Born in Roma July 1926  and now passed on in Roma August 2008. The Giallorossi president Franco Sensi will be soarly missed. Many things can be said, but a truer Roman would be tough to find.

Recent news floating around Italy is hinting at a return to football for beloved Italian national Roberto Baggio. There is a chance that he will be coaching Serie B Brescia with whom he ended his career. I'd love to see him back in a managerial role. Every time I hear his name all I can think about is the infamous PK against Brazil and Pagliuca's kiss to the post just prior. I think it would be great for the team to attach his name once again. That's where Spal started anyway, Serie B that is.

Other News

La Beastia is still coming to Roma time frame is being reported as as early as a couple days
Quaglierella was rumoured in Italian press to be considering a move to the capitol which was fervently denied by Udine boss Franco Soldati.
Olimpique Lyonnais' Clerc is out for 5 - 6 months after a severe leg injury occured during the Toulouse opener. Bad news for an already shallow OL squad.
Christiano Ronaldo snubs Real saying he would rather go anywhere else in Europe than Madrid.

According to Goal.com Prade is in Madrid as we speak signing Julio ' The Beast' Baptista. Other rumours are Roma is also preparing to make offers on the Dutch Duo Drenthe and Klaas Huntelaar. Finally some positive transfer news coming out for a Giallorossi side that needs to strengthen themselves ahead of stiff competition in this upcoming Serie A campaign.

Apparently only the Stadio Olympicos in Turin and Roma passed 'stringent' UEFA guidelines to be able to host the 'upcoming' CL final. Several others were denied for various reasons...

Even the great citadel in Milan, San Siro, host of the 2001 Champions League final, was off the list: along with Genoa’s Luigi Ferraris, Napoli’s San Paolo and Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi it was denounced for lacking such basic amenities as electronic turnstile, designated seats or anywhere near the necessary number of crowd stewards. (Goal.com)

Long has the wait been for the boot shaped country of Italy to host a major international tourney. Long standing favourites for Euro 2012, the great futbol nations of Poland and Ukraine trumped everyone in the end. Even with Rome being the site for the final there is a long road ahead to prepare the city and stadium for a match of such epic proportions. Bias aside, Roma is going to win without a doubt and Huqleberry and PRR with either be in attendance or passed out on Pont Duca d'Aosta bridge. 

For the people who do not know who Steaua is or where they are from (Bucharest) their supporters have created a website for us located here. A bullshit game anyway you look at it besides the Vuci free kick video I have so graciously posted below. I'm not sure what is more impressive the goal off the spot kick or that this Citibank sponsored this team....

Via: Roma Offsides

Roma’s £16m offer for Adrian Mutu has been sensationally rejected, as the club declared "he is and remains a Fiorentina player."

The Romanian had been expected to complete his move to the Stadio Olimpico by the end of the day and fans were anxiously awaiting the official confirmation.

Instead, the club released a statement blocking any attempt to swoop for the former Chelsea, Juventus and Parma hitman.

“ACF Fiorentina President Andrea Della Valle, with reference to Roma’s offer, lets it be known that Mutu is and remains a Fiorentina player.”

The change in tune came directly from brothers Andrea and Diego Della Valle, who own Fiorentina.

According to the latest reports, they took action to call off the move and force Mutu to respect the contract he renewed only recently.

It is possibly turning into the same situation that befell Luca Toni, who was prevented from joining Inter in the summer of 2006 on the agreement he could leave for an overseas club a year later.

Roma are not expected to give up on their primary transfer target, though.

“We have had intense negotiations for Mutu and will continue to do so until the transfer window closes,” said technical director Bruno Conti.

   Other musings.... Former French player of the year and Chelsea outcast Florent Malouda might be making his move to the eternal city as talks for "The Beast," Baptista, seem to have fallen through with Real Madrid.

The Italian SuperCup -- the annual game contested by the Serie A champions and Italian Cup winners -- could take place in New York this summer, officials said.

Provisionally, the game has been slated for August 24 at Milan's San Siro Stadium, but a source said today that the clubs are looking to move the game.

Giants Stadium has been listed as an option given New York's large Italian population, the source said.

Earlier this year, the English Premier League faced criticism of its exploratory plan of playing a 39th round of matches overseas.

Reaction to the possibility of one game moved abroad is unlikely to be so hostile in Italy, especially with Serie A desperate to catch up with the wealthy Premier League in terms of commercial revenue.

The Italian SuperCup, first contested in 1988, has been played abroad before.

In 1993, the curtain-raiser to the Italian season was played at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, when Milan defeated Torino, 1-0.

In 2002, Juventus beat Parma, 1-0, in Tripoli, Libya. In 2003, Juventus defeated Milan 5-3 on penalty kicks at Giants Stadium after the game ended 1-1.

 

    Roma is chasing after DiNatale or Quagliarella or maybe neither as French dynamo Ludovic Guily officially signs with Paris Saint-Germain.

    French national keeper and now former Lyon man Gregory Coupet signs with Athletico Madrid for 1.5 M signaling the exodus from OL (Squillaci and Revelliere as well)

    The American buyout of Bologna collapses

    Slovakian national Hamsik brushes off Mourinho by declaring that Napoli will have a birth in the Champions League and he has no intentions of leaving.

Meanwhile look at where Lyonnais do their off season training.....

Lyon traning in mountainside town of Tignes. The altitude helps stamina...or they like the view.

Info Via: Lyon Offsides, Goal.com