Di Natale, GrassoRon, e un ragazzo dalla California
November 30, 2007 7:50 am(Di Natale, FatRon, and a boy from California)
Boy… Di Natale’s gonna be expensive!
Regular serieAmerica visitors may remember my two posts (#1 & #2) about a Roma - Di Natale connection. Well, there’s more to report on that front. Apparently, Udinese’s sporting director, Pietro Leonardi, says that Di Natale isn’t for sale at the moment.
There are two feasible interpretations of his comments, but no matter how you slice it, Mr. Leonardi is a smart cookie: If his statement about Udinese not being willing to give up one of their “best talents” is genuine, then he obviously realizes Di Natale’s value and is wise in his desire to keep him. If it’s just talk (and I think it is), my guess is that Leonardi is attempting to dangle a carrot just out of Roma’s reach, in order to better justify an astronomical asking price for Di Natale, once negotiations actually begin.
FatRon is hurt… again.
Well, it’s the eve of Milan-Juventus (easily the most talked about match this week… to the point where it’s almost annoying), and FatRon is hurt. Again. That’s OK. FatRon would’ve been laid out by Chiellini anyway, I think. Unfortunately, Ron’s absence leaves Gilardino to get knocked around… and frustrated, I’ll bet.
On a related note, the Corriere dello Sport had an interesting headline today:
Milan, goodbye Ronaldo, hello Amauri - The Rossoneri are ready to give up on El Fenomeno and already have their hands on the Palermo hitman
Amauri, huh? That won’t be cheap. (Although the connection has been reported elsewhere, so who knows.) What’s up with the Brazilian obsession, Milan?
And introducing… The California Kid
Now this one, I can’t believe.
Apparently, an 18 year-old high schooler from California has been offered a contract with Cagliari. Yes, that Cagliari.
What does Cagliari want with a high school kid from California? Your guess is probably better than mine; I’m certainly scratching my head over it. I can’t even get over the fact that they were scouting in North Carolina. Did they make a wrong turn or something?
Anyway, this kid (David Bingham) is passing up a full ride at UC Berkley (That’s no joke, David!) for the opportunity to (possibly) have Kaka / Totti / Zalayeta / Quaglia / Gila / Rocchi / Mutu / etc. fire missiles at him. I’m not going to criticize his decision, as passing up one sweet deal for another is never easy. Remember the name Bingham; we’ll have to watch this California Kid.
Categories: Cagliari, Milan, Roma, Udinese, injuries, transfers
5 Responses to “Di Natale, GrassoRon, e un ragazzo dalla California”
Definitely have to keep an eye on the Bingham kid. That is, if we can see him down in Serie B…
And for some reason I always wished I’d at least visited UC Berkley. My range of potentials didn’t extend past the arch (actually, nearly exactly the St.L arch).
And after poaching Spalletti (I forget exactly how), I don’t think Leonardi is exactly looking out for Roma’s best interests.
I’m curious to see if anyone’s ever heard of this kid before. He’s really got to be something else (by US standards) for a European side to even acknowledge that he exists.
Think Cagliari will have him playing in a youngin’ squad, or something? Or will he be a 3rd stringer?
I know Bingham. I split time withi him in goal over the summer. He is about 6 foot one and quicker than any keeper I have seen. I was lucky to split time with him. But if there is any question about his talents, know that he could easily be one of the best keepers in the world within the next few years
Thanks for posting then, Jay! I look forward to hearing more about him, once he gets started on Cagliari. One thing’s for damn sure: to be in Italy, on your own and getting paid to play soccer… has to be a dream come true.
Yes it is a dream come true. I was talking to him and just imagine. One day your sitting in a classroom studying history, a few months later your in goal in the Serie A playing against Kaka and Pirlo
Care to comment?