Roma Have Made No Baptista Contact – Agent

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Baptista is certain to leave Real Madrid this summer as he is not in coach Bernd Schuster’s first team plans. Over the past week or so, there have been almost constant reports over a proposed transfer of the 26-year-old to Roma, and the Italian and Spanish press have claimed that a deal will almost certainly go through very soon.

However, Baptista’s agent, Herminio Menendez, has now sensationally claimed that, despite all these reports, Roma have made no contact with anyone about buying ‘The Beast’.

"Roma have not spoken with me and I must say that there is a lot of confusion in this situation,” Herminio Menendez told Laromasiamonoi.it.

“If Roma do not meet with Real Madrid or with me, it is impossible to start negotiations. Throughout the week there has been talk about Baptista going to Roma.

“Currently, Julio is a Real Madrid player but, I repeat, no one has spoken with me or with Real.

“In Italy it is said that the two parties are very close. Even the [Spanish] daily Marca said that everything is done.

“However, this is not true. No one, not even Roma sporting director [Daniele] Prade, has spoken with me. Frankly I do not understand the situation."

Baptista joined Madrid in 2005 from Sevilla, although he did spend the 2006/07 season on loan at English giants Arsenal.

Alessio Alexis

Roma Make Drenthe Enquiry

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The Giallorossi are keen to bolster their squad with two more acquisitions in the next few days and have been linked with a host of players.

But negotiations for Baptista are ongoing and Marca state that Drenthe's name has come up because Los Merengues indicated that they could be willing to sell.

Only a year after prising the 21-year-old from Feyenoord, Bernd Schuster is believed that have hoped he would progress quicker than he has done and could cash in.

Drenthe is due to travel the Olympic Games with the Holland squad at the end of the month and has made it clear that he has no desire to leave the club next season.

One option could be a loan move that would see Drenthe able to gain valuable first team experience, which he is set to miss out on again next term at Madrid.

According to Marca, Juventus and Fiorentina have also made enquiries in the past, although la Vecchia Signora's interest has now ended after they declared their squad to be complete.

Last summer, Drenthe agreed to join Madrid for €14m and looked set to be loaned straight back to the Dutch club, but that failed to materialise and he had to settle for a bit-part role at the Bernabéu.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Roma In Talks To Sign Malouda

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Malouda only signed for Chelsea last summer from Lyon for a hefty €20m, however he was a huge disappointment in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

The latest speculation suggests that the French international doesn’t feature in new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and thus will be allowed to leave.

Roma have had a disappointing summer transfer campaign so far, buying no big names, and this sparked captain Franecsco Totti to publicly declare that the club need to sign at least two top-class stars.

One of these is likely to be an attacking wideman as there is void that needs filling following the departure of Amantino Mancini to Inter.

The Corriere claims that Roma are hoping to replace the Brazilian by capturing Malouda on an initial loan deal, with the option to then sign him permanently.

Talks between the clubs are already said to be in progress, and the Frenchman would potentially join Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista in Rome, with ‘The Beast’ edging closer to a €15m transfer.

So far this summer, Roma have snapped up Liverpool full-back John-Arne Riise and Siena's Simone Loria, but far more exotic names will surely be needed if the club are to challenge for serious honours this season.

Alessio Alexis

We Need Baptista And One More, Insists Totti

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The Giallorossi finished second last season, won the Copa Italia and again succumbed to Manchester United in the Champions League quarterfinals.

With Juventus back out of Serie B and looking to launch an assault on Serie A and the Champions League and Milan particularly eager to reassert some form of domestic dominance, the capital club's strengths will truly be put to the test, following two seasons in which they were Internazionale's only contenders to the title almost by default.

They have so far bought Liverpool full-back John-Arne Riise and Siena's Simone Loria, but captain Totti, who is still recovering from injury, expects more. “John Arne Riise and Simone Loria are two excellent reinforcements, but now I expect another two signings of great quality,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“If we want to compete with Inter, Milan and Juventus, we need at least two more important players. At the moment, we are the fourth strongest side in Serie A."

Er Pupone aired a grievance with Amantino Mancini, who left the club to join rivals Inter: “Inter are trying to strengthen their side by weakening ours. They have the capabilities to cherry-pick from other clubs, while it is more difficult for us.”

Returning attention to his own club and their pursuit of Real Madrid's powerful attacking midfielder, Julio 'The Beast' Baptista, he said: “I like Baptista and hope he does come to Roma, but we need another reinforcement after that.”

“We will try to repeat our past success and aim for something more important than the Coppa Italia.

“The fact the Champions League dinal will be played in Rome is an event that for my generation won’t return again. It is our objective, even more so than the Scudetto."

Recalling their previous and only Champions League final in 1984, which they lost on penalties to Liverpool, he said: “I was eight years old. I watched it on television with my whole family. I remember Roberto Pruzzo’s goal and the silence during the penalties. Rome was mute.”

Santino Santoro, Goal.com

Santana Tempted By Roma

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The Giallorossi are looking for a replacement for Amantino Mancini, who left for Internazionale last week.

Santana's agent has conceded that, despite the Viola making the Champions League for this coming season, his client is likely to leave if the right offer comes in.

“It is difficult to turn down Roma,” Marco Piccoli, the player's agent, told romanews.eu. “It depends on Fiorentina as well.

“They consider Santana to be a firm fixture, but faced with an important offer, any player can go on the market.

“Roma like Santana, but for the moment there hasn’t been a formal offer. He belongs to Fiorentina and is happy here.

“There has been talk during this transfer period, but without a concrete proposal as yet.”

Santino Santoro, Goal.com

Giuly Targets PSG Revival

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Paul Le Guen’s side endured a torrid time in the league, finishing just three points above the relegation zone and managing 10 wins from 38 games.

The club’s success in the French League Cup did little to cover the cracks of a struggling squad, and after completing his £2 million move from Roma on Fridy, the former Barcelona and Monaca forward set his sights on reversing PSG’s league fortunes.

"I will try to bring by game, my experience and my huge determination on the pitch," he told L'Equipe.

"I did not feel at ease [in Rome]. My decision to return to France was dictated more by personal reasons than technical ones.”

"When I knew Paris were interested, I didn't hesitate.

"It is important for me to feel the confidence of the coach and the club, which I certainly have here.

"I know last season was difficult at Paris, but we have to forget it and start again right."

Giuly became PSG’s second signing of the summer, with Stephane Sessegnon also arriving in Paris from Le Mans.

Will Wood

Report: Juve To Beat Inter To Aquilani

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Despite being Roma through-and-through, Aquilani’s chances of leaving the Giallorossi are increasing by the day as talks to renew his current contract, which runs out in 2010, have seemingly hit a point of no return.

The promising youngster, who played for Italy at Euro 2008, has been asking for around €2.5m in wages per year, but the highest Roma have been willing to offer is €1.6m.

Aquilani has attracted the interest of a host of top European clubs, all of whom have promised to meet, and even surpass, his wage demands.

Tuttosport claims that Juventus and Inter are now set for a straight fight for the 24-year-old. The Bianconeri had announced that they would be signing no more outfield players following the capture of Christian Poulsen, but they are prepared to reverse this decision for Aquilani.

Inter, meanwhile, are well known to be in the market for a top class centre midfielder, and are exploring other alternatives given their difficulties in snapping up primary target Frank Lampard.

Juve are being tipped to beat Inter in the race for Aquilani, mainly thanks to the great friendship that the midfielder has with defender Giorgio Chiellini. Aquilani also gets on well with Gianluigi Buffon and Alex Del Piero, who encouraged him to join Juve during the recent Euros.

Gianni Wilson

Totti To Poulsen: You Can Shove Your Handshake!

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Poulsen

Poulsen completed his €9.75m move to Juventus from Sevilla on Tuesday, signing a four year contract at the Stadio Olimpico.

The 28-year-old is something of an infamous figure in Italy, all dating back to his clash with Francesco Totti in the group game between Italy and Denmark at Euro 2004. Following the match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, television pictures showed Poulsen being spat on by Totti, an act that was missed by the referee.

At a swiftly arranged disciplinary hearing, Totti was then handed a three-match ban, thus potentially ruling him out until the semi final. The No.10 then issued a "full public apology", while also claiming that he was severely provoked by Poulsen.

Since signing for Juventus, Poulsen has promised to forget what has happened and shake Totti’s hand when Juventus play Roma this season. The Giallorossi symbol though has made it perfectly clear how he feels about the situation.

"It's easy to talk now," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He could have come and told the truth at the hearing the day after. I don't think he adds anything [to Juve] at a technical level."

Azzurri Return

Totti also spoke about a possible return to the Italy national team, once again claiming that he may come back in time for the 2010 World Cup.

“With Lippi I have a great relationship,” Er Pupone explained.

“I hear from him often. I also complimented him when he returned as I was happy for him. We have talked about the future and Lippi asked me how my rehabilitation [from injury] is going.

"If I'm well and I don't have problems, it will be possible to address this issue in six months or a year."

Totti played his last game for the Azzurri in the 2006 World Cup final win over France two years ago. Following a season of uncertainty, he finally announced his retirement from international football last year, but could he now be set for a return?

Alessio Alexis

Roma Eye Beleaguered Reyes

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According to Marca, the Atlético Madrid coach, Javier Aguirre, has already told the player he is surplus to requirements and his services won't be required next season.

A proof of that appears to be Reyes' minimal role in Atlético's pre-season tour of Mexico, having found playing time very hard to come by in the two friendly fixtures played so far.

And while the former Arsenal man isn't interested in leaving Vicente Calderón, according to the paper, he is seriously considering his options to find regular first-team action.

Roma have been long-term admirers of Reyes' quality, having allegedly put together an offer for the player during the winter transfer market but which he turned down at that time.

Now, with Reyes having been told he will continue having few chances to shine at the club, he may feel tempted to sign for the Serie A giants.

Should Reyes make the move, it will be his fourth club in as many seasons, and his fifth in six.

Luís Mira

Official: Lecce Sign Antunes

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The 21-year-old only signed for the Giallorossi last year from Portuguese club Pacos de Fereira, when the capital-outfit beat off a number of top European clubs, including Juventus, to secure his signature.

Despite being highly rated, Antunes received few opportunities last term, making just five Serie A appearances, none of them starts.

The defender has been heavily linked with a move away from the Eternal City in recent weeks, with Bologna, Chievo and Celtic all linked.

However it is Lecce who have won the race to sign the full back.

“It’s official that we have completed a deal to bring Antunes to Lecce,” a statement from Lecce reads. “The player arrives on loan with his ownership to be discussed at the end of the season. He will be presented at training tomorrow.”

Antunes has won one cap for the Portugal national team, and there are still high hopes for the youngster for the future. He is teh second player to leave Roma today, following Ludovic Giuly (Paris Saint Germain) out of the door.

Anthony Sormani