Baptista Keen On Roma Switch, Reveals Cicinho

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Cicinho was allowed to leave the Santiago Bernabeu after a fairly underwhelming spell in which the flamboyant full-back expressed his attacking verve with ease but was often found wanting and a prime culprit for los Merengues' soft centre.

Having been replaced by Sergio Ramos at right-back, he left for Roma, where he has since enjoyed more first team opportunities if not quite as many as he would have liked. He has revealed that Julio Baptista, who is being kept out of the Madrid starting line-up by Wesley Sneijder, is keen on the idea of moving to the Giallorossi.

While the Beast has made it abundantly clear he wishes to stay with the back-to-back league winners, the lack of first team opportunities has made his position somewhat untenable and he has been strongly linked with Roma in recent weeks.

It has been revealed that no formal offer has been made, yet each party seems to be waiting for the other. Cicinho explained that Baptista himself appears eager, or at the very least curious, recalling when the two met on holiday in Brazil.

“We met when we were on holiday in Brazil,” Cicinho told the Corriere dello Sport.

“We spent a great day together and we only spoke about one thing – Roma. He asked me all about the city, the team and the fans.

“He knows that there is great passion here and a team that can win the Champions League.

“Baptista remembers Roma from the Bernabeu last term and he remembers a strong side.”

It is thought the Brazil international will cost in the region of £10 million.

Santino Santoro, Goal.com

Baptista Roma Loan Impossible

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There have been almost constant reports over the past couple of weeks that Baptista is set for a transfer to Roma, with the Italian and Spanish press claiming that a deal is just days or so away.

However, the 26-year-old’s agent, Herminio Menendez, responded to these reports yesterday, and claimed that Roma have still made no contact with either him or Real Madrid about buying ‘The Beast’.

There have been rumours that Roma are being scared off by Madrid’s supposed €15m price tag, and instead could be eyeing up a loan deal.

Menendez says that this is impossible, while also confirming that there still has been no contact from the Giallorossi.

“For the moment nobody from Roma has contacted me and I haven’t spoken to Real Madrid,” Menendez told Centro Suono Sport.

“I only know what Spanish newspaper Marca says and that is that two Roma officials are expected in Madrid to talk to the Merengues.

“A transfer for Baptista is possible if Real agree but a loan is impossible. Only a permanent transfer is possible and I don’t know what the fee would be.”

Baptista is almost certain to leave Real Madrid this summer as he is not in coach Bernd Schuster’s first team plans for the coming season.

Alessio Alexis

Spalletti: Still Time For Transfers

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The Giallorossi have had a disappointing transfer campaign so far, only capturing the rather modest John Arne Riise and Simone Loria.

This has concerned fans, and also sparked captain Francesco Totti to declare that the club need to sign at least two top-class stars, if they are to compete with their nearest rivals.

“The market? It is too early to make judgements,” Spalletti told Roma Channel.

“It is clear that champions such as Ronaldinho, Amauri and Poulsen can raise the level of our opponents.

“However, we have a good team, and there is no need to revolutionize. It is clear that if a player like Mancini leaves, then another of quality must arrive.

“If we have the opportunity to improve, we will do so.”

Spalletti then commented on new defensive signing Loria, who arrived from Siena.

“Simone showed us his enthusiasm to wear this shirt, and this is what makes the difference,” he explained.

“Having a player with the right intentions is always beautiful. In defence we have nine players, who are all good, and who complete the roster."

Alessio Alexis

Lippi: More Difficult for Inter This Time

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The Nerazzurri have been the dominant force in Italian football since the Calciopoli crisis, winning two consecutive Scudetti on the field, as well as being handed the 2006 title by the courts.

This year Inter will also start off the season as favourites with the bookmakers, however there is certain to be more competition, with Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina all strengthening over the summer, and Roma expected to do so too soon.

Lippi, who recently returned to take over as boss of the Italy national team, believes that all five of these teams have a chance of winning the championship.

"There is no favourite,” the Viareggio-born tactician told Il Giorno.

“They all begin the season with equal chances. All I can say is that this time it will be more difficult for Inter.

“Milan have the advantage of not playing in the Champions League. Juve have added Amauri and Poulsen, and have magnificent champions and some extraordinary young talent.

“Fiorentina have had a transfer campaign to applaud. Prandelli and Corvino deserve congratulations. This Fiorentina can go anywhere.”

Lippi won five Scudetti during his two spells on the bench of Juventus between 1994 and 1999, and 2001 and 2004.

Anthony Sormani

Milan Make Shock Bid For Panucci

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The Rossoneri have been one of the biggest movers in the transfer market this summer, signing the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta, Marco Borriello, Mathieu Flamini, and of course Ronaldinho.

Following the arrival of the Brazilian, Vice President Adriano Galliani announced that the Rossoneri would be signing no new players, and the only transfer work that remained would be to offload two or three players.

However, Il Messaggero claims that Milan have tabled a shock transfer bid for Roma veteran Christian Panucci, offering the 35-year-old a two-year contract.

Galliani met with Roma directors Bruno Conti and Daniele Prade over the weekend to discuss Panucci, and the Italy international is now considering returning to San Siro.

Panucci had a successful spell with Milan from 1993 to 1996, winning a host of honours, including two Scudetti, a European Cup, and a UEFA Supercup.

He is best remembered for a brilliant display in the legendary 4-0 thrashing of Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona in the 1994 European Cup final in Athens, a performance that some cynics say Panucci has been living off ever since.

Milan are in need of some cover at the back, particularly in the centre back position, and Panucci proved at Euro 2008 that he still has a lot to offer the game.

Roberto Rossi

Aquilani Open To Juve Move

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It is looking increasingly possible that Aquilani will leave the Giallorossi this summer as talks to renew his current contract, which runs out in 2010, have seemingly hit a brick wall.

The 24 year-old Italy international, has been asking for around €2.5m in wages per year, but the highest Roma have been able to offer is €1.6m.

Juventus are long-term admirers of Aquilani, and have already seen a number of bids for the player rejected by Roma earlier this summer.

The Old Lady declared last week that, following the signing of Sevilla’s Christian Poulsen, they would be purchasing no more players this summer.

However, the news of Aquilani’s contract problems has led them to rethink this initiative, and it was reported at the weekend that Juve were set to launch a fresh offer for the schemer.

Aquilani has now welcomed this news by stating: "I like that Juventus are interested in me. We'll wait and see what happens."

Inter are also interested in Aquilani, but the Italian press believes that Juve will beat off competition from the Nerazzurri, partly due to the fact that the youngster has a great friendship with Bianconeri stopper Giorgio Chiellini.

Gianni Wilson

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Andreolli, who is currently co-owned by the Giallorossi and Inter, following the Christian Chivu deal, will probably leave Rome this summer to join another Serie A team on loan.

This was confirmed by his agent, Patrick Bastianelli, who spoke about his client's most likely future.

"From Monday Andreolli will regularly start the pre-season training camp," explained his agent to Romanews.eu. "This was decided by the player and the club.

"After that, we shall evaluate the best solution with the Giallorossi. After the first friendly games, we shall analyse the situation. The objective is to find him a place in Serie A.

"There have been contacts with other clubs. Now everyone wants to see Marco in the first games that he will play with Roma. Then we shall take care of the future, by finding a Serie A squad for him."

However, Bastianelli was tight lipped on which team Andreolli could be joining in the coming weeks.

Glenn Debattista