The 2009/10 Serie A

Exactly two months before the start of the 2009/10 Serie A championship all the teams participating and therefore all the Juventus rivals are known. Following the long sequence of play-offs in the Serie B, Livorno gained the 20th and last place in the table.

The team of president Spinelli beat Brescia on a two-legged encounter and thus returns to the top division after a year of absence.

The same goes for Parma. The Emiliani also made an immediate comeback after having been relegated in 2008. They thus return to the Serie A, a division in which they were protagonists for nearly two consecutive decades. The promotion of the gialloblu was a direct one at the end of the regular phase thanks to the second place obtained behind Bari.

The Pugliesi coached by former Juventus captain Antonio Conte dominated the last Serie B season and were promoted well ahead to the joy of the whole city who awaited this moment since the year 2000 when they were last relegated from the Serie A.

Bari, Parma and Livorno therefore complete the table taking the place of Torino, Lecce and Reggina, the three teams who were relegated to the Serie B at the end of last season.

With these final verdicts the 2008/09 is now definitely closed. The new championship will begin in two months time. On the 22nd and 23rd of August the first match day will be played.

Below is the complete 20-team line-up for the 2009/10 Serie A championship:

Juventus
Atalanta
Bari
Bologna
Cagliari
Catania
Chievo Verona
Fiorentina
Genoa
Inter
Lazio
Livorno
Milan
Napoli
Palermo
Parma
Roma
Sampdoria
Siena
Udinese

Juventus.com

Read More......

Report: Fiorentina Challenge Juventus For Napoli Centre-Back Fabiano Santacroce

Fiorentina director of sport Pantaleo Corvino has set his sights on Napoli central defender Fabiano Santacroce to bolster Cesare Prandelli’s rearguard, but the Gigliati are facing stiff competition from Juventus.

According to Florence-based daily La Nazione, Corvino has sounded out the Partenopei over the possibility of releasing the promising 22-year-old.

But his Napoli counterpart, Pierpaolo Marino, has made it clear that any deal for the Brazil-born defender would have to see either Massimo Gobbi or Marco Donadel move to the San Paolo in part-exchange.

However, Santacroce is also a target for Ciro Ferrara’s new-look Juventus and there are suggestions that the reported deal for Paolo De Ceglie, who looks set to join the Campani in a co-ownership agreement, will only go through if Santacroce is allowed to relocate to Turin.

Santacroce arrived at Napoli from Brescia in January 2008 in a €5.5million deal and the Vesuviani are expected to demand in excess of €8m to release ‘Emperor Nero’.

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

Read More......

Criscito for Acquafresca?

Juventus are targeting Robert Acquafresca but in order to get their hands on the Italy Under-21 striker the Bianconeri will have to sacrifice Domenico Criscito.

The Old Lady is now in pole position to secure the services of the former Cagliari player but his capture could come at a high price.

Criscito is currently co-owned by Juve and Genoa but President Enrico Preziosi would like to sign him on a permanent basis and is trying to get a discount on the £4m fee.

If the Bianconeri want Acquafresca they will have to let go of the Neapolitan and add £2m on top of that. But Ciro Ferrara is thought to be considering including Criscito in his squad next term.

“Juventus are a new entry in the negotiations and it is clear they want Robert but under certain conditions,” said the player’s agent, Paolo Fabbri.

“My client is from Turin so he would fancy it. However, Genoa want Criscito and Juve need to sell David Trezeguet first.”

Regarding the Frenchman international agent Antonio Caliento claimed Real Madrid are after him and his market value would be around £15m. If Juve were to sell him then they will have the funds needed to invest in Acquafresca while also keeping Criscito.

channel4.com/sport/football_italia/

Read More......

Agent Hopes Juventus Sign Andrea Dossena From Liverpool

Federico Pastorello, agent of Liverpool full-back Andrea Dossena, has still not given up hope that his client might join Juventus, even though according to the latest transfer rumours, the Bianconeri seem oriented towards Olympique Lyon's Fabio Grosso.

However, Pastorello does not want to listen to these rumours and he is pushing his client's candidature forward before a final decision is taken.

"It seems to me that Andrea is in the list of two or three players which Juve need to purchase for that position, since [Domenico] Criscito will remain at Genoa," explained the player's agent to tuttojuve.com.

"Juve will sign a player in that role and we hope that it's Andrea. He has expressed his desire to return to Italy after a regular season at Liverpool."

Dossena was probably hoping to impress by giving a better account of himself during Italy's match against Brazil in the Confederation Cup, but on that occasion the entire Italian team failed to do well.

Glenn Debattista, Goal.com

Read More......

David Trezeguet: I’m Staying At Juventus

Juventus are reportedly trying to offload striker, with press reports suggesting that the Old Lady have proposed a part-exchange deal for Villarreal starlet Giuseppe Rossi, but the Frenchman is adamant he will remain in Piedmont.

“At the beginning of July I will be in Turin, ready for the pre-season camp and to dive into the new season,” Trezeguet told Tuttosport.

“I have two years left on my contract with the Bianconeri and I know that the directors have said that I am unsellable and part of the club’s history.

“I know that my last season was poor due to the injury and surgery that sidelined me for a long time, but I am now healed and feel okay. I can’t wait to be a protagonist at Juve again.”

Trezeguet underwent a double knee operation in September and only returned to action in February. However, he found his first-team opportunities limited after falling out with coach Claudio Ranieri.

Ranieri has now been replaced by Ciro Ferrara and Trezeguet admits he will soon discuss his future with the new boss.

“No, I have yet to talk to him,” he said. “I have only had contacts with my agent so far. There will be time to speak with the new coach. We were team-mates and know each other very well.

“I talked to Ciro and the directors in May and they know what I think.”

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

Read More......