News Round-Up

By: salvatore | July 9th, 2008

There are various new tidbits and other things I’ve been sitting on for a bit. First up, Mauro Zarate’s loan deal has been made official today, with management depositing his contract with the Lega Calcio. Reportedly, both Middlesbrough and Portsmouth tried to hijack the deal yesterday with last-minute offers, but Maurito had his mind set on Lazio. Solid.

Elsewhere, died in the wool Lazio fan Giampiero Pinzi is apparently very close to joining his hometown team. The Udinese (and former Lazio youth) midfielder was at first mentioned as a flat out transfer target, but has also been listed as part of a potential swap for Stendardo. Pinzi, of course, is not an earth-shattering signing, but it’s always good to have Laziale in the team.

Speaking of which, team captain Tommaso Rocchi Balboa was named to the Italian Olympic team last week, and as the token old guy, he’ll be teamed up with Giuseppe Rossi and Giovinco up front. Sounds good to me, even if it’s going to take something special to beat out the Argentinians. Christ what a team!

Here’s Italy’s provisional group in full. It also includes De Silvestri, who I think will really impress if he gets the chance to start:

Abate Ignazio (Milan), Acquafresca Robert (Cagliari), Bocchetti Salvatore (Genoa), Cadreva Antonio (Udinese), Cigarini Luca (Parma), Coda Andrea (Udinese), Consigli Andrea (Atalanta), Criscito Domenico (Genoa), De Ceglie Paolo (Juventus), De Silvestri Lorenzo (Lazio), Dessena Daniele (Parma), Giovinco Sebastian (Juventus), Marchisio Claudio (Juventus), Montolivo Riccardo (Fiorentina), Motta Marco (Udinese), Nocerino Antonio (Palermo), Ranocchia Andrea (Arezzo), Rocchi Tommaso (Lazio), Rossi Giuseppe (Villarreal), Russotto Andrea (Treviso), Sirigiu Salvatore (Città di Castello), Viviano Emiliano (Brescia).

Lastly, the Biancoceleste will be playing a series of friendlies starting in July, which given the amount of changes to the lineup, should be important (if not always competitive) matches.

Here’s the schedule so far (subject to change… in fact, I believe there’s a tussle with Porto before the Liverpool contest):

July 16 – Bellunese Representative XI (H)
July 19 – Auronzo (H)
July 23 – Slavia Prague (H)
July 26 – Padova (H)
July 30 – Gaziantespor (H)
August 8 – Liverpool (A)
August 12 – PAOK (H) – Official presentation game.

	Serie A Match Schedule			Discount Travel to Rome
	Lazio Results			Stadio Olimpico information & hotels

Category: Team News

Tags: balboa, De Silvestri, Friendlies, Giovinco, Pinzi, Rocchi, Rossi, Stendardo, Team News, Zarate

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Comments  

• ozzy d |  July 9th, 2008 at 3:23 pm

  
  
  

  First of all,thanks for that perfectly informative blog.

  About the transfers and squad,Zarate will match with Pandev and Rossi very accurately,I believe.However,you need creative and determined midfield players to let those offenders and young defenders play safe in Seria A,in that case,I think the midfield is still lacking,and Pinzi tranfer may solve this problem.To play in Lazio,you need passion,not only talent.

  I believe Pinzi owns it,and will suit the team perfectly.

  Posted from Turkey

  

• Luka |  July 9th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

  
  
  

  First,I would like to thank you for an excelent blog(the best about Lazio so far).

  Zarate is a great player,he is quick,has a great shooting skills,and also he is very good in air.I watched a few of his games on a TV,and I must say,I was impressed,he’ll be a great asset to the squad.
  I am not so sure about Pinzi.He is a good player,but in this moment,I belive we need someone who is a bit more explosive.A good,young and talented playmaker who can turn the things around.Someone like Foggia.

  Posted from United States

  

• salvatore |  July 9th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

  
  
  

  I think if Fernandez and Pinzi can be picked up, the midfield will be pretty solid. Foggia, Dabo and Ledesma would make a good starting trio (providing you play a 4-3-3), and those two would offer some good cover off the bench. We’ll see what happens.

  Posted from Canada

  

• Darran |  July 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

  
  
  

  This is arguably the best mercato so far in Lotito’s reign.

  We are just short of an important central defender, De Silvestri’s backup, and preferably Pinzi and Fernandez. We would be ready to go and concentrate on selling and trimming our squad for the rest of the mercato.

  Posted from United States

  

• Boricua |  July 11th, 2008 at 11:52 pm

  
  
  

  Lazio why ohh why are u still in Serie A? you guys are broke, your a poor mans Aston Villa hahahahahahahaha.

  you dont even have people commenting on here, just four guys that cant find fans.

  Posted from United States

  

• Chandra |  July 12th, 2008 at 4:50 am

  
  
  

  Thanks God,we’ve u who have great ability how to write with excelent objectivity,up to date,interesting,mmm,god job salvatore.i’m laziale from indonesia.i’ve plan to create lazio blog with using indonesian.of course,your source will be referenced.we’ll translate ur job to indonesian.need ur help,salvatore.
  Icang_222@yahoo.co.jp

  Posted from Germany

  

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