Winter Mercato

Juventino...

comments included "Alberto Girlydive" and "Galliani didn't call Ronaldo a hippo... he clearly said baboon"...

i hope that clears the air...

as for all the Buffon rumours... no club other than Inter & Milan are willin' to pay the outrageous price Juve is quotin'... so be sure that he is headed for only either... else forget all plans to rebuild your squad with quality without the fundin' that could be made by sellin' Buffon to either...

i also hope that clears the air...

Originally Posted by Tony29.

Actually, this is far more serious than the previous articles ( of course, if Cobolli Gigli really said something like this )
If Cobolli Gigli really said there's no chance Buffon to go to Inter and Milan, then i totally trust him on that.

I actually don't trust any of management person, I don't care what team it is, b/c I know the games they play. Our (meaning Milan's) people who work these deals tend to stay pretty tight-lipped about who we're interested in, basically in order to keep the price down a bit. It' was explained to me that if we talk about who we're after, everyone else at least makes noise about the same player(s) and prices get inflated. Makes sense to me doing it that way too--keep everyone else guessing. This is an additional reason I call this the Silly Season--everyone is speculating, fans are making all sorts of guesses and discussing rumors, but only the people involved actually know for certain.

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

Juventino...

comments included "Alberto Girlydive" and "Galliani didn't call Ronaldo a hippo... he clearly said baboon"...

i hope that clears the air...

as for all the Buffon rumours... no club other than Inter & Milan are willin' to pay the outrageous price Juve is quotin'... so be sure that he is headed for only either... else forget all plans to rebuild your squad with quality without the fundin' that could be made by sellin' Buffon to either...

i also hope that clears the air...

I agree with Debs that we should accept everything they say with a reserve, but zZ[-_-]Zz, latest news don't back up your opinion at all

1. Milan renewed Dida's contract 40 days ago

2. Berlusconi said ( 6 days ago) "" “We have just renewed the contract of our Brazilian goalkeeper Nelson Dida and we believe in him,”
“Therefore we do not need Buffon, who obviously I respect and whom I consider a great player"

3. Buffon said that all the rumours saying he'll go to Milan or Inter are false and how he still didn't decide what to do but he'll do everything with an agreement with Juve

4. Cobolli Gigli says there's absolutely no chance Buffon to join Inter and this, more or less, goes for Milan also. He also said how he made it clear to Moratti and Galliani that he won't sell Gigi to them.

5. Today, few hours after Cobolli Gigli's statement, Julio Cesar signed a five-year contract with Inter worth 3.5 million euros (4.7 million dollars) per season.
"We have a great keeper, therefore I am not tempted by Buffon," Inter president Massimo Moratti was quoted as saying.


Unless all of them are telling us lies and are just playing hard to get ( Juve trying to get more money for Gigi, while Inter and Milan trying to get him more cheaply, acting like they don't need a keeper because they renewed Dida's/JC's contracts) , which i really don't think is the case this time , i'd say Buffon won't go to Inter or Milan, and i'm now almost 100% sure about it !

From beginning to end, I predict that Buffon is not coming. Why? Coz the newspaper has been talking about this a lot and usually it won't happen.

Same thing to Ronaldinho.

Juventino...

Juve needs the money to rebuild their squad with quality... no other club other than Milan & Inter are willin' to meet the price Juve wants... so sellin' Buffon to any other club is definitely not in the best interests of Juve... unless the board has done a dodo mentally...

so unless Juve doesn't sell Buffon... Milan & Inter will be the only clubs Buffon is likely to join...

a contract renewal could mean boostin' the confidence of a player so he doesn't stuff up in the remainder of the campaign... and plays his best to repay the faith shown... same goes for publicly declarin' confidence in the player...

Buffon might say he will do everythin' in accordance to agreement with the club... so if Juve wants to sell Buffon to relegated West Ham (who happens to be rich enough to afford his wages)... do you think Buffon will agree? so than is that statement accurate? nope...

Buffon will get to pick the club he wants... and he has no interest in goin' abroad... so which are the possible clubs that could get him? Lazio? Fiorentina? Roma? i'm sure he rather stay at Juve than...

Juve's task for next season is to qualify for a UEFA Cup spot... not higher provided many things go their way... includin' the summer market... that means Milan & Inter are not direct rivals to their plan... so sellin' to either is not in direct conflict of Juve's target...

so Gigli made up his mind back than & Milan extended Dida's contract... but i feel Gigli has already concluded he needs to cash in on Buffon... however only once qualification is affirmed (or after the season ends)... will he only announce that Buffon is set to leave... why? to avoid distractions that could ruin the task of promotion... same purpose as public declaration of faith & contract renewal... just handled differently...

so with Dida & Julio Cesar signin' renewals... does it mean if Buffon becomes available... both Inter & Milan will not fight to get him? be sure that both will attempt to sign Buffon... so does the contract renewal mean much? certainly not in this situation...

let's play out a scenario... M thinks Z is the best LB & wants him... however J is the next best thing available... and with the possibility that B may not sell Z... extendin' J's contract is done only as assurance that M doesn't lose out if they can't get Z... however after extendin' J's contract... Z becomes available... will M make a move for Z? my guess is yes...

plus... don't be almost 100% sure than Buffon will not join either Inter or Milan... because he himself hasn't made that decision yet...

Is Juventino your new name now Tony?

It wouldn't make any difference if all of the Juventus board said Buffon wasn't going and Buffon himself said he wasn't going. Players can change their minds at any moment and the summer is long, meaning that until September 1st no one will know anything with 100% certainty who is going where.

Originally Posted by Tony29.

1. Milan renewed Dida's contract 40 days ago

2. Berlusconi said ( 6 days ago) "" “We have just renewed the contract of our Brazilian goalkeeper Nelson Dida and we believe in him,”
“Therefore we do not need Buffon, who obviously I respect and whom I consider a great player"

3. Buffon said that all the rumours saying he'll go to Milan or Inter are false and how he still didn't decide what to do but he'll do everything with an agreement with Juve

4. Cobolli Gigli says there's absolutely no chance Buffon to join Inter and this, more or less, goes for Milan also. He also said how he made it clear to Moratti and Galliani that he won't sell Gigi to them.

5. Today, few hours after Cobolli Gigli's statement, Julio Cesar signed a five-year contract with Inter worth 3.5 million euros (4.7 million dollars) per season.
"We have a great keeper, therefore I am not tempted by Buffon," Inter president Massimo Moratti was quoted as saying.

1. Without a decent replacement already signed, an extension to Dida contract is normal. Even after siging a replacement, the uncertainty whether the keeper would fit in immediately etc.....

2. So you expect Berlusconi to say we will sign Buffon and Dida is useless and will sit on the bench after Buffon is signed, all these just before Milan biggest match of the season. Come on you can't be serious.

3. Anwered like a gentleman should or you expect to see him come out and declare he is going to Milan and risk getting attacked by the juve fans on the pitch, moreover affecting the morale in the dressing room not only of juve but also of Milan. Common sense would tell you what should be said and what not. The season has not ended yet, mind you.

4. Just playing hard to get, typical of juve before they ship off their best players.

5. That's Inter, not milan so....But inter history tell us that it doesn't matter how many keepers they have, they will still buy....


Up till now, i am not sure Buffon is coming to Milan, no clear indication. But anything said about him not leaving Juve or coming to Milan is just as inconclusive. Just leave it as such, any attempt to debate otherwise just seem weak.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Is Juventino your new name now Tony?

I have no idea what did i do to deserve such a nickname. It's the same as if i start calling some of you "Milanista"

zZ[-_-]Zz .... i'm sorry but i won't reply to your post regarding the part about Buffon. It's full of contradictions, illogical assumptions and wishfull thinking and i think, no matter what i say, i'll fail in convincing you that chances for Gigi to go to Milan or Inter are much smaller than the chances for him not to do so !
That's why i won't even try to reply to the Buffon part, but i'll just reply on this :

1. Juve needs the money to rebuild their squad with quality

2. Juve's task for next season is to qualify for a UEFA Cup spot

Ok, be sure that what Juve has atm is more than enough for UEFA Cup spot. 3 world champions, 2 world vice-champions, Pavel Nedved and few more experienced players and some of the best young players in Italy......... it's more than enough, imo !

Also, Juve's task will never be UEFA. Juve's objective will be winning the league. It's smthg not likely to happen, i know, but i'm sure Del Piero, Nedved, Trez, Camoranesi and Buffon won't even think of competing if their objective isn't winning the league.
It automatically makes Inter and Milan direct rivals, and even if Juve won't be good enough to compete with them, they maybe won't be direct rivals but they'll still remain the greatest rivals of Juventus.

Second, Juve does need money to buy players but Juve can easily pull it off without selling Buffon. Secco says Juve has minimum 40m Eur ( 2nd rate of last summer's transfers combined with the money injection the team got from the board).
Juve , thanx to Moggi, is a team with around 45-50 players, most of them ( like Miccolli, Blasi , Kapo etc) are on loan and will be sold or used in exchange deals - it means more money !!

If we add that Juve won't play in Europe and these players will have only 1 match per week, then i doubt there will be a team that won't have the hardest time when facing Juve !
Not to mention how all Juve players will fight till death if needed. They were hurt, they were out of sight for 1 year but they still are among worlds best. They have a lot to prove and they'll be much more motivated than any other club out there.

This year Lazio is inferior to Juventus imo, and will be even more inferior after Juve buys 3-4 new players. And Lazio will play CLQ next season.
Fiorentina is very solid but is mostly on par with Juve ( although i still think Juventus is better than la Viola). If they sell Toni, and it's a 99,99% certainity then they'll certanly be weaker than Juventus.

So, why do you think Juve's task for next season is to qualify for UEFA ?

i shall say again... Juve cannot finish in the top 4 for next season... it is not that i don't want them to... but i don't see it happenin'...

i feel the top 4 would comprise of Inter... Milan... Fiorentina... Roma... with Lazio & Juve havin' to settle for just the UEFA Cup...

Nedved & Del Piero are no longer quality starters... they are nothin' more than quality veterans from the bench... but they will still be regarded as starters at Juve... so besides the 3-4 new players you mentioned... that's another 2 more to be added...

Trezeguet hasn't confirmed his stay with a contract renewal... that leaves him with just 1 year left of his contract before he can leave for free... and if he doesn't get that renewal... i wouldn't be surprised if he is savin' himself for his new employers... not wantin' to go all out & get himself hurt & jobless... so you can add 1 more...

so that leaves just Camoranesi & Buffon... and i'm sure what i just mentioned before has been playin' in their minds since the season started... so both know that unless 6 to 7 top class players comes in durin' the TW... Juve might have to settle for a UEFA Cup challenge in 07/08 & top 10 finish in 08/09 season...

the €40 million also includes wages for the new players & contract renewals i believe... not just only for transfers... so after deduction... can €30 million (bein' optimistic) bring you the needed 6 top class players to be a challenge for a top 4 finish?

so the only way to have more funds to get that amount of new quality... is sadly in Juve's case... to cash in on Buffon...

and all these are just speculations... assumptions... and wishful thinkin'... but thinkin' that Juve will immediately challenge for a top 4 spot is exactly that as well...

you say Lazio & Fiorentina are inferior to Juve... i say they are still superior even if their top stars (Rocchi & Toni) leaves... why? Rossi & Prandelli are far superior to Deschamps...

so unless a top coach (Lippi?) replaces Deschamps & at least 4 top class players join Juve... i don't see how my assumption they will only be UEFA Cup hopefuls be any less contradictin' to yours that they are superior...

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

i shall say again... Juve cannot finish in the top 4 for next season... it is not that i don't want them to... but i don't see it happenin'...

Fine then. Lets stop the off topic here. You have yours and i have my opinion about how will Juve do next year.


I wanted not to answer you about Buffon but it looks like i'll have to.

I believe i wasn't clear enough so you got confused. I'm , by no means, saying Buffon won't be sold. Even he said he doesn't knows the answer on that question.
I'm saying he won't be sold to Milan or Inter.

Your main point was that noone else will be willing to pay Juve's asking price, apart from Milan and Inter.
Be sure that not even Milan or Inter are willing or crazy to pay €75 m EUR.
When you offer at the market someone who carries the epithet " the best .... in the world" , then you'll get a lot of interest and many offers.
You're wrong for saying Gigi ruled out going abroad. Nope, he said that it's less likely to happen than staying in Italy ( and by staying in Italy you can as well count staying in Juve). Also, he said everything connecting him with going to Milan or Inter is just false rumours.

Now, when you have Buffon offered at the market, then you can expect Barcelona, Manchester or Arsenal to show interest. Maybe none of them will offer as much as Inter or Milan, but at the end - it doesn't matter at all !

I'll explain it to you with an example : Put Milan in Juve's situation. Out of all the stars you managed to keep Kaka ( Buffon) , Ronaldo ( Trezeguet) , Seedorf ( Del Piero) , Maldini ( Nedved) , Gattuso ( Camoranesi).
You need money to make your team stronger so you have to sacrifice Kaka.
Barcelona offers 70m eur , while Inter and Juve offer 80 m Eur.
What will you do ?

It's the same situation here. You're thinking short-term when you say Inter and Milan won't be Juve's direct rivals. Yeah, perhaps, but if we talk about next year, or next 2 years only.
Buffon will play for at least 7-8 years and Milan& Inter WILL be Juve's diract rivals then, and Buffon will have to play against Juve.

Cobolli Gigli was more than clear " WE WON'T SELL TO MILAN AND INTER" . He also made it clear to Berlu and Moratti.

Buffon " Whatever i do , i'll do it with an agreement with Juventus".
Both sides here respect eachother and none of them will do smthg to hurt the other.
Juve won't stop Buffon leaving , while Buffon won't hurt Juve by going to a rival club. There will be a compromise, you can be sure about that.
So, unless Buffon comes out and says " Milan and noone else" , and i don't think he'll do it because he made it clear he'll do everything not to hurt Juve, or unless Milan or Inter offer 20m-30m eur more than the others, then you can forget about him.

Barca... Arsenal & Man Utd are not clubs that will spend big on a GK... and i don't see them offerin' anythin' more than €15 million...

so i honestly don't see what good that kind of cash will do for rejuvenatin' your squad... but if Juve decides that it is better to get just €15 million from a foreign club than €25 million from Milan or Inter... the fans are in for a hard time... not only did you lose a transfer guru the quality of Moggi... but got a complete idiot in return...

anyway... if you read Gigli's comments in Italian... not the translated English version... you can tell he left deliberate gaps in his comments about a possible switch to Milan... but he made it clear Juve will not sell to Inter...

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

Barca... Arsenal & Man Utd are not clubs that will spend big on a GK... and i don't see them offerin' anythin' more than €15 million...

If you base your opinion on the fact that these teams never spent big on a GK, then i can reply with : Milan never payed more than 5m for a goalkeeper !
Andrea Pazzagli, Sebastiano Rossi , Christian Abbiatti, Nelson Dida...... even when he was breaking world transfer records, Berlu didn't go big for a GK.

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

so i honestly don't see what good that kind of cash will do for rejuvenatin' your squad... but if Juve decides that it is better to get just €15 million from a foreign club than €25 million from Milan or Inter... the fans are in for a hard time... not only did you lose a transfer guru the quality of Moggi... but got a complete idiot in return...

Man, really, how do you come up with these numbers ? Even if there's a difference from what Inter will offer and what Barcelona may offer, i don't see such a big one. 5-6 m less, maybe, but certanly not 10m.
Juve will never sell Buffon for €25 million, especially not to Inter or Milan and the other teams interested in Buffon won't offer less than €25 million !

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

anyway... if you read Gigli's comments in Italian... not the translated English version... you can tell he left deliberate gaps in his comments about a possible switch to Milan... but he made it clear Juve will not sell to Inter...

I addmit i didn't read the italian version.
Would you like to give me a link please ?
But not from Gazzetta or Tuttosport. They are biased towards the Milano clubs and Juventus.

Thanx.

If you base your opinion on the fact that these teams never spent big on a GK, then i can reply with : Milan never payed more than 5m for a goalkeeper !

Of those 3 i dont really see a big bid coming. Barca have already brought players in from Juve and it hasnt quite worked out, i dont think they would risk big money on Buffon when they have young Spanish keepers already (even if they arent very good )

Utd would spend the money only if Buffon explicitly stated he wanted to join Utd, otherwise they wouldnt waste time targetting him as Italian internationals tend to be reluctant to move to the Premiership. Utd already have Foster to come back from loan too, he is young but has great potential and already broke into the England team this year.

Arsenal have the cosmopolitan appeal maybe to entice Buffon but Wengers ego usually sees him targetting cheap prospects or free transfers. They are more lilkely to go for Boruc or Gordon.

Originally Posted by Tony29.

I have no idea what did i do to deserve such a nickname. It's the same as if i start calling some of you "Milanista"

Yes, all a bit silly isn't it Tony. Not sure i'd like to be constantly referred to as 'Milanista' when my name (well nick name in this case) is right there on screen.

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-

Zz]if you read Gigli's comments in Italian... not the translated English version... you can tell he left deliberate gaps in his comments about a possible switch to Milan
I

Don't bother looking for the Italian version cause i found it.
It's exactly the same as the english one. The guy who translated it in English did i great job this time

Also, lets not forget swap deals may happen. Mancini, De Rossi , Zambrotta, Deco, Henry, Gerrard ( yeah, right ), Sissoko... they may all be part of a deal.

Milan has Abbiati or Gilardino to offer - Thanx, but no thanx. Pirlo, Nesta, Gattuso - maybe - but if Milan wants to get rid of the players they don't need, then Milan can do it with Udinese, not with Juventus !