Midfield Hernanes The Brazilian playmaker was undoubtedly Lazio’s best signing of last season. He has continued his excellent form into the new season, operating in the heart of Lazio’s midfield and supplying new-boy Miroslav Klose with the service that has helped him notch up 9 goals so far. If Lazio are to pursue success in the Europa League along with their ambitions to claim a Champions League spot then Hernanes will have to improve further still despite his already impressive [...]
The Italian defender was born in Bari, 28th June, 1971. He began his career at local club, Bari, in 1988 who he went on to make 75 appearances for, scoring 8 goals. Amoruso spent 1991-1993 on loan at Mantova and Pescara, but only featured intermittently. In 1995 he secured a move to Fiorentina, becoming club captain and making 54 appearances. He won the Coppa Italia in 1996 and in 1997 the Florence side went on a remarkable run in Europe [...]
Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic Handanovic has been imperious in goal this year. Signed to Udinese for €40000, he has since established himself as number one for club and country. Many times has he almost single-handedly won matches for Udinese with his performances helping them finish fourthlast season and this season challenging Juventus for the top honour. His shot-stopping is excellent and so is his ability to organise the defence; not to mention his record of saving penalties. With Udinese amongst [...]
Carlos Tevez The Argentinean forward has been heavily linked with a loan move to AC Milan this January. Having fallen out with Manchester City, he is currently on strike, back home in Argentina. Milan will look to secure him on a loan deal with an agreed fee to be paid in June; similar to the deal struck for Ibrahimovic in 2009. It is doubtful that Manchester City will be willing to let him go on loan. They wish to be [...]
Internazionale targeting the Champion’s League? Not at this rate. President Massimo Moratti declared: “we have to end the season in the Champion’s League places. That is an absolute must.” This is quite a statement for a team who are eight points below third place Milan and ten behind leaders Juventus. Many headlines have been dedicated to Inter’s recent plight as this is the club’s worst start to a season since the 1940’s. They’ve changed managers, lost key players to injury, [...]
Internazionale take on Genoa tomorrow evening looking to gain a crucial win in their quest for European qualification. The match has been rescheduled, after original tie was cancelled due to severe flooding in the region and the tragic loss of several lives. Ranieri wanted to pay his respects to those who lost their lives; he said: “I think a very important thing, more so than the game, is that people don’t forget. It is necessary that those in charge do [...]
Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi’s contract situations exemplify a worrying trend for Serie A clubs. Two of Italy’s first choice midfielders are out of contract next summer and there is increasing debate about whether or not their clubs can keep hold of them. It is an alarming situation that both Fiorentina and Roma find themselves in. They’re a third of the way into a new season and rumours about their star players persist. Montolivo is continually linked with both [...]
AC Milan have agreed a deal with Catania to sign Maxi Lopez. The Milanese club are looking for a new forward after Antonio Cassano underwent heart surgery earlier this month. Milan have been heavily linked with the troublesome Carlos Tevez in recent weeks, with a loan deal their preferred option. However, Manchester City want to recoup some of the £50 million they allegedly spent to bring him to the Etihad Stadium. Lopez is seen as a more realistic option, and [...]
Xavi scored a goal of splendid vigour to grant Barcelona a 3-2 victory over AC Milan in a gripping Champions League match last night; in a game which also saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic start against his nemesis Pep Guardiola. The home side were twice forced to stage comebacks, first of all through Ibrahimovic and then through a miraculous Kevin-Prince Boateng goal. In response to a Mark-Van Bommel own goal and a penalty from Lionel Messi. This match was all about securing [...]
The Argentine began his youth career at Rosario Central, whom he joined before moving to Estudiantes in 2003. Playing for Estudiantes’s youth side, he scored a remarkable 17 goals in 39 games. His big move came in 2004 when Genoa signed him for €1million. The Italian side immediately loaned him to San Lorenzo in Argentina again, where he played 29 top flight games, netting eight goals. The highlight of his season was scoring against River Plate in a crucial San [...]
The number if Italians plying their trade abroad is steadily increasing. Yet despite this, there wasn’t a single Italian named on the Balon ‘dor short list last week. In one way this isn’t entirely surprising given the common disregard Serie A is held in nowadays. Since the hey-day of the last 80′s early 90’s, financial resources of Italian Serie A clubs have decreased significantly. The world’s top players are more likely to play in Spain’s primera for clubs like Real [...]
Claudio Marchisio The Juventus midfielder has been in great form this season; including netting a brace in their 2-0 win over AC Milan last weekend. He was often forced out onto the left-side of midfield in previous years and not deemed capable of orchestrating a midfield. He’s proved his doubters wrong this season and also forced his way into the Italian National Team’s midfield. Gokhan Inler Napoli’s key summer signing from Udinese; the Swiss player is a midfield general, in [...]
