As Roma welcome new recruits into Giallorosso, fresh speculation about Daniele De Rossi’s future has arisen. So what will this mercato have in store for Roma’s ‘capitano futuro’? Recent press speculation suggests that Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini has designs on Daniele De Rossi, with a sensational salary apparently on the table – a deal which practically doubles the package already being offered by Roma. Much is being made of De Rossi’s contractual position, with just one year of his current [...]

As news broke of Roma’s latest signing, Serie A Weekly turned to Spanish football expert David Cartlidge to find out more about a man replacing Fulham-bound John Arne Riise at left-back for the Giallorossi. Here’s his view; The transition over the years for Spanish players going to Italy and plying their trade has been a one mostly of an underwhelming nature, but a young man from Asturias is looking to add his name to that short list of success stories. [...]

In late June Fiorentina announced that after five years at the club that Adrian Mutu had left to join Cesena on a two year deal. A statement on the official Viola website read; “ACF Fiorentina communicates to have sold Adrian Mutu to Cesena on a permanent basis. The club wishes to thank Adrian for his work over the past few seasons and wish him all the best for the future.” Cesena President Igor Capmedelli was quoted as saying “I am [...]

As the final whistle sounded, the Dino Manuzzi exploded into delirium. Not only had Cesena just earned a 1-0 win over Brescia but, most importantly, it signified that the Seahorses would be playing in Serie A the following season. It was a remarkable feat for a club that many had pegged to be immediate relegation candidates prior to any games being played. Now, heading into the 2011-12 season, Cesena aim to preserve their place amongst the others in Italy’s top [...]

Aurelio de Laurentiis, clearly a man with a sense of the epic, seems intent on building upon the Partonopei’s already stratospheric rise. As Napoli enters the grandest of all European stages - the Champions League -  will their ascendency continue, or will added responsibility impinge upon their domestic ambitions, leaving them stranded on both fronts? Sampdoria serve as a sorry and too obvious example as to how capricious fate can be; twelve months prior, il ‘Doria’s fans enjoyed the dreams [...]

Serie A Weekly’s Michael Moruzzi looks at co-ownership and asks if other countries could benefit from adopting a similar system. Some things in life are so universally derided that only a complete fool would dare to endorse them, like FIFA’s code of ethics, Sarah Palin’s grasp of geopolitical issues, and the Italian administrative system. Apparently, that last one is a bit of nightmare. Tobias Jones’ account of legal practices in The Dark Heart of Italy (2003) left me utterly confused [...]

With the dust barely settled on last season’s campaign, Palermo have already taken to the field in preparation for next season. The Stefano Pioli era has officially begun as the squad met in Malles, a small town tucked away in the Trentino-Alto Adige region less than a hundred kilometers away from the Swiss-Austria border. Not only are the Rosanero under the guidance of a new coach, the destination of Malles is a change of scenery from past preseasons at Bad [...]

In what was a turmoil ridden campaign for the Giallorossi, there were always going to be causalities – the question is, will ‘il capitano futuro’, the disaffected Daniele De Rossi, follow Philippe Mexes out of Rome? Understandably, vultures in the form of European football’s big guns are circling over Roma’s carcass, hoping to pick from the bones of last season, before Thomas di Benedetto can breathe new life into the wounded wolf.  So, with Mexes now a Milanista and Jeremy [...]

On October 24, 2010, Antonio Cassano took to the field with Sampdoria in a crucial match against a then-second place Inter side. At the Giuseppe Meazza, the Bari-born fantasista was instrumental once again, delivering a pinpoint perfect cross to Stefano Guberti which temporarily gave Sampdoria a 1-0 lead. Inter would score an equaliser with ten minutes left in the game and both teams earned a point. Cassano’s solid performance kept the Genovese side in seventh place and more importantly in [...]

Despite finishing tenth last season there seems to be a constant state of upheaval at Genoa. A new coach has been installed and a highly rated youngster has already gone to champions Milan, with more on their way both in and out. On Monday last week Genoa appointed former Bologna manager Alberto Malesani after the club decided not to renew the contract of Bruce Willis look-a-like Davide Ballardini. Malesani left Bologna earlier in the month after failing to negotiate his [...]

Signed, sealed and delivered it may have been, but Bologna’s bid for Emiliano Viviano was fatally flawed. Stefano Pedrelli - the Rossoblu General Director - contrived to make a mess of his club’s blind bid, allowing Inter to claim the Azzurri stopper as their own despite tabling an inferior offer. But while the formalities are complete, the ripples from Pedrelli’s mistake will be felt across the peninsula as Viviano at the Giuseppe Meazza raises more questions than it answers. Had [...]

Lazio fans have been served the full range of emotions in the season just passed. An emphatic start was followed by a somewhat inevitable period of tailing off, eventually ending in a fifth placed finish. It was a campaign where incredibly fortunate late goals in favour of the Romans (against Udinese and Sampdoria) were countered by devastating winners against the run of play (Juventus). Despite missing out on fourth place - and thus the Champions League play off - the [...]