UDINESE CALCIO

[Jager]

Asamoah signs Friuli deal Friday 10 August, 2007

Udinese have renewed the contract of Ghana striker Gyan Asamoah, who penned a new deal until 2012.

The forward was a target for several clubs over the past few months, both in Italy and abroad, but in the end opted to stay at the Stadio Friuli.

“Udinese Calcio announce that they have renewed their agreement with footballer Gyan Asamoah,” read a note on the club’s website.

“The new deal will expire on June 30, 2012. As a result, Asamoah will continue playing for Udinese next season as well, whereas all theories of him joining another club are now no longer valid.”

The 21-year-old was reportedly being eyed by Spartak and CSKA in Moscow, while the Zebrette turned down a £5m offer from French side Rennes in July.

Asamoah, whose previous contract ended next year, has confirmed his talent during the pre-season matches this summer, proving to be one of the key players in Udinese attack.

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[Jager]

Di Natale in Udinese split? Sunday 12 August, 2007

Antonio Di Natale could be set to leave Udinese after his mysterious absence in a 1-1 draw with the Colombian Under-17 squad.

The Italian international was not at the friendly test last night, nor will he be called up for Monday’s match against Foggia.

Officially it is a fitness concern, but rumours emanating from the Friuli club claim it is a disciplinary matter.

Di Natale was unhappy he was not given the opportunity to join a bigger side, as Roma, Juventus and Milan all showed an interest this summer.

With Vincenzo Iaquinta and Paulo Barreto released, the former Empoli star hoped that he too would get the chance to consider these offers.

It is suggested Di Natale has not gelled with new Coach Pasquale Marino and is pushing for a transfer.

The rest of the Udinese team played out a 1-1 draw with the Under-17 Colombian side.

While Guillherme Siqueira gave the Italians the lead on the stroke of half-time, Guillerme equalised after 68 minutes.


Udinese: Handanovic, Motta (Zenoni 46), Zapotocny (Zapata 25), Felipe (Coda 46), Lukovic; Candreva, Masiello (Boudianski 46) (Inler 62), Sivok; Siqueira, Paolucci, Pepe

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[Jager]

Udinese starlet's River crossing
Thursday 16 August, 2007
Udinese have agreed a deal to loan out Chilean starlet Alexis Sanchez to Argentine side River Plate for the season.

The diminutive 18-year-old forward signed for the Friulani in 2006 for nearly £1m, but spent last term guiding Colo Colo to the championship in his homeland.

The young gun’s reputation was greatly enhanced by his impressive performances in this summer’s Under-20 World Cup for La Roja.

Indeed, Sanchez would probably have been selected for the Chilean senior side were it not for his involvement in the youth tournament in Canada.

It has been revealed that Los Milionarios are ready to pay the Zebrette £450,000 with Sanchez receiving just over £150,000 as a signing-on fee for his season’s work.

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Udinese must defeat Reggina on Saturday to end their schizophrenic cycle of success and failure, warns Coach Pasquale Marino.

The Friulani are the most unpredictable side in Serie A, as in the opening weeks of the season they have gone from a draw at title holders Inter to a 5-0 home defeat to Napoli and a 1-0 victory away to Juventus.


“We have to give some kind of consistency to our performance and hopefully also our results,” said the former Catania tactician.


“The lesson of Napoli served its purpose and I expect a great show against Reggina. I think the lads will pick up where they left off at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.


“As always, the result will be unpredictable, but the important thing is to put in a good performance.”


Marino is forced to look ahead, as the upcoming midweek round means in the space of eight days Udinese will take on Reggina, Genoa and Parma.


“For now we are exclusively focusing on Reggina. I shall only send on to the field those who are in the best shape, but I would not rule out a few changes. Diaz Felipe and Giampaolo Pinzi are both fit again and Fabio Quagliarella has also recovered.”


Marino took over the club in the summer and has found himself both lauded and insulted for his team’s record so far.


“Udinese have a very demanding crowd, but in the defeat to Napoli they continued to encourage us all the way until we went 3-0 down.


“In recent years the fans have grown accustomed to seeing beautiful football, but they have also shown they understand the process of renewal within the squad. They maintain great enthusiasm and that cannot help but spur us on.”



Udinese squad: 25 Chimenti, 22 Handanovic, 1 Rodrigues Dos Santos; 6 Coda, 19 Felipe, 8 Dossena, 32 Ferronetti, 24 Lukovic, 20 Mesto, 2 Zapata, 21 Zapotocny; 14 Candreva, 4 D'Agostino, 23 Eremenko, 88 Inler, 15 Isla, 11 Pinzi; 3 Asamoah, 10 Di Natale, 83 Floro Flores, 9 Paolucci, 7 Pepe, 27 Quagliarella.

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Nicola Amoruso has recovered and is expected to start against Udinese this evening, reveals Reggina boss Massimo Ficcadenti.

The striker has been sidelined for a few days with a bout of flu, but took part in Friday’s training session.


“Amoruso was out of action for two days and we will have to do a late fitness test to see whether he can start or not. As for the rest, I will name my starting XI just before the match, as I always do.”


The trip to the Stadio Friuli comes after Reggina suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 2-0 to leaders Roma.


“We lost last Sunday, but only against a fantastic squad and we did play on level terms for 50 minutes,” noted Ficcadenti.


“Overall we are in good shape physically, we worked hard this week and I expect to see progress.


“Udinese are a side that are strongest in attack, although lately they have had a few problems with injuries in midfield. A compact outfit with a young and tough defence, plus forward-thinking full-backs.”


Curiously, so far Udinese have picked up all four of their points away from home, falling to a 5-0 defeat against Napoli in their only home match.


“From the first three rounds it would see they have greater ease in performing away from home, but I think that what we saw with Napoli was the classic bad day at the office.”


Reggina have another trend to look towards, as they have not lost at the Stadio Friuli since a 1-0 result in December 2003, followed by two away victories and last season’s 1-1 draw – the latter earned despite Maurizio Lanzaro’s 55th-minute red card.


“Of course we hope to get a positive result this time as well, but it will all depend on us.”

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Azzurri Coach Roberto Donadoni has praised in-form Udinese hitman Antonio Di Natale and continues to encourage Antonio Cassano.

It has been a dream start to the campaign for Di Natale. The Neapolitan striker was the surprise hero for Italy against Ukraine with a match-winning brace and has kept that form up in Serie A.

After a winning goal against Juventus and a double against Reggina, the 29-year-old has become hot property in the peninsula, prompting rumours linking him with Milan.

“Di Natale has vital abilities and has earned his place in the side by demonstrating those,” Donadoni explained.

“Technically, he has more than your average player. I still don’t think we know his true value, all we can do is watch. He has all the ingredients and the right mentality to succeed in the Azzurri shirt.”

As to whether Totò should quit Udine for one of the nation’s giants, Donadoni stressed that it was important he plays at the top level.

“He isn’t in a Scudetto-chasing side, but at Udinese he can show his talent and maybe earn a place at a bigger club,” the ex-Milan midfielder continued.

“A player like Di Natale should be playing in the Champions League and I hope that he gets there with the Zebrette.”

Donadoni was again asked about the future of Sampdoria new boy Cassano, who is looking to re-establish himself in the national set-up after a period in the wilderness.

“Whether he returns to the national side depends almost entirely on him,” Donadoni explained.

“In the little he got to do in his debut agains Genoa last weekend he seemed to show the right attitude.

“He has such quality and if he can show that in training and consistently give his all on the pitch, the door is always open.”

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[D-Kin]

Marino pens new Udinese deal Saturday 24 November, 2007

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Udinese have put faith in their Coach by extending Pasquale Marino’s contract, announced the club.

Although the details of the new deal will only be confirmed in this evening’s Press conference, the official statement was released this afternoon.

Marino had only taken over at the Stadio Friuli this summer after taking Catania to an historic promotion and then avoiding relegation.

Last season was his first in Serie A, but he has already made a name for himself as one of the most talented young tacticians in Italy.

Udinese are in fine form at the moment, having beaten Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina as well as holding Inter to a draw.

They are currently in joint third place on 22 points alongside Scudetto contenders Juve and Roma.

His career had previously spanned the lower Leagues with Milazzo, Ragusa, Paterno’, Foggia and Arezzo.

In his time Marino has earned Catania’s promotion from Serie B to A, four promotions from Serie C2 to C1 and two promotions from Serie D to C2.

The Press conference will be in a hotel in Udine with Marino, President Giampaolo Pozzo and director general Pietro Leonardi.

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[D-Kin]

Udinese chief’s humble hopes Monday 26 November, 2007

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Despite his side’s sensational start to the campaign, Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo has modest ambitions. “We want to stay up.”

The Zebrette have been inconsistent in recent seasons and have been mid-table fodder since 2004-05’s fourth-placed finish.

Although this term has been a different story and the weekend’s win over Siena left Udinese in joint second spot, President Pozzo isn’t getting carried away.

“We are only thinking about survival and that remains our objective,” he told the Corriere dello Sport.

“This project has only just started and we are a small club that has to work with youngsters.

“When you have players lacking experience you can never guarantee consistency, but we will roll on with our heads held high.

“First we need mathematical safety and then we will start to enjoy ourselves and look for something bigger.”

Udinese’s next test is a daunting trip to Roma, who are level with the Friulani on 25 points.

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[D-Kin]

Chilean trio for Udinese Friday 28 December, 2007

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Serie A revelation Udinese have already been active in the transfer market. The Friulani have signed Carlos Villanueva, one of the most promising South American youngsters available.

Il Pina, who will arrive in Italy in June, is currently playing for Audax Italiano and was close to signing for Atletico Madrid during the summer.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is considered the future of the Chilean national team, so Udinese boss Pasquale Marino can be happy with his board for signing such a talented player.

But Villanueva won’t be the only Chilean to play for the Bianconeri next season. Three years ago Udinese signed Alexis Sanchez, who was then loaned to Colo Colo and River Plate.

El Nino Maravilla is the star of Marcelo Bielsa’s national team and could finally arrive in Serie A next summer with Villanueva.

Mauricio Isla is the third Chilean under contract with Udinese. The ductile midfielder was one of the stars of last year’s Under-20 World Cup in Canada.

He is a key member of the Bianconeri Primavera team and could make his debut with the Zebrette soon. However, the Friulani have received many requests for him so Isla may be loaned to a Serie B team in order to gain some first team action.

Udinese will restart training on January 3. Marino’s men will fly to Cyprus and spend almost two weeks there before their Serie A clash against Cagliari at the Stadio Sant’Elia.

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[Daniel]

How do you all think Villanueva will produce for Udine if and when he does come?

[D-Kin]

Udinese ship out Sivok Thursday 3 January, 2008

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Udinese have sent Czech midfielder Tomas Sivok back to his old club Sparta Prague on loan.

The 24-year-old moved to the Stadio Friuli from Sparta in January 2007, but he has made just five appearances in Italy.

Sivok still has a powerful reputation in his homeland and is a hero at the AXA Arena where he was club captain prior to his departure.

The Czech international cost Udinese around £2m and remains a hope for the future in the Zebrette camp as he is tied to the club until 2011.

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