European football's elite competition
Juventus still looking at Llorente, reveals Marotta
The Old Lady's sporting director claims the Italian side are still working hard to identify potential targets ahead of the January transfer window
Criscito disappointed to miss Euro 2012 chance
The Italian left-back, who was excluded from Italy's squad for the tournament after allegations of match-fixing has now seen the charges against him dropped
Inter will start winning again soon, says Juan Jesus
The 21-year-old has little doubt that the Giuseppe Meazza side will bounce back from their loss versus Roma, and is eager to make an impact at the Serie A giants
Galliani: Barcelona & Real Madrid from another planet
The flamboyant director is adamant that the San Siro side can beat any Italian rival, but added that the Spanish giants are on another level
Inter have not yet discussed Giuseppe Rossi, says Fassone
The attacker has supposedly set his sights on a move to the Italian top flight this winter, but the Nerazzurri are still undecided as to whether they will make a move
Juventus pushed hard to sign me, says Fiorentina's Jovetic
The 22-year-old appeared to be on his way to the Bianconeri this summer, but staying at his current club was by no means a punishment for the attacker
Palermo disappoint Miccoli
The Rosanero captain has spoken pessimistically of his future, but isn't looking to blame the club's president for his current situation
Napoli are more complete without Lavezzi, says Fabio Cannavaro
The former centre-back has told the Italian media that his boyhood club are a more balanced side now the Argentina international is at Paris Saint-Germain
Italy starlet Lorenzo Insigne earns Del Piero praise
The young prospect has been in contact with the Azzurri legend, after admitting the 37-year-old was his hero following his first call-up to the national side
Bojan: Barcelona should have treated Ibrahimovic better
The Milan forward has criticised the Catalan club for not treating the 30-year-old striker with more respect in his time at Camp Nou
Allegri: I took risks with injured players because we were fighting for the Scudetto
The 45-year-old trainer feels the end justified the means as they were aiming for Serie A glory, and added that he would not have been criticised had they won the league
Fiorentina's Aquilani out for two weeks with Achilles injury
The former Roma midfielder will be out of action for a while due to niggling ankle problems, and is expected to miss the games against Catania and Parma
Boateng resumes AC Milan training
The attacking midfielder has been working on his recovery in the past few days, and is now one step closer to returning to match action again
Diego Maradona's brother Hugo would love Napoli job
The 43-year-old former Ascoli player revealed his ambition to one day manage a Serie A team and is open to the idea of taking over at the Neapolitan club
Bojan: I do not mind wearing Kaka's No.22 jersey
The 22-year-old is not intimidated by wearing the same number as Milan's former great as he has worn the No.9 Barca shirt but he also insists he does not regret leaving Camp Nou
Napoli are more complete without Lavezzi, says Fabio Cannavaro
The former centre-back has told the Italian media that his boyhood club are a more balanced side now the Argentina international is at Paris Saint-Germain
Sep 11, 2012 4:10:00 PM
By Alex Mott
Fabio Cannavaro has claimed that his former club Napoli are better off without Ezequiel Lavezzi, following his move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The Argentina international moved to the French capital during pre-season, but the 38-year-old believes that his hometown side are more competitive now than when he was at the club.
“[With Napoli] I see a team that, while last year had the unpredictability of [Ezequiel] Lavezzi, this year is more balanced, more complete," he told Tuttosport.
“I would recommend all players go to Napoli, it is a gratifying and successful place.
“I tried to organise with president [Aurelio] De Laurentiis a tour of Dubai last year, but it didn't happen. I hope to one day return to Italy though and work as a sporting director. And in my hometown would be even better.”
The former Juventus and Parma man also commented on the recent performances of his brother Paolo Cannavaro, who plays for the Partenopei.
“It's not for me to say, but in the last three years, I think he has become one of the best defenders in Italy," he stated.
"Yes, he has committed some errors, but so did [Alessandro] Nesta. I have to credit [Napoli coach Walter] Mazzarri, who has sent him on to the pitch relaxed and confident.”
He concluded the interview by explaining who believes will win Serie A this season: “For the title, I think Juventus. Napoli will always have my heart, and it is normal that I want them to win.”
