Real Zaragoza have made their 2nd defensive signing in as many days with the arrival of centre back Francisco Pavon from Real Madrid CF, and also boosted their attacking line with the buy of FC Shakhtar Donetsk′s Brazilian forward Matuzalem for an undisclosed fee.
The 27 year old Pavon has agreed a 4 year deal with Zaragoza having become surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu with the buy of Christoph Metzelder and Pepe last week. Yesterday, Zaragoza, who will play in the 2007/2008 UEFA Cup, unveiled veteran Argentina defender Roberto Ayala after the departure of Gabriel Milito to FC Barcelona.
Pavon had spent his whole career with Madrid, working his way through the ranks before making his debut as a 21 year old in the 2001/02 campaign. He went on to make 106 league appearances, scoring one goal, and played a full part in the 2002/03 league triumph even though he would make only 10 appearances in last season′s success.
Pavon will be joined at La Romereda by Matuzalem, the 27 year old having signed a 3 year contract. The forward played for EC Vitoria in his homeland before making Swiss side AC Bellinzona, in 1998/99, the 1st stop of a European tour which also had taken in SSC Napoli, Parma FC, Piacenza FC and Brescia Calcio before his arrival at Shakhtar in 2004. Matuzalem went on to score 25 goals in 68 Ukrainian Premier League games, winning 2 titles. Zaragoza, meanwhile, have loaned midfielder Angel Lafita to RC Deportivo La Coruna for a season.
05 July 2007
Defender Hugo Armando Campagnaro has joined UC Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee from Piacenza Calcio, signing a 4 year contract with the Genoa club.
The 27 year old Argentinian becomes Sampdoria′s 4th capture in 24 hours after midfielder Reto Ziegler, goalie Antonio Mirante and defender Daniele Gastaldello arrived yesterday.
Campagnaro moved to Italy 5 years ago from Club Deportivo Moron in his homeland and made 127 league appearances for Piacenza, scoring 10 goals. His contribution last season included 28 Serie B starts.
Sampdoria are targeting UEFA Cup qualification via the UEFA Intertoto Cup and will face the winners of the FK Makedonija GP Skopje versus PFC Cherno More Varna tie in the 3rd round.
03 July 2007
Juve youngster Antonio Nocerino admitted that that he could be thrilled to join Napoli in the summer.
The Azzurrini player signed a 3 year contract with Juve after spending last season at Piacenza on a co-ownership deal, however was born in Naples and cannot hide his wish to play for his hometown club.
'Who would not welcome this option, I was born there and it could be a dream come true,' Nocerino informed the Press.
'Last season was an excellent one for me, I scored 6 goals with Piacenza and the Italy U21 team qualified for the Olympic Games in Beijing,' added the 22 year old.
'I am only sorry about the European Championship, we could have done better. Now my next target is the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,' mentioned the midfielder.
'In order to reached that objective I need to play with continuity and Juve are doing all they can to help me. Piacenza was a springboard, now I need to prove myself in the football that really counts.'
Napoli have already completed the signing of Marek Hamsyk from Brescia last week, when the 19 year old Slovakian midfielder signed a 5 year contract with the Partenopei.
02 July 2007
Genoa patron Enrico Preziosi has pledged a further £10 million to build a team that can survive comfortably in Serie A.
'We have already spent £3 million on Papa Waigo, £1.3 million for co-ownership of Marco Borriello with AC Milan, whilst Juve valued Matteo Paro at £2m,' Preziosi informed Radio Radio.
'It is far from over. We are thinking of investing at least as much again for those 3 or 4 transfers we still need. After 12 years out of Serie A, we cannot afford to present a team that is only fighting to avoid the drop.'
This summer the Grifoni in the end got back into the top flight, finishing 3rd behind Juve and Napoli, however achieving automatic promotion because they had a 10 point lead over 4th placed Piacenza and therefore play-offs were not required.
Preziosi is focusing on the defence as the weak link that requires to be strengthened in Serie A.
'Our style of play is very energetic and attacking, so we would risk too much without adequate cover.'
Genoa had one of the best defenders in Serie B last term, however even though Domenico Criscito has gone to Juve, he would yet return.
'I really hope that Juve buy Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza, as that will free Criscito to come back to us,' added the patron.
'We have a sort of gentleman's agreement with the Bianconeri. If he is not a 1st team player, he maybe returned to us on loan so that he can continue to develop. The last word is up to Juve and Claudio Ranieri, though.'
29 June 2007
Christian Abbiati will be replaced at Torino by Lazio benchwarmer Matteo Sereni, as the Biancocelesti battle The Hammers for Juan Pablo Carrizo.
Earlier this week the Granata were left without a goalie after Milan-owned Abbiati opted to join Atletico Madrid on loan for a much better wage deal.
They were linked with several candidates, that included current AEK Athens shot stopper Stefano Sorrentino and Inter reserve Francesco Toldo.
However, it was said this evening that an agreement with Sereni was struck for a 2 year contract. He was a free agent after the end of his deal with Lazio.
It is an important move for the 32 year old, who has not been a 1st team player since his time at Brescia in 2002-03, and even then he only made 23 appearances.
Sereni started his career at Sampdoria in 1993, followed by spells at Crevalcore, Piacenza, Empoli and Ipswich Town.
So with Angelo Peruzzi hanging up his gloves and Sereni moving to Turin, Lazio need to go on the hunt for at least one reliable 1st choice goalkeeper.
The prime objective is Argentine star Carrizo, currently plying his trade for River Plate, the only club he has ever played for.
Still only 23, he is considered one for the future and is also of interest to The Hammers.
'It is true, we like Carrizo and Independiente's Oscar Ustari, and also Agustin Orion of San Lorenzo and Mariano Gonzalo Andujar from Estudiantes,' said director of sport Walter Sabatini.
'These are all excellent players, however we have not yet really begun negotiations with the clubs. We are still deciding.'
The transfer guru also denied reports that Lazio had already signed Boca Juniors man Matias Silvestre. 'He is a good player, however no longer of interest to us.'
23 June 2007
Cristiano Doni's agent admitted that Palermo are their 1st choice, however Atalanta keep hold of 2 top players.
President Ivan Ruggeri said Friday that Doni had not been offered a new contract, as his wage demands were considered excessive.
Newspaper reports suggested the real reason behind his disagreements with the club were an enticing proposal from Palermo.
'As of today, the 2 parties remain firm in their positions,' mentioned agent Paolo Conti on Stadionews24.
'I will do what my player tells me to, however if this row does lead to a split, I can confirm that Palermo will be the 1st team we evaluate. However, they are not behind it. The real reason for Doni's hardened stance is that he discarded a far more lucrative contract with Real Mallorca, however Atalanta did not even take this into consideration.'
The creative midfielder returned to the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia last summer after spells at Sampdoria and Mallorca, scoring an impressive 13 goals in 26 Serie A games.
Christian Vieri has also priced himself out of President Ruggeri's range and, after interest from Genoa, there are says that he is in talks with Tottenham.
There was some good news for Atalanta, though, as Riccardo Zampagna puts pen to paper on a contract extension until June 2009.
'When you have a common objective like the Atalanta project, you cannot help however sit around a table and discuss it all together to achieve that. The club and I moved towards each other to reached a deal,' mentioned the striker.
Piacenza have also decided not to take up their option on Andrea Lazzari, so the U21 international returns to Atalanta.
23 June 2007
There were no real surprises as the blind auction envelopes to resolve co-ownership deals were opened this afternoon.
Fabio Quagliarella will leave Sampdoria after Udinese outbid them by £570,000, whilst Lazio offered more than Palermo for Stephen Makinwa.
BELINGHERI (ALBINOLEFFE-ASCOLI) ASCOLI
BOTTONE (VARESE-TORINO) TORINO
BRIVIO (FIORENTINA-ATALANTA) ATALANTA
CAROBBIO (GENOA-ALBINOLEFFE) ALBINOLEFFE
CAROTTI (CREMONESE-PARMA) CREMONESE
CASSETTI (ROMA-LECCE) ROMA
CAVAGNA (AREZZO-FOLIGNO) FOLIGNO
CESAR (CATANIA-CHIEVO) CHIEVO
CIARCIA (TERNANA-CROTONE) TERNANA
CODA (UDINESE-EMPOLI) UDINESE
COMOTTO (TORINO-ROMA) TORINO
CROCE (AREZZO-PESCARA) AREZZO
DE FALCO (PESCARA-FIORENTINA) PESCARA
DEL SOLE (SANREMESE-PARMA) PARMA
DI DEO (FROSINONE-TERNANA) TERNANA
DIAGOURAGA (SAMBENEDETTESE-CHIEVO) CHIEVO
DIDIO (REGGINA-TERNANA) TERNANA
FELCI (PESCARA-GIULIANOVA) PESCARA
FIUZZI (CUOIOPELLI-EMPOLI) EMPOLI
GAZZI (REGGINA-BARI) BARI
KONKO (SIENA-GENOA) SIENA
MAKINWA (LAZIO-PALERMO) LAZIO
MASIELLO (SIENA-GENOA) GENOA
MATTEINI (PALERMO-EMPOLI) PALERMO
MILANI (BARI-CITTADELLA) CITTADELLA
NOSSA (SAN MARINO-INTER) INTER
OLA (CESENA-TERAMO) CESENA
OLIVERI (PESCARA-CHIEVO) CHIEVO
OSVALDO (LECCE-ATALANTA) ATALANTA
PEDRELLI (VENEZIA-BOLOGNA) VENEZIA
PELLICORI (CESENA-PIACENZA) CESENA
PEPE (UDINESE-CAGLIARI) UDINESE
QUAGLIARELLA (SAMPDORIA-UDINESE) UDINESE
RINALDI (CARRARESE-GENOA) CARRARESE
RUSSO (GROSSETO-MESSINA) GROSSETO
SAVIANO (CASSINO-CHIEVO) CHIEVO
SIMONETTA (AREZZO-ROMA) AREZZO
SPITONI (GENOA-PERUGIA) GENOA
SORRENTINO (GROSSETO-PARMA) GROSSETO
VALERI (GROSSETO-INTER) GROSSETO
21 June 2007
Juve sign U21 international Antonio Nocerino, whilst Parma picked up Andrea Gasbarroni.
The Bianconeri already owned 50 per cent of Nocerino's contract, however today reached an agreement to buy out the remaining half from Piacenza.
He starred for the Stadio Garilli side this term, scoring 6 goals in 37 Serie B games and taking them to the verge of the promotion play-offs.
The midfielder is preparing for the U21 Olympic play off against Portugal and has also played for Avellino, Catanzaro, Genoa, Crotone and Messina.
Nocerino signed a 3 year contract with Juve and Piacenza received just over £2 million for the remaining half of his ownership.
Juve have completed the sale of Gasbarroni to Parma after his spell at the club this season.
The Gialloblu had a productive day, taking on all of midfielder Francesco Parravicini from Palermo and Fiorentina.
They also had taken in Damiano Ferronetti, who was co-owned by Roma, for around £300,000, however they lost Francesco Ruopolo to Albinoleffe.
18 June 2007
Former Palermo player Eugenio Corini signed a one year contract with Torino, said the club.
The veteran midfielder was a free agent after the Rosanero refused to renew his deal, saying that he has not shown loyalty to the Sicilians by talking to Parma.
Corini will turn 37 on July 30 and will earn £330,000 for the season under the tutelage of Coach Walter Novellino.
At Torino he will reunite with his ex Palermo midfield partner Simone Barone, who has struggled to make his mark since leaving the club.
This was a good campaign for Corini, who set a new personal best in Serie A of 10 goals in 27 appearances.
He started his career with hometown club Brescia in 1986 and has since played for Juve, Sampdoria, Napoli, Piacenza, Verona, Chievo and was at Palermo since 2003-04, helping them to promotion.
16 June 2007
Chievo appoint Piacenza′s Giuseppe Iachini as their new Coach to lead them out of their Serie B nightmare.
The Flying Donkeys slipped back into the 2nd division for the 1st time in 6 years when Luigi Del Neri failed to avoid the drop.
He has now moved on to the Atalanta bench, so Chievo are in the hands of former Piacenza manager Iachini.
'Iachini is a guarantee for the ambitious projects we have at this club,' mentioned director of sport Giovanni Sartori.
'The fact we would like to get back into Serie A is clear from the fact we have chosen him as our Coach.'
Born in Ascoli Piceno in 1964, Iachini has spent the last 3 seasons at Piacenza, taking them to 4th place this year, however was unable to enter the play-offs as the gap from Genoa in 3rd was 10 points.
Sartori also commented on the transfer stories surrounding the side, that included Franco Semioli's transfer to Fiorentina.
'Negotiations are on ice. At this moment in time we do not have talks with anyone – Fiorentina or Roma – that can be closed in a brief period of time. The future will be decided after June 22.'
Meanwhile, fellow recently relegated side Ascoli have brought in Coach Ivo Iaconi on a 2 year contract.
