Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has included 4 Empoli FC players in his team for the friendly against France on 21 August in La Spezia.
Midfielders Sebastian Giovinco and Claudio Marchisio, both on loan from Juve, forward Nicola Pozzi, on loan from AC Milan, and defender Lino Marzoratti are the quartet representing the UEFA Cup contenders in the 1st Azzurrini team to be named since the UEFA European U21 Championship in the Netherlands.
Casiraghi will also count on Villarreal CF's new signing Giuseppe Rossi, Arturo Lupoli and Robert Acquafresca in attack. "We have lots of players of good skill up front," Casiraghi said.
"Now we must make sure they develop well at their clubs. I hope they improve even more, because the U21 side and Italian football require them." Italy will resume their qualifying campaign for the 2009 UEFA European U21 Championship against the Faroe Islands on 7 September.
Italy squad
Goalkeepers, Andrea Consigli (Rimini Calcio), Salvatore Sirigu (US Cremonese).
Defenders, Marco Andreolli (AS Roma), Domenico Criscito (Juve), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (Udinese Calcio), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Ranocchia (AC Arezzo), Fabiano Santacroce (Brescia Calcio).
Midfielders, Luca Cigarini (Parma FC), Paolo De Ceglie (AC Siena), Daniele Dessena (Parma FC), Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli FC), Claudio Marchisio (Empoli FC), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), Gabriele Paonessa (Bologna FC), Andrea Russotto (Treviso FC).
Forwards, Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Arturo Lupoli (ACF Fiorentina), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli FC), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal CF).
16 August 2007
Napoli coach Edy Reja has assured fans that the club will be bringing in more players ahead of the start of the season in order to ensure that Serie B football remains only a dark memory from their past.
Napoli have made 5 rather unspectacular transfers so far during the summer (see list below) however Reja says that the spending has only begun.
"More will come," promised the coach. "I like a team where there are 2 players for each position. "I expect 3 more to arrive, however they must be ready to work hard. [Sports director] Pierpaolo Marino knows the type of players we need."
Helder Postiga, Manuel Blasi, Alvaro Recoba and Daniele Cacia are all realistic possibilities from the players that were linked to the Partenopei in recent weeks and months, though the southern club have hit a roadblock in their bid to sign Matteo Brighi as Roma have no intention of selling the player.
Reja also expressed his is delight with the way the team are going about the preparations for the coming vital season.
"We are working a lot and intensely,' mentioned Reja. 'This is a good group and has demonstrated its strength in these last years. What's more we have added to the team new transfers that have lifted our quality. I think that we deserve good respect and consideration as a team which was promoted twice and now is getting ready to play in the top championship."
Napoli's Ins and Outs
IN, Lacrimini (D, Frosinone); Giglio (A, Gallipoli), Hamsyk (M, Brescia), Lavezzi (A, San Lorenzo), Gargano (M, Danubio)
OUT, Giubilato (D, Vicenza)
31 July 2007
Italy forward David Di Michele was banned for 3 months for illegal betting, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) mentioned Monday.
The 31 year old, who has made 6 appearances for the Azzurri and moved from Palermo to Torino earlier this month, has also been fined 20,000 euros ($27,OO0), FIGC's website (figc.it) said.
Di Michele was accused of betting "directly or through 3rd parties, on the results of official games organised by the FIGC". The maximum probable ban was 3 years.
Top-flight team Udinese were fined 15,000 euros with Serie B sides Vicenza and Mantova having to pay 7,000 euros following the probe. 3 lesser known players also received bans of between 3 months and 5 months plus 20 days.
Italian players were prohibited from betting on any football match worldwide in 2005, before last year's match fixing scandal broke.
20 July 2007
After announcing Christian Vieri's signature, Fiorentina have also said the arrival of Chievo's Franco Semioli.
It was a busy day for the Tuscans and their transfer guru Pantaleo Corvino, who completed 2 major deals in less than 24 hours.
Semioli was linked with Napoli in recent weeks as Fiorentina's interest seemed to have cooled, however talks resumed and he put pen to paper on a 4 year contract.
Although no official figures were released, it is rumoured Chievo received £5 million for the Italian international winger.
It is a permanent move and Semioli will be presented to the media Friday in their pre season training camp at Castelrotto (Bolzano).
'He is a player we would like and tracked for 2 years,' mentioned Coach Cesare Prandelli. 'He has quality, quantity and the right experience. A decisive aspect of the transfer was Semioli's wish to come here. It is very important for me that players think in our project. He really would like to impress and show what he can do.'
Semioli was an alternate for the 2006 World Cup team and has 2 Azzurri caps to his name.
A Torino youth product, he has also played for Vicenza, Ternana, Salernitana and was with Chievo since 2003.
06 July 2007
Napoli Coach Edoardo Reja will remain in charge for another year after signing a new contract with the Partenopei.
Since replacing Giampiero Ventura at the helm in 2005, Reja has guided the Vesuviani up from Serie C1 to Serie A with 2 consecutive promotions.
The 61 year old tactician has extended his contract for one more season after a meeting with Azzurri director general Pierpaolo Marino.
Reja was in charge of 20 clubs during his career, however is more accustomed to life outside the top flight.
He will now look to avoid a repeat of his 2 Serie A relegations with Vicenza in 1998-99 and 2000-01.
27 June 2007
Palermo player David Di Michele is amongst 4 players who were indicted as part of the latest betting investigation.
Federal Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has decided to hand the cases of David Di Michele, Massimo Margiotta, Thomas Manfredini and Vincenzo Sommese to the disciplinary commission after completing his enquiry.
'The Federal Prosecutor has indicted David Di Michele (Palermo), Massimo Margiotta (owned by Vicenza and loaned to Frosinone) and Thomas Manfredini (Atalanta),' read Palazzi's statement.
'This verdict is a due to violating Article 5 of the Sporting Code – having placed bets, either personally or via a 3rd party, on events organised by the FIGC. Vincenzo Sommese (Mantova) has also been indicted for violating the same Article, having bet on events organised by FIFA, UEFA and the FIGC, either personally or via a 3rd party.'
Udinese, Vicenza and Mantova were also indicted for their objective responsibility, whereas the accusations against 13 other players, that included world champion Vincenzo Iaquinta, were dropped.
Cleared, Roberto Sosa (Napoli), Morgan De Sanctis (Udinese), Marco Ferrante (Verona), Attilio Gregori (Ostia Mare Lidocalcio), Alessandro Sgrigna (Vicenza), Stefan Schwoch (Vicenza), Nelson Abeijon (Atalanta), Gennaro Scarlato (Spezia), Giampiero Pinzi (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juve), Zeljko Kalac (Milan), Marek Jankulovski (Milan), Alessandro Pierini (Cordoba), Roberto Bordin (Coach, Padova), Giovanni Bia (agent)
21 June 2007
Torino have completed the transfers of Paolo Zanetti and Sasa Bjelanovic from relegated Ascoli.
The Granata were one of the most active clubs in the transfer market and have now said the arrival of 2 more men to strengthen their team for next season.
Zanetti, a 24 year old midfielder, started his career at Vicenza, making his Serie A debut in the 2000-01 season.
In 2003 he joined Empoli, becoming one of the Tuscan outfit's key players before being sidelined for most of the 2005-06 campaign due to injury.
Zanetti then moved on to Ascoli last summer and will now wear the Granata outfit, fuelling speculation that Simone Barone is be close to leaving Turin.
Forward Bjelanovic, 28, spent the last 2 seasons at Ascoli, after having played for Dinamo Zagreb, Varteks Varazdin, Chievo, Como, Genoa and Lecce.
Torino have already secured the services of Eugenio Corini, Vincenzo Grella and Nicola Ventola, who joined the club on free transfers earlier this week.
18 June 2007
Reports in Italy say that Juve are close to signing Portuguese U21 player Vitorino Gabriel Pacheco Antunes.
The 20 year old defender was one of the protagonists of last season, helping his side Pacos de Ferreira earn their 1st ever UEFA Cup qualification thanks to an unexpected 6th placed finish.
Felipe Scolari also gave him his senior debut in the 1-1 draw in Kuwait and Antunes will be one of the players facing Italy in the U21 Olympic Games play off Thursday.
The player's performances have attracted a number of clubs, however Juve appear to be favoured in the race to sign the youngster, who admitted that that he would favour a transfer to the Old Lady.
'I could be thrilled with the opportunity if it were given to me. I am ready to take a step up,' Antunes informed the Press.
'I will wait for the end of the tournament to clarify the details, then I hope I will be able to start this adventure.'
Antunes is also a reported target for Vicenza, however they consider the player's £1.4 million price excessive and offer Juve a co-ownership deal, which the Bianconeri are allegedly taking into consideration.
12 June 2007
Domenico Di Carlo will make his Serie A coaching debut in the 2007/2008 season after replacing Juve-bound Claudio Ranieri at Parma FC.
Having earned 2 promotions in 4 seasons at AC Mantova, the 43 year old Di Carlo was aquired by Parma, who only avoided relegation under Ranieri last season.
"After 4 years it is time for a change," mentioned Di Carlo, who signed a one year contract with the option of a further 12 months. "A coach knows when it is time to go and allow both the club and yourself to move on. I have got better and better at Mantova, not only from a professional point of view. That is why I would like to thank the club board, the fans and the city."
Di Carlo started his management career in 2001 as a youth coach at Vicenza Calcio. In 2003 he moved to Mantova, leading the club from Serie C2 to Serie B in 3 years. As a player he won the Coppa Italia with Vicenza in 1997 and also played for US Citta di Palermo, US Lecce and AS Livorno Calcio.
12 June 2007
AC Siena appoint Andrea Mandorlini as coach on a one year contract after Mario Beretta left by mutual consent last week.
The 46 year old Mandorlini was without a club after leaving Serie C1 side Padova Calcio 1910 last summer.
The former FC Inter Milano defender had previously coached Atalanta BC in Serie A after leading the Bergamo side to promotion in 2003/04.
Mandorlini has also coached Spezia Calcio 1906, Vicenza Calcio and Bologna FC. Siena avoided relegation by a point with a dramatic last minute goal giving them a 2-1 home triumph against S.S. Lazio on the final day of the Serie A season.
