Spalletti Content Following Monaco Draw

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The Giallorossi were the better side on the night in what turned out to be a dull affair with cahnces few and far between.

Mirko Vucinic and Vincenzo Montella came close on a couple of occasions but they just couldn’t find the break through.

Spalletti is pleased with what he saw from his side and he was full of praise for Vucinic, the former Lecce hit-man was superb.

“We played a good game and I like the way we held our own physically,” Spalletti told Roma channel after the game.

“Vucinic? He was involved in some excellent play. Montella? I spoke to him about the way he missed when Vucinic played him in.
“Nevertheless I am pleased.”

Overall the Italian side were good on the night but their lack of match fitness showed.

It's still early days for Roma but they will need to improve if they are to challenge Inter for the Italian Supercup on August 22.

Salvatore Landolina

Roma Fail To Score In Monaco Stalemate

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The first half was a rather drab affair with neither side finding their rhythm.

Roma huffed and puffed but they had to wait almost forty minutes for a real chance to get their noses in front.

On 39 minutes it was De Rossi who found Vucinic with a sublime through ball. It was a one on one chance for the striker from Niksic but he couldn’t find the net as his left foot drive whizzed past the post.

The first half fizzled out and it was the Italian side who came out fighting in the second half.

Vucinic turned provider this time and he fed Vincenzo Montella gracefully on the hour mark, but the former Sampdoria hit-man scuffed his effort.

Roma did enjoy the better of the game but a combination of poor finishing and, perhaps, a lack of match fitness saw the affair end without a goal.

John Arne Riise was excellent at the back with De Rossi and Vucinic arguably the best players on the night.

Teams:

AS Monaco FC :

Ruffier (Roma, 46) - Mongongu, Adriano (Lolo, 66), Modesto Cufré (Muratori, 66) - Perez (Zola, 46), Gosso (Alonso, 66), Leko (Pokrivac, 77), Meriem (Ménez, 77) - Pino (Diaz, 81), Nimani (Licata, 66).

AS Roma :

Artur - Cicinho (Brosco, 90), Juan (Loria, 46), Mexès (Andreolli, 66e), Riise (Tonetto, 46) - Pizarro (Virga, 66), De Rossi Alvarez (Brighi, 46), Perrotta (Okaka, 46) - Montella (Della Penna, 66), Vucinic (Palermo, 77).

Salvatore Landolina

Suazo To Roma Possible - Agent

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The Honduran international has been touted for a move to the Giallorossi as he is not considered a part of Jose Mourinho's plans next season.

Suazo has hardly made an impact at the Giuseppe Meazza ever since his move there from Cagliari in 2007. Mourinho has warned that he will get rid of some strikers and this has led to new questions over Suazo.

Roma are currently looking for a striker and the Inter player is one of the names which has gone into Luciano Spalletti's side.

Branchini believes his client will stay in Milan but he admits a move to the Giallorossi is still possible.

"For the moment, Suazo has a contract with Inter for the next three years," the agent told RomaNews.

"I will not rule out a move to Roma for my player even though other Inter players may leave the club before my client.

"I have spoken to Suazo and he doesn't seem like he wants to leave just yet."

I Lupi have also been linked with Julio Baptista as well as Hernan Crespo but Suazo would be an ideal signing for Spalletti.

Mourinho's axe hasn't started to swing just yet but the Honduran striker may find himself a victim of the Portuguese's summer clear out.

Salvatore Landolina

Panucci Wants To End Career At Roma - Agent

The Rossoneri have been doing well in the transfer market this term and they secured the high profile signings of Gianluca Zambrotta and Ronaldinho.

Although the club announced that they would not sign anymore players, reports in the Italian press claimed that Panucci has already been offered a two year deal by the San Siro side.

His agent, however was quick to rubbish the reports and he insists his client is staying in Rome.

"Christian wants to end his career with the Giallorossi this is absolutely certain," Damiani told RomaNews.

"We will see over the next few weeks as to whether he will extend his current deal. At the moment there are no major developments but he won't leave."

Panucci has been infuential for Roma and he was also excellent during Italy's Euro 2008 campaign. Questions surrounding his contract led to speculation he would leave.

However, his agent's words seem to suggest that his days with the Giallorossi are not over just yet. Roma are currently in the process of strengthening their side but so far, they have not had any success in landing top players.

Panucci's sale would make no sense given the club's ambitions next season.

Salvatore Landolina

Roma Now Linked With Benayoun

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The news comes despite the fact that the midfielder’s agent hit out earlier in the week after reports that both Manchester City and former club West Ham were interested in a move for Benayoun.

However, that doesn’t appear to have stopped the speculation mounting, with Roma the latest club reportedly in the hunt for former West Ham man.

The latest speculation suggests that the Serie A club are preparing a bid for the Israeli with skysports.com claiming that manager Luciano Spalletti is a big fan. With Amantino Mancini having left the club in the summer for Inter Milan, it is claimed that Roma see Benayoun as the perfect replacement.

Channel4.com are also suggesting that Benayoun might shortly be heading for the Italian capital. Spalletti has reportedly described the sort of player who he is looking for and admitted a wide man is very much in his mind. He said: “We are looking for someone very physical who can play as a wide striker.”

Whilst Benayoun is clearly not their first choice he may be the most practical as Spalletti himself acknowledged when revealing the other options the club had discussed.

“Everyone likes David Silva, but he is too expensive. Lukas Podolski is an excellent player, but would not fit into our style of play,” said Spalletti before adding, “Florent Malouda and Julio Baptista would be good choices, but their future depends on how other transfer deals go.”

Should Benayoun decide to swap Liverpool for Rome he will join former team mate John Arne Riise who joined Roma last month in a deal thought to be worth £4 million.

Gill Clark

Silva Is Not Worth It - Pastorello

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The Los Che star has been heavily linked with a move to Italy all summer and Roma were tipped as his next destination.

Silva’s agent, Julio Llorente, revealed that the Giallorossi had made an offer for the player but Pastorello has given his views on the affair.

Reports claimed that the transfer consultant was the negotiator in the Silva affair but he has distanced himself from the deal.

It has been reported that Silva’s price tag is €25m but Pastorello insists the Spain international is not worth it.

“I think Silva is out of reach for most clubs. His price tag is too much,” Pastorello told Il Romanista.

“He is a great player and an excellent winger but he isn’t worth all that money.

“I heard that Atletico bid €25m, if that’s the case, we would need at least €26m to get him.

“Was I involved in the offer? No, none of that is true. I never proposed any offer for Silva and I have never dealt for him with any club.”

The Giallorossi continue their search for some reinforcements but the club are finding it difficult as they are not willing to meet the high price tags and mega wage demands of top-player's.

Salvatore Landolina

Eto’o Demands €15 Million Per Year

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Samuel Eto’o’s future remains in a cloud. While Barcelona are eager to off-load the Cameroonian, the player’s huge demands appear to be hampering any possible deal with potential suitors.

AS Roma coach Luciano Spalleti was at one point interested in bringing the player to Rome and although the club denied ever making any offers to Barcelona, the 27 year old hotshot has admitted that there was a strong interest in him.

“Yes, Roma want me, but I am very calm here,” was his brief reply to Spanish daily Sport when asked if he knew anything about the rumours.

According to Marca, meanwhile, Spalleti’s fascination with Eto’o has died off completely after it was reported that the striker was asking for €15 million per year for five years, totalling a staggering €75 million. That and Barcelona chief Joan Laporta’s demand of at least €40 million for the transfer fee make any deal almost impossible to go through.

Eto’o currently earns €10 million a season with the Blaugrana and it is believed he will only consider a move if his future employers can guarantee that golden €15 million per year figure.

KS Leong