Talking of Pirlo earlier, his pass in the 2006 semi-final for Grosso’s goal. 
What a player, what a match, what a team.
A great moment to be a Roman Catholic.
I was willing to take Balague’s word for it, but this really puts the tin hat on it Rocko, cheers. :rolleyes:
Reto Ziegler undergoing a medical ahead of a free transfer to Juventus.
Along with Pirlo, these are two very good bosman signings.
Kieren Westward is in talks with Sunderland according to The Guardian.
Also reports that Joey Barton will leave Newcastle. Contract renewal time and parties are significantly apart in terms of what’s informally being offered and demanded.
Rumours a few weeks back that Liverpool were interested … Off field problems aside I think he would be perfect back up for when Lucas is rested/injured.
:rolleyes:
Joey Barton is the best English midfielder in the Premiership
A misunderstood genius. This sort of player only comes along in a generation. England have plodders like Gerrard, Barry and Lampard, and this gem is left marginalised. Typical of the English game.
One that slipped through the net the other day…Willo Flood has re-signed for Dundee United after his contract with Middlesboro expired.
Andy Reid released by Blackpool, will struggle to find a club I’d reckon.
I’d be fairly confident Andy Reid can smell a club (and probably a pint, pie and a wag) from 100 yards
Joey O’Brien was released today by Bolton.
Had forgotten all about him until I read it.
Was he actually any good? He seems to have had a bad time with injuries.
Roma are being heavily linked with River Plate starlet Erik Lamela.
Real Madrid have sacked Jorge Valdano. More power for Mourinho then.
Hearts have today signed John Sutton from Motherwell, Jamie Hamill from Killie and Danny Grainger from St Johnstone.
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea has denied he has agreed to join Manchester United and insisted he will not consider his future until after June’s European Under-21 Championship.
On Tuesday, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that the club were close to landing the talented 20-year-old.
De Gea’s lawyer, though, has made it clear that no deal has been signed.
He added: “De Gea will not consider the contract extension offer from Atletico - or any other offer - until 30 June.”
Speculation in both England and Spain had suggested De Gea would complete a switch to Old Trafford in the next couple of weeks.
United are looking for a keeper to succeed Edwin van der Sar, who retires at the end of this season.
“We’ve been working on it [the deal] for quite a while,” said Ferguson after Gary Neville’s testimonial on Tuesday.
“He is young, very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for Van der Sar.”
De Gea made 45 appearances for Spanish side Atletico Madrid this season, keeping an impressive 24 clean sheets to help his club finish seventh in La Liga.
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He has yet to win his first senior cap for Spain.
Last season, he helped Atletico lift the Europa League with a 2-1 win against Fulham after extra time.
Responding to the news United were close to signing De Gea, Atletico president, Enrique Cerezo, told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: "We don’t know anything. Officially neither Manchester [United] or the player at this moment have informed us of anything.
“He [De Gea] knows very well that he can negotiate [with other clubs] but always that they have to pay his buy-out clause.”
That clause is reportedly in the region of 25m euros (£22m).
With his current deal set to expire in 2013, Atletico had hoped to convince De Gea to sign a new contract.
United were reportedly keen to sign highly-rated Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer but the German international has made clear his desire to stay in his homeland.
Current United number one Van der Sar will make his 265th and final appearance for the club in Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley.
The 40-year-old former Ajax, Juventus and Fulham keeper has won six major trophies with Manchester United, including the Champions League in 2008.
During the 2009/10 season, he set a Premier League record by going 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal.
United also have Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, Denmark international Anders Lindegaard, who they bought from Norwegian club Aalesund in November last year, and youngster Ben Amos.
Francesco. :lol:
Rafinha looks set for a switch to Bayern Munich from Genoa - according to my sources in Germany. The fee is believed to be in the region of €5-7m.
Also I have been made aware by contacts in Naples that Michele Pazienza will be leaving on a free transfer, with Juventus his likely suitors.
Aston Villa have released 10 players:
Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew, Moustapha Salifou, Robert Pires, Isaiah Osbourne and 5 youths.
Reo-Coker would be a decent enough free acquisition for someone.
I thought he had the makings of a player with West Ham but I thought he was pretty poor for Villa.
Big time, he improved a hell of a lot this season and was one of the few players to emerge with credit this season. Looking for 50k a week but only 10k a week more than Habib Beye. Cant understand letting him go on a free, should have just given him the extra money and then sold him for 5m or so next summer. A midfield of Delph, Makoun and himself would have a good mix. John Carew was our highest scorer since Yorke and a good player for the club. Tended to hit hot goal streaks near the end of the season usually, top scored three seasons in a row with 17 two seasons ago. Some decline this year though and was one of a number to act the prick under Houllier. The rest were nowhere near good enough.
Announcement on Houllier’s future due Wednesday from Villa Park. I really fear he will be kept on.