Roma Calciomercato Thread

[Morrison]

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/jan19g.html

Roma have entered the race to sign Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires, according to reports in France.

French daily l’Equipe claimed today that the cash-strapped club from the capital are keen on recruiting the 32-year-old winger, who is available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Pires is keen to extend his current deal at Highbury, but talks have stalled over the France international’s desire to sign a two-year rather than one-year deal.

The latest indications from Coach Arsene Wenger were that he was considering breaking his club policy of only ever offering 12-month contracts to players over the age of 30, in order to extend the stay of the highly-regarded former Marseille man.

With a deal yet to be reached, however, Spanish side Valencia are eager to snap up the Frenchman as early as this month, while Fiorentina and Seville are also keeping a close eye on developments.

[Rosa]

Interesting!

[Morrison]

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/jan20e.html

Lecce striker Mirko Vucinic has revealed a burning desire to sign for Roma. "It is his dream to join the Giallorossi," declared his agent.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed six successful seasons with the Puglian club, but in the summer would like to team up with Francesco Totti - his footballing hero.

"Mirko’s dream is to join Roma," Alessandro Lucci told Italian radio programme, ‘Te la do io Tokio.’ "He is a great admirer of Totti and would do anything to play with him.

"Vucinic would be a great player for the Giallorossi," added Lucci. "Last year, despite only playing half a season because of Valeri Bojinov’s amazing start to the campaign, Mirko scored 19 goals.

"As well as benefiting from the excellent tactics of Zdenek Zeman, he proved that he has great qualities," he continued. "He is one of the few potential world class players out there and he’s still only 22.

"And what’s more he absolutely adores Totti - he is as stubborn as a hammer about it."

Lucci went on to explain however, that any transfer involving Vucinic to Roma would not be entirely straightforward, given that Lecce have already turned down vast sums of money for the Serbia-Montenegro international.

"Any deal would be quite complex," he elaborated. "You only have to look at last June when Lecce turned down a £7m offer from Inter."

Roma are currently unable to buy any players until the end of the season, as they are serving a FIFA ban imposed after the Philippe Mexes affair. Come the summer, meanwhile, there is likely to be a considerable amount of competition for the player.

Inter are still in the market for another striker, while Vucinic’s appearance in the World Cup Finals will put him in the ultimate shop window.

The club from the capital are likely to have money to spend in the summer, though, and will be hoping to play on Vucinic’s love for the Giallorossi and their captain to lure him to Rome.

Good reinforcement by Roma if they nab Vucinic!

[interista luigi]

Roma need a striker, and vucinic would be great, but lecce are going to be getting quite a few offers, I imagine.

Anyone know when his contract expires?

[Morrison]

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/jan23d.html

Roma have issued a stern warning to clubs interested in Amantino Mancini. "Our jewels are not to be touched," said sporting director Daniele Prade’.

Mancini has been in sensational form since returning from injury, scoring four goals in three matches and sparking speculation that Juventus want to sign the South American.

Having already lost Antonio Cassano to Real Madrid, however, Roma are in no mood to be stripped of another of their prize assets.

"Our jewels are not to be touched," said Prade’. "Mancini and the rest are all part of our project for the future."

Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti, who is also winning over the Giallorossi faithful having now masterminded five consecutive League wins, agreed Mancini would be going nowhere and expressed anger at any such suggestion.

"First Cassano and now Mancini," he said. "It would appear that everyone is leaving, but that simply isn’t the case and all the talk is unsettling for a young player like him.

"Mancini played very well in the left forward position," added Spalletti. "But the match was won by the team, which is showing a lot of character at the moment."

For his part, the player claimed he would not let any of the transfer talk affect him, but it will not have gone unnoticed by the likes of Juve that the midfielder did not dismiss out of hand any prospect of a move.

"I cannot leave," said the Brazilian whose contract lasts until 2009. "It’s normal that when a footballer is playing well clubs will be interested

"But I’m ignoring everything that’s going on off the pitch – I’m just thinking about playing.

"Certainly, if Roma were made a big offer, we could talk about it…"

Inter and Real Madrid have also been associated with the former Venezia flop over the last 24 months.

[Morrison]

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/jan23g.html

Ligue 1 outfit Lyon have made an offer for Roma defender Philippe Mexes, according to reports in Italy.

The French stopper, whose move to Rome from Auxerre was shrouded in controversy and led to the Giallorossi being banned from making any signings for a year, is highly-rated in his homeland.

It has not been disclosed how much the French champions have offered for the international, but it is thought to be well in advance of the £4.7m Roma eventually paid Auxerre.

The club from the capital are struggling financially at present, but are enjoying something of a Serie A renaissance under Coach Luciano Spalletti, who has guided his side to sixth – just a point behind fifth-placed Livorno.

It is not thought, though, that Roma will be willing to sell their influential Toulouse-born 23-year-old as he is now starting to deliver results.

Lyon’s interest in Mexes will increase speculation that their defender Cris could be on his way to Milan.

The Brazilian has performed superbly for Lyon over recent seasons and proven to be capable of consistent performances in the Champions League, where he – in addition to full-back Anthony Reveillere – has caught the eye of the San Siro side.

Gerard Houllier’s outfit are said to be demanding between £7m and £8.25m for the 29-year-old, while the Rossoneri are offering around £5m for the shaven-headed stopper.

[Rosa]

they can go away, Mexes is now worth all the trouble it took to buy him AND he's enjoying life in Rome.

[azzurri]

"Our jewels are not to be touched,"

am i the only 1 who finds that funny?

[Rosa]

I thought it was as well!
But hopefully Mancini will stay, please?! he looked really part of the team on sunday so thats a positive sign.

[Muscolino18]

I find it funny because if anything, Roma's 'jewels' are forever listed on the metaphorical eBay of the transfer market.

[Rosa]

except Totti

[Muscolino18]

Indeed.

[Rosa]

And probably De Rossi, maybe the other romans as well.

[Morrison]

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/jan26c.html

Cristiano Lucarelli has been linked with a possible move to Roma at the end of the season, according to his agent. "Cristiano would be delighted to wear a Giallorossi shirt," said Carlo Pallavicino.

Roma are looking for a striker to play alongside Francesco Totti next term and there is no shortage of players willing to fit the bill.

Mirko Vucinic has already thrown his hat into the ring but, as reported by Football Italia this week, it appears that the Lecce frontman is more likely to go to Inter in the summer.

Lucarelli, on the other hand, will be an interesting proposition for the Giallorossi, given his consistent goalscoring feats for Livorno in the last two years.

After 24 goals last term, he almost left his hometown club in August and sides will have definitely taken note of the 10 goals that have helped Roberto Donadoni’s men to fifth in the table this term.

Lucarelli is a passionate lifelong Livorno supporter but he also knows that playing for the Amaranto is holding back his international prospects.

Were he playing for Roma now, his dream of winning a place in Marcello Lippi’s World Cup squad would surely be more likely to be realised.

"Cristiano going to Roma is a definite possibility and he would be delighted to wear a Giallorossi shirt," said Pallavicino in an interview with Il Romanista.

"President Franco Sensi is looking for a striker in June and Lucarelli would undoubtedly be perfect in this role as he has all the characteristics to spearhead Luciano Spalletti’s attack."

Lucarelli - who may yet play alongside Totti in the World Cup - has apparently told his agent that if he is to leave his beloved Livorno, he would rather go to Roma than anywhere else.

The Giallorosi have been missing a player of his type since the start of the season and, crucially, Spalletti is also a massive fan.

"This development has come from Spalletti’s admiration for Cristiano and from comments that he made about my client a few weeks ago," added Pallavicino.

[sinoy1]

my god would that ever be amazing. totti feeding lucarelli assists after assists. wonderfull attack if he came in august