Catenaccio N/A

News coming from Sky Italy's Gianluca Di Marzio today has Alberto Gilardino dusting off Toronto FC's 3-year offer of $12M (that's $4M/year), who seems to have lifted his doubts about the Reds. Di Marzio broke the news in English through his right-hand-man David Amoyal : On November 6, we revealed that TFC was in the hunt for a designated player in the Red's attack , and Gilardino was their number 1 target.  However, things cooled off just a week later, with the same Di Marzio informing his followers that Gilardino was not fully convinced of Toronto as a destination. Today's update confirmed that Gilardino is very likely to come to Toronto, but only in the summer 2014  (not at season's start in March) as he wants to finish his season with Genoa, and hopefully, feature in next summer's World Cup. At Catenaccio, we continue to hold that the 2006 World champion's his main concern is to maintain a fertile environment for productivity in his ...

Brazil fans celebrate Hulk's go-ahead goal Serie A came to North America on Tuesday, as Italian soccer stars from Brazil and Chile faced off in Toronto's Rogers Centre. Atalanta's Carlos Carmona (for Chile), SS Lazio's Anderson Hernanes, AS Roma's Douglas Maicon (for Brazil) featured in the game with good performances, but it was AC Milan's Robinho who stole the show by scoring the game-winner on 79 minutes. Just 13 minutes in, Hulk put Brazil ahead thanks to a powerful left-footed diagonal shot from just inside the 18-yard box.  Brazil created numerous chances thanks to a Chilean midfield left vulnerable to Brazil's counterattacks. Fan-favourite Neymar entertained the crowd with impressive runs and attempts at goal. One shot that was truly worthy of note was preceded by a dazzling double- sombrero  on a Chilean defender, which was stopped by Chile's goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo. However at the 70th minute, former Napoli man Edu Vargas equalize...

In  John Lennon in His Own Words , the former Beatle wrote "Today America is the Roman Empire and New York is Rome itself".  Catenaccio stops in the city Lennon alluded to as the World's capital to feature one of the most present Italian soccer booster clubs on social media, JuventiNYC - the Juventus supporters club in New York City. And how apropos, Juventus FC was recently featured in a video on the big screens of Times Square in a week-long celebration of Turin, Italy during the Year of Italian Culture, celebrated all over the United States. Club president Cheryl was gracious to grant me an audience, and talked about JuventiNYC. Here's what she had to say:  1. How and when did you become a Juventus fan? I grew up in Canada. Soccer was not terribly popular in the country at the time but in 1985, Canada qualified for the 1986 World Cup, which, of course I followed and supported my national side!  As you know, Canada didn't fair very well in that ...

Catenacciari , this feature switches gears a little, focusing not on fan clubs, but on the individual fan.  And what an individual. I had the pleasure of chatting with a young Italian-Canadian whose talent in making video-montages is eclipsed only by his unapologetic love for Juventus FC.  Millions have had the pleasure of viewing the authentic works of art that Philistines otherwise call "soccer videos" on his youtube channel . Ladies and gentlemen, here is my chat with Dan Colosimo, or as he's known in all four corners, Colosimo99: How did you become a Juventus fan? My father was a Juventino and as a kid I would sit with him and watch the games even though I was not that big of a supporter yet.  It was more about being young and spending the  Sunday  afternoon with my dad on the couch.  It mostly began after Del Piero scored his goal against Mexico in the World Cup back in '02.  I remember being 9 years old, hearing the Italian commentato...

Italian national soccer team coach, Cesare Prandelli called up the followin g 28 players for Italy's friendlies against Germany (November 15, in Milan), and Nigeria (November 19, in London): The call ups feature the return of Marco Parolo (looking for his second cap) and  Domenico Criscito . The latter featured last in the 2012 squad but was expelled from the team upon being questioned by police in connection with the Operation Last Bet. Criscito was later excused and never charged.

Major League Soccer and North American  catenacciari  lost a major figure today. Former SS Lazio and AC Milan superstar defender Alessandro Nesta announced his retirement today. The 37-year old Montreal Impact defenceman said that he's had enough after 21 years as a professional. Nesta stated that he will gun for a coaching job after he moves to Miami, but denied rumours that he will manage the Impact next season. Buona fortuna and arrivederci Sandro!

The rumour mill has been alive and well in Toronto, as TFC hunts for a major target for the 2014 season. On November 6, journalist Tancredi Palmeri tweeted that according to Sky Italy, Genoa FC's Alberto Gilardino is all set to agree to terms with Toronto FC. This could be some exciting news for Toronto's catenacciari whose local soccer team may be coloured with the green, white and red; as the 2006 World Cup champion may join their side. The plot thickened on November 12, as Sky Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio (through Grant Wahl on Twitter) announced that while Toronto FC's economic offer is quite adequate, the Gilardino is not fully convinced of Toronto as a desination. For one Gilardino, like his current club Genoa FC, has returned to form.  The 2006 World Cup champion doesn't want to rock the boat one-third of the way into the season.  Secondly, the Italian is currently making a run for a spot among the 23 that will fly to Brazil for World Cu...

Buonasera quasi a tutti! (Good evening to almost everybody!) is the loud and proud salute of Magica Roma Club Toronto president Vito Caressa, as he enters 90o Minuto Sports Bar .  He was extending his warm greetings to fellow AS Roma fans, and probably not to patrons of rivaling teams. These, shortly after his boisterous entrance proceed to greet him with questions about his recent return from Italy (where he watched Roma home games against Napoli and Chievo) and give him friendly ribbings about officiating errors that his beloved AS Roma benefited from. Caressa responds.  The easy pray is an AC Milan fan, whose team is reeling from poor form. The AC Milan fan reminds Caressa about the rossoneri 's rich trophy case: "we are 7 times European Champions and have 18 scudetti". "Yes, but all of that is over", replies Caressa, reminding the milanista of Pro Vercelli, "they too won 7 scudetti, but are now in oblivion. You'll end up the same".  F...