The latest on all the transfer market news from the day just gone to the archives. Between rumors, negotiations and behind the scenes, here are the most important news.
ROME, A QUIET START. BUT THE FRIEDKINS ARE WITH DE ROSSI: MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE REITERATED. FIORENTINA, THE YOUNG COMUZZO HAS RENEWED HIS CONTRACT UNTIL 2028. TWO YEARS AGO MERET WAS GOING TO SPEZIA, NOW NAPLES IS LOCKING HIM DOWN. LOOKMAN BEHIND THE SCENES: PSG NEVER SUBMITTED OFFERS. ATALANTA VALUED HIM AT 50 MILLION
Three draws and one defeat. This is Roma’s lackluster start to the season at the end of the fourth day of Serie A. Results that could be worrying for the Trigoria side, considering the seasonal goal of returning to play in the Champions League and above all following a market of large investments. But according to today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport, the Friedkins’ trust in helmsman Daniele De Rossi remains completely intact: the American ownership landed yesterday in Ciampino and has no intention of removing DDR. A demonstration of the rich three-year contract recently signed by the former Giallorossi midfielder to continue to lead the team. The victories will come, the message was conveyed yesterday – we read – in the presence of the coach and the managers. On the one hand, De Rossi “enjoys” some alibis – reflects the Roman newspaper -: many adjustments to the squad, foreign players who need to settle in as best as possible and a few too many hitches along the way of the last summer market purchases. But, as mentioned, the investments have been there and also important, so it will be up to the coach to speed up the process and obtain the first useful results, starting with the next commitments against Udinese and Venezia. Not to be missed, absolutely.
Important renewal at Fiorentina, with the young defender Pietro Comuzzo who has extended his contract with the Viola club until June 2028. In this start of the season the player has often been used within Raffaele Palladino’s rotations, putting together 3 appearances in the league and one in the Conference League against Puskas Akademia.
How career prospects can change with just one choice. Alex Meret, among others, knows this well: the Napoli goalkeeper is back at the center of the conversation today and this time only for the most positive aspects of his game, but during his time in blue there have been many occasions in which he has been talked about, more than anything to question him or doubt his real value. Just think, for example, that just two summers ago (it was 2022) Meret himself seemed ready to pack his bags to make room for one between Keylor Navas and Spezia. Spezia was ready to welcome him (at the end of the season they would then be relegated, after an unfortunate playout with Verona) but Meret’s will not to give up and to find the lost light in Naples has caused everything to run aground. The saves in Cagliari, and those also shown in the previous match won in a comeback against Parma, have also turned the spotlight on his contractual situation, given that his agreement with the Azzurri expires on June 30, in less than a year. And in this regard, the club does not seem to have any doubts about the next moves. Yesterday evening, in fact, the sporting director of the Campania team Manna expressed himself in this way on Meret’s situation: “We have the will to continue with him and he has the will to continue with us. He is an important goalkeeper, never questioned by us”.
How did the Ademola Lookman soap opera break out last summer? It all started with a question of opportunity: Paris Saint Germain were looking for a player like Kvaratskhelia, rather than Osimhen, for their attack. The agents decided to offer the Nigerian who, in March, could have even left for around 25-30 million euros. He was considered a possible sacrifice to improve further, also by virtue of the difficulties he had had in settling in over the course of two years. However, from then on Lookman became another player, growing exponentially both in terms of football and in terms of status. He then reached the final in Dublin, won as an absolute protagonist with three goals against Bayer Leverkusen which further increased his appeal. Atalanta thus decided to put him off the market, unless a really high offer arrives: not like Koopmeiners’, but a little – not much – less. Around 50-55 million, in short, no longer the 25 mentioned above. PSG thought they could take Lookman with a very low offer, something that the Nerazzurri immediately decided to deny to the Parisian club. So no offer arrived for the man who, the day before yesterday, put Fiorentina’s defense to the sword. Lookman then asked not to play to avoid injuries, should a big club arrive. No offer arrived, at least not in the size that Atalanta would like. The Nigerian stayed but if he were to continue as yesterday, then a very large offer will probably arrive. However, negotiations will not be considered in January. From June, possibly, we’ll see.
PIOLI CLOSER TO AL-NASSR? MEANWHILE THE SAUDI CLUB HAS DISMISSED LUIS CASTRO. A SENSATIONAL RETURN AT 35: CARLOS VELA SIGNS AGAIN FOR LOS ANGELES FC. LEGANES BLINDS JAVI HERNANDEZ: THE DEFENDER HAS EXTENDED CONTRACT UNTIL 2027
Al-Nassr has officially sacked Luis Castro. The news was in the air and now the Saudi club has announced it on their social media, thanking the coach and his staff for the work done in the last 14 months, wishing them good luck for the future. Pioli could therefore be closer to being appointed as the new coach, even if everything is still to be confirmed.
Carlos Vela seemed to have said goodbye to Los Angeles FC in 2023 after 5 years, but the Mexican has changed his mind. Almost a year after his last game, the striker has re-signed with the American club until the end of 2024, with an option to renew until 2025.
Leganes has renewed the contract of one of its defenders, Javi Hernandez, locking him in until 2027 and consequently for at least two more seasons beyond this one.