UDINESE CALCIO

[Marcelo]

Quagliarella has signed with Udinese.

[Jager]

Di Natale pens new deal Wednesday 11 July, 2007

Antonio Di Natale has signed a new contract with Udinese that will keep him at the Stadio Friuli until 2012.

The Bianconeri forward was recently linked with a move to Roma, but had reiterated that there was no truth in the rumours, as confirmed by his renewed agreement with the Zebrette.

“I signed a new deal on Tuesday, until 2012. This is a strong side, the President secured some excellent signings and chose a great Coach, now it is up to us,” the 29-year-old told the Press.

“I don’t want to issue any proclamation, there are no objectives, we only want to work,” added the striker.

“First we will need to secure safety, then maybe we can aim higher,” explained Toto, who is excited by the attacking options in Friuli after the arrival of Fabio Quagliarella.

“He has already proved that he is strong, but up-front there are also other players such as Antonio Floro Flores, Gyan Asamoah and Barreto – no one is a first-team regular.

“The important thing is to do well every Sunday and always do our best,” said the forward, who has become a regular in Coach Roberto Donadoni’s Italy squad alongside Quagliarella.

“Playing together could help us in view of the Nazionale, but we will have to give our all. This is an important year in view of the European Championship,” concluded Di Natale.

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....regular with Don's team..hmmm.

[D-Kin]

He plays better for Udinese than he does for the NT, there's no doubt about that.

They've done well to tie him down.

[Jager]

Well they have him now, plus Qaud...so they are fine in attack.

[D-Kin]

And Asamoah as well who bagged a decent amount of goals last season.

With those three they've got a lot of pace.

[Aladino]

Floro Flores presented at Udinese with his daughter!

[D-Kin]

Floro Flores will do well, he's been playing in Serie B for far too long.

[Jager]

Fabio: It's payback time Wednesday 18 July, 2007

Udinese hitman Fabio Quagliarella has reassured President Giampaolo Pozzo that he will justify his summer price tag.

The 23-year-old striker showed lethal form last term at Sampdoria where he fired 13 goals, including a whole hosts of spectacular strikes.

As he was co-owned by the Blucerchiati and Udinese who both wanted to keep him, Quagliarella’s future was decided in a blind auction which saw the Zebrette pay around £5m for his signature.

However, there have been constant rumours, before and after the auction, that the Neapolitan ace may quit the Stadio Friuli for a bigger side such as Manchester United.

“I’m staying in Udine because I want to repay President Giampaolo Pozzo’s faith in me,” Quagliarella insisted when quizzed on Raisport.

“He invested a large amount of money in me and I signed a five year deal and so of course I’ll be playing for the Zebrette. This is a pivotal year and I’m happy to be here despite Manchester United’s interest.”

Udinese are currently in Bergamo but will complete their pre-season preparations in England with a trip to Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena on August 4.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

Friendlies: Udinese hit back Wednesday 25 July, 2007

Udinese bounced back from Sunday’s defeat against Mezzocorona with a 3-0 win over Serie B outfit Spezia, thanks to a Gyan Asamoah hat-trick.

New boss Pasquale Marino endured a miserable start to his reign last weekend when his Zebrette slumped to a 1-0 defeat against fourth tier opposition.

However, the ex-Catania tactician got the reaction he wanted against Spezia as a determined Bianconeri side hardly allowed the Ligurians a kick of the ball.

Summer signing Gokhan Inler and 23-year-old Ukrainian Viktor Boudianski ran the midfield excellently in the first period and Finnish starlet Roman Eremenko also impressed.

The star of the show was Ghanaian hitman Asamoah who fired all three goals with a brace in the first period and a 61st minute strike.

Coach Marino was evidently relieved during his post-match Press conference and took the chance to praise the key men and explain the absence of striker Antonio Di Natale.

“Inler is an enforcer as he’s so strong physically,” he stated. “Asamoah has the potential to get much better if he works hard.

“Di Natale was left out as a precaution. He has a pain in his knee and although he has been working very hard in training I’d rather not risk him.”

Udinese: Handanovic (Chimenti 45); Mesto (Motta 72), Coda, Zapata, Dossena (Zenoni 85); Eremenko (Masiello 72), Boudianski (D'Agostino 45), Inler (Vargas 85); Quagliarella (Siqueira 61), Asamoah (Pepe 61), Floro Flores (Paolucci 45)
Spezia: Dazzi (Maiorani 45); Camorani, Zaninelli, Pecorari (Zamboni 61), Bianchi; Ponzo, Saverino, Manzoni, Bau (Ceccarelli 60); Guarinello (Colombo 45), Eliakwu

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[Jager]

Friendlies: Udinese humble Monaco Saturday 28 July, 2007

Fiorentina played out a drab draw with Greek side Larissa, while Udinese held Monaco to a prestigious 1-1 scoreline in the Principality.

The pre-season friendlies continue apace and last night the Viola failed to net in a 0-0 with Greek Cup holders Larissa.

Valeri Bojinov was not even in the stands, as he has been frozen out of the squad awaiting a transfer with Torino, Valencia and Manchester City all interested.

Coach Cesare Prandelli introduced a 4-4-2 system with ex-Chievo winger Franco Semioli out wide and the new arrival immediately set up a chance that Kuzmanovic nodded on to the crossbar.

Giampaolo Pazzini wasted a golden opportunity and Adrian Mutu went close with a free kick, but Sebastien Frey rescued his men in the closing stages with a desperate save on Chatziliontas.

Arturo Lupoli also should have done better in stoppages on Federico Balzaretti’s assist.

Udinese did considerably better after their 1-1 draw in Monaco, as the French Ligue 1 will kick off in a week’s time and so the team are much further ahead in their pre-season preparation.

Menez gave Monaco the lead after just four minutes, but summer signing Antonio Floro Flores snatched an equaliser on the half-hour mark.

As expected, new Coach Pasquale Marino fielded a 4-3-3 system with Gyan Asamoah flanked by Floro Flores and former Sampdoria sensation Fabio Quagliarella.

Empoli thumped Serie C outfit Carrarese 5-0 with Antonio Busce, Rej Volpato, Sebastian Giovinco and a Guillermo Giacomazzi brace on target.

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[D-Kin]

I'm glad they've been using a 4-3-3 formation, I can see that being a success with the players they've got.

[Jager]

Udinese part with Barreto Saturday 4 August, 2007

As Udinese prepare to face Coventry City this afternoon, the club has surprisingly handed Paulo Barreto to Serie B outfit Treviso.

Pasquale Marino’s men will take on Coventry in a pre-season friendly without Italian international forwards Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella.

Barreto has not made the trip either, as he has been loaned out to Treviso for the 2007-08 campaign.

It is a return for the 22-year-old Brazilian forward, who first came to Italy for Treviso in 2002 when they were in Serie C1.

In the last two seasons he has made 53 top flight appearances for Udinese, scoring eight goals.

It was a surprising decision, but not a permanent one, as Udinese confirmed in the same meeting he extended his contract with the Friuli outfit until 2012.

Treviso have also sold Uruguayan central defender Carlos Adrian Valdez Suarez to Reggina, where he has penned a five-year deal.

Reggina transferred midfielder Daniele Amerini to Serie B side Frosinone.

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[Jager]

Friendlies: Udinese crush Coventry Saturday 4 August, 2007

Udinese are already in fine form three weeks before the start of the season as they crushed Coventry City 2-0 at the Ricoh Arena.

Pasquale Marino has taken his squad to new levels even without internationals Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella, who did not take part in today’s friendly test.

Ghanaian striker Gyan Asamoah fired just over and Victor Boudianski tested Andy Marshall before Gaetano D’Agostino broke the deadlock with a splendid free kick from 25 yards.

Asamoah again forced Goalkeeper Marshall into a tricky save, while Coventry only really threatened with Dias Felipe’s goalline clearance from a Michael Doyle shot.

Asamoah ensured the result was safely in Udinese’s hands with a trademark counter, as the pacey youngster hooked a loose ball over the ‘keeper and into an empty net.


Coventry City 0-2 Udinese
Scorers: D’Agostino 18 (U), Asamoah 80 (U)
Coventry City: Marshall; Osbourne, Page (Ward 68), Hall (Hawkins 72), Borrowdale; Birchall (Tab 60), Doyle, M Hughes (S Hughes 68), Gray (McKenzie 76), Best (Adebola 64)
Udinese: Handanovic (Chimenti 46); Mesto, Gokhan, Coda (Felipe 70), Dossena; Siqueira (Candreva 46), Zapata, D’Agostino, Boudianski (Sivok 46); Asamoah (Masiello 81), Floro Flores (Paolucci 62)

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[Jager]

Friendlies: Quaglia's 7th Heaven Sunday 5 August, 2007

Fabio Quagliarella scored an incredible seven goals in Udinese’s friendly match this evening.

Last season’s Serie A sensation is certainly not slowing down in the summer months and was in fine form for his new club.

The former Sampdoria striker hit seven of Udinese’s 19 goals in their victory over local side Arta Cedarchis.

Michele Paolucci also managed to net five, while Simone Pepe and Federico Gerardi ‘only’ got a hat-trick each.

Antonio Di Natale got his name on the scoresheet and played half an hour on his road to recovery from injury.

This match involved the players who did not take part in yesterday’s 2-0 win away to Coventry City.

Between this result and the one on British soil, it seems Udinese are really taking to new boss Pasquale Marino’s all-attack 4-3-3 system.


Udinese: Chimenti (Squarsone 62), Motta (Zenoni 46), Zapotocny, Felipe, Lukovic (Siqueira 62); Eremenko (Di Natale 62),Sivok (Boudiasnki 46), Masiello (Vargas 46); Quagliarella, Paolucci (Gerardi 70), Pepe (Candreva 46)

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[Jager]

Friendlies: Asamoah celebrates Friday 10 August, 2007

Gyan Asamoah and Fabio Quagliarella marked their contract extensions with a brace each in Udinese’s 7-0 friendly win.

The Friulani hammered local side Rivignano under the driving rain and their two strikers were leading the way.

Ghanaian Asamoah today extended his contract until 2012. He converted a penalty, sidefooted home a second and set up one of Quagliarella’s goals.

Former Sampdoria forward Quagliarella also netted twice, while Antonio Floro Flores, Michele Paolucci and Gaetano D’Agostino were on target.

Udinese’s next friendly match is on August 13 away to recently promoted Serie B outfit Foggia.

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