Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
The attacking midfielder, who was found guilty of failing to report attempts to arrange the outcome of two games, will now be available for the Rome derby
Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has been cleared to return to action in February after having his match-fixing ban reduced to six months.
The 34-year-old had been initially hit with a six-month ban for failing to act over the alleged plans to arrange the outcome of the Biancocelesti's Serie A clashes with Genoa and Lecce in 2011, but the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) subsequently added a further three months to the suspension.
However, after just half an hour of deliberation on Friday, the National Sports' Court for Arbitration revoked that ruling, meaning Mauri's exile will now end on February 2.
Consequently, the attacking midfielder, who has been capped 11 times by the Azzurri, will be available for Lazio's Serie A derby with city rivals Roma seven days later.
The Calcio Scommesse betting scandal of 2011 resulted in a string of high-profile arrests, including former Italy international Giuseppe Signori, as well as a number of Italian clubs being ultimately docked points for their involvement in match-fixing.
Lazio coach Edy Reja is open to bolstering his Lazio squad with new signings in the January transfer window.
Reja was appointed as Vladimir Petkovic's successor earlier this month and presided over a 1-0 Serie A win against Inter in his first game back as coach at the Stadio Olimpico.
The victory leaves Lazio 10th in Serie A and Reja is not against the idea of improving his squad with new additions, provided opportunities arise to do so.
"The squad is competitive, what counts is to then see in the official games how the players behave," he said.
"They will have to show me their value on the pitch. I’ve seen some great qualities, to play for Lazio you need to have personality.
"We are evaluating various opportunities, if there is the possibility we will make some moves. We will wait this week, after the game against Parma, then we will evaluate the situation.
"The will is to bring in an important player, of substance."
The likes of Napoli's Paolo Cannavaro and Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella are two names reported to be of interest to Lazio.
Reja explained how highly he thought of the pair, but stopped short of confirming his interest in signing them.
Asked whether he would welcome either at the club, he said: "Maybe, they are two excellent players.
"I trained Cannavaro at Napoli and I have always held him in high esteem, he was the real captain of the squad.
"They are both players I really rate. Quagliarella is a player of value, a second striker who also moves around the primary attacker.
"I also read about (Milan striker Alessandro) Matri, these names all come out."
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are both said to be interested in the France international but neither club has yet made an official approach
Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta insists that the club has yet to receive any offers for midfield ace Paul Pogba.
The France international has been linked with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks and the 20-year-old was recently pictured in the shirt of the Ligue 1 champions.
However, Marotta claims that no formal approach has been made by PSG - or any other club for that matter.
“Pogba? That's just talk,” he told Tuttosport. “We have not received any offers.”
After nailing down a regular birth in Antonio Conte's line-up in his first, title-winning season in Serie A, Pogba is now being touted as one of Europe's brightest young talents.
Consequently, Juventus are currently trying to fend off potential suitors by tying the former Manchester United man down to a new four-year contract.
Milan are the visitors to the Stadio Citta del Tricolore as Sassuolo's search for a first goal since December 1 continues on Sunday.
A five-game losing streak has left Eusebio Di Francesco's side in the Serie A relegation zone and out of the Coppa Italia.
The goals have dried up completely since last month's 2-2 draw at Cagliari, when the top-flight newcomers surrendered maximum points despite leading by two goals with 17 minutes to play.
A run of 521 minutes without finding the net since then has suddenly put a different complexion on Sassuolo's campaign, which had looked a little more promising when they were just three points off ninth in late November.
This fixture marks the halfway stage of the league season and, while the hosts' struggles may have come as little surprise to most, Milan's poor form has been one of the major talking points.
Monday's 3-0 home win over Atalanta, inspired in part by Kaka's double, eased some of the gloom following the 1-0 loss to bitter rivals Inter before the mid-season break.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri has already confirmed that he will step down at the end of this term but his focus for now will be on rescuing a dismal season.
The three-point haul last time out lifted the San Siro outfit up to 11th but, with the club having only finished outside the top four once in the last 12 seasons, the supporters have far higher expectations.
And that has perhaps been a contributing factor to a dismal home record that has seen Milan claim just one league win in their own back yard.
Road trips have proved more fruitful and the visitors will be eyeing a fifth away triumph of the campaign in Serie A.
Sassuolo have the worst home record in the division, with eight matches yielding just seven points and eight goals.
Milan will look to some of their big-name players to turn things around, with Mario Balotelli having dismissed reports that he will leave in the January transfer window. The Italian will be bidding to add to his 11-goal tally in all competitions this term.
One player who is unlikely to be involved is back-up goalkeeper Marco Amelia, who requested a move away from the club on Friday.
Juventus have the longest winning run of the 2013-14 Serie A season in their sights as they prepare to visit Cagliari on Sunday.
Juve currently share that record with Roma, who kicked off the season with 10 straight victories, but a 3-0 triumph over the men from the Italian capital last weekend has teed them up to surpass that marker.
Antonio Conte's men have not been short of goals during their winning streak, netting an average of 2.6 per match, and success against Roma put the reigning champions eight points clear at the top of the table.
However, Juventus will be wary heading into this tie as Cagliari held the Turin outfit to a 1-1 draw when the sides last met in May.
Victor Ibarbo put Cagliari ahead at Juventus Stadium, before Mirko Vucinic spared the hosts' blushes just after the hour mark.
That said, the head-to-head record between these clubs reads in favour of Juve, who have not tasted defeat in the last seven league meetings.
The Sardinians currently sit 12th and have carved out a reputation as draw specialists in recent weeks, with five of their last six games finishing all-square.
Cagliari's last defeat came more than two months ago, when they went down 2-1 at Verona on November 3.
Conte knows his Juve side cannot afford to take their eyes off the prize in the pursuit of a third consecutive Serie A title, and has vowed not to get carried away following the win against Roma.
"Our victory against Roma was a step forward," he said. "This is all it is.
"There is an entire second half of the season to go. Anything can happen from here to the end of the campaign."
Juventus will be without the suspended Andrea Barzagli for the trip to Cagliari, while Nene is expected to miss out for the hosts.
By DANIELLA MATAR
Published: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 - 4:29 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 - 5:15 am
AC Milan midfielder Bryan Cristante scores a goal during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Atalanta at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014.
MILAN -- With an eight-point lead atop the standings, Juventus is looking to continue its charge to the Serie A title and extend its winning streak when it plays Cagliari this weekend. Second-place Roma hosts Genoa and will be hoping to bounce back from a loss in Turin and keep up the pressure on Juventus.
Third-place Napoli travels to in-form Hellas Verona.
Here are five things to know about the Italian league:
---
JUBILANT JUVE
Juventus is looking for an 11th successive win when it travels to Cagliari on Sunday as Antonio Conte's side remains firmly on course for a third successive league title.
Juventus beat title rival Roma in its first match after the winter break to extend its lead at the halfway stage of the season.
"Eight points is certainly a good advantage," Conte said. "But it should be just that and not an illusion. Because if these eight points make us believe we have something that we don't yet have, it will make us lose concentration, desire to train, dedication... So I say these eight points could be bad for us."
Inter Milan holds the record for most consecutive victories, after winning 17 in a row in the 2006-07 season. Juventus has never won 11 successive league matches.
---
HONDA HELP
AC Milan unveiled new signing Keisuke Honda on Wednesday and the Japan forward is likely to make his debut on Sunday at Sassuolo.
Milan will be hoping the signing of Honda will have a similar impact to the arrival of Mario Balotelli last year, when he helped propel the team from mid-table to a Champions League berth.
"I need to score goals, provide assists and there are many things I need to do and can do," Honda said. "I don't think the side are doing that badly, I saw the match on Monday, they played great, I can give my contribution. We can probably improve a lot. "
Milan beat Atalanta 3-0 on Monday but remains mired in 11th place.
---
CRISTANTE START?
Teenage midfielder Bryan Cristante could make another appearance for Milan against Sassuolo after scoring on his first start against Atalanta.
Cristante had previously played just five minutes of league football but had two scoring opportunities and hit the crossbar within the opening 14 minutes.
"I'm very happy with my debut," the 18-year-old player said. "But above all with the performance of the squad. We managed to win and climb back up in the table.
"I want to continue to grow and work. I'm here and I'm always ready. Training every day with these champions helps you grow quickly. I feel ready but I have to continue to grow."
Cristante scored his first goal for Milan shortly after Kaka had scored his 100th and 101st.
---
ROMA LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK
Roma's loss at Juventus was its first of the season and means there are now no unbeaten teams in the league.
It was the first time Roma had conceded three goals under coach Rudi Garcia and also saw the team end the match with nine men after Daniele De Rossi and Leandro Castan were sent off.
"I don't have anything more to say about that match," Garcia said. "What matters is not wasting time and instead thinking of winning again.
"You do the accounts at the end. In football there is the mistake of weighing things up after too little time, doing so on one game is wrong for me. Let's not forget that our first defeat came after 17 matches, what we did before wasn't bad and we can do so again."
Roma hosts Genoa on Sunday.
---
BALLARDINI AT BOLOGNA
New Bologna coach Davide Ballardini will take charge of the club for the first time when it hosts Lazio on Saturday.
Bologna sacked coach Stefano Pioli and hired Ballardini on Wednesday after winning just one of its past eight games to leave it languishing a point above the relegation zone.
Ballardini was in charge of Genoa for the second half of last season and saved it from relegation. He has also managed Lazio, Cagliari and Palermo.
AC Milan boss Allegri facing sack as Berlusconi calls for 'urgent change'
By Mark Doyle54
Jan 12, 2014 11:42:00 PM
The Rossoneri have called a press conference for Monday to discuss the future of the 46-year-old coach, who led the club to the title in 2011
AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is seemingly on the verge of being sacked, with vice-president Barbara Berlusconi having demanded "urgent change" after Sunday night's shock 4-3 Serie A loss to Sassuolo.
The Rossoneri raced into a 2-0 lead in Emilia-Romagna thanks to Robinho and Mario Balotelli but were left shellshocked by Domenico Berardi's stunning four-goal salvo, with Riccardo Montolivo's late strike proving purely academic.
Milan have now called a press conference for Monday at which Allegri is expected to be officially dismissed.
"This was a very disappointing and unacceptable performance, which confirms the urgent need of a change," Berlusconi told reporters after the defeat to Sassuolo.
Allegri, meanwhile, was in a defiant frame of mind when he emerged to face the media but admitted that he could well be relieved of his duties.
"I'm ok with myself," the Livorno native hold Rai. "I have always done my best and I'll keep on doing that if I keep my job.
"Anyway, whatever happens, I'll accept it."
Milan's loss leaves them 11th in the Serie A standings, a staggering 20 points behind third-placed Napoli.
Inter Milan's Rodrigo Palacio (R) fights for the ball with Chievo's Nicolas Frey during their Italian Serie A soccer match at San Siro stadium in Milan January 13, 2014. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
(Reuters) - Inter Milan's unhappy run continued when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly Chievo in Serie A on Monday and were jeered off the San Siro pitch by their own fans
Inter, with only one win in their last seven league matches, were quickly in trouble when Alberto Paloschi fired the relegation-threatened Flying Donkeys ahead in the eighth minute.
Yuto Nagatomo levelled for Inter four minutes later, turning the ball in from close range after it was pulled back by Ricardo Alvarez, and the Japanese had a goal controversially disallowed for offside two minutes later.
Walter Mazzarri's team dominated possession for the rest of the game but struggled to create clear chances.
Inter are joint fifth, level with promoted Verona on 32 points from 19 games, 10 behind Napoli who are third in the Champions League playoff spot.
Three players were sent off as Sampdoria thumped Udinese 3-0 in Monday's other game.
Brazilian midfielder Allan was dismissed for Udinese in the 35th minute after two yellow cards in quick succession but the numbers were levelled up when Samp's Roberto Soriano was sent off just after the hour for a second bookable offence.
Udinese also had Allan's compatriot Gabriel Silva ordered off after he was booked for elbowing, his second yellow card.
Brazilian Eder gave Sampdoria a 16th-minute lead with a penalty and added another two minutes after halftime, although there was a suspicion of offside as he latched on to a flicked pass to score.
Daniele Gastaldello headed the third three minutes from time to leave Sampdoria 12th with 21 points and Udinese 15th with 20.
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne, editing by Ed Osmond.
Milan sack Allegri, Seedorf favoured as replacement
Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:34pm GMT
AC Milan's coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during their Champions League soccer match against Ajax Amsterdam at the San Siro stadium in Milan December 11, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
(Reuters) - AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was fired on Monday following a series of dismal results for the seven-times European champions.
Italian media said Milan, languishing 11th in Serie A, were poised to gamble on their former midfielder Clarence Seedorf as his replacement even though the Dutchman has no previous coaching experience.
Reports said Seedorf, currently playing for Brazilian club Botafogo, would arrive in Italy on Thursday although the player himself told the newspaper he did not want to comment.
"AC Milan wish to communicate that Massimiliano Allegri and his staff have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect," the Serie A club said in a statement as they confirmed Allegri's downfall.
"AC Milan would like to thank Mr Allegri and his staff for their time with the club and wish them the best for the future. Coach Mauro Tassotti will take charge of the team in the meantime."
Allegri was dismissed less than 24 hours after his team squandered a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 at promoted Sassuolo, conceding four times in just over half an hour.
The defeat left Milan with 22 points from 19 games, 20 adrift of Napoli who occupy the Champions League playoff spot in third position.
Milan have won only five league games all season.
Allegri said he thanked "the owners and the club for the three-and-a-half seasons on the red and black bench. It has been a gratifying professional experience, with significant successes," he told the ANSA news agency.
Chief executive Adriano Galliani said he was sorry to see Allegri go.
"I feel very sorry for Allegri, especially for the way the situation developed on a human level, but that's football."
The phlegmatic 46-year-old, in his fourth year at the club, has faced constant media speculation over his future in the last few weeks and said during the Christmas break that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The writing was on the wall for Allegri when club director Barbara Berlusconi, daughter of club president Silvio, told ANSA that Sunday's performance was unacceptable.
"It was a disappointing evening that confirms it's necessary to change," she said. "It's not tolerable for our fans to watch unacceptable performances such as this."
Allegri took charge in 2010 and led Milan to the Serie A title in his first season and second place the year after. His fortunes changed dramatically when the club sold several top players in the middle of 2012 to balance the books, saying they were putting the emphasis on youth.
Milan finished third last season but, plagued by injuries, have struggled domestically this term.
They are, however, the only Italian survivors in this season's Champions League and face Atletico Madrid in the last 16 next month.
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne, editing by Ed Osmond)
Sampdoria piled the misery on Udinese with a 3-0 win at the Luigi Ferraris in a game that saw three men sent off.
An Eder penalty put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute, and when the visitors' Brazilian midfielder Allan was dismissed for a second yellow card 10 minutes before the break their chances looked bleak.
Eder added a second two minutes into the second half to put Sampdoria in total control, but Udinese were given a lifeline just after the hour when Roberto Soriano was dismissed for the hosts.
However, in the 69th minute Francesco Guidolin's side were dealt a further blow when they were reduced to nine men following Gabriel Silva's sending off, the first time three players have been sent off for two yellow cards in the Italian top flight since October 1997.
Sampdoria put their numerical advantage to good use as they dominated the remainder of the game and added a late third thanks to Daniele Gastaldello as Udinese suffered a third consecutive league defeat.
Inter missed the chance to return to winning ways as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resolute Chievo at San Siro.
The visitors took a surprise lead in the eighth minute through Alberto Paloschi, only for Yuto Nagamoto to bring Walter Mazzarri's side level four minutes later with his fifth league goal of the campaign.
Inter dominated the proceedings thereafter but were left frustrated as Christian Puggioni kept out what attacks they were able to create.
Chievo did threaten on the counter attack but were also wasteful in the attacking third, with Cyril Thereau sending their best chance well wide of goal.
(Reuters) - Former Netherlands and AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf will become the Serie A club's new coach after announcing an end to his illustrious playing career on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old Dutchman, who has no previous coaching experience, told a news conference that he was retiring as a player. He left Milan for Brazil's Botafogo in 2012.
"This isn't a goodbye, we'll meet again," he said at Botafogo's stadium.
"All the experience I have gained in this year and a half at Botafogo is going to help me in my next venture, which will be as coach of Milan."
Seedorf's agent Deborah Martin said he had signed a two-and-a-half year contract to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was fired by Milan on Monday following a dismal run of results for the seven-times European champions.
Seedorf said he was not considering retiring but that the offer to return to Milan was too good to turn down.
"The decision (to sack Allegri) was decisive," Seedorf told reporters. "The call came in the middle of the training session. Obviously, it's a place where I spent 10 years of my life and I have a very close relationship with the president so when he asked me I couldn't say no."
The move to appoint Seedorf, who had a successful 10-year playing career at Milan, is something of a gamble although he is a hugely popular figure at the club and would arrive with a deep bank of goodwill.
The midfielder was the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs - Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. He has also represented Inter Milan and Sampdoria.
The former Dutch international won two league titles and an Italian Cup to go with the two Champions League victories during his time at Milan, during which he was also awarded the UEFA Best Midfielder Award in 2007.
SQUANDERED LEAD
Milan are currently 11th in Serie A after squandering a two goal lead in a 4-3 defeat at promoted Sassuolo on Sunday night. That left them 30 points behind leaders Juventus and 20 points off the final Champions League berth occupied by Napoli.
Allegri managed just five wins in 19 league games this season and was fired on Monday morning.
There has been sympathy for Allegri, who won the Serie A title in his first season in 2010-11 but has since had to deal with the loss of Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrea Pirlo, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Seedorf himself during a tough transitional period at the club.
Allegri guided Milan into the Champions League with a late Philippe Mexes goal on the last day of last season but they face a tough prospect in the round of 16 next month against high-flying Atletico Madrid.
Seedorf joined Botafogo in 2012 on a two-year contract the club said was the best ever given to a foreign player.
His drive and often admired professionalism helped turn the club's fortunes around and 2013 was their most successful season in years.
Botafogo won the Rio state championship in May and finished fourth in the Serie A, a placing that took them into the Copa Libertadores, South America's version of the Champions League, for the first time since 1996.
"After 22 years, it was a difficult night," Seedorf said of his decision to retire. "But I am very satisfied with what I've done in my career and with what I managed to do with Botafogo.
"One of the most important objectives was to put them back on top and get them back in the Libertadores for the first time in 17 years. The clubs deserves it, the fans deserve it and the players deserve it."
However, Seedorf had also expressed disappointment at the lack of passion among Botafogo's fans. The club's average attendance was only 13,000, a low number for a city of almost 10 million people.
Like many Brazilian clubs Botafogo suffered from serious financial problems, and players were not always paid on time. The club's new stadium was closed in March, after authorities said the roof was in danger of collapsing in high winds.
(Reporting by Pedro Fonseca, writing by Andrew Downie, editing By Ed Osmond)
Napoli are "certain" to bolster their squad with new signings this week, according to coach Rafael Benitez.
Benitez has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his squad at the midway point of his first season in charge at the Stadio San Paolo.
With his side currently third in Serie A, the Spaniard is eager to sign players in an attempt to reel in second-placed Roma and leaders Juventus.
"I am sure 100 per cent that the president will do something this week," Benitez told Rai Sport after Napoli's Coppa Italia win over Atalanta.
"I am certain of it. We still have a few days to work and sort things out, but we'll do at least one or two moves this week.
"I only talk about my own players, not those who are at other clubs."
Having gone a goal down to Atalanta after 14 minutes on Wednesday, a brace from Jose Callejon and a goal from Lorenzo Insigne helped Napoli through in a last-16 tie that saw Marek Hamsik make his first appearance since November.
After suffering with a foot injury, the influential midfielder came off the bench for the final 30 minutes and Benitez said it was always the plan to re-introduce Hamsik gradually.
"We always planned to give Marek some time on the pitch when Goran Pandev got tired and when our opponents opened up a bit," he added.
"We are still at 76 per cent. We’ll see if Marek plays as well as he did today, then the percentage will rise."
Former Netherlands international Clarence Seedorf has been appointed first-team coach of Milan on a two-and-a-half year contract.
Milan's official Twitter profile posted a picture of Seedorf signing a contract with vice president and chief executive Adriano Galliani on Thursday.
And the Serie A club confirmed in a statement that the Dutchman had put pen to paper on a deal that runs until June 30 2016.
The 37-year-old will begin his managerial career at San Siro, taking charge of a club he spent 10 years at as a player between 2002 and 2012.
Seedorf, who watched Milan's 3-1 win over Spezia in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, will assume control with the club 11th in Serie A.
His appointment had been expected soon after predecessor Massimiliano Allegri was dismissed on Monday, with the Italian having been under pressure for much of the season.
Having confirmed the end of his playing career on Tuesday, Seedorf, who had been playing at Botafogo in Brazil, will take charge of his first Milan game on Sunday against Hellas Verona.
Serie A Preview: Seedorf returns to Milan, Sampdoria next in line for Juve
16 January 2014
Clarence Seedorf returns to San Siro as Milan coach on Sunday, while Juventus will look to extend their record winning streak in Serie A.
Former Netherlands international Seedorf retired from playing on Tuesday in order to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was sacked following last weekend's 4-3 defeat at struggling Sassuolo.
The 38-year-old represented Milan with great distinction in his playing career, scoring 62 goals in 432 appearances and winning two Serie A titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues and one Coppa Italia crown in a 10-year stay.
Mauro Tassotti took charge of Wednesday's 3-1 Coppa Italia win over Serie B side Spezia, and Seedorf's reign as coach begins with a tricky visit of Verona to Lombardy.
Verona have adapted superbly to life back in the top flight following last season's promotion from Serie B and sit sixth after 19 games, having racked up 10 wins.
Luca Toni's nine goals in 17 games have been key to that, although they fell to a 3-0 home defeat to Napoli last time out.
They may look to Milan's woeful home form as an opportunity to respond strongly, however.
Milan's win against Atalanta on January 6 was their first on home soil in seven games in all competitions, but they followed that up with the stunning loss to Sassuolo - whose four goals were all scored by teenage striker Domenico Berardi.
Champions Juventus, meanwhile, will be confident of extending their record winning run in Serie A to 12 games when they host Sampdoria on Saturday.
Antonio Conte's side have won all nine of their home games in the league this season, but Samp are the last side to have beaten Juve on their own patch, having picked up a 2-1 win at Juventus Stadium on January 6 last year.
Juve's closest title rivals Roma and Napoli will face Livorno and Bologna respectively hoping for a rare slip up from the champions, with Fiorentina and Inter hoping Rafael Benitez and Rudi Garcia's sides lose as they look to boost their UEFA Champions League hopes at Catania and Genoa.
Sassuolo, with morale boosted after their win over Milan and the clubs below them facing tough games, host Torino with the bottom five's final side Chievo hosting Parma.
Elsewhere, Lazio travel to Udinese yet to be beaten under returning coach Edy Reja, and Atalanta host Cagliari.
Fiorentina have confirmed Manchester United midfielder Anderson will undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a proposed loan move.
The 25-year-old Brazilian, who arrived at Old Trafford from Porto in 2007, has made just four Premier League appearances for David Moyes' men this season.
Having been plagued by injuries for much of his time with United, Anderson now appears set to seek regular first-team action in Serie A.
Anderson arrived in Florence on Thursday afternoon and met Fiorentina's sporting director Daniele Prade and technical director Eduardo Macia.
Fiorentina revealed on their website that the player is set to undergo a medical on Friday, with a view to becoming Vincenzo Montella's latest signing.
Montella signed goalkeeper Antonio Rosati on loan from Serie A rivals Sassuolo for the rest of the season on Thursday.
Rosati has started only two Serie games for Eusebio Di Franceso's side this season, with his last appearance coming back in September.
The 30-year-old passed a medical on Thursday and has swapped a relegation battle for the Florence club's quest to qualify for Europe.
The Tivoli-born keeper will provide competition for Brazilian Neto and is set to face the media at a press conference on Friday.
His arrival follows the loan signing of striker Alessandro Matri from Milan.
Sampdoria, the last Italian team to win at Juventus, will bid to bring an end to the Serie A champions' remarkable home form on Saturday.
Juve slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to Samp in January last year, the visitors coming from behind thanks to a double from Mauro Icardi to claim the points, despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Samp went on to do the double over Antonio Conte's men with a 3-2 victory at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in May, but Juve have been utterly dominant in Turin since that loss.
Only Bayern Munich have replicated Sampdoria's feat in the past year, the Bundesliga side winning 2-0 at Juventus as the German giants marched to a UEFA Champions League title triumph.
And Juve, who won 1-0 at Samp back in August, are likely to be favourites to make it 12 Serie A wins in a row as Conte's side look to further cement top spot and boost hopes of a third successive title.
However, Juve - eight points clear of nearest rivals Roma - face a Samp side that head into the contest in form themselves, having lost only one of their last seven league games.
That run has seen Sinisa Mihajlovic's men move clear of the relegation zone and the visitors can jump into the top half of the table with another victory.
Samp striker Eder is wary of Juve, who have a fully-fit squad available for the game, but insists Mihajlovic's team are determined to cause an upset.
"We know that on Saturday we will come up against a great team," Eder told Tuttosport.
"But currently Sampdoria has a different mindset to that of the past and for this we have to say thanks to Mihajlovic.
"We are not going sit back and defend, rather we will fight to bring home three points that are fundamental to our bid for survival."
Samp have no injury concerns, but will be without both Roberto Soriano and Nenad Krsticic due to suspension.
Posted on Thursday, 01.16.14
5 things to know about the Italian league
Juventus' Claudio Marchisio shouts in celebration after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Cagliari, in Cagliari, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2013. Juventus came from behind to win 4-1 at Cagliari and maintain its eight-point advantage over second-placed Roma, which crushed 10-man Genoa 4-0 in Serie A on Sunday with a stunning goal by Alessandro Florenzi. Daniele Badolato, Lapresse / AP Photo
By DANIELLA MATAR
Associated Press
MILAN -- Former AC Milan player Clarence Seedorf will take charge of his first match as coach of the Italian team when it hosts in-form Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Also, Juventus is looking to continue its charge to another Serie A title and extend its winning streak when it plays Sampdoria on Saturday. Roma hosts relegation-threatened Livorno, while Napoli visits struggling Bologna.
Here are five things to know about the Italian league:
---
SEEDORF START
AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf spent a successful decade at Milan as a player and now has to revive its fortunes as a coach, starting with the Rossoneri's home game against high-flying Hellas Verona.
Seedorf replaced Massimiliano Allegri, who was fired following last weekend's 4-3 loss at Sassuolo.
Even though Seedorf had been playing at Brazilian club Botafogo, he said the strong links with the Italian club always remained intact.
"You can't say that I'm back as I never really left," Seedorf said. "We have a lot to do to take the club back to the top. I'm very happy to be back."
Milan is 11th in the Serie A, only six points off the relegation zone.
Seedorf has no formal coaching experience and will rely on his popularity and respect among fellow players to guide him at the beginning.
New signing Keisuke Honda scored his first goal for the club in his full debut in the Italian Cup victory over Spezia on Wednesday. Giampaolo Pazzini also scored his first goal in eight months.
---
LUCKLESS LIVORNO
Livorno also has a new coach after Attilio Perotti replaced Davide Nicola on Monday, the same day Livorno-born Massimiliano Allegri was dismissed.
Livorno has lost seven of its past eight matches, drawing the other one, to leave it level on points with last-place Catania. The team visits title-chasing Roma on Saturday.
Perotti has previously coached Hellas Verona and Empoli in Serie A and took charge of Livorno for four matches in 2011-12, helping it avoid relegation to the third tier of Italian football.
The 67-year-old Perotti is the club's sporting director.
---
JUBILANT JUVENTUS
Having already bettered the club record when it beat Cagliari 4-1 last week, Juventus is now looking for a 12th consecutive victory when it hosts Sampdoria on Saturday.
The team closed the first half of the campaign with 52 points, and maintained its eight-point advantage over second-place Roma to remain firmly on course for a third straight league title.
"Our aim isn't to get 100 points but to get the title, that's more important than how many points we can get," Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio said. "If we get this third straight title, we can really talk about one of the best ever Juventus sides."
Inter Milan holds the record for most consecutive victories, winning 17 in a row in the 2006-07 season.
---
RAMPANT ROMA
Roma is having a fantastic year and bounced back from defeat at Juventus by beating Genoa 4-0 last weekend.
Roma coach Rudi Garcia has transformed the squad and the team is now playing with a fluidity which is a delight to watch.
Roma remains the squad with the toughest defense in the league, while its scoring record is second only to league leader Juventus.
Any other season Roma would be favored for the title. Instead, it is chasing a Juventus side seemingly intent on breaking records as it charges to a third straight title.
Roma will look to keep up the pressure on Juventus when it hosts Livorno on Saturday.
---
BRILLIANT BERARDI
Teenage forward Domenico Berardi already burst onto the scene this season with a hat trick against Sampdoria, but made world-wide headlines when he scored four to help Sassuolo beat AC Milan 4-3 last weekend.
The result was all the sweeter for Berardi as he is a staunch fan of the Rossoneri's city rival, Inter Milan.
The 19-year-old Berardi has now scored 11 goals in 14 matches and is being talked about for a possible player in Italy's World Cup squad.
"If the national coach calls me then we'll see what we'll do," Berardi said. "At the moment I'm just thinking about Sassuolo and doing well with this shirt."
Berardi was called up to Italy's under-21 squad for the first time last week.
Sassuolo moved a point off the relegation zone after snapping a four-game losing streak. It hosts Torino on Sunday.
Clarence Seedorf's first match as Milan coach ended in victory, while Napoli were held to a draw at Bologna on Sunday.
Seedorf's Milan needed a late Mario Balotelli penalty to beat Verona 1-0 at San Siro.
Balotelli slotted to the left of Verona goalkeeper Rafael from the spot in the 82nd minute, after Alejandro Gonzalez clumsily fouled Kaka.
Kaka was not threatening the goal, running towards the byline, but Gonzalez slid in and brought the Brazilian down, with Balotelli's calm conversion giving Seedorf three points in the first match of his managerial career.
Seedorf – who spent a decade as a player at the Serie A giants from 2002 to 2012 – was appointed this week to replace the sacked Massimiliano Allegri, and would have been frustrated as Robinho's second-half shot deflected onto the post with Rafael well beaten.
Balotelli also spurned a host of chances, but eventually made amends as Milan climbed to 11th in the table.
Napoli were hurt by a late equaliser at Bologna, as Rolando Bianchi's stoppage-time strike rescued a 2-2 draw for the 10-man hosts.
Bianchi opened the scoring in the 37th minute, converting Alessandro Diamanti's assist, but Napoli flexed their muscle after the break.
Gonzalo Higuain's penalty levelled proceedings in the 62nd minute, before Jose Callejon struck with 10 minutes to play.
Bologna's Panagiotis Kone was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 84th minute, but Bianchi was still able to claim a crucial point for his struggling side.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina are just three points behind Napoli after a comfortable 3-0 win at rock-bottom Catania.
Debutant Alessandro Matri, signed on loan from Milan this week, laid on the first goal for Matias Fernandez and then added two goals of his own as Vincenzo Montella's side extended their unbeaten streak to seven.
Inter's poor start to 2014 continued as their winless run stretched to four with a 1-0 defeat at Genoa.
Walter Mazzarri's side were knocked out of the Coppa Italia last week at Udinese and disappointed on the road once more against 10th-placed Genoa.
Luca Antonelli headed home a corner with seven minutes remaining, enabling Gian Piero Gasperini to celebrate victory against his former charges for the first time.
A 2-1 win at Chievo represented Parma's third Serie A success in a row, with Alessandro Lucarelli scoring the winner in the 93rd minute.
Lazio also sealed an away win with a stoppage-time goal, as Hernanes' late effort wrapped up a 3-2 victory at Udinese.
Lazio trailed twice but an Andrea Lazzari own goal pulled them level with eight minutes left and there was still time for Hernanes to shock the hosts.
Other results saw Torino win 2-0 at Sassuolo while Atalanta edged Cagliari 1-0.
Clarence Seedorf sees Milan's 1-0 victory over Verona on Sunday as the perfect foundation for his side to rebuild their season.
Mario Balotelli's late penalty decided the game at San Siro and gave new head coach Seedorf a win in his first game in charge after replacing Massimiliano Allegri last week.
The former Netherlands international changed aspects of Milan's tactics and introduced a new formation to enable Keisuke Honda, Kaka, Robinho and Balotelli to all start.
With the club remaining in 11th place in Serie A, Seedorf admitted there was still a lot of work to do to revive Milan's fortunes, but the Dutchman feels he knows what areas need to be improved.
"I am concentrated on what we want to develop next week, which will be the first real week to get training done and concentrate on all the aspects of building the football I've got in mind," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"Right now we want to focus on rediscovering the joy of playing football and training with the ball, so the players can connect with the ball."
The 37-year-old also gave an insight into the reaction in the dressing room after the win, and promised to make his squad aware of their responsibilities.
"We formed a circle all together in the locker room and I said we'd do the same after every game," Seedorf added. "Whether it's a win or a defeat, so we can all look each other in the eye.
"We're all responsible for every result.
"The victory is certainly dedicated to all the Milan fans. I am happy for the squad, as there is a lot of work to do and a win makes it all feel easier."
Roma have signed Brazilian winger Michel Bastos on loan for the rest of the season, with an option to purchase him permanently from Al Ain.
Bastos, 30, moves to the Italian capital club following after just five months with Al Ain, who he joined in August after Bundesliga side Schalke elected not to sign the Brazilian to a permanent deal following a loan spell at the Veltins Arena.
And the ex-Feyenoord and Lyon man will hope to resurrect his career in Serie A as he reunites with former coach Rudi Garcia.
Garcia worked with Bastos during the winger's three-year spell with Ligue 1 side Lille between 2006 and 2009, Bastos electing to leave for Lyon prior to his former club's 2010-11 title-winning campaign.
Still, Bastos produced one of his finest seasons in the sole campaign he played under Garcia in 2008-09, finding the net 16 times in 41 appearances.
Bastos, who can also operate at full-back becomes Roma's second signing of the January transfer window after Radja Nainggolan joined on loan from Cagliari with a view to a permanent transfer.
A statement from Roma read: "AS Roma announces that it has reached an agreement with Al Ain for the acquisition of the rights of Michel Bastos on a temporary basis for the remainder of the season in progress, for a fee of €1.1million.
"The agreement provides an option to acquire the player outright from the 2014-15 season, for a fee of €3.5m."
Bastos made 18 appearances in his time with Al Ain, scoring five goals.
