Real Madrid ready to offer Cannavaro new deal

[Jager]

Captain Courageous
There is no doubt that Fabio Cannavaro has led by example for Italy during Germany 2006. Antonio Labbate profiles the stopper who is hoping to celebrate his 100th cap by lifting the World Cup on Sunday



Azzurri captain Fabio Cannavaro knows all about World Cup disappointment. In fact, he got an early taste even before he was part of the Italian squad at both the 1998 and 2002 World Cup Finals. Aged just 16, the then Napoli youth team product was a ball-boy on that infamous July 3 night at the Stadio San Paolo in 1990 when Argentina defeated Italy on penalties.

Tears flowed through the streets of the peninsula that summer after a reverse which many Italian players from that era, and fans alike, have still not come to terms with. Yet the nation has a chance to rejoice at the weekend with arguably the most popular Nazionale since that Italia ’90 version and Cannavaro is going to have a key role to play.

There can be no denying that Cannavaro has probably not only been Italy’s best player at the tournament, he’s arguably been the competition’s best player. The foreign media have been raving about him with envy for the last three weeks, while the Italian Press are simply underlining what many of us in the peninsula have already known for years. His only mistake to date was not marking teammate Cristian Zaccardo, who shinned past his own team for America, which remains the lone goal Italy have conceded so far.

Yet Cannavaro has almost had to rebuild his reputation in the space of a month after touching down in Germany under a cloud of controversy. Despite his undoubted class – underlined with his performances at Juventus over the last two campaigns – and being Italy’s most capped player in the squad, there were calls for him to be stripped of the captaincy. His crime? To not join the media campaign in condemning Luciano Moggi, the man responsible for his move from Inter to Turin, after the Calciopoli revelations hit the news stands.

But there was no way that Cannavaro, who has also subsequently had to deal with the Gianluca Pessotto shock, was going to have the armband removed. With the determination and coolness with which he defends on the pitch, the former Parma stopper refused to step down and focused on proving that if Italy were to lift the trophy in Germany, then he deserved to be the first Italian to do so since 1982.

The 32-year-old has been a constant source of assurance throughout the tournament, despite being partnered in defence by a multitude of stoppers in the form of Alessandro Nesta, Marco Materazzi and Andrea Barzagli. While some partnerships may have suffered from a possible lack of understanding, Cannavaro's just got on with it in his own commanding way.

He’s also done it with a smile on his face. After Barzagli stepped on to the pitch against Australia following the wrongful dismissal of Materazzi, Cannavaro looked at his younger colleague, smirked and said: “Andrea, let’s have some fun now.” The Palermo central defender, one of the least experienced in the squad, did Fabio proud with an accomplished display in high pressure circumstances.

There was even a broad grin at the start of the extra time period against Germany when Michael Ballack and himself tossed the coin ahead of the restart. While the Chelsea man’s face personified the magnitude of what was at stake, Cannavaro’s cheeky grin seemed to say it all – Italy would end the night victorious. As a result, Cannavaro will lead his side out in Berlin where he will become only the third Italian to win 100 caps after Dino Zoff – who celebrated his century in the 1982 Finals – and Paolo Maldini.

And he certainly has a score to settle with France after two defeats which have left their mark on the pint-sized stopper. He was in Cesare Maldini’s side who were knocked out of France ’98 on penalties to Les Bleus, while their Alpine cousins destroyed Azzurri dreams at Euro 2000 when they equalised at the death before snatching a Golden Goal through David Trezeguet.

Given his age, Sunday will almost definitely be his last chance at World Cup glory. But win or lose, Cannavaro has already joined the long list of great Italian defenders – from Franco Baresi to Gaetano Scirea, Claudio Gentile to Beppe Bergomi – to write their names in football legend. Cannavaro is simply living proof that when it comes to defending, Italians do it better.

Forza Capitano!http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...incourage.html

[dukeofdavinci]

LEADER AMONG LEADERS!!THE LION OF AZZURRI!!!...FORZA CANNA!! FORZA AZZURRI!!!

[Bodia]

The best.

[russe||]

Read the title, thats all I've got at the moment.

[Pennywise]

Its official. €20 million for both of them.

Fabio Cannavaro and Emersom will be Real Madrid players. They've not signed yet, but Realmadrid.com has written that the transfer of the Juve players is in box.

Cannavaro will be good to have in the defence with Woodgate as backup. Emersom is much better than Gravesen and Garcia.

They are not 26 anymore and a bit 'starved' but however they will reinforce Real Madrid.

Some bad news too. Barcelona signed Zambrotta and Thuram tonight.

[azzurri]

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?h...for+Juve+stars

fuck

[russe||]

Real Madrid have announced the signing of Italy World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and Brazil midfielder Emerson from Juventus.

The pair, who have signed a two-year deal with a further one-year option, will link up with their former Juve boss Fabio Capello at the Bernebeu.

Spanish radio said the deal was worth a combined 20 million Euros (£13.7m)

Juventus were relegated from Serie A last week after the match-fixing scandal which rocked Italian football.

They will start the 2006/07 campaign in Serie B with a 30-point deficit.

Real are looking to rebuild after three years without a trophy and the pair are the first arrivals at Madrid since new president Ramon Calderon came to power earlier this month.

A statement on the club's website said: "Real Madrid can confirm it has reached an agreement with Juventus over the signing of Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson.

"The players are currently on holiday and will be presented at the Bernabeu after signing their respective contracts."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/5169176.stm

£14m for those two is a bargin. Cannavaro alone is worth at least £14m.

[azzurri]

says 20 mil, which is still a bargain.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by azzurri

says 20 mil, which is still a bargain.

20million euros yes. That is about 14m pounds

[azzurri]

No doubt Thruram will sign with Barca now.

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by azzurri

No doubt Thruram will sign with Barca now.

And Zambrotta..

Not good news at all since Barcas only weakness were in the defence, and now they have two of the best defenders in the world + that they have a team already that fits together.

About Cannavaro and Emersons price. Its cheap but remember that they not are 25 anymore.

[Sven]

where is the new of thuram and zambrotta coming from?

[Pennywise]

Marca and Onda Cero Radio

[robaldo]

So much for Cannavaro seing out his contract and saying he will honour his contract, you all said he would stay after he said that but there was no chance he would have

[D-Kin]

One word - Capello.