S.S.C. NAPOLI

[Jager]

Napoli ahead of Torino for Inter Milan's Recoba
tribalfooball.com - August 16, 2007

Torino and Napoli are battling for Inter Milan attacker Alvaro Recoba.

The Uruguayan's form in the TIM tournament is set to win him a fresh chance in Serie A with both clubs already in talks with his representatives.

Torino coach Walter Novellino would love to work with Recoba, though Sport Time says Napoli are favourites to land the forward.

[Jager]

Sosa's amazing Napoli Friday 17 August, 2007

Roberto Sosa warns his Napoli want to “amaze” on their return to Serie A and could soon be joined by Manuele Blasi.

“This will certainly be a tough tournament, but we know that,” said the Argentine striker known as ‘El Pampa.’

“We have to work with humility and real effort to repay the fans for the affection they show us every day. Although we respect our opponents, we fear nobody.”

This is their first top flight campaign since 2001, but Napoli do not think like a newly promoted club.

“Obviously safety is the first target, but we have a strong desire to amaze. We want to prove that this squad did not get into Serie A for a fluke.”

The Azzurri are still strengthening their squad and it is reported they could complete a move for Juventus midfielder Blasi (pictured) within the next few days.

‘Tuttosport’ claim that a decisive meeting between Napoli director of sport Pierpaolo Marino and agent Davide Lippi – the son of World Cup winning Coach Marcello – has been arranged for Monday.

Udinese and Monaco are also interested in Blasi, but so far Napoli’s offer of £1.7m is the highest received by Juve.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Bernardo Corradi has declared he wants to join Napoli, but Massimo Donati is celebrating his first goal for Celtic.

The Italian international has struggled to make an impact at Manchester City and is now fourth in the pecking order behind Rolando Bianchi, Valeri Bojinov and Emile Mpenza.


“I like reading about clubs in Italy being interested and I would be happy to return,” Corradi told ‘The News of the World.’


“Naples would be best as it’s a wonderful city with the most passionate fans, it would be difficult to ask for more.”


Napoli are looking for a reinforcement in attack, although there would be competition for places at the Stadio San Paolo as well.


New signing Ezequiel Lavezzi bagged a brace to see the Azzurri through 2-1 against Pisa in extra time for the Coppa Italia last night.


Emanuele Calaiò and Roberto Sosa are long-term members of the side, while Inter’s Alvaro Recoba has also been linked with Napoli.


Former Fiorentina striker Bojinov fell awkwardly in today’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, so if that injury is serious, Corradi could be asked to stay at Eastlands.


Meanwhile, Italian players continue to impress at club level around Europe, as Donati scored his first goal for Celtic in a 3-1 win at Aberdeen.


The ex-Milan midfielder tapped in from close range and then set up another for Kenny Miller late on.

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[Trim]

Napoli are in the market for a top striker and are reported to be considering a move for Fred after Olympique Lyon effectively invited them to make an offer for the wantaway forward.

The relationship between the Brazilian striker and his French club has become increasingly untenable as the result of a falling out over a “financial disagreement”.

This has prompted the record French champions to actively seek a buyer willing to spend 10m euro on Frederico Chaves Guedes, according to the Corriere dello Sport.

The player himself is desperate for a move away from the Stade Gerland, which is something he has not tried to hide.

"Despite the fact that I am well settled in the country, in the squad of players and especially with the supporters - who have backed me since I arrived - I feel that my time at Lyon is finished," the 23-year-old was quoted as saying.

"The dialogue with the president is no longer the same, and it has been like this for a while. It is for this reason that I have taken this decision."

There are big questions over whether newly promoted Napoli are both able and willing to spend big money on a player who could only be available months into the season as the result of a lingering injury which is hard to assess in terms of healing time.

Fred is still on crutches after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his foot while on international duty at the Copa America. This has reportedly shied the likes of Sevilla and Atletico Madrid from making an offer for him.

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Lyon Offer Fred To Napoli

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Juventus striker Marcelo Zalayeta is set to join Napoli, according to his agent Daniel Delgado.

The 28-year-old Uruguayan has never been able to find a regular starting place in Turin and has been sent out on loan to Sevilla, Empoli and Perugia in recent years.

With the arrival of Azzurri marksman Vincenzo Iaquinta in the summer, the ex-Danubio man is unlikely to feature in Old Lady Coach Claudio Ranieri’s plans and is ready for a fresh start.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has promised the fans that there will be new recruits before the newly-promoted side’s return to Serie A and it seems the Stadio San Paolo outfit will pounce.

“Tomorrow Zalayeta should become an Azzurri player,” Delgado told Naples’ Radio Kiss Kiss. “There is a very good chance that you will see him in a Napoli shirt.”

The transfer is set to signal the end of Cristian Bucchi’s stay with the Partenopei and it appears that 2005-06’s Serie B Capocannoniere is lining up a move to Siena.

“Our priority is to sign a centre forward and I won’t deny that we are very close to signing Bucchi,” Robur sporting director Manuel Gerolin admitted.

“He is the kind of player that we need. At the moment I am not willing to discuss the price.”

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[Jager]

Lavezzi: I’ll be Napoli’s Tevez Monday 20 August, 2007

Napoli new boy Ezequiel Lavezzi believes that he can imitate fellow Argentine Carlos Tevez in the Vesuviani’s Serie A return.

Lavezzi arrived at the Stadio San Paolo from San Lorenzo in July and has already made his mark with a hat-trick against Pisa in the Partenopei’s Coppa Italia second round clash.

“I can’t hope to emulate Diego Maradona, but maybe I could compare myself to Tevez,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport.

“I think there are similarities between us in the way we play. It’s true that I like to provide assists as I’m a team player and I set up that more than I score, but I plan to score more and more.”

The 22-year-old starlet is likely to start in Napoli’s opener against Cagliari and the whistle can’t come soon enough for the ex-Estudiantes man.

“I can’t wait to get started against Cagliari,” he admitted. “I don’t want to take anything away from the Coppa, but there’s nothing like the feeling of a match that really counts.”

As anticipation builds in Naples, there is still speculation that the Azzurri will add at least one new face before the campaign starts at the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

Excellent pick up in getting Zalayeta. Never got the time at Juve, should shine in Napoli.

[Jager]

Napoli chief hails Juve signings Tuesday 21 August, 2007

President Aurelio De Laurentiis has expressed his satisfaction after Napoli completed their swoop for Manuele Blasi and Marcelo Zalayeta.

The Juventus duo have been closely linked with the San Paolo outfit over the past few days and their moves were made official this evening.

“We have finalised a deal for two great players of experience,” noted the movie mogul on Tuesday evening.

“We wanted them to help create a perfect mix between young players and those already established.

“Our transfer campaign so far has satisfied us, but if we have the chance to add a cherry to the cake then we will do all that we can to make that happen.”

Blasi [pictured], who spent last term on loan at Fiorentina, has signed a five-year contract after a co-ownership deal was agreed between the two parties.

The 27-year-old played 57 games for Juventus since his arrival from Perugia in 2004.

Zalayeta, 29, has joined the southern giants in a similar move even if he has only been handed a four-year agreement.

The Uruguayan had two spells in Turin with Juventus where he was mainly used as a substitute. His Bianconeri goal record reads 34 goals in 160 matches.

Meanwhile, Australian ‘keeper Jess Vanstrattan has joined Juventus on loan from Verona – just days after he was forced to leave the Turin giants for the Serie C club after a contract dispute.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[azzurri]

Good signing. He will definitely start for Napoli.

[dukeofdavinci]

Napoli set Euro sights Friday 24 August, 2007

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Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has vowed to deliver European football to the Stadio San Paolo faithful within two years.

The Partenopei make their long-awaited Serie A return against Cagliari on Sunday after nearly a decade in the wilderness.

Expectations are high amongst the Vesuviani fans and football fever has swept across Naples with season ticket sales rocketing.

“We want to continue growing as a side and we will be in Europe within a couple of years,” Marino told Mediaset Premium magazine.

“The return to the top flight means so much for the city on a social level. Football has always been a means of escape for the people who often have a tough day-to-day existence.”

The Azzurri have brought in eight new faces over the course of the summer with Argentine striking starlet Ezequiel Lavezzi and Juventus pair Marcelo Zalayeta and Manuele Blasi the most notable swoops.

However, it is not the new men, but Coach Edy Reja's side’s fighting spirit that Marino sees as being crucial in the struggle for salvation this term.

“The strength of this side is its unity,” he insisted.

“We have such enthusiasm, cohesion and humility and that will stand us in good stead.”

some brave targets there.besides of beating the serie a' teams they might also need to fend of other european teams.

[Jager]

Napoli still on survival mission Thursday 20 September, 2007

Napoli stopper Paolo Cannavaro has insisted that the Partenopei’s target is survival, despite taking six points from their first three games.

The Azzurri returned to Serie A after a testing spell that saw the 1989-90 Scudetto winners banished to Serie C after bankruptcy in 2004.

After an opening-day 2-0 reverse against Cagliari, Coach Edy Reja has turned things around in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Udinese and a 2-0 win over Samprdoria.

However, Cannavaro is keen to stop anyone getting carried away at this early stage and believes that stayng afoat will be a challenge

“Our priorities haven’t changed, we are still aiming for survival,” the ex-Parma man stressed. “We have every reason to feel proud of all the hard work we have put in, but there is a long road ahead.

“The best thing is seeing the enthusiasm in Naples and the fans enjoying their time at the Stadio San Paolo.”

The 26-year-old is the brother of World Cup winning captain Fabio and admits that he has leadership aspirations of his own, but not for the time being.

“Perhaps I would like to be the captain one day,” he revealed. “But at the moment we have Francesco Montervino and he is very influential in the dressing room as well as on the pitch.

“The secret of this team is that it has no leader – the word doesn’t exist here. We are all leaders as this is a united group.

“But of course at some stage further down the line I would love to wear the captain’s armband for my team from my city.”

Napoli travel to Empoli’s Stadio Castellani this weekend to face a side still awaiting their first win of the season.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

They could potentially finish in the top half in my opinion, but we'll see.

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Napoli have lost goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo to injury, while Cagliari must do without Diego Lopez for six weeks.

Iezzo clattered into a teammate during a training session and damaged the fifth and sixth rib, so doctors have warned he’ll be out for at least a week.


As it is a midweek round coming up, the shot-stopper will miss out on Serie A games against Empoli, Livorno and Genoa.


Understudy Matteo Gianello is ready to step in, but he has made just six appearances for Napoli in the last two seasons.


Cagliari have even worse news, as captain Lopez pulled up during a friendly match against Villacidrese, pulling a thigh muscle in his right leg.


The defender will be sidelined for around six weeks, according to the Sardinian medical staff.

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[LaVecchiaSignora]

Napoli Coach Edy Reja has no intention of changing his starting XI against Empoli, but is forced into one very important switch by injury.

Goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo damaged two ribs during a training ground collision and has been ruled out for at least a week.


“It is a great shame we’ll have to do without Iezzo. In any case, I have full faith in Matteo Gianello, who is an excellent goalkeeper and already proved himself last season when he was called upon.”


The excitement is growing around the San Paolo side and that will only increase if they succeed in notching up a third straight victory against Empoli.


“It will be a difficult match. Empoli have certainly prepared for this, as they fielded a reserve side in the UEFA Cup on Thursday,” noted Reja.


“They are a tough team, fast and hard-working, so we’ll just have to work even harder than them.


“The challenge can be centred in the brain of the two sides, in midfield, but then the talents of Ighli Vannucchi and Luca Saudati on one side and Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marcelo Zalayeta on the other could prove decisive too.”


After confident victories over Udinese and Sampdoria, Reja is in no hurry to change his formation.


“I confirm the same line-up that played against Samp, obviously not including Iezzo. Will I rotate the squad for the midweek round? Let