Lazio Calciomercato Thread

[dukeofdavinci]

Lotito: No dogfight yet Thursday 6 December, 2007

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Lazio President Claudio Lotito is banning talk of survival, despite the Biancocelesti’s wretched start to the campaign.

After last season’s third-placed finish, it has been a shock to the system for the capital club to find themselves rooted in the bottom half.

There is a slight air of panic around the club after yesterday’s drubbing at the hands of Inter, but Lotito isn’t reaching for the panic button yet.

“You can only talk about the relegation battle at the end of the campaign – it’s too early at the moment,” the fiery patron stated.

“Last year we got off to a bad start and we turned it around, but maybe we aren’t the same Lazio that we were last season.

“It’s not that the squad has changed for the worse, in fact it is stronger from a technical point of view. We are just lacking consistency as we can go from brilliant performances like the one against Real Madrid to the lacklustre effort of yesterday.

“There has also been a disruptive climate, which has unbalanced the team and the club as a whole. We have suffered in a way that other clubs haven’t.”

Lazio have been blighted by injuries this term and have been forced to do without several key men for significant periods.

“We have, on average, seven injured men at any one time,” Lotito claimed. “You take seven players away from Roma and then see if they play the same football.

“80 per cent of the complaints are serious ones like meniscus and cruciate problems.”

Finally, Lotito took time to discuss the latest in Lazio’s attempt to sign talented young goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo.

“This story has been going on for a year and a half,” he groaned. “But we are negotiating and searching for a solution that suits both parties.

“According to our side, he has all the documents necessary to gain Italian citizenship, but the chance of signing him in January depends on how long the bureaucracy takes and it can be between three and 12 months.”

well there will be no dog fight but they are surely in a cat fight and losing fast or should i say sinking fast.

[dukeofdavinci]

Lazio look to Lobont? Tuesday 18 December, 2007

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Lazio’s hunt for a new goalkeeper could lead them to Romanian international Bogdan Lobont.

The Biancocelesti are still trying to replace veteran Angelo Peruzzi, who retired in the summer, and they have been forced to hand the gloves to the 43-year-old Marco Ballotta.

Ballotta has been heavily criticised for his inconsistent performances this term and Uruguayan custodian Fernando Muslera hasn’t impressed when called upon.

Lazio had agreed a £5m deal with River Plate for young Argentine custodian Juan Pablo Carrizo, but the transfer has been jeopardised by bureaucratic complications.

Carrizo has applied for an Italian passport, but his application has met with unexpected complications and may not be completed by January.

Lobont played against Lazio for Dynamo Bucharest in the Champions League preliminary round and has been on the Aquile’s shopping list since.

The 29-year-old has 61 caps for Romania and has Serie A experience after spending last season with Fiorentina.

According to the Corriere dello Sport, Lazio are ready to open talks with Dynamo in January and could offer a fee to bring him to the Stadio Olimpico on loan.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Ledesma Viola move possible Monday 24 December, 2007

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Cristian Ledesma’s agent has failed to rule out a possible summer move to Fiorentina for the Lazio star.

The Argentine has been recently associated with a Viola transfer and Vincenzo D’Ippolito wouldn’t be surprised if a switch occurred, although he’s denied rumours that he’s already been contacted.

“Fiorentina haven’t come to me for information,” D’Ippolito noted. “I don’t know whether the clubs have been in touch with each other – even if I don’t think that has happened either.

“But Ledesma is a player who [Viola sporting director Pantaleo] Corvino has always wanted. He has great faith in him and we shouldn’t forget that Corvino signed him while at Lecce.”

The South American has been on the Tuscan club’s wish-list for some time and an approach almost occurred in the summer of 2006.

“It was all called off because Fiorentina decided to sign Fabio Liverani [after his contract at Lazio expired],” added the agent.

“But now that Liverani’s contract in Florence is coming to an end, it is only natural that Corvino is looking around at his options.

“Ledesma is a player who could possibly enter his thinking, but only at the end of the season. I can rule out a January move.”

It would take some effort by Corvino to sign Ledesma though given the tough negotiating skills of Lazio chief Claudio Lotito, who will demand a significant fee for the playmaker

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[D-Kin]

Four in for Lazio? Sunday 30 December, 2007

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After a poor start to the season, Lazio boss Delio Rossi has requested several additions to his squad and President Claudio Lotito is already chasing four players.

Christian Abbiati, Federico Agliardi, Johann Vogel and Andrea Caracciolo have all been linked with the Biancocelesti.

The main target is a goalkeeper, as 43-year-old Marco Ballotta is close to retirement. Juan Pablo Carrizo was set to join Lazio last summer, but passport problems have delayed the deal.

That is why Lotito has now decided to focus on Abbiati and Agliardi. However, the former, now on loan at Atletico Madrid, has no intention to return to Italy just yet.

“I would like to stay in Spain for one more year. I am happy to play for Atletico and I would like to stay in La Liga.” claimed Abbiati.

Agliardi would be the easy option since he is just a reserve at Palermo and Rosanero sporting director Rino Foschi has already confirmed that he will leave in January.

Swiss midfielder Vogel has recently ended his contract deal with Real Betis and is now free to join any team. He would add experience to the Laziali midfield, which has been struggling recently.

Meanwhile, Andrea Caracciolo comes from a poor spell at Sampdoria, but Coach Rossi believes he would be ideal for the Biancocelesti attacking package.

The Airone could join Lazio on loan as a replacement for Stephen Makinwa, who will be away in January due to the African Nations Cup.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Lazio see Carrizo conclusion Thursday 3 January, 2008

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Lazio’s lawyer Gianmichele Gentile is adamant that Argentine goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo’s long awaited transfer will be completed this month.

The Biancocelesti agreed a £5m deal with River Plate in the summer as they looked to replace the retired Angelo Peruzzi.

However, complications over Carrizo’s bid for Italian citizenship caused the move to stall and the capital club have had to make do with much maligned veteran Marco Ballotta.

It had been feared that the deal may fall through, but there is renewed optimism at the Stadio Olimpico.

“I can state with certainty that Carrizo is a Lazio player and that he will arrive at the end of the month as an EU player, rather than in June as a foreigner,” Gentile declared.

“I’m optimistic, but we will have to wait until January 15 for the definite reply. There are only very small problems to be ironed out to do with the city of origin of his great grandfather.”

The 23-year-old goalkeeper is keen to move to Europe as quickly as possible, but seems less confident that he will wear the Lazio shirt this season.

“I could move in January, but my agent is still working on it,” he told Cronaca.

“Maybe I will need to go out on loan to a Spanish side. That’s the plan if the problems with my documents aren’t resolved.

“Whatever happens, I need a new club. I haven’t fallen out with River Plate’s fans but I need to take advantage of my opportunities.”

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[dukeofdavinci]

Carrizo touches down in Rome Sunday 6 January, 2008

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Juan Pablo Carrizo has arrived in Italy with new paperwork that could finally see him become Lazio’s goalkeeper.


The Argentine cannot sign for the club until he has an EU passport and had seen the summer switch collapse after months of drawn out red tape.


He has now flown back to Rome and will visit Pinerolo on Monday to hand over new paperwork that should confirm his Italian family members left the town for Argentina in the late 1800s.


If the application is accepted, Carrizo can obtain an Italian passport and deposit his contract with Lazio during the January transfer window.


This would resolve a crisis that the club has been struggling with since the summer, when Angelo Peruzzi retired and 21-year-old Nestor Muslera failed to impress.


Although Marco Ballotta (pictured) has kept the goalkeepers’ gloves for most of the season, the 43-year-old has been prone to howlers

:O man i didnt notice lazio had a "retired" gk for the period of injury to their main gk

[dukeofdavinci]

edit*

[dukeofdavinci]

Lazio reel in Rolando Wednesday 16 January, 2008

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Lazio have given up on signing Udinese midfielder Christian Obodo, but they are set to add Belenenses defender Rolando to their ranks.

The punch-drunk Biancocelesti are reeling after a dismal Serie A campaign thus far and are desperate to strengthen as the prospect of a relegation battle looms.

While attempts to lure Nigerian star Obodo proved futile after Udinese sporting director Pietro Lombardi confirmed he was not for sale, the capital club are ready to make their first winter addition.

Rolando is a 22-year-old stopper who is seen as a great talent for the future and is winning plaudits throughout Portugal.

The Cape Verde native is keen to make the switch from Lisbon’s second side and it seems that a deal is almost done.

“I’m honoured that a side such as Lazio are trying to sign me,” Rolando told journalists. “I hope that the eventual solution is the best for me and the club.”

Lazio are ready to pay around £650,000 and the paperwork will be completed on Friday after the Coppa Italia clash with Napoli has been completed.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Lionel’s leaving Lazio Tuesday 22 January, 2008

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Reports in the peninsula suggest that Lazio’s Argentine defender Lionel Scaloni is ready to quit the Eternal City for a return to La Liga with Mallorca.

Despite making 12 appearances so far this term – seven as a starter – Scaloni has reportedly failed to adapt to life in Italy after spending the majority of his career in Spain.

It has been a tumultuous time at Lazio as last season’s surprise heroes have stuttered in the bottom half of the table, and it is possible that the reported tensions in the dressing room have affected Scaloni.

The Biancocelesti snapped up the international stopper on a free transfer during the summer when his contract at Racing Santander expired.

Scaloni had spent nine years at Deportivo La Coruna and came highly recommended by Lazio’s scouts, but now he seems to be packing his bags.

It is believed that Mallorca are ready to pay around £650,000 to complete a permanent deal and the Aquile are unlikely to block the transfer.

Scaloni is expected to agree personal terms with the Barralets before the end of the week and could bid farewell to Delio Rossi’s squad within the next 48 hours.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Bianchi signs for Lazio Wednesday 23 January, 2008

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Manchester City striker Rolando Bianchi has signed for Lazio after a series of meetings in Rome this afternoon.

The 24-year-old had looked set to pen a deal with Torino, but Lazio President Claudio Lotito appears to have made a better offer.

The Biancocelesti are believed to have agreed a permanent transfer and will pay a fee of around £10m in three annual instalments.

The details of the agreement are yet to be announced, but it is suspected that Bianchi will undergo a medical today and be unveiled at some stage tomorrow afternoon.

Having signed for Manchester City from Reggina for £8.8m last summer, Bianchi never settled in the Premier League and leaves after 15 appearances – mostly as a substitute – and four goals.

The former Atalanta youth product will now hope to revitalise his career in the Eternal City and restart his push for a space in Roberto Donadoni's Euro 2008 squad.

wth the hell???a moment he was wth citeh and now his back in italy.

[dukeofdavinci]

Firmani pushes for Siena Wednesday 23 January, 2008

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Lazio midfielder Fabio Firmani is happy to pack his bags for struggling Siena, but he wants the move to be permanent.

Despite his natural talent, the 29-year-old has never managed to command a regular starting place under Delio Rossi at Lazio.

Since arriving from Catania in 2005, Firmani has only chalked up 18 appearances in the Biancocelesti jersey.

This term, the Roman native has scored twice in six games, including the winner in the Aquile’s emotional 1-0 win over Parma in Week 13 – a goal he dedicated to Gabriele Sandri.

Siena are tracking new recruits in their bid to escape the drop and have looked lightweight in midfield this season.

While the Tuscans have indicated that a loan would be ideal, Firmani is calling for a full transfer due to his frustration at a lack of playing time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio sporting director Walter Sabatini is expected to meet with Firmani and his Siena counterpart Manuel Gerolin within the next few days to try and find a mutually beneficial agreement.

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[Adamo]

I'm reading some things about Lazio signing Cardaccio from Uruguay and also are getting close to Radu and Barzagli.

I like what I'm hearing!!

[dukeofdavinci]

Lazio sign ‘new Chivu’ Monday 28 January, 2008

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Lazio have swooped for Romanian defensive starlet Stefan Radu, who is seen by many as the heir to Cristian Chivu’s throne.

The 21-year-old stopper will undergo a medical at the Biancocelesti’s Padeia complex this afternoon after agreeing a deal with Dinamo Bucharest.

Lazio lost Guglielmo Stendardo on loan to Juventus earlier today, but they have brought in a talent for the future who has won some illustrious comparisons.

“We have closed the deal and it suits everybody,” agent Victor Becali told Piazzadellaliberta.it.

“Radu is a lad with his head in the right place. I am sure that he will finish his career in Italy because he is a great player and he has the right personality for a League like ours.

“He is technically talented and he has amazing potential that Delio Rossi will be able to bring out.

“There is a lot of expectation for Radu, but there are still lots of differences between him and Chivu and he still has a long way to go before he is as good as such a champion.

“But in Italy he will be able to improve and he is a similar character to Chivu as he keeps his feet on the ground and is very professional.”

Radu has become the first Romanian ever to play for Lazio and is set to watch the Aquile’s Coppa Italia quarter-final second leg against Fiorentina on Wednesday.

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