If motivated, Eto'o would be an excellent signing for Inter, Drogba too. I saw the Milan derby and Cruz and Crespo were embarrasingly inept. Cruz is worth keeping for his rabbit-killing qualities, but they can't rely on Ibrahimovic alone (esp in the CL, obviously), and Balotelli doesn't seem a natural out and out striker.

It's a question of priorities.

A motivated Eto'o or Drogba would improve just about any team, but they wouldn't be near the top of my list in terms of what Inter needs right now.

I also think Balotelli is very much a striker. He isn't an Inzaghiesque poacher or a Toni-like target man, but he's got a terrific shot and is useful with his head (for an Italian).

And he's only 17.

Aiatl is right, "old" Inter would have left Balotelli to rot in the Primavera. His getting a decent run in the first team was pretty much the only seriously positive aspect of their season in the period between the Liverpool matches and Ibra coming on against Parma.

Ok, he sort of gave me the impression of being a trequartista or a winger more than anything else. But I've only seen him play 3 times, so pretty limited viewing.

Obviously Essien would be a good signing for Inter, but he'd be a good signing for anyone.

Incidentally, is he definitely declaring for Italy, or do Ghana still have a chance? Adding any striker more lethal than Junior Agogo to that team would be a huge boost.

And (in as far as it's possible to tell), is it in Balotelli's economic interest to declare for Italy, or does he genuinely feel more Italian than Ghanian?

One could see him as a trequartista (he is also excellent with corners (from either side) and quite good with free kicks), but he certainly has the physical attributes and skill to be an out and out striker; the simple fact is that he is a genuine talent and can still develop further.

Today's Serie A news is all Viola-tinted:
Ujfalusi, who was out of contract, has signed with Atletico Madrid through 2011.
Fiorentina are supposedly about to sign Melo, a 25 year old Brazilian midfielder from Almeria (who did not make a lasting impression on me the two times I saw them play this year). His recission clause is supposed to have been in the range of 15 million euro (which strikes me as high).

Balotelli has been in Italy since he was 2 and is completely Italian "culturally" (having been raised in an Italian family); I don't see him having any real interest in playing for a national team other than the Azzurri. It also is very important to Inter that he be Italian, as they are constantly being accused of being nothing but a bunch of foreign mercenaries.

Here he is with his adoptive family during a holiday:

Juve are sending their primavera team to tour America. They play Seattle Sounders June 12th, 2 more games here as well.

A team claiming to be Juve have been getting beaten by the likes of South China and Shenua Shanghai this week.

In other news, Gilardino has signed with the Viola, after having agreed to halve his Milan salary so as to preserve Fiorentina's wage structure. If Prandelli can get him back to the player he was when they were last together at Parma, the Viola will have themselves a bargain.

The Amauri to Juve saga is still dragging on, as Lanzafame (the Italian U-21 international) is balking at going to Palermo on a coproprieta deal as part of the transaction. West Ham are supposedly making goo goo eyes at him. Juve's interest in Xabi Alonso is also supposed to have cooled a bit.

Milan are being Milan, despite Silvio being in power. Galliani is now saying that Zambrotta, Drogba and Eto'o are all "too expensive" and that they don't really need Ronaldinho. They also seem to have given up on Frey (fingers crossed), and may be pipped to Nice's promising keeper Lloris by Olympique Lyon.

Donadoni is getting a bit ticked off at all the transfer talk, which has dominated his preparations for the Euros.

And the many OTFers with millions to burn will be interested to note that the Mattareses are taking offers for Bari, and have indicated that they will sell for Euro 15 million.

I've always known NYC has had a lot of Roma fans (growing up with the Cosmos, Giorgio Chinaglia was always booed loudly during introductions due to his contributions to Lazio in 1973,) but this is off the hook.

It doesn't mention there that Roma have been technically bankrupt for a good three years now does it?

Have they announced who Milan are going to take to court, and why, in order to get back into next year's Champions League, yet?

Or will it just be done by order of the Prime Minister?

QUOTE:
Gilardino has signed with the Viola, after having agreed to halve his Milan salary so as to preserve Fiorentina's wage structure

I imagine he must have been paid a very hefty signing-on fee.

Nope. Bonuses for 20 and 25 goals, but no signing-on fee.

JV, it kills me to say so, but I can't comment on the Roma story.

Oooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

aiatl, didn't that belong on the "It's the constipation I can't stand" thread on World?

Come on ursus, PM me this instant. or don't I won't tell anyone.

Ask our mutual friend.

Yes a very laboured Juve out east, though Trezequet seemed to enjoy the run out and scored a couple.

In their first match Juve had only FIAT emblazoned in big red lettering on the front of their shirts, which was quite something to see.

Though this appears to have been a one off, for the FIAT Cup match with South China I think, and FIAT will continue to be understated as part of the New Holland sponsor logo.

I am a bit of a dreamer, but I hope to see Giovinco, Marchisio and Lanzafame tearing it up for Juve in the not too distant future.

I would like to see Amauri but this ceding of talented young lads and co-ownership stuff, I don't understand it , but I KNOW I won't like it.

They have been influential in getting Italy to the final of the U20 tournament (beat Japan on pens in semi)