Mattia Destro has signed for Roma. 
I’ve jumped the gun on this, the deal is in danger of collapsing due to Destro’s wage demands. Preziosi has been very honourable throughout the whole affair and has stated that Destro either moves to Roma or he stays at Siena - where he earns €400k per season. I think it will end up going through as Preziosi and flat-out refused to sell to any other club bar Roma so Destro has the choice of staying at Siena where he earns 400k a year or moving to Roma where he will likely more than double his wages. He also delivered a stinging personal attack on Destro.
Greco is off to Olympiakos, so more good news in our quest to get rid of the deadwood.
Zdenek Zeman started Roma’s pre-season US tour by declaring “we can win the Scudetto.”
The Giallorossi landed in Chicago on Saturday and will face a series of friendlies in the US, including against Liverpool.
“We are halfway through pre-season training,” said Coach Zeman in his Press conference.
“The lads are not accustomed to my approach with double sessions, so they suffered, but in sport you must learn to suffer.
“I am happy to be here at this stage of preparation, as the team is already progressing well.
“There are 24 of us in the squad, but it’s not a problem of quantity so much as quality. We still have the chance to improve further.
“Can Roma win the Scudetto? Yes, Roma can win the Scudetto.”
Roma hope to add Mattia Destro to their side on Monday, as the club agreed terms with Genoa, but he is hesitating over accepting the wages.
The notorious chain-smoker admitted there are some problems with playing in America.
“I know smoking is banned in stadiums here, but I’ll have to find some way around that.”
Has anyone taken up smoking since Mr. Zeman joined? Was thinking about it myself for a while but decided against it.
I’m hearing tentative reports that Rocko won’t be readmitted to the TFK Curva Sud! More to come as I hear further.
Mattia Destro looks like he is finally set to complete his protracted move to Roma.
“The soap opera is over. I am very happy to have signed” for Roma, said Mattia Destro after putting pen to paper on a five-year contract.
The striker had been at the centre of a tug of war with Juventus after he turned down the personal terms proposed by the Giallorossi.
However, competition from Juventus was swept aside as he signed a five-year contract today said to be worth €1.5m per season plus performance-related bonuses.
“The soap opera is over,” smiled Destro to journalists. “I am very happy to have signed.”
It is believed Roma have taken Destro on loan from Genoa with option to buy for €7m.
As part of the deal, the Giallorossi hand youth team players Valerio Verre to Siena and Giammario Piscitella to Genoa in co-ownership agreements.
Really looking forward to the big match tomorrow night. Rocko has been allowed back into the fold, I have been trying to heighten the drama the past few days as this thread has been a little stale despite such exciting times ahead under Mr. Zeman, it’s for that reason I will be giving Roma priority over Celtic this season.
Photo taken from earlier today ahead of the match tomorrow.
We’re playing Liverpool tonight in Fenway Park, Boston. ESPN have live coverage but I’m not sure what time it’s kicking off at.
Our likely line-up:
[Soccer][gk]Lobont[/gk]
[rb]Rosi[/rb] [rcb]Burdisso[/rcb] [lcb]Catan[/lcb] [lb]Taddei[/lb]
[rcm]Bradley[/rcm] [cdm]Tachtsidis[/cdm] [lcm]Pjanic[/lcm]
[lf]Totti[/lf] [st]Osvaldo[/st] [rf]Lamela[/rf][/Soccer]
Totti, any chance you could give us a brief overview of who we’ve signed so far, who we appear to be targeting and what areas you feel should be prioritised?
From last season’s squad we have released Kjaer and Gago after their loan spells. Cassetti and Cicinho have left after their contracts were not renewed. Juan and Fabio Simplicio has also cancelled their contracts and moved on. Brighi, Borini and Greco have also moved on while Bertolacci has joined Genoa in a co-ownership deal.
Players who have returned from loan are Borriello, Julio Sergio, Guberti, Okaka and Pizarro, none of these seem to have futures under Zeman and along with Perrotta were left behind for our tour of America. Viviani and Curci have gone out on loan and last year’s Primavera goalkeeper has joined Parma.
Nego, Tallo, Antei and Crescenzi have not been involved with us in pre-season either so you’d expect they will either be sold on or loaned out. Piscitella and Verre will be joining Genoa and Siena respectively as part of the Destro deal.
So far we have bought:
Marquinho €3.5m
Dodo (a young Brazilian left back - who will likely provide cover to the starting left back) €0
Castan €5m (Regarded as one of the best defenders in the Brazilian league, 25 years old and likened to Lucio)
Bradley €3.75m
Florenzi (Young energetic midfielder who scored double figures in Serie B last season) Purchased back our share of him from Crotone
Tachtsidis (21 year old holding midfielder, big lad who seems to have a good left foot and range of passing on him, he was specifically requested by Zeman and looks a star) €2.5m co-ownership
Destro (Also specifically requested by Zeman - the new Vieri!) €5m loan with the option to buy for €7m
Piris (Not announced officially yet but should be within the next week, 23 year old Paraguayan right back who I assume will deputise for another right back we will sign at a later date) €1m loan with the option to buy for €4m
I’d expect that of the squad that’s on tour - Sabatini will look to move Angel, Heinze and Rosi and we will replace them with starting players.
I think we will buy:
1 x right back (starting player)
1 x left back (starting player)
2 x centre back (one starter, one young player to act as cover)
We might also add another body in midfield and another body in attack if we sort out the defence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F4RxXwgpgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfVQk3vym8I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMbfDAKM2Ko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc_REaQPvBs
I believe the match is at 11.30pm tonight Irish time.
My sources are intimating to me that we’re going to buy Vasillios Torosidis for €2.5m.
Anyone tuning in for this? I will probably watch the first half.
[font=Georgia][font=Verdana]OME
Probable formation (4-3-3): 1 Lobont; 2 Rosi, 46 Romagnoli, 44 Castan, 11 Taddei, 4 Bradley, 77 Tachtsidis, Pjanic 15, 17 Nico Lopez, Osvaldo 9, 10 Totti. Subs .: 55 Svedkauskas, 27 Dodò, Jose Angel 3, 29 Burdisso, Heinze 5, 48 Florenzi, Marquinho 7, 94 Verre, 47 Lucca, 14 Bojan, 8 Lamela. All . Zeman[/font][/font]
[font=Georgia][font=Verdana]LIVERPOOL
Probable formation (4-3-3): 1 Jones, 23 Carragher, Agger 5, 37 Skrtel, 3 Jose Enrique, 10 Cole, 21 Lucas, 18 Aquilani, Ibe, 31 Sterling, Morgan. Subs. : 25 Reina, 32 Gifts, 42 Gulács, 2 Johnson, Kelly 34, 38 Flanagan, 47 Wisdom, 49 Robinson, 16 Coates, 22 Wilson, Adam 26, 35 Coady, 33 Shelvey, 20 Spearing, 14 Henderson, 8 Gerrard, 19 Downing, 9 Carroll , 36 Eccleston, 7 Suarez, 29 Borini, 39 Bellamy, 12 Pacheco, 30 Suso Coach Rodgers[/font][/font]
I’ve been impressed with Nico Lopez.
Roma well on top, Tachtsidis should have scored as Nico Lopez was crudely taken out.
Osvaldo making a mug out of Carragher and Gulacsi denies him
Good play from Shelvey draws a save from Lobont.
Does anyone know if Liverpool right back Ryan McLaughlin is a Catholic? He has impressed me so far.