Ferrari Flattered By Juventus Interest

Ferrari spoke to Sky Italia about the transfer rumours linking him to a move to the Old Lady.

"For me it's a new thing," the former Parma player declared. "Up until two days ago I didn't know anything.

"No one called me," he added. "I'm paid to be a professional until the end. But being courted by a great team pleases me."

In the end, Ferrari would like to remain in Rome, even though the capital club isn't said to be determined to hold on to him.

He added, "I'm a professional and I train well. If this is how things are, it's not my fault. I won't rule anything out, but I sent out some signals."

"I think that the club is trying to reach an agreement, but of course one must look at his own interests. It's not an economical matter, but one of respect. There are many things to settle, but I can't exclude anything," concluded Ferrari.

Spalletti Pleased With Win

Amantino Mancini popped up with a second half header which gave his side all three points. Spalletti was full of praise for the Brazilian after the game.


“He is a great player, we know what he can give us and he has shown it in all these years wearing the Giallorossi jersey. No one can think on the contrary.”


Spalletti also revealed that he does not know whether Mancini will be leaving the club in the Summer after recent speculation in Italy suggested the player could be on his way out.


“Selling? These are things which are dealt with in the director’s office. They will think about finding a solution.”


The coach was also full of praise for his defence who dealt with Palermo’s strikers well.


“In the first half we were good and at the back we were excellent. Brighi played well and even Aquilani and Pizarro played good too. Aquilani came back from injury so it was a good chance for him to get back to form.”


The Giallorossi’s win would have boosted their confidence as they move within four points of league leaders Inter. No doubt the Nerazzuri will be feeling the pressure.

Roma Will Be Champions - Totti

Roma captain Francesco Totti reiterated that he still believes his side have what it takes to wrestle the Scudetto away from Inter.

"Roma will win the Scudetto, while Inter will only finish second," 'Er Pupone' proclaimed. He also said he felt the race for the title now involves just two teams: "I think that for the Scudetto it's a two-horse race between Roma and Inter, with all respect to other teams..."

The Giallorossi's number 10 could not avoid talking about the serious pre-match incidents before Roma-Catania on last Sunday, with three Sicilian fans getting knifed.

"Whoever behaves like that doesn't deserve to be called a fan," Totti continued, "indipendently of who they support. A match should be a peaceful event.

"Teasing and making jokes aimed at other teams is nice, I love that kind of stuff, but violence is something else, it's an absurd and negative phenomenon."

Roma Will Be Champions - Totti

Roma captain Francesco Totti reiterated that he still believes his side have what it takes to wrestle the Scudetto away from Inter.

"Roma will win the Scudetto, while Inter will only finish second," 'Er Pupone' proclaimed. He also said he felt the race for the title now involves just two teams: "I think that for the Scudetto it's a two-horse race between Roma and Inter, with all respect to other teams..."

The Giallorossi's number 10 could not avoid talking about the serious pre-match incidents before Roma-Catania on last Sunday, with three Sicilian fans getting knifed.

"Whoever behaves like that doesn't deserve to be called a fan," Totti continued, "indipendently of who they support. A match should be a peaceful event.

"Teasing and making jokes aimed at other teams is nice, I love that kind of stuff, but violence is something else, it's an absurd and negative phenomenon."

Totti Thrilled With 200th Goal

Francesco Totti will remember this night for a long time. He started on the bench, and ended up triumphant: in the 4-0 win over Torino, he scored twice, helping his team to qualify to the Coppa Italia quarter finals, and established a new record, scoring his 200th goal with Roma.

"It wasn't easy to qualify," the Roma captain said after the match. "Scoring twice against Torino was not going to be easy, they had put us in difficulty in the first leg [which Torino won 3-1]. The 200th goal with Roma was one of my dreams and I realised it in my own stadium."

He also talked about Alexandre Pato, the most talked about player in these last few days, sending a word of warning to Milan's new wonder kid.

"It doesn't take a lot to go from zero to hero, and even less to go the other way," said Totti. "He strongly wants to show what he's worth, and he's in a strong team with a great coach, he'll have time to show he's a great player."

Recoba goals rock holders Roma

AS Roma's grip on the Coppa Italia is looking precarious after a 3-1 defeat at Torino FC in the first leg of their last-16 tie but Serie A leaders FC Internazionale Milano retain their hopes of a domestic double after a 4-1 triumph at Reggina Calcio.

Recoba double
Álvaro Recoba was the star of Torino's victory against the holders. His long-range effort gave them an early lead and although Mancini equalised for Luciano Spalletti's side just before the break, the Uruguayan scored again for the dominant hosts after a fine run and shot. Late on Recoba set up Gianluca Comotto to give Torino a comfortable advantage ahead of next month's return.

Inter cruise
Inter are in an even better position after they earned a three-goal cushion against Reggina. Hernán Crespo set them on their way with a 14th-minute goal and 17-year-old Mario Balotelli celebrated his first Inter start by scoring the second just before the half-hour. Leonardo Pettinari pulled one back early in the second half but Santiago Solari swiftly responded and Balotelli struck again four minutes from time.

Lazio win
In Wednesday's other games, S.S. Lazio beat SSC Napoli 2-1, with second-half efforts from Lorenzo De Silvestri and Roberto Baronio overturning Samuele Dalla Bona's opener for the visitors, while US Città di Palermo drew 0-0 at Udinese Calcio. In the first-leg matches already played, Empoli FC overcame Juventus 2-1, Cagliari Calcio edged past UC Sampdoria 1-0 and Serie B outfit Ascoli Calcio 1898 held ACF Fiorentina 1-1. AC Milan welcome Calcio Catania on Thursday.

Mancini: I Want To Stay At Roma

The Brazilian winger had seemed virtually certain to quit the Giallorossi either this month or at the end of the season.


Mancini’s contract runs out in 2009 and the club are refusing to break their salary cap in order for him to stay.


However it has been revealed that the 27-year-old is set to part company with his current agent Gilmar Veloz, and replace him with Alessandro Luci.


The player has also confirmed he intends to stay put,

"I have no problems with the club," said Mancini on the club's official TV channel.

"There's an honest and friendly rapport with the club.

"We have been unable to reach a deal for a contract extension but these are things that happen and we will no doubt try again.

"My wish is to remain here."


Parting of ways with his agent could lead to renewed contract negotiations, which had completely collapsed.


Mancini is of interest to a host of Europe’s giants, however the current favourites for his signature are believed to be Lyon and Premiership duo Liverpool and Manchester City.


The skilful wideman joined Roma in 2002 from Atletico Mineiro and following a season on loan at Venezia, he has since established himself as a key figure at the Stadio Olimpico.

 

Curci To Be Sent Out On Loan

The 22-year-old came through the Roma youth ranks and was regarded as a hot prospect after making his debut for the club a few years ago while still a teenager.


However he has not developed as well as first believed and has struggled to find playing time in the past couple of seasons due to the form of first-choice ‘keeper Alexander Doni.


Curci is desperate to find regular football elsewhere, not only to help aid his development, but also to convince Italy national boss Roberto Donadoni to take him to this summer’s European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.

"We are evaluating, together with Bruno Conti and Daniele Prade, this possibility. I talked to Gianluca and assured him that we would find the ideal solution," Roma boss Luciano Spalletti said when asked about the possibility of a loan move.

"If he leaves, we still have Julio Sergio. He is a serious professional with plenty of ability."

There are likely to be a number of possible suitors if Curci is allowed to leave, although Sampdoria are currently regarded as favourites for his short-term signature.

Totti On FIFA Snub: There Are 30 Better Players Than Me

Er Pupone had probably the best year of his career in 2007, winning two trophies with Roma, as well as being crowned as the top-scorer in both Italy and Europe.


He also led the Giallorossi to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but despite these outstanding exploits he was incredibly left off FIFA’s 30-man shortlist for the World Player of the Year.


Milan superstar Kaka eventually beat off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the prize, however the fact that players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cesc Fabregas were also not nominated has put into doubt the true value of the award.


“I would be lying is I said that these kinds of trophies do not interest me,” said Totti.


“Like almost all players, I am sensitive to these awards. For sure I was not happy when I was not on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year.


“But in the end there is no problem, because it means there were 30 better players than me.


“Personally I believe that in spite of this, I had a good year, one of the best of my career. I won two trophies with my club in a few months, the Coppa Italia and the Super Cup, and I had the individual recognition of the Golden Boot.


“I am satisfied with 2007.”


Totti and Roma begin their 2008 calendar this weekend with a trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta.

De Rossi & Doni Set To Extend Contracts

The future of De Rossi has been called into question over the past few weeks after contacts re-negotiations ran into some difficulties.


However according to reports in Italy, the 24-year-old will pen a £3.75 million-a-year deal that will run until 2012.


De Rossi has rejected offers from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan in order to stay at the Stadio Olimpico, and many believe that the player will replace Francesco Totti as the symbol of Roma once Er Pupone retires.


Giallorossi goalkeeper Alexander Doni is also close to extending his contract with the club.


The 28-year-old has been associated with Milan recently as a possible replacement for compatriot Nelson Dida, who will be sold at the end of the season.


However all this speculation will soon be put to rest as Doni will sign a contract for the next five years, which will see his annual salary double from €800,000 to €1.6m.


In a final piece of good news for Roma, it appears that Alberto Aquilani’s recent contract problems are also close to being resolved.


The 23-year-old was said to be considering his future after being unimpressed by the club’s extension offer.


However the Giallorossi have returned with a far improved proposal and Aquilani is likely to agree to the terms in the near future.

Mirante Not Joining Roma, Says Agent

Coach Luciano Spalletti declared that sending Gianluca Curci on loan to another Serie A team would be a good idea on Monday and many believed that the Giallorossi will be signing Mirante to substitute him until the end of the season.

However, the player's agent, Silvano Martina, denied all of this speculation as he spoke to Romanews.eu.

"I don't know anything about an eventual transfer of Mirante to Roma," declared Martina. "I did not speak to the player and I don't even know if he would be ready to leave Genoa."

Mirante has also been linked to Lazio, but even in this case, Martina denied that there is the possibility.

"These are all inventions of the newspapers. From my point of view, the market must still start;" he added.

Panucci Can Play Until He’s 40 – Agent

Panucci will turn 35 in April, however he is now playing some of the best football of his career in the Italian capital.


The veteran stopper earned a recall to the Italian national team in October after more than three years in the international wilderness and he has now dislodged Massimo Oddo as his country’s first-choice right-back.


He has also had a taste for goals this campaign, scoring the crucial winner against Scotland that clinched the Azzurri’s place at Euro 2008.


He has also found the back of the net twice for Roma, although he is still to be offered a new contract by the club.


“We will see about a contract renewal, but there is no hurry,” Panucci’s representative Oscar Damiani told Romanews.

“The club values Panucci very highly and he is very happy in Rome, so we will have to see what happens in the near future.

“In my opinion he can play until he is 40, just like Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.

“At the moment no meeting with the club has been scheduled.”


Barring a serious downturn in form, Panucci seems certain to play for Italy in the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland this June.

Manchester City Offer Bianchi For Mancini

Mancini's future at Roma has been questioned this season as the player has being followed by various important European clubs.

However, the most insistent team chasing him is the Manchester City side of Sven Goran Eriksson. Now, the Swede is ready to offer Bianchi and money in exchange for Mancini.

The Brazilian midfielder is currently valued at 20m Euros and his current deal with the Giallorossi expires in June 2009.

Contract extension negotiations are not going very smoothly, and in order not to lose the player on a free transfer next year, the Giallorossi will have to start to take into consideration the possibility of selling Mancini either in this transfer window or this summer.

Mancini’s performances on the field this year have also been of a lower level than last season, with many attributing this to the lengthy contract battles which may server to distract the Brazilian.