Roma Now Linked With Benayoun

fount : goal.com



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

fount : goal.com



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

fount : goal.com

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

Totti Unavailable For Italian Supercup

fount : goal.com

There was some good news and some bad news today for Roma fans worried about injured captain Francesco Totti's situation. First came the news from professor Mariani, the doctor who operated him, that the player's conditions are good, and that his recovery is proceeding steadily.

But the bad news was that the Roma captain will not be available for the Italian Supercup final against Inter on 24 August. This was revealed by Totti himself to the microphones of TV channel RaiDue: "Will I be back for the Supercup? No, the recovery is going well but I won't be there. I need two more months."

The number 10's last match was on 19 April, when he was injured to his knee during a league match against Livorno. Unfortunately for the Roma fans, then, it will take a little longer for their hero to come back on the pitch in an official match.

Danilo Pochini

Totti's Return To Action Approved

fount : goal.com



The Giallorossi talisman was struck down with a nasty ligament injury when his side played Livorno in May.

The number 10 underwent surgery and rehabilitation, and he is now ready to return to the side to take part in full training.

Professor Mariani has looked after Totti ever since his injury and the surgeon has given the player the all clear.

“Totti’s conditions are good,” Professor Mariani told Romanews.eu.

“His muscular condition has improved and the medical pahse of his recovery is over.

“Now he can begin preparing athletically and rejoin the team.

“He can go back to work with the Roma coaches, now it’s down to mister Spalletti.

“He’s not ready to play a full game just yet but he game take part in the mini games during training with his team mates.

“Now he has to overcome the fear barrier.”

It’s good news for Spalletti and Roma as the Giallorossi will be hoping to challenge for the Scudetto and Champions League. Totti’s return will be a massive boost for I Lupi.

Salvatore Landolina

Roma Deny Eto'o Offers And Blast Spanish Media

fount : goal.com



Reports in Spanish daily ‘Sport’ claimed that Roma were ready to bid €25m for the Cameroon international as well as offer him a mega €6m per year deal.

However, the club have released a statement denying what the Spanish media reported on Friday morning.

A statement on the club’s official website reads:

“With reference to the news published in the Spanish daily ‘Sport’ as well as other news agency’s regarding a presumed offer for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o,

“AS Roma SPA would like to communicate that the club never made such an offer.

“Such news as well as the financial facts stated in the reports are untrue and unfounded.”

Earlier on Friday afternoon, Luciano Spalletti, had revealed that he was interested in Samuel Eto’o at one point, but the player’s high demands ruined any potential deal.

Salvatore Landolina

He's Just Eto'o Expensive - Spalletti

fount : goal.com



The Cameroon international looks set for a summer exit from Camp Nou and a number of club’s including the Giallorossi as well as Milan were after him.

However, his high price tag and mega-wage demands have scuppered any real interest from Roma who were interested for quite some time.

Spalletti has revealed that the club cannot move for superstar players with exagerated salary expectations.

“Eto’o is a player that we simply cannot afford. He’s too expensive,” Spalletti told Il Romanista.

“I had made enquiries for Eto’o a while back and I also wanted Gianluca Zambrotta but their wages were just completely out of our reach.

“Baptista? He’s a good player. As for David Silva, He, like the others has high costs behind him.”

The Giallorossi have been heavily linked with the Los Che midfielder but a deal doesn’t seem on the horizon, despite reports claiming otherwise.

Roma need to ensure they sign a player pronto before the new season takes full swing if the are to challenge for major honours.

Salvatore Landolina

Roma Have Made An Offer For Silva - Agent

fount : goal.com



The Giallorossi have been after the Spanish international all summer as Luciano Spalletti tries to add some muscle to his side.

Reports in Spain claimed that Silva was on the verge of moving to the Italian capital.

The player’s agent has now confirmed that an offer has been made but he was reluctant to talk any further on the affair.

“I haven’t had any contact with Roma but I know that the Italian club have made an offer to Valencia for the player,” Llorente told LaRomaSiamoNoi.it.

“I do not know in what terms or circumstances this offer was made but I can confirm that Roma did offer a certain amount for Silva.”

The amount believed to have been offered by the club is around €25m and now it’s down to the Mestalla side to respond.

Silva would be a great addition to I Lupi as they prepare to challenge for the Champions League and Scudetto next term.

Salvatore Landolina

We Can Win The Scudetto - Doni

fount : goal.com



The Brazilian shot-stopper is getting ready to begin his fourth campaign with the Olimpico-based side and he is confident of glory.
Doni believes that by signing just two more players, his side will be capable of Scudetto and Champions League success.

“We have shown great things over the last to seasons,” Doni told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

“We are convinced that we can do better but we need two more players to come in.

“We want to fight for the Scudetto and go as far as possible in the Champions League.

“Baptista? I know him well, he’s a great player and he would be a good addition to our team.”

The Giallorossi just missed out on lifting the Scudetto last term when the title race went down to the wire.

Roma have been playing second fiddle to Inter for too long and no doubt Doni will be hoping the roles are reversed this season.

Salvatore Landolina

Roma To Test Barça With Eto'o Bid

fount : goal.com



After a summer of speculation surrounding the Cameroonian striker, a solution may now be only days away with the Giallorossi preparing to make their move, according to Sport.

Eto'o returned from an extended holiday intent on answering his critics in Catalunya after the board members and coach Pep Guardiola had gone public with their desire to sell him.

In his first few days back, the former Real Mallorca star insisted that he would only leave for the right offer and details emerged that he was demanding between €8m and €10m per season.

That appeared to be prohibitive with the majority of interested parties pulling out, while Barça's asking price of €30m was also too steep for many.

But Roma have money after the sale of Mancini to Inter and are intent on making a star signing this summer and have identified Eto'o as a player that could help them in Serie A and the Champions League.

An opening gambit of €25m will bring the Blaugrana to the negotiating table, while €6m-per-season has already attracted the interest of Eto'o's agent, José María Mesalles.

Whether a move to Roma appeals will be down to how well Eto'o performs with Barça on their trip to the United States, because he is not keen to leave the club.

His departure would also force Barcelona to make a move for a new striker, but with the majority of their summer targets vowing not to move that could be a factor too.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com