Hendri Giallorossi

Valmir Berisha has agreed to join AS Roma, rejecting the chance to join a host of Premier League clubs. Reports the Daily Express

After coming to prominence in the under-17 World Cup in the summer - finishing as the competition's top scorer - a number of Premier League clubs made contact about his availability.

The player's agent took the chance to confirm that Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland had all been in contact with regards to signing his client while Manchester United and Arsenal went as far as to offer the player a trial.

However, obviously well aware of his ability, Berisha turned down the chance to link up with David Moyes and Arsene Wenger and has now signed a deal that will see him join up with Serie A outfit Roma.

It's the second time the Rome club has beaten Arsenal to a top striker prospect this season. The Gunners were reportedly interested in sealing a deal for Barcelona starlet Toni Sanabria, only to see the Peruvian move to Italy instead.

It could also turn out to be a massive blow for Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham, especially if Berisha lives up to his nickname - 'The next Zlatan Ibrahimovic'.

Source: givemesport.com

Brazilian winger Michel Bastos has already touched down in Italy ahead of signing for AS Roma.

The medical is scheduled by today.

"Forza Roma! I am very happy to be here," he told to the media at Rome airport, Flumicino.

Bastos will sign on-loan for six months and Roma will have an option to make permanent move at the end of the season for €3.5m.


The 30 year-old winger, who is equally at ease playing left wing-back, would again link up with coach Rudi Garcia, a man with whom he worked at one of his previous clubs, Lille. 

Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has claimed that Los Merengues “are favourites to win La Liga and the Champions League this year,” in an interview with Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

The Italian said Real “have an extraordinary squad.” “They haven’t adapted to Ancelotti’s style yet, but there’s a lot of room for future growth. Players need to support each other, pass the ball more,… That’s something they will do soon because they have fantastic footballers,” he added.

“Madrid now have a different game style. We have to give Ancelotti more time to improve. The team needs to play even faster and with a more direct game, passing the ball more, but not like the long-posesion style Barcelona have,” Capello stated.

Current Russia national team manager confessed he is “happy to see three teams fighting for the league title this season; Atletico Madrid have improve a lot and now it’s not only about Barcelona and Real Madrid.”

Capello coached Los Blancos in two different periods, the first one in the 1996-97 season, and the second one a decade later, in 2006-07. He won La Liga both times, but his defensive style of play didn’t convince the Santiago Bernabeu fans, and he ended up leaving the club.

Source: Alejandro Gonzalez 

Roma will be looking to bounce back from the first league defeat of the season when they host Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.

The Giallorossi's 18-game unbeaten league run was brought to an end last weekend as they suffered a 3-0 defeat againts leaders Juventus, that widened the gap between the clubs to eight points.

They responded to that defeat by beating Sampdoria 1-0 in the Coppa Italia on Thursday evening, to progress to the quarter-finals.

Roma will be aware that they are just two points cealr of third-placed Napoli, as they aim to book a spot in next season's Champions League.


Genoa ended a run of five games without a win when they beat Sassuolo last weekend, to move up to ninth in the table.

They have struggled away from home this season, losing five of their fixtures away from the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Daniele De Rossi and Leandro Castan are both suspended for Roma following their straight red cards againts Juventus. Adem Ljajic is doubtful, but Radja Nainggolan could start for the club after making his debut in midweek.

While Albertion Gilardino is suspended for Genoa, so Emanuele Calaio is expected to start in his place up front.

Source: Sports mole

Roma have made their first foray into the winter transfer market by snapping up Boca juniors youngster Leandro Paredes on loan.

Reports that the Argentinian is already arrived at Flumcino airport today.

The 19 year old midfielder is currently sidelined with injury and will not feature for Roma, who anyway are up to their quote of non-EU players.


According to sportmediaset, Roma will be paying Boca juniors €250.000 for the loan deal with the full purchase to cost €4.5m. 

“I hope it will be useful for my career, [fellow Argentine Nicolas] Burdisso will give me a hand,” said Paredes, speaking to Radio La Red.

“I don’t leave happy because Boca gave me everything and I would have liked to repay them.

“I wouldn’t have left, but changing could do me well and help me find my best form.”


 

Reports that Cagliari midfield Radja Nainggolan is really close to becoming a Roma player after the two clubs reached an agreement over a transfer on Monday night.

Despite rumours linking him with a move to Napoli, AC Milan and Inter during the January transfer window, the Isolani player now appears set to join the Giallorossi.

Spy Sport reports that the 25-year-old will be in Rome on Tuesday to take a physical before signing a contract with the capital club.

Initial reports suggest Roma will pay €3 million to take the player on loan with a further €6.5 million paid for 50% of the players playing rights. The Belgian’s contract will run until 2018 with his new club.

The defensive midfielder has been a regular in the starting line up for Cagliari this season making 17 starts while scoring two goals.

Source: Forzaitalianfootball

I want to start this ultra-important game preview off with a little bit of audience participation.

Chelsea have had a pounds 50 million bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain rejected as Jose Mourinho tries to add some much-needed firepower to his attack.

Napoli have not given any encouragement to Chelsea in their efforts to land Higuain and insist the Argentine, who played under Mourinho at Real Madrid, is not for sale. Higuain has scored nine goals in 16 Serie A games since moving from Spain to Italy in the summer.

That may not deter Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who agrees the lack of goals from strikers is the major weakness in the side. He is willing to back Mourinho in the transfer market, even though the club posted losses of almost pounds 50 million last season.

With German club Wolfsburg keen to sign Kevin De Bruyne, Chelsea hope to receive as much as pounds 25 million for the Belgium international who has rarely played this season. That will help Chelsea finance the move for a forward, with other sales likely this month to help balance the books.
Juan Mata has been told by Mourinho that he still has a future at the club but cannot be guaranteed a starting position. A bid of more than pounds 20 million would be a tempting offer for Chelsea to part with him, particularly as Mata knows he needs to be playing regularly to keep his place in the Spain side.

Should Chelsea sign a centre-forward this January, Demba Ba has been told he will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge. Ba thought he was going to Arsenal on loan in the summer, but Chelsea cancelled the proposed transfer on deadline day when Arsene Wenger landed Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid as they feared the threat of a resurgent London rival. Ba is extremely frustrated about a lack of first-team opportunities and is likely to attract interest from former club Newcastle United, as well as West Ham and Fulham, should Chelsea give the green light to his departure.

The Senegal striker moved to Stamford Bridge only 12 months ago, but he has struggled to persuade Mourinho he is good enough to play regularly for a team looking to mount a title challenge.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed prolific spells at West Ham and Newcastle since arriving in English football in January 2011 and Chelsea would hope to at least recoup the pounds 7.5 million they paid for him a year ago to activate a release clause in his contract at St James' Park.

Ba has scored just three times in 23 league appearances for Chelsea and is at the stage of his career where he does not merely want to sit on the bench, particularly as he was first choice at West Ham and Newcastle.

Chelsea would be reluctant to let Ba move to a team challenging them for the title, although Arsenal retain an interest in him and are likely to bid if it becomes clear the player is allowed to move this month.

Source: newindianexpress.com