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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2006 10:53:54 GMT -5
England's top clubs are preparing to join the race to sign players affected by the Italian match-fixing scandal.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted it was "something we are addressing".
And Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said: "There are a lot of good players in these teams and they interest us."
Juventus, Fiorentina and AC Milan are set to be forced to sell many of their top players, with Chelsea and Arsenal also ready to swoop.
Chelsea have been widely tipped to sign Milan defender Alessandro Nesta, while the Gunners are reportedly interested in Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Benitez is thought to be particularly keen on Juve striker David Trezeguet and winger Mauro Camoranesi.
"The players will be a better price now than they would have been three months ago," said the Liverpool boss.
"All the Juventus players are good, including Trezeguet.
"He didn't play much in the World Cup but that is because France have so many good forwards."
Ferguson has been linked with a move for former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira.
The United boss said: "At the moment, we are not exactly clear who is available and what the circumstances are.
"Some clubs might be looking at loan situations, believing they will get straight back into Serie A, so that is a possibility.
"But we also don't know whether players are available for sale or on free transfers."
Juventus' new president Giovanni Cobolli Gilli has vowed to try to keep as many of their star names as possible at the club, and insists none will leave at cut-down prices.
"I hope that some of our important players will stay," he said.
"Obviously lots of them will find it hard to stay with us in Serie B with 30 points deducted, but the clubs that are interested will have to pay full rate.
"Should Real Madrid want our players, they will have to pay. That also applies to other teams who may be interested in our players, because we have the duty to defend the club's heritage."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2006 13:33:28 GMT -5
Bargain hunt
Just days after being crowned world champions, Italian football faces losing many of its star players following the verdict of the biggest sporting trial in the nation's history.
For their part in the match-fixing scandal, Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina were relegated to Serie B while AC Milan remain in Serie A but begin the season with a 15-point penalty.
Juve, Fiorentina and Milan were thrown out of the Champions League for the 2006-2007 season.
That has alerted Premiership big-spenders like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, along with La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, who are ready to swoop like vultures to pick up some easy prey.
BBC Sport looks at some of the stars up for grabs.
GOALKEEPERS
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Age: 28, Price: £13m
Underlined his position as the world's best keeper at the World Cup by conceding just once in six games. Became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when Juve paid Parma £33m for his services in 2001
Possible destinations: Arsenal, Inter Milan, Real Madrid
Others:
Dida (32) AC Milan and Brazil
Angelo Peruzzi (36) Lazio and Italy
DEFENDERS
Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan)
Age: 30, Price: £12m
Italy's number 13 has been unlucky to miss out on the latter stages of the finals after picking up an injury against the Czech Republic. When fit he is a fixture of the Italian backline and one of the toughest defenders in world football.
Possible destination: Chelsea
Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus)
Age: 32, Price: ?
Was the outstanding defender at the World Cup and, even at 32, there will be no shortage of takers if he is put on the market.
Possible destinations: Real Madrid, Chelsea
Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus)
Age: 29, Price: ?
Another star of Italy's World Cup campaign, Zambrotta is equally capable of performing on either wing in defence or attack. With his best years ahead of him he is unlikely to spend them in Serie B.
Possible destinations: Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Liverpool
Lilian Thuram (Juventus)
Age: 34, Price: £2m
From a marauding full-back in his heyday, Thuram is more often than not used as a calm and collected centre-half these days. He showed at the World Cup he can still perform at the highest level - and would be a bargain.
Possible destinations: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, Monaco
Others:
Cafu (36) AC Milan and Brazil
Massimo Oddo (30) Lazio and Italy
Tomas Ujfalusi (28) Fiorentina and Czech Republic
MIDFIELDERS
Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan)
Age: 28, Price: £10m
The defensive lynchpin of the Italian midfield. Strong in the tackle and a leader on and off the field, the one-time Rangers star has pledged to stick with Milan but could be tempted if Manchester United come calling.
Possible destination: Manchester United
Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
Age: 27, Price: £25m
The artist in the Italian side enjoyed a superb World Cup. A creator and scorer of goals, there will be no shortage of suitors although as Milan escaped relegation he may be persuaded to stay and his price tag is prohibitive.
Possible destinations: Arsenal
Kaka (AC Milan)
Age: 24, Price: £30m
One of the few Brazilians to emerge from the World Cup with some credit. The Milan playmaker and one-time Chelsea target pushed Ronaldinho to the sidelines to emerge as their key man.
Possible destinations: Real Madrid
Patrick Vieira (Juventus)
Age: 30, Price: ?
Answered questions about his fading engine with some driving displays at the heart of a France side who rolled back the years in Germany.
Possible destinations: Inter Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal, Roma, Real Madrid
Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus)
Age: 29, Price: ?
The Argentine-born winger is another of Italy's World Cup winners. A superb crosser of the ball, the only question mark over Camoranesi is his temperament - he was sent off against Arsenal last season
Possible destinations: Inter Milan, Liverpool
Others:
Alessandro del Piero (31) Juventus and Italy
Pavel Nedved (33) Juventus and Czech Republic
Emerson (30) Juventus and Brazil
STRIKERS
Luca Toni (Fiorentina)
Age: 29, Price: £15m
The first player for nearly 50 years to score 30 goals in Serie A took his time to get going at the World Cup, before two against Ukraine in the quarter-finals. At 29 this could be the big striker's last chance to move to one of the world's top clubs.
Possible destinations: Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United
David Trezeguet (Juventus)
Age: 28, Price: £4m
Trezeguet was a peripheral figure in France's run to the World Cup final, but he has always been a reliable goalscorer in Serie A
Possible destinations: Lyon, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus)
Age: 24, Price: ?
Often fails to live up to his billing as one of the world's top strikers and the Sweden player was off-form and injured for the duration of the finals. But the 24-year-old's ability and goal record means there are plenty of admirers out there.
Possible destinations: Inter Milan, Liverpool
Others:
Alberto Gilardino (24) AC Milan and Italy
Filippo Inzaghi (32) AC Milan and Italy
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5