Aldair Tells Roma: Get Cissé

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Roma have just made an official bid for Fiorentina's Romanian star striker Adrian Mutu, but former Giallorosso defender Aldair, currently with San Marino side Murata, advised the management to consider another player entirely.

"Until now the club have done well on the transfer market, Riise is undoubtedly a reinforcement," he said, "as well as Loria and the young players coming back from loan spells. But I think that, while in defence they are fine, up front they still lack a winger and a powerful striker.

"Considering the resources available, I think it would be a good deal to buy Djibril Cissé. Although he's been through tough times recently, the French-Ivorian player would be perfect for Roma also because he won't cost too much."

Aldair was a true Roma legend, as he played for the club for 13 years before leaving for Genoa in 2003. In 2007 he joined San Marinoan side Murata. With the Brazilian national team, he won the World Cup in 1994.

Danilo Pochini

Official: Fiorentina Receive Roma Bid For Mutu

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Mutu’s future at Fiorentina has been uncertain for most of the summer, despite claims several 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 over the last few weeks, and Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino has now announced that an official bid has been lodged.

“We have received an official bid from Roma for Mutu,” said Corvino

“It is logical that we should consider. Having taken note of this, it is mine and Fiorentina’s duty to meet the club that have made the request.

“It is the policy of Fiorentina to keep our best players, but when it comes to someone close to 30, if they want to leave then we will consider offers.

“The player hasn't been training with the team because he is ill.”

It is reported that Roma will offer 20 million euros to Fiorentina, as well as hand Mutu a contract of 3.2 million per season.

The Giallorossi have made no big name signings this summer, but the Romanian would certainly represent something of a coup if they manage to get him.

Alessio Alexis

Carrizo Prepares For Capital Derby

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The former River Plate player has finally arrived in Serie A after being linked with the Biancocelesti for months on end.

Carrizo is looking forward to the new season and he has spoken about his expectations for the coming campaign. He has already laid down a challenge with Totti and he is hoping to stop the Roma man from scoring when he plays against him.

“I can’t wait to play in the derby against Roma and save Francesco Totti’s famous penalty - ‘er cucchiaio’ - and test myself against all the top players of Serie A,” Carrizo told Leggo.

The shot stopper believes there is a difference of training methods between River Plate and Lazio, saying that adjustment may take a while.

“I need to learn a lot for the sake of my team mates, but I’m confident I’ve got a great coach even though I’ll have to improve,” claimed the keeper.

Delio Rossi hopes to take Lazio towards a respectful position in Serie A, erase the memories of the previous bad season and end the dominance of the big clubs over the last few years in Italy.

Lazio, with the acquisition of Carrizo, have finally found a replacement for Angelo Peruzzi who retired in 2006 and they will be looking to challenge for major honors this term.

Francesco Scarlato

Report: Aquilani Set To Stay At Roma

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Aquilani’s future at Roma has been looking increasingly uncertain in recent weeks due to problems over the renewal of his contract.

The 24-year-old’s current deal runs out in 2010 and the player has been asking for around €2.5m in wages per year in order to sign an extension.

However, so far the highest offer Roma have been able to muster is €1.6m, and this has led to intense speculation that Aquilani will quit the club.

The midfielder is not short of options as both Juventus and Inter are very keen, and the player has thanked both clubs for their interest in him.

However, Il Messaggero now claims that Aquilani will pledge his future to Roma, providing the club can guarantee that he will be a key part of coach Luciano Spalletti's plans from this season onwards.

The idea is for Roma director Daniele Prade to meet with Aquilani’s representatives next week where the new contract will hopefully be signed, sealed and delivered.

Alessio Alexis

Mexes Tells Inter: We Are Champions Of Italy!

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The Giallorossi were pipped to the Scudetto by Inter on the final day of the season, finishing just two points behind their bitter rivals.

Last year’s Serie A campaign was littered with refereeing errors and controversies, with a revised league table printed by the Gazzetta dello Sport in February showing that Inter had gained 12 points on Juventus alone due to poor officiating.

At the end of the campaign a number of Roma figures, including Daniele De Rossi, made no secret of their belief that the referees had won the title for the Nerazzurri, and it seems Mexes still feels the same way now.

"Start again? How do we start [the new season] again? We start as champions of Italy,” the 26-year-old told the Corriere dello Sport.

Mexes also spoke about the reports linking Chelsea’s Florent Malouda with a transfer to the Eternal City.

"He is French like me, I would like it if he came here,” he explained.

Finally the defender revealed what he has been getting up to this summer, having been left out France’s Euro 2008 squad.

"I have been in France with my family and then in the Bahamas with my girlfriend. No real physical activity,” he concluded.

Anthony Sormani

Roma Close In On Malouda

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Malouda has only been at Chelsea for 12 months, having signed for them last summer from Lyon for €20m.

However, he failed to live up to his price tag in his first season at Stamford Bridge, and it is believed that he does not figure in new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari’s plans for the new campaign.

Roma are on the lookout for a new left sided offensive player following the sale of Amantino Mancini to Inter, and it was reported at the weekend that they were eyeing up Malouda as a replacement.

The Corriere today claims that Roma yesterday sounded out Chelsea about the possibility of signing the Frenchman, and the response they received was positive. Malouda is said to be desperate to quit Stamford Bridge, and would jump at the chance at moving to the Italian capital.

Roma would prefer to sign Malouda on an initial loan deal, so that they could then spend their available transfer funds on a centre forward such as Julio Baptista.

However, if this is not possible then they are ready to pay between 13 and 15 million euros for the 28-year-old World Cup finalist.

Alessio Alexis

Brighi To Pen New Roma Deal On Wednesday

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After a lot of speculation, Brighi is finally set to renew his deal with the Giallorossi up to 2012.

This was confirmed by Puzzolo who also revealed that Wednesday will be the day his client has been longing for.

"On Wednesday I will be in Rome," affirmed the player's agent in an interview with Laromasiamonoi.it, "And we shall clear out the last details.

"We shall sit around a table and we shall talk about everything we need to talk about. There will not be any problems.

"Obviously, like in everything else, first we have to make the renewal and then we shall officially announce it. However, I think that it will be up to 2012."

Even though being owned by Roma since 2004, Brighi spent three years on loan with Chievo Verona, playing 89 games for the Flying Donkeys and scoring nine goals in the process.

Glenn Debattista