SSC Napoli

[RomaShield27]

Maradona calls Napoli duo
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... nov5d.html – Wednesday 5 November, 2008

New Argentina Coach Diego Maradona has called up Napoli strikers Ezequiel Lavezzi and German Denis for a friendly against Scotland. Maradona was yesterday officially unveiled to the Argentine Press and named his first squad since taking up his new position, which included five Serie A based players.

“It is beautiful that Maradona has remembered Napoli and is remembered by Napoli. We are very happy to be selected,â€

[Messinterista]

Napoli Strikers Thank Maradona

Napoli strikers Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gustavo German Denis have expressed their gratitude to new Argentina boss Diego Maradona for their call-ups to the Argentine national side.

Diego Maradona was recently appointed the head coach of Argentina after Alfio Basile surprisingly quit the post after a shocking 1-0 loss to Chile in a World Cup qualifying match.

Shortly after the announcement he would be filling the vacant post, Diego stated he would consider the Argentine members of Napoli's squad for his first set of call-ups and the former Azzurri player has made good on his promise.

Maradona called up the Napoli strike tandem of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gustavo German Denis for upcoming friendly against Scotland on Novemeber 19.

The Napoli pair were clearly happy to recieve the call-up and thanked the former World Cup winner: "It is good that Diego Armando Maradona has remembered Napoli and those who are a part of it. We are delighted to be called-up."

Both Lavezzi and Denis have enjoyed relatively positive spells in Serie A this season, as Napoli are just two points behind Serie A leaders Milan and have been playing some exciting football.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=948896

[RomaShield27]

Chelsea want me but I'm staying, says Napoli's Lavezzi
Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:46am GMT
http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballN ... 5?rpc=401&

MILAN, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Chelsea are interested in Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi but the Argentine has said he does not want to leave. The 23-year-old has been inspirational in Napoli's rise to the upper reaches of Serie A this season and won a call-up to coach Diego Maradona's first Argentina squad for Wednesday's friendly in Scotland.

"I want to stay. I know Chelsea have looked at me but this issue is for my agent and the club," he told Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "I don't believe there is any intention to let me go and I am pleased about that, I'm really happy at Napoli."

Lavezzi hopes staying at Napoli, where Maradona won two Italian titles, will allow him to become a key Argentina player. "I dream of becoming a fixture in the national team even if I realise that we have many good forwards and the competition is ruthless. Napoli will have to help me with this," he said.

[Messinterista]

Dalla Bona eyes Hammers move - Napoli midfielder would relish Zola reunion

Sam Dalla Bona has revealed he would relish the opportunity to link up with West Ham.

The midfielder recently informed Napoli that he would be seeking a move away from the club in the New Year.

Having spent time at Chelsea from 1999 to 2002, Dalla Bona admits that a return to the Premiershit sounds appealing.

He enjoyed playing alongside Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge and his fellow Italian is now in charge at West Ham.

Dalla Bona, who has found himself down the pecking order at Napoli this season, feels he could be successful at Upton Park.

"I would love to come back to the Premiershit - that can motivate any player," he told the Daily Mirror.

"Chelsea is still in my heart and I am following my former team-mates Frank Lampard and John Terry.

"But in that squad there was also Gianfranco Zola and I would like to work again with him at West Ham.

"He is a great man."

Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 56,00.html

[RomaShield27]

Maradona: Ask Lavezzi How Much I Love Napoli!
www.Goal.com – 16/01/2009 11:37

Diego Maradona has poured cold water on the flames of the controversy that was sparked by his apparent ‘declaration of love’ for Inter Milan's colours.

Diego Maradona met with Inter President Massimo Moratti and boss José Mourinho earlier this week and declared in an interview with the club’s official TV channel that the Stadio San Siro would have probably become his home during his playing days, if Moratti had already been in charge.

His words apparently angered a vast number of Azzurri fans who demanded the club bring the legendary No. 10 shirt out of retirement.

“As always, my words were misunderstood,â€

[Carlo Romano]

Having seen the highlights and listened to the studio discussions on Domenica Sportiva, it seemed to be a case of, to say the least, one of these days for Napoli...even with it being an away game we would have expected them to do the business against the assini volante! For what it's worth, the referee was slaughtered for his performance in a game dubbed a farce by certain sections of the Italian media...if not by Ch4!

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... i-nap.html


Nonetheless I'm looking for my beloved giallorossi to come away from the stadio San Paolo with at least a point in what will be one bloody awkward trasferta next week end! A repeat of last season's result under present circs may just be too much to hope for...

[RomaShield27]

Datolo on way to Napoli
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... an28k.html – Wednesday 28 January, 2009

Napoli are on the brink of securing the signature of Argentine left-winger Jesus Datolo. The Partenopei are building a fearsome arsenal of South American talent with Ezequiel Lavezzi, German Denis, Nicolas Navarro, Inacio Pia, Marcelo Zalayeta, Walter Gargano and Mariano Bogliacino already in the squad.

The latest acquisition looks set to be Boca Juniors midfielder Datolo, who is close to putting pen to paper.

“We still need to complete the medical as in any transfer, but the transfer is verbally agreed,â€

[RomaShield27]

Napoli's Mannini banned for year for missed drugs test
Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:55pm GMT – http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFoot ... 9?rpc=401&

MILAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Napoli winger Daniele Mannini has been banned for a year for being late for a drugs test when playing for Serie B side Brescia, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday.

Brescia's Davide Possanzini has also been suspended until Jan. 14, 2010 for the same offence after the pair were late for a doping control at a match against Chievo in Dec. 2007.

They were both banned for 15 days in March by an Italian Olympic Committee judge but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision to CAS and asked for tougher sentences.

A CAS spokeswoman confirmed the bans.

Mannini's lawyer was stunned by the decision.

"It is a shocking and unbelievable sentence," Mattia Grassani told the ANSA news agency.

"Mannini and Possanzini have been treated... like full-blown doping athletes. They never took doping substances. CAS knows this."

Mannini, 25, signed for Serie A side Napoli in January last year and contributed to their impressive form.

However, seventh-placed Napoli have stuttered in recent weeks as they bid for a Champions League qualifying spot and losing Mannini is a further blow.

(Reporting by Mark Meadows, editing by Justin Palmer)

[morra10]

[RomaShield27]

Wada’s cause tainted by punishment that does not fit crime
February 2, 2009 – www.timesonline.co.uk

Gabriele Marcotti

It’s not unreasonable to expect sporting justice to be, well, just, is it? A decision last week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, the game’s highest judicial body, might suggest otherwise.

Davide Possanzini and Daniele Mannini, the Italian footballers, received 12-month bans after they turned up late to a drugs test. How late? Twenty-five minutes.

Here are the facts: this all happened in 2007, they tested negative and there is no suspicion that they might have used the delay to tamper with their samples. But none of this mattered to CAS or to the World AntiDoping Agency (Wada), the body that took action against them.

Tardiness equals noncooperation. Noncooperation equals punishment. Simple as that. Except this is a case filled with light and dark greys, one that underscores how dangerous and, frankly, absurd Wada’s black-or-white crusade is.

On December 1, 2007, Possanzini and Mannini played in Brescia’s 2-0 home defeat by Chievo in Serie B. Unlike in England, tests in Italy are conducted at every match on two randomly chosen players from each team. As they walked off the pitch at the final whistle, they were informed that they had been selected to provide blood and urine samples.

The protocol in these situations is for the antidoping inspector, in this case a man named Vincenzo De Vita, to follow them until they enter the sample-collection room and ensure that they provide a sample.

Many times, however, the players stop by the dressing-room for a quick postgame debriefing from the coach or even a shower. This is allowed at the inspector’s discretion, as long as he remains with them. Or, as the court document says, as long as they remain “under visual controlâ€

[Messinterista]

Napoli tactician Edy Reja has taken full responsibility for the Partenopei's recent loss of form.

The Azzurri were flying high at the start of the season, but they have taken just one point from their last five games.

After last weekend's 2-1 defeat against Palermo, Reja's side have fallen to eighth place and are in danger of dropping out of UEFA Cup qualification contention.

“On a technical level I am the only person responsible,â€

[tonykart]

It just plain hurts to see Napoli struggle like this. Note to Reja... DEFENSE!

[Messinterista]

tony ur back! Whats going on?

[tonykart]

Nothing much, just trying to stay warm in freaking Michigan. What about you?

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

MANNINI SET TO GET APPEAL CHANCE
www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/italy

Napoli winger Daniele Mannini looks set to be given the chance to appeal his one-year sentence for being late for a drug test after the World Anti-Doping Agency said they would not oppose it. Mannini was handed the sanction, along with Brescia striker Davide Possanzini, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after WADA challenged the initial 15-day suspensions meted out by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Now the pair, who were both playing for Brescia at the time of the incident in 2007, hope to have their case looked at again in the light of evidence that was not originally submitted.

"We are not saying we would support a lesser sanction," said WADA director general David Howman.

"But we received an application from the players concerned for the case to be reopened and we have said to the court if they have the ability to do that, we will not oppose it."

The pair were late for the tests following the club's Serie B match against Chievo on December 1, 2007 because they were ordered to attend a team talk. They have received strong support from their clubs and from the Italian players' association.

[Messinterista]

Napoli: Juve won't end Reja reign - Friday 27 February, 2009

Napoli are in crisis as they take on Juventus tomorrow night, but the club insists Coach Edy Reja will not be sacked if he falls again.

The Partenopei are not talking to the Press and have been locked in a pre-match training camp to prepare for this tough task after picking up two points from seven games.

“Does Reja risk the sack? No, I really don’t think the match with Juventus can be a crucial stepping stone in this sense,â€

[RomaShield27]

DONADONI REPLACES AXED REJA
www.sportinglife.com

Napoli have sacked Edy Reja and replaced him with former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni following a poor run of results. The Serie A outfit have stalled in the past few months after a bright first half of the season, with Sunday's defeat by Lazio making it nine games without a win. That proved to be Reja's last in charge, though the club's board have paid tribute to him for propelling the club from Serie C to Serie A and into Europe.

A club statement read: "Napoli announce they have relieved Edoardo Reja of his duties as first-team coach and have appointed Roberto Donadoni. "The club has taken this decision with a heavy heart given the fundamental role of Reja during the last five seasons, where Napoli were propelled from Serie C to Serie A and the UEFA Cup."

Donadoni has been out of work since losing his post with the Azzurri following their disappointing Euro 2008 campaign.

[tonykart]

Good choice.

[Bagg10]

Napoli is the perfect place for Donadoni make a name for himself.