Adriano To Roma? No Chance - Agent

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The Brazilian hit-man is rumoured to be one of the strikers facing Mourinho’s axe as the ‘Special One’ continues the shake up at San Siro.

Reports in Italy linked L’Imperatore with a move to Roma as the Giallorossi are desperate to sign a quality striker ahead of the new season.

However, the player’s agent has dashed any hopes Roma had of signing him as he admits Adriano will not be moving south of Milan.

“Roma? The chances of Adriano leaving Inter for Roma are equivalent to zero,” Rinaldi told Gloesporte.com

“Adriano is doing very well and he is happy to stay in Milan.”

The agent’s words will no doubt lead to new questions being raised over Adriano’s future.

Meanwhile, Roma will need to ensure they sign a decent hit-man before the new season begins if they are to challenge for trophies.
The Giallorossi have been linked with a number of player's including Julio Baptista, Ibrahim Afellay, Jan Klass Huntelaar, David Suazo and Hernan Crespo but, so far, they have failed to land any one of them.

Salvatore Landolina

No Rush To Sign Players - Spalletti

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The club have not really set the world alight with regards to new arrivals and they are in need of a striker.

Spalletti believes that by doing things slowly but surely, he will have more chance of success in landing top players.

So far, Roma have found it harder than usual to bring in the reinforcements but the coach doesn't seem bothered.

“We are at a halt while the others are racing away,” Spalletti told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

“Patience is needed when dealing with the transfer market. We are in no rush and we know what to do.

“We must not make any rash decisions and buy players just for the sake of it.

“We are waiting for the right moment as we have already seen that working in the right ways pays good dividends.”

The Giallorossi are currently in need of a striker and they have been linked with Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista.

However, the Olimpico-based club will be looking at alternatives as the ‘Beast’ is not willing to join I Lupi.

Salvatore Landolina

Roma Set To Sell Aquilani?

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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, Roma have only offered €1.6m, and negotiations have now, according to Tuttopsort, hit a brick wall. The relationship between player and club is souring by the minute and, such is the frustration over the current situation, that no new contract talks have been arranged.

As a result, Roma are now considering selling the player this summer in order to maximise the amount of money they could receive as a transfer fee. The midfielder is not short of options as both Juventus and Inter are very keen, and the player has recently thanked both clubs for their interest in him.

A few days ago Roma coach Luciano Spalletti admitted his fear that he may lose Aquilani.

“Alberto is an important player and he has told me that he wants to stay but then there is always the chance that certain people will come here and take him away, as has happened with other players,” said the former Udinese tactician.

Alessio Alexis

Okaka To Stay At Roma, Baptista To Join?

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The Giallorossi have been desperately searching for an attacker all summer, following the sale of Amantino Mancini to Inter.

Roma’s primary target had been Adrian Mutu, and the 29-year-old had appeared certain to join until Fiorentina pulled the plug on the deal at the last moment.

The capital outfit have also been linked with a number of attackers including Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista. Earlier in the week ‘The Beast’ claimed that he wanted to stay at Madrid and fight for his place, however reports suggest that he could join Roma on-loan, if the Spanish champions complete the capture of Hamburg star Rafael van der Vaart.

Meanwhile, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is reported, by Il Messagero, to have vetoed the release of young teenage striker Stefano Chuka Okaka.

The 18-year-old had agreed to spend the 2008/09 campaign on loan at newly promoted Bologna, but Spalletti is refusing to let him go until a replacement attacker is found.

This replacement could be Baptista, although La Repubblica is also claiming this morning that Roma are eyeing up Manchester City’s attacking playmaker Elano Blumer.

Alessio Alexis

Elano Set For Roma Switch?

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The Giallorossi have been after an attacking player all summer to partner Mirko Vucinic up front. However, they have so far failed in their attempts to land a decent hit-man.

Julio Baptista was touted as a possible arrival but he has recently stated that he was not willing to join the Serie A club. Adrian Mutu was also in line for a Roman switch before that move was scuppered.

La Repubblica claims that Luciano Spalletti’s alternative is the Manchester City player, who enjoyed an impressive season at Eastlands last term and has raised eyebrows around Europe.

However, a number of indiscretions emanating from the capital seem to suggest that the Giallorossi are not too keen on the Brazilian, as they would prefer an out-and-out striker rather than an attacking playmaker.

Roma have also been linked with Ibrahim Afellay, but it remains to be seen who will arrive as the transfer clock ticks on for Spalletti.

Salvatore Landolina

Scolari To Grant: You Wasted Malouda

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The ex Lyon standout failed to come anywhere close to justifying the €20m Chelsea paid to bring him to Stamford Bridge last summer, but Scolari his suggested that his predecessor Avram Grant has to accept at least some responsibility for that.

"I want to know if he stays with us, what is his best position," said Scolari over the player that Roma have proven so keen to attract.

"Last season he played in a different position than he did at Lyon. I want him to play on the wing like he did in Lyon. He was wasted last season."

"I have the players for exciting football and I have the players for us to be champions," Big Phil added after the 2-0 win against a Malaysian Select XI last night

"Deco has his style and that style improves other players, so he can make everyone better, but there were chances for [Andriy] Shevchenko and Malouda tonight.

"Now it's a time for me to test the players. I'm seeing if we should play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, or which position is best for each player, or whether some players would do better in some games or others," he added.

"These are practice games but the players are trying their best for Chelsea and also for themselves. After that I'll decide."

Derek Wanner, Goal.com

Big Name Needed At Roma

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Forward problems haunt Roma. In 2007-08 it was the lack of punch up front - once Totti was ruled out of the season in March - that let the team down in the title run-in. Vucinic has yet to convince as an out and out striker, though at 24 time is on his side, but more than anything the fact that the club had only two recognized strikers to call on was what limited their chances, whilst eventual champions Inter Milan had a stable of six to pick from.

As such the Stadio Olimpico side has spent much of the summer months searching for the man who can fill the gap. With Totti taking the only out and out attacking role in the favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, it is clear they whoever is brought in has to be able to switch from wing to centre-forward.

Vincenzo Iaquinta, Adrian Mutu, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Julio Baptista are the main names to have been linked with Roma in recent months. Of the bunch Mutu is clearly the best fit, able to move effortlessly between left-wing and striker, as Iaquinta can, but with a better scoring record and better confidence.

However, there would be potential problems over him dovetailing with Totti, with the pair both wanting to be the fulcrum of the side. That said Roma fans can feel a sense of disappointment that Spalletti has ruled out a move, especially as they would have been excited by headlines suggesting his arrival in the eternal city was imminent.

Baptista has had mixed fortunes at Real Madrid, even being shipped out on loan for an uneventful season at Arsenal. It would be hard to see the Brazilian enjoying a left-wing role, with Totti lord-supreme down the centre and rising star Alberto Aquilani earmarked for the role in the hole.

As for Huntelaar, as a classic out and out striker and a player on the up it is unlikely he would be happy to play second fiddle and wait for an injury to Totti before getting his chance.

Of course one striker has arrived under the radar at Stadio Olimpico; Vincenzo Montella who returns from his loan spell at Sampdoria. Sure he may be entering his twilight years as a player, but he has scored wherever he has gone and currently is one short of his double-century of Serie A goals.

At 34 years-of-age he may not be able to handle 90 minutes every week, but will at least add an element of mischief from the bench. Better still he is a left-footer, something that is conspicuous by its absence in the Roma attack and a different type of striker from those they already have.

There is just over one month till the Serie A season kicks off on August 31 and Spalletti knows that the sooner he adds to his attack the better. He is already starting to show the strain, promising fans a big-name signing, though who that is likely to be is not 100% clear.

Totti, Vucinic and Montella are not a poor forward pack by any standards, but in the coming season those standards have risen again, from Inter, Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina. The coming weeks will indicate how Roma are likely to do in 2008-09, much more than any statements of intent.

Jeremy John Inson

Okaka Joins Bologna On Loan

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Okaka, who was born in Umbria to Nigerian parents, is highly rated in the peninsula, and last week helped Italy Under-19s to second place in the European Championships.

The 18-year-old joined the Roma youth system from Cittadella in 2004, and spent last season on-loan at Serie B side Modena, scoring seven goals.

Having returned back to Roma, Okaka has now been loaned out again, this time to newly promoted Serie A side Bologna.

“I’m happy to be going to Bologna,” Okaka told Tuttomercatoweb.

“I hope that I can do well there. I didn’t expect to stay on at Roma. I’m happy to renew my contract and be sent on loan, and Bologna is the most pleasing destination.”

Bologna have been quite prominent in the summer transfer market so far, capturing the likes of Corinthians hardman Coelho, Lazio’s Gaby Mudingayi, and Sampdoria duo Cristian Zenoni and Sergio Volpi. They have a baptism of fire though on their return to the top-flight, as they travel to AC Milan for their fist game of the season.

“Serie A is like that,” Okaka added.

“Playing Juventus, Inter or Fiorentina would have been the same because the giants are all at the same level.”

Anthony Sormani

Roma Turn Towards Cisse

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The Giallorossi’s desperate search for a top quality centre forward has now reached crisis point, with just over a month left until the end of the summer transfer window.

The club’s primary target had been Adrian Mutu, and the Romanian had appeared certain to join Roma when Fiorentina announced that they were considering an offer for the player.

However, the Viola then produced a sensational u-turn less the 24 hours later, rejecting Roma’s bid and declaring Mutu not for sale. This left the capital outfit in limbo, and they are still desperate to sign a top class attacker, having sold Amantino Mancini to Inter.

Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista had appeared to be a viable alternative, but yesterday ‘The Beast’ shut the door on a possible transfer by declaring his wish to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Roma have also been linked with Ajax’s Klaas Jan-Huntelaar, but according to latest reports in Italy, Coach Luciano Spalletti is readying a raid for Marseille striker Djibril Cisse.

The 26-year-old has had a nightmare with injuries over the past few years, but last season he appeared to be getting back to some of his old levels, scoring 15 goals for his club, and even coming close to a call-up to Euro 2008.

Spalletti is said to be keen on Cisse due to his explosive pace, which would work well with Roma’s pass-and-move style of play.

Alessio Alexis

Afellay Agent Quiet Over Roma Link

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The PSV star has been sublime in the Dutch Eredivisie and he was outstanding during last season’s UEFA Cup.

A number of top European clubs have been waiting to pounce for the 22-year-old but his contract expires in 2011 and he has a €10m price tag.

His agent was not keen on revealing where his player’s future lies and PSV do not seem willing to sell.

“I cannot say anything regarding the player at this moment in time,” Rob Jansen told La Romasiamonoi.it.

Tuttomercatoweb claims that an offer from Roma for Affellay has already been made but it remains to be seen as to whether or not he will arrive in Serie A.

Salvatore Landolina