Me To Roma? I Don’t Know - Mutu

fount : goal.com

Following a temporary lull in proceedings when it appeared that Mutu was set to sign a new contract at Fiorentina, the Italian press has resumed its almost constant reports on Roma’s pursuit of the Romanian star.

Earlier today Mutu’s international team-mate Christian Chivu revealed that his friend was contemplating a move to the Eternal City.

“He is very tempted by Roma,” Chivu told Il Messaggero.

“He has been asking me about things and he would be a superb signing for a squad that are already very strong contenders.”

Now Il Romanista and Rete Sport have further fuelled the rumours of a possible transfer with details of an exchange between Mutu and a group of Roma supporters.

The 29-year-old is said to have made a stopover at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport while on a flight back to Florence. While there a section of Roma fans asked Mutu if he would be joining there club, to which the striker replied, “I don’t know.”

This reply has led the Italian press to believe that there is a distinct possibility that the former Chelsea man could indeed end up at the Stadio Olimpico next season.

Alessio Alexis

Totti Could Return To Italy - Physio

fount : goal.com

Totti has not played for the Azzurri since the 2006 World Cup final win over France, and he eventually announced his retirement from international football last year.

Following Marcello Lippi’s return as coach of the Azzurri, there have been reports in the press that Totti could come out of exile and be part of the 2006 World Cup campaign.

“Will he return to the Azzurri? You can never tell in football,” physio Vito Scala told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“He has postponed thinking about that because at the moment he is just trying to get back to fitness.”

Scala then gave an update on Totti’s fitness. The 31-year-old snapped his anterior cruciate ligament during a match against Livorno at the end of April but his recovery is going well.

“It’s important that Francesco gets back to kicking a ball because he needs to get his confidence back,” Scala explained.

“Furthermore it is a good stimulus for him to recover as quickly as possible. Will he be back for the Super Cup? We are going to be cautious.Totti suffered a serious injury. We won’t be sending him out to play until he is totally healed.”

Alessio Alexis

Pavlyuchenko Not Joining Roma

fount : goal.com

Transfer rumours circulating in the Italian media have suggested that Roma were planning to swoop for Spartak Moscow forward Roman Pavlyuchenko.

The capital club are said to be scouring the market for a top marksman to partner Francesco Totti next season. After offloading want-away winger Amantino Mancini to Inter, they finally have the funds to make an important bid for the 26-year-old.

However Fifa agent and Russian football expert Stefano Castagna does not think that Pavlyuchenko will complete a transfer to Serie A any time soon.

"The fee is too high for a player who was certainly impressive at the European Championships, but has been mostly inconsistent at club level," he said to Laromasiamonoi.it.

"I suppose that Roma have other targets at present anyway. Furthermore he already plays for Spartak Moscow in the Champions League and I don't know if he has given any thought to leaving his homeland," Castagna added.

"Then again, it is never easy to buy from Russian clubs. I reckon that his fee is in the region of €10m, and he commands wages of about €2m."

Stefano Moretti

Aquilani To Finally Pen Fresh Deal

fount : goal.com

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico, as talks to renew his current contract, which runs out in 2010, have not been going well.

Aquilani has been asking for around €2.5m in wages per year, but until now Roma have only been willing to offer €1.5m.

This has led to interest from a host of top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Arsenal, and in particular Juventus, who have launched a number of transfer bids, and have promised the player a salary of €3m.

However, the Corriere says that Roma have finally come up with an offer that satisfies Aquilani, and indeed club directors Daniele Prade and Bruno Conti have told the player’s father that he will be offered a new five-year deal worth around €2.25m per season.

Roma director Bruno Conti has no doubts that Aquilani will be staying in the Italian capital, and told the Corriere dello Sport: “There are no doubts. Alberto will remain in Giallorosso.”

Aquilani made 21 Serie A appearances last term, scoring three goals.

Alessio Alexis

Roma Ready €15m Bid For The Beast

fount : goal.com

The Giallorossi are well known to be in the market for a top class forward, and have money to spend following the €13m sale of Amantino Mancini to Inter last week.

The primary target remains Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu, but despite the Romanian’s apparent willingness to join, it nevertheless remains a difficult task to sign the player.

A more realistic option is Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista, and Marca claims that Roma are ready to table a €15m bid for the player nicknamed ‘The Beast’.

The Brazilian seems almost certain to leave the Spanish champions this summer following a frustrating 2007/08 season. The 26-year-old spent large chunks of the campaign on the bench, and indeed failed to start a Liga match after March.

Baptista is said to be desperate to join Roma, and for this very reason he rejective a lucrative offer to join Turkish outfit Galatasaray last week.

The forward has won 41 caps for the Brazil national team, scoring 10 goals.

Mutu Wants Roma Move - Chivu

fount : goal.com

Mutu’s future at Fiorentina is still not completely certain despite claims a few days ago from both his coach, Cesare Prandelli, and his agent, that he would be staying at the club and signing a new contract.

The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Roma for most of the summer, but on Friday, his agent Alessandro Moggi claimed that he was on the verge of extending his current Viola deal that expires in 2011.

However, there were fresh reports in the Italian press on Sunday, which stated that Roma still had not given up hope of signing Mutu, and that symbolic captain Francesco Totti had personally requested that the forward be signed.

Inter star Christian Chivu has now revealed that his Romania team-mate Mutu is pondering a move to the Giallorossi.

“He is very tempted by Roma,” Chivu told Il Messaggero.

“He has been asking me about things and he would be a superb signing for a squad that are already very strong contenders.”

Chivu himself is a former Roma player, having played at the Stadio Olimpico from 2003 until 2007, before joining Inter.

Esposito Wants Roma Stay To Impress Fans - Agent

fount : goal.com



Esposito's career with the Giallorossi could start this season after spending the previous year - or most of it - on the bench, with Mancini starting ahead of him.

However, now that the Brazilian player is bound for Inter, Esposito could find more space in the first eleven and his agent has confirmed that he wants to stay in Rome in order to show everyone what he is worth.

"Esposito is happy to remain in Rome," declared the player's agent to Il Romanista with regards to all the transfer rumours surrounding his client in recent weeks.

"Now that Mancini left, Mauro can find more space than in the previous season.

"He has a lot of desire to prove his worth and to impress the fans."