Zarate's feelings and the quest for Ricardo Oliveira

ZARATE
Zarate was interviewed on Tyc Sport’s “Indirecto”, an Argentinean tv programme. He said this season was superb but he wants to improve in the coming one. After all, he needs to if he wants to be called among Argentina squad in South Africa. In the interview he said that «tactics were boring for me…in Argentina you train on tactics one week and that’s it. While in Serie A it’s a daily subject. I reckon I have improved though. Especially when I had to play up front alongside Rocchi: I had to learn to defend a little bit”. His flaw though keeps being keeping the ball too much: «They ask me to pass the ball more often but nobody tells me that when I score», he admits smiling. Upon Carrizo: «He started very well, but then everything changed. I spoke to him very often and I felt so sad about his situation. We couldn’t help him anyway and that was so frustrating. Also because we conceded three goals every game at a certain point of the season and supporters didn’t forgive him».
Rumors in Buenos Aires want Zarate to join Italian national team because of his double passport. But this is just a fantasy football idea at the moment. Not for Ledesma, whose agent said: «He’s been playing in Italy for 7 years. Lippi knows him well. Let’s see what happens». Of course, his future keeps being linked to his transfer.

INS
RICARDO OLIVEIRA (Real Betis/Real Zaragoza)
A new hypothesis for the forward line is Ricardo Oliveira. The brazilian is 29 years old and has played for AC Milan, scoring against Lazio on his debut on the first game of 2006/07 season. Oliveira played for Zaragoza in Segunda Division on the first half of last season, scoring 9 goals in 17 appearances. He wasn’t luckier at Real Betis where he played on the second part of the season. He was a fans’ favourite and he immediately scored on his new debut in February int the derby against Sevilla but his poor goal average (6 in 16 games) just didn’t help the Andalusian outfit staying up. Now, Oliveira happens to be in multiple ownership between Zaragoza and Betis. If Lotito and Tare think about him, they could find an agreement about the Matuzalem-Carrizo affair on Saturday, when they fly to Spain.
Age: 29
Height: 1,83 m
Weight: 81 kg
Contract ends on: 2013
The statistic: in 2004/05 season he scored 22 goals in 36 games, playing 3.190 minutes

DIEGO LUGANO (Fenerbahçe)
The central defender (Italian passport) has freed himself from Fenerbahçe and he could now join Lazio on a free agent. His signing would not be so high, since he asks at least 2,5 million euros per year. It seems like Roma is also interested on the Uruguay captain.
Age: 28
Height: 1,88 m
Weight: 88 kg
Contract ends on: 2010
The statistic: he was suspended for 5 weeks after the Galatasaray derby this year and conceded a red card.

FABRICIO COLOCCINI (Newcastle United)
Argentinean with Italian passport. He could prove ok for Lazio policy of a cash surrender loan. Since Newcastle has went down to Championship, he wouldn’t have any problem about the economical aspect.
Age: 27
Height: 1,83 m
Weight: 78 kg
Contract ends on: 2011
The statistic: in more than 3 years at Deportivo La Coruña, he collected 102 appearances.

MICHELE CANINI (Cagliari)
A Ballardini’s favourite, since he trained him at Samb and Cagliari. Cellino asked 6 million euros for him though and doesn’t want any other player in exchange.
Age: 24
Height: 1,87
Weight: 80 kg
Contract ends on: 2012
The statistic: he collected 31 apps at Sambenedettese on his first season as a professional

DARIO DAINELLI (Fiorentina)
It looked like he was close to Lazio but the Fiorentina defender may also join Genoa in a swap deal that would see Mesto go to Florence. Much depends on Prandelli wanting to swap him with De Silvestri or not.
Age: 30
Height: 1,91 m
Weight: 87 kg
Contract ends on: 2011
The statistic: made his debut for the national side against Ecuador on 11th June 2005 (1-1)

LEANDRO FERNANDEZ (Dynamo Moscow)
Gold medal at the Olympics in 2004, this central-right back defender, has Italian origins and played for Newell’s and River Plate before heading to Russia. Price: 4 million euros
Age: 26
Height: 1,78 m
Weight: 75 kg
Contract ends on: 2011
The statistic: collected 12 apps and scored 4 goals with Argentina national team both at youth and senior level

RASMUS BENGTSSON (Trelleborgs)
His price is 400,000 euros. Voted Allsvenskan best central defender and one of the best youngsters seen at Under-21 Euro Championships. Even played at senior level last January.
Age: 23
Height: 1,85 m
The curiosity: childhood heroes were Muhammad Ali and Thierry Henry

MARIO YEPES (Chievo)
Age: 33
Height: 1,88 m
Weight: 86 kg
Contract ends on: 2010
The curiosity: Yepes joined Nantes just a few days after Lazio had lost 1-0 in La Beaujoire and sadly exited the Champions League in 2001

SIBONISO GAXA (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Right-back. If De Silvestri leaves, Lazio may consider this option too. Fiorentina are also interested in the player.
Age: 25
Height: 1,78 m
More at FIFA: http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/players/player=235342/index.html

LUCAS BIGLIA (Anderlecht)
Anderlecht playmaker’s value is 4 million euros. He was part of the Argentina national team that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2005 alongside Lionel Messi. He is a player often compared to Andrea Pirlo due to the way he plays the game. Biglia has a good passing range, high positional sense and a calm head.
Age: 23
Height: 1,69 m
Weight: 63 kg
Contract ends on: 2012
The statistic: a regular at Anderlecht, he collected 93 apps in three seasons with the Belgian giants

NICOLA POZZI (EMPOLI)
Nothing’s official yet as usual, but Empoli’s president said that he would be interested in having the likes of Kozak and Mendicino among his squad in exchange for Nicola Pozzi. Our editor Zappulla called him and he said speaking on the phone that «relationships with Lazio and Lotito have always been good. They remind me of that Rocchi deal the President closed on the very last hour of the transfer window in 2004. I think we wouldn’t have any problem about dealing with Lotito and Tare», even if Parma and Sampdoria have reportedly already asked for the striker.
Age: 23
Height: 1,84 m
Weight: 75 kg
Contract ended on: 2009
The statistic: in 4 seasons at Empoli he hit the net 28 times in 100 apps. Even had a spell at AC Milan where he never featured in 2003/04 season.

OUTS
PANDEV – He refused a 14 million euros offer from Zenit Saint Petersburg. The Russians giants would have given him 4 million euros per year but the Macedonian striker always said he wanted to stay in Italy. Russia Premier League though would have been a good option for him and 14 million euros would have been good for Lazio. Lotito got angry about that. Pandev is probably waiting for the situation to unlock at Juventus where, now that Benzema found a new home in Madrid, they hope to deliver Trezeguet to Lyon. The torinese outfit could then concentrate again on Pandev transfer. Tare claimed that if «Pandev stays, he could even renew his contract».

MAURI – Stefano Mauri’s agent, Tiziano Gonzaga, spoke with Lotito at Villa San Sebastiano wednesday night. He should have renewed his contract expiring on 2011 during these days but Lotito hasn’t expressed the same belief as in the past, according to what Gonzaga said. As soon as Mauri will be back from holidays and will understand how many chances he has to play over the coming season, we’ll know where he’ll spend the following months.

LEDESMA – If Ledesma considers moving abroad Sevilla and Valencia are ready to lay their hands on him. Sevilla is the most probable destination for the Argentinean playmaker in that case, since Valencia needs liquidity in order to overcome some financial crisis. So they would not be very keen on swapping Ever Banega for Ledesma. They would rather prefer to get paid.

MAKINWA – Has refused a Turkish club’s offer and Malaga are now trailing him.

SCALONI – Copa Libertadores finalists Estudiantes are reportedly interested in bringing the Argentinean defender back to his country. The La Plata-based club have suffered the injuries of key defenders Ayeles and Angeleri and had to buy Schiavi, a new defender, in order to face these last games. Lionel Scaloni would be a good reinforcement.

MORE STUFF

MEGHNI
Meghni chose to play for Algeria national team. His international debut is expected on 6th September in a World Cup qualifier against Zambia. When Algeria beat Egypt last month, the fans went into raptures and are now eyeing the possibility of a comeback to the international stage after missing out for almost 24 years. Algerian fans had been looking for a performance of that magnitude for 20 years, and this historic win over fierce rivals Egypt could prove the catalyst for a long-awaited return to the game’s premier event.
 

RESERVES
Roberto Sesena has been confirmed at the helm of Lazio’s reserves team after rumours wanted Fabrizio Ravanelli to be their head coach for the coming season. The former Lazio striker though still remains a serious challenger for the U18s (Allievi) bench together with current coach Stefano Avincola.

FANS
500 season tickets have been sold on the very first day of sale.