THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

Edzo, credible sources are reporting that both Strootman and Benatia are available to the highest bidder. I'm not saying it will happen with Benatia, but if the price is right, he will be sold. Right now, Man City, Barcelona and Bayern are all in the Benatia bidding war.

[Italiamia]

Let me say that this is not a joke. Giù le mani dalla Lupa. Romans are losing it today because Rome mayor Ignazio Marino seeks to replace the she-wolf as the symbol of the city with the Colosseum. I'm at a loss for words.

[Italiamia]

It's an auction for Benatia. Barcelona offering 35 million. Roma is hesitant.

[Lupa]

I hate this. With the kid who went to PSG, I kind of understood (and can't even be bothered to think of his name - Marco? Marcos?), but this is a seasoned defender and one of the best in Europe.

Replacing the city's symbol ... I don't even want to go there.

So basically, I'm cranky about everything you posted, Gio.

[DavidP]

reports of a 32m offer for strootman. i'd be worried if it weren't for nainngolan. i suspect pjanic prefers having kevin beside him but radja has many good qualities that stroot doesn't. great engine, pace, tackling ability. we generally play much prettier and organized stuff with the washing machine, of course, but i think having radja on the field helps us beat the small teams more.

[forzaitalia]

Have we seen where our old friend Luis Enrique has ended up? He must be pinching himself.

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

Perhaps they know that Benatia's not actually quite as good as this season has made him look and that 35 mil is way over the odds? It'd be hard to argue that this season's suggested that the selling of Marquinhos and Lamela were mistakes.

[DavidP]

now that's just crazy talk. burdisso and toloi both looked like donkeys even in this system and with castan beside them. i have a hard time believing they will let benatia go for 35m.

[maro]

Sure. I like Benatia a lot, of course, and you know I think a team always has to be built around the axis of its two centre-backs and holding midfielder. I was just speculating idly. I certainly don't think he's 'worth' 35 or 40 mil in the way at Marquinhos wasn't 'worth' all that money last year and I shall be really interested to see how he goes next year, especially in Europe against different kinds of attackers and systems.

[DavidP]

serie a is mostly shit these days but he has kept balotelli, tevez, higuain, hamsik, etc. in his pocket. i think the only time i've seen him make a serious mistake was against llorente when he wasn't fully fit. his european performances might give us a better idea of his true value but it's likely to solidify or increase it rather than hurt it. he has the smoothness of juan, the strength of burdisso and is quicker than both of them. selling him now for anything lower than T. silva money would be a crime.

[Italiamia]

[DavidP]

[Italiamia]

It's stupid money, Davis. It has nothing to do with the actual value of the player. The world of calcio has gone crazy.

[DavidP]

yes, and pallotta has taken full advantage of it so far. selling benatia for 35m now would be a strange move on his part.

[RomaShield27]

Maro and Giovanni are old-school. No player is worth €30m+, except for Diego Maradona, Pele and Bruno Conti.

Football these days is all about money and is more a business than a sport, and the last few years the football elite have brought it out even more. Roma are now trying to enter that football elite (both on and off the pitch – even more so off it, if you listen to that clown Zanzi all the time). In terms of player valuations and what 'market value' they have in that football world, then yes Benatia and Strootman are most certainly worth €30m+.

We signed Strootman for €20m, which is no small fee, and this season he’s proved to everyone he was worth every cent of that and more, and he’s grown even more and was in many teams of the season, despite his injury. He would have been the Netherland’s key player in the World Cup – Van Gaal said he was irreplaceable – and they even changed their formation due to his absence. His injury isn't thought to be one which he can't make a complete recovery from. His market value now and what we could get for him – especially with Man Utd’s interest – must be well over €30m.

Benatia has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Europe and is still only 27. There’s lots of teams who would easily pay €30m+ for him. It all comes down to if the club, or should I say the business, want to sell some of these 'jewels' and cash in.

[DavidP]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -many.html

[Italiamia]

Garcia demands that Benatia remain at Roma but Sabatini is looking for a replacement before he sells him off. This should be interesting. You see, Sabatini fancies himself a genius right now. For you rubentus fans we are talking about hubris. You know, that over-weening arrogance that courts disaster.

[DCGweez]

Agreed Gio. Last years strokes of genius might come back to bite us this year. Saba did no wrong. Hopefully he's smart enough to realize that he got lucky hitting on all but Ljajic.