Saturday, July 18, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Continued
Darmian was one of the few Italy players to
emerge from the World Cup with any credit
following their humiliating group-stage exit and
the Torino man has been a regular under Cesare
Prandelli's successor as head coach, Antonio
Conte. Last week, he was again devastating
against England during a 1-1 friendly draw in
Turin – his speed and aggression too much for
his direct opponent Nathaniel Clyne as the
Southampton man was substituted at half-time.
Such is his standing on the peninsula that
Darmian was voted the best Italian player of 2014
in the annual Pallone Azzurro - ahead of Andrea
Pirlo and Graziano Pelle.
He has also been one of the Europa League's
standout players this term, scoring three goals as
Torino were narrowly eliminated in the last 16 by
Zenit St Petersburg. He netted a crucial strike in
the win at Athletic Bilbao the round prior which
impressed Barca.
For some time now, it has been clear that
Darmian deserves to be playing at a higher level
than Torino can offer. Italy team-mate Giorgio
Chiellini told Tuttosport last year: "I know just
how much Darmian is worth. With all due respect
to Torino, he should be playing for a bigger
team."
And they don't come much bigger than Barcelona.
From an attacking sense – and certainly from a
physical one – Darmian has all the tools to be a
success in Catalunya. He is direct, lightning-quick
and, like Dani Alves, very adventurous – pushing
forward at every opportunity. He has attempted
more dribbles (67) than the Brazilian (42) this
season in league football.
His crossing will need to improve (his accuracy
this term is just 13.43 per cent) but his ability to
penetrate and make overlapping runs will suit
Barca's style of play. He has created more
chances from open play (27) than any wing-back
or full-back in Serie A this season, and again
more than Dani Alves in La Liga. He is also an
excellent presser off the ball.
Darmian's versatility will come as an added
bonus. Following the arrival of Bruno Peres, he
has spent much of the current season with Torino
on the left flank. "But my favorite position is on
the right because it allows me to use my natural
foot," he has stressed.
One potential concern for the Blaugrana, though,
is a tactical one. Darmian is relatively untested
and inexperienced at the highest level in a four-
man backline. Since his breakthrough in 2013-14,
he has mainly featured as a wing-back in a 3-5-2
formation for both club and country.
This means his marking, concentration and all-
round defensive skills in a tight-knit, disciplined
unit are still somewhat unknown, despite
beginning his career as a centre-back and playing
in a back four in Serie B with Torino and Padova.
Then again, not being able to defend never held
Dani Alves back.
And as a youngster, Darmian will surely have
learned a thing or two from one of the most
iconic full-backs of all time. Having entered AC
Milan's youth academy at the age of 14, he
trained with the great Paolo Maldini. He has
inevitably been compared to the five-time
Champions League winner, although even Darmian
himself admits that such talk is ridiculous.
Barcelona line up €15m Italy star Darmian to replace Dani Alves
SPECIAL REPORT: The Catalans are in the
market for a right-back and have set their sights
on the Azzurri World Cup star – but why are the
Liga leaders interested?
Apr 10, 2015 09:00:00
By Ben Hayward & Carlo
Garganese
Barcelona have set their
sights on Italy defender
Matteo Darmian as Dani
Alves prepares to leave the Catalan club this
summer.
Alves' agent and ex-wife Dinorah Santa Ana
called a press conference in Barcelona on
Thursday to reveal the 31-year-old had turned
down what she called an "unsatisfactory"
contract offer from the Blaugrana .
With the Brazil defender out of contract in June,
Barca have been looking for a replacement for
some time and their top target was Porto right-
back Danilo.
However, the 23-year-old recently tied up a big-
money move to Real Madrid and Barca, despite
not being able to field any new players until
January 2016, have turned their attentions to
Torino's talented Darmian.
"Having players like Darmian or [Kamil] Glik is the
first step to thinking about important things, but
it will be difficult to keep them because there are
many clubs that have contacted them," Italian
sporting director Giorgio Perinetti, who worked
with the player at Palermo, said on Wednesday.
"In particular, Darmian. [Barca transfer chief
Ariedo] Braida likes him very much and, therefore,
so do Barcelona."
Barcelona are willing to pay in the region of €15
million for 25-year-old Darmian, who would be
brought in this summer with a view to making his
debut in January when the club's transfer ban -
which stops them from fielding new players but
not actually registering them - will expire.
Darmian is also of interest to a number of Serie A
and Premier League sides.
The Italy full-back is currently leading the race to
replace Alves, but there are several other players
also under consideration, including Monaco's
Fabinho, Paris Saint-Germain's Serge Aurier,
Mario Gaspar of Villarreal and Borussia
Dortmund's Lukasz Piszczek, although the Polish
right-back turns 30 in June and does not
represent a long-term solution.
*stats based on Serie A and Europa League
combined
Darmian's development over the last 18 months
from a relatively unknown, uncapped domestic
player to Barcelona transfer target has been
nothing short of remarkable.
Debuting for Italy just a fortnight before the 2014
World Cup, it was in the tournament opener
against England where the 25-year-old really
made a name for himself. The wing-back ran riot
down the right flank in the tropical heat of
Manaus, surging past Leighton Baines time and
again as the Azzurri won 2-1.
Photo Credit: goal.com
Ibrahimovic banned for four games for anti-France tirade
The Swedish striker described his adopted nation
as "a s**t country" during a foul-mouthed rant at
officials
By Mark Doyle
Apr 9, 2015 23:06:32
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has
been hit with a four-game
ban for his anti-France
tirade following Paris
Saint-Germain 's Ligue 1
loss at Bordeaux last
month.
The Sweden international was caught on camera
verbally abusing referee Lionel Jaffredo after the
3-2 defeat and caused huge controversy by
labelling France "a s**t country" that was not
worthy of his talent.
Indeed, Ibrahimovic was roundly criticised for his
outburst, with even his adopted nation's Prime
Minister weighing into the argument.
The 33-year-old apologised for his comments and
argued that he would not have signed a new
contract with PSG if that was the way he felt
about France.
However, the LFP has nonetheless decided to ban
Ibrahimovic for four games, meaning he will miss
the Ligue 1 champions' upcoming clashes with
Nice, Lille, Metz and Nantes.
The ruling is a major blow for PSG, given the
outspoken attacker had announced his return to
his very best form with a hat-trick in
Wednesday's Coupe de France rout of Saint-
Etienne.
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The capital club are also just one point clear of
Lyon at the top of Ligue 1, with just seven rounds
of the season remaining, only three of which
Ibrahimovic will now be eligible for.
Gallingly for Ibrahimovic, he will also have to sit
out PSG's Champions League quarter-final, first-
leg clash with Barcelona next week through
suspension, after being sent off in their previous
fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
However, the former Barcelona man will be able
to lead the PSG attack in Saturday's Coupe de la
Ligue final against Bastia.
TRANSFER NEWS
Juventus back in for Cavani
Juventus are keen to lure Edinson Cavani back to
Serie A after previously missing out on the
services of the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who
could be available for €40 million.
Source: Corriere dello Sport
Friday, April 10, 2015 08:33
Real Madrid turn attention to Valdes
Real Madrid have abandoned their pursuit of
Manchester United's David de Gea and instead
turned their attention to Victor Valdes. The former
Barcelona man joined the Red Devils on a free
transfer earlier this season.
Source: Daily Express
Thursday, April 9, 2015 20:49
Liverpool to sell Balotelli
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to
sell Mario Balotelli at the end of the season as he
has lost faith the Italy international will get his
Anfield career back on track.
Source: Daily Mail
Friday, April 10, 2015 12:18
Tottenham join Immobile chase
Tottenham are one of many clubs keeping tabs
on Borussia Dortmund forward Ciro Immobile,
with Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Inter and AC Milan
all after the Italy international's signature, too.
Source: Corriere dello Sport
Friday, April 10, 2015 10:21
Tuchel to take charge of Hamburg
Thomas Tuchel has reached an agreement with
Hamburg over the position as head coach and
will take charge of HSV come June irrespective of
whether they escape relegation to the 2.
Bundesliga.
Source: Sky
Friday, April 10, 2015 10:18
Khedira offered to Barcelona
Sami Khedira's agent Jorg Neubauer has
approached Barcelona over whether they are
interested in signing the Real Madrid midfielder,
who is available on a free transfer this summer.
Source: Daily Star
Friday, April 10, 2015 09:27
Inter to battle Chelsea for Muto
Inter have joined Chelsea in the race to sign
Tokyo forward Yoshinori Muto as they look to
strengthen their squad ahead of the 2015-16
campaign.
Source: Corriere dello Sport
Friday, April 10, 2015 09:16
Dortmund offer Gundogan €6.5m per year
Borussia Dortmund have made Ilkay Gundogan a
final contract renewal offer and are willing to pay
him €6.5 million per year as they are desperate to
keep the midfielder, whose current deal expires in
2016, at the club.
Source: Bild
Friday, April 10, 2015 08:09
Liverpool enter Jenkinson race
Liverpool have emerged as rivals to West Ham for
Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson. The England
international has impressed on loan at the
Hammers this year and attracted interest from
Anfield.
Source: Daily Mirror
Friday, April 10, 2015 00:37
Tottenham eye Howedes
Mauricio Pochettino wants to bring Schalke
defender Benedikt Howedes to White Hart Lane
this summer. The 27-year-old is rated at €18
million and can play either centre-back or right-
back.
Source: Daily Mirror
Friday, April 10, 2015 00:32
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