TORINO FC

[Jager]

Inter Milan attacker Alvaro Recoba is set to join Torino for the new season.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has already spoken with Torino counterpart Urbano Cairo and is willing to pay a percentage of Recoba's wages to help smooth negotiations.

Torino coach Walter Novellino is delighted with the prospect of working with Recoba and will hold talks with Uruguayan this week about a move to Turin.

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Torino are edging closer to signing Inter outcast Alvaro Recoba, but they face a race against time on deadline day.

It is the final day of the summer transfer window and unsettled players all over the peninsula have their fingers crossed for an 11th hour switch.

Recoba’s future is believed to be closely linked to the Nerazzurri’s Brazilian hitman Adriano, who has also found himself out of contention for a starting place.

Inter chief Massimo Moratti has indicated that he would be willing to let one of the pair leave, but not both.

Having turned down a reported £10m switch to West Ham and the possibility of a loan spell, Adriano looks likely to stay at least until January, which opens the door for Recoba.

“I have to say that the deal is not complete, but we are still talking with my friend Moratti and are very close to a resolution,” Torino President Urbano Cairo told Sky Sport Italia.

“We seem to be waiting for Adriano’s position to become completely clear and it seems that is close to happening. It’s best not to say anything yet as nothing has been signed.”

The only thing that is certain at this stage is that everything will be decided before midnight on Friday.

Meanwhile, Toro are set to officially announce the signing of Venezia striker Marco Moro.

The talented youngster scored in the Lagunari's opening-day defeat against Cremonese, but may have to wait for a shot at Serie A as he is likely to be sent to Messina in a co-ownership agreement.

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Genoa have sold Brazilian marksman Adailton to Serie B sleeping giants Bologna.

The 29-year-old became a Verona hero between 1999 and 2006 when he made over 100 appearances for the Mastini and found the net 24 times in the last two seasons.

The ex-Parma man joined Genoa last summer and scored 11 times in the Grifoni’s promotion campaign despite a recurring injury.

It is believed that Adailton was hoping to get a chance to make his mark in the top flight in the coming season and was reluctant to leave even when he knew he wouldn’t be a regular in the first team.

The fee is yet to be announced, but is expected to be less than £1m with the new man set to be presented at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara later on Friday afternoon.

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[Aladino]

Nice to see Torino land Recoba, hopefully he will return to that old magic we knew he had. ad with DI Michele out they need someone extra

[Jager]

Novellino’s case for defence Wednesday 5 September, 2007

Torino boss Walter Novellino has stressed his satisfaction at the Granata’s start to the campaign, despite their defensive frailties.

New Coach Novellino has seen his two opening Serie A games on the Toro bench end in 2-2 draws and a Coppa Italia clash against Rimini finish 3-2.

While he can be satisfied that his men are hitting the back of the net despite the absence of suspended striking star David Di Michele, the back line looks unexpectedly vulnerable.

“I’m not too disappointed,” the ex-Sampdoria tactician insisted. “We play an attacking style that’s fun to watch.

“We do need to improve at the back, especially on set-pieces, but it’s not the midfield’s fault as Eugenio Corini, Vince Grella and Simone Barone have all been good.”

Reggina’s equaliser in Week 2 came in stoppage time and five of the six goals conceded this term have come in the second period – a situation that Novellino is determined to change.

“We need to work on that – it’s as much in the head as it is in the legs. On the other hand, nobody says that I’m the best defensive Coach, it’s important to take advantage of our strengths.”

Finally, Novellino had words of encouragement for new signing Alvaro Recoba, who arrived on transfer deadline day after being shut out at Inter.

“He had a good debut,” the Avellino native grinned. “He needs to improve physically so that he can help Alessandro Rosina in that zone behind the strikers.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Alvaro Recoba feels as if he has been reborn at Torino and feels he should have left Inter earlier. “They didn’t understand me.”

The Uruguayan was an enigma during his decade at San Siro, with moments of utter brilliance peppering an otherwise mediocre career.


He has been reunited with his old Venezia boss Walter Novellino and already found the back of the net in last week’s impressive 1-1 draw at Palermo.


“I am very satisfied, as I immediately felt important to this side. I got what I wanted – to go home happy or sad based only on what I do on the pitch,” explained Chino.


“At Inter I only ever played if one of my teammates was injured or out of shape. Here I can express myself however I like in a relaxed atmosphere. I know that I can make mistakes and not be destroyed.”


The Nerazzurri are back in a pressure cooker situation after their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Fenerbahce.


“It’s a shame, because if possible Massimo Moratti has done even more this year to get the great satisfaction of a Champions League trophy. There is time, though, he can win everything.


“As for the Scudetto, I think Roma are the favourites, right now they are the strongest team around and have completed their squad. It will be a great fight with Inter and Milan.”


It was the spectacular six months he spent on loan at Venezia that convinced Inter to splash out on a rich new contract for Recoba in 1999. How is it being back under Novellino’s watch?


“He’s gotten worse! Maybe it’s because I was younger at Venezia, but I don’t remember him working us so hard!”


Recoba has found a new strike partner in Italian Under-21 international Alessandro Rosina – nicknamed Rosinaldo – but he is in contract renegotiations with the club.


“I advise him to reach an agreement with Toro and to stay for another 10 years. He can write the history of this club. Everyone loves him and I know what it means to feel that support. Ale can choose a big side, but he would run into so much competition and the problems I had.”

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Torino Coach Walter Novellino has called for his side to ignore Sunday’s derby against Juventus as they travel to Parma this evening.

There is a buzz around Turin as the city awaits the first derby day since 2003 with the Granata looking for their first victory since April 1995.

However, Novellino is determined that the weekend’s epic clash doesn’t get in the way of their concentration on tonight’s game against Parma.

“We have been talking about the derby since July because it has been four years since the last one, but the problem is that we have another game tonight before we can get to Sunday,” he revealed.

“Sunday’s game hanging over us has annoyed me a bit. We played really well against Palermo, but instead of talking about our game agaist Siena, everyone was discussing the derby.

“Against the Robur we took a step backwards and played half as well because of a lack of concentration.

“I spoke to the players about it and I took responsibility because it was my job to keep them focused on the task at hand.”

Torino have drawn all four of their games so far and will be looking for a first win at the Stadio Tardini.

Meanwhile, contract talks with midfield star Alessandro Rosina continue and it is rumoured that the homegrown hero is demanding an £8m rescission clause in the new deal.

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[Jager]

Novellino defies touchline ban Thursday 27 September, 2007

Torino Coach Walter Novellino has been fined and reprimanded for breaking into the Granata’s dressing room to give instructions while banned.

Novellino was serving a touchline suspension for insulting Andrea Gervasoni during his side’s draw with Siena as Toro faced Parma at the Stadio Tardini.

However, the ex-Sampdoria tactician hid in a room between the shower room and the dressing room and spoke to his players from behind the wall before escaping back to the stands.

The daring scheme proved futile as the Turin outfit flopped to a 2-0 defeat against a rejuvenated Crociati side.

It is believed that Novellino got the idea from ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho who did the same thing during Chelsea’s 2005 Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

The likely punishment will hit the Avellino native hard in the wallet as he now faces a fine of around £8,000, but the ban will not be extended.

channel4.com - Football Italia