Azzurri Tidbits

By: fortunato | March 25th, 2008

Saviola Reports are surfacing that come July, Napoli will have first crack at 26 year old, Real Madrid, Argentinean striker Javier Saviola. Rumor from Real Madrid’s camp has it that Napoli has already been offered his services from Saviola’s agent Jorge Cysterzpiller. Real Madrid has not officially confirmed or denied the stories but sources have suggested that Real Marid would not ask for a huge transfer fee to release Saviola from his current contractual obligations (in place until 2011). All that would be to hammer out would be Saviola’s monetary expectations (Saviola’s current annual salary is in the 5 million euro range). Can Napoli afford him when their current combined salary is 19 million euros and if so, should they dedicate a little less than 25% of their team salary to one player? You don’t think he would take a paycut to come and play with us would he?

Nicknamed El Conejito (The Little Rabbit), Saviola was born December 11, 1981 in Buenos Aires and he is known for his speed and ability to score from any position. He has scored 10 goals in 34 games for the Argentina national team,and in 2005 was the youngest named on the FIFA 100 list of the 125 greatest living footballers.

I have heard he is quite a talent and have noticed him in some Champions League games (when he was with Barcelona last year) and I recall his efforts in the 2006 World Cup. Is he the ideal player to complement fellow Argentine phenom Ezequiel Lavezzi? Wow, from what I am hearing that would be a very formidable duo up front.

Watch a Saviola goal and also notice the You Tube comments. Maybe I am missing something but these people commenting on this site are considering the Saviola and Napoli union, a done deal.

Other tidbits:

Gennaro Iezzo is back training with the regular team now, but as I suspected, his return is starting to stir up contraversy. His agent Luca Urbani has gone on record as saying that Gennaro is back and is awaiting his return to action. He realizes that Napoli has three keepers which are too many but Iezzo is signed until 2010 and is used to being the proven starting keeper anywhere else he has played. Particularly with the winter signing of Nicolas Navarro to the total 4.5 million euro contract, Urbani realizes that Navarro sure isn’t going anywhere. Urbani concludes by stating that Iezzo possibly leaving in the summer is not out of the question. Something tells me, that with Gianello playing so well and recently signing and Navarro waiting in the wings, it’s going to be bye bye 35 year old, Gennaro come July. Thanks for the memories. I love the Napoletano Iezzo but he just hasn’t looked the same all season long and he is 35. Read the story in Italian.

Three Partenopei will be playing for their countries in a round of friendly matches on March 26 (tomorrow) namely Lavezzi’s Argentinian side will play Eqypt in Cairo, Garics will play for Austria against the Dutch and Hamsik wll play for Slovakia against Ireland. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that none of these guys get hurt particularly Lavezzi and Hamsik. We just don’t have the depth to be able to handle any more injuries.

Reports have it that 33 year old Pampa Sosa will be signed for another year or two as his contract is set to expire at season’s end. Marino and DeLaurentiis just love what Pampa does for the team on and off the field. Pampa’s stats indicate 14 goals in Serie C, 6 goals in Serie B and 6 more in Serie A with 8 games to play this season. With the love affair that’s going on between Marino-Reja-Sosa and the Pampa’s goal at Reggina on Sunday I would be surprised if Pampa doesn’t get the majority of the starts at striker, sealing Calaio’s exit out of here and we may have three Argentinean strikers on our roster for the 2008/2009 season. From all accounts Pampa wants to play just one more season. I’ll keep Pampa for the depth and some of the physical nature in his play but he should not be starting on our team if we are serious about a UEFA Cup spot in 08/09.

That’s it for now folks….I am all blogged out for today!!!! FORZA NAPOLI!!!!!