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Mole Antonelliana from Via Montebello Having archived the Europa League match, and as Juventus prepared itself for the Derby Della Mole against Torino FC, I took some time to visit Turin. The ritual Juventus Stadium and Juventus Museum tour were followed by a visit to the Museo dell'Automobile , (auto museum) and last but not least Turin's landmark, the Mole Antonelliana , in keeping with my intention to marry the cultural with the profane aspect of a football match. Leonardo Da Vinci's Automobile Design Performance automobiles on a track give the illusion of racing each other During my time in Turin I realized that it is grey and melancholic (particularly its outskirts); a reflection of a city that has fallen from its florid period: the ugly offspring of a metropolis that burst at the seems in the 1960s and 1970s from the rapid growth of its economic engine, FIAT. Parts of the city that were built in that era are now in decay, unkempt like ...

Last week I went to Italy to fulfill a childhood dream of watching Juventus play live, in their home stadium.  Truthfully, this wasn't my first Juventus game in the most absolute sense, since I saw the bianconeri - then featuring Schillaci, Baggio and led by Maifredi - lose in Bari against the home side 2-0 on November 25, 1990. I'll never forget that there was a "welcoming party" of my friends (all anti-juventini) who readily derided me upon setting foot outside my father's car. Upon landing in Turin, I typically went to the closest pizzeria , sat down and enjoyed some of Italy's most popular and prostituted food item along with a 660 cl of Moretti.  After all, the trip wasn't only about watching Juventus: it was also about enjoying every cultural aspect Turin offered. View of the Occidental Alps from my hotel's balcony After a short rest I headed to Juventus Stadium early to take in the atmosphere ahead of the Europa League match ...

Toronto FC has not finished its shopping spree. After securing the services of Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, and of Brazilians Gilberto and Julio Cesar, Toronto FC may pursue yet another big name ,  according to Anthony Totera of  NextSportStar.com. The forward slot that opened after the unfortunate Achilles heel tear that will sideline Bright Dike for the entire 2014 season may be the first precursor to yet another deal.   The second precursor may be some acclimatization issues that some of the players who are new to Major League Soccer may experience:  "If Gilberto doesn't work out as a Designated Player, TFC may look to fill that spot, possibly with someone from AS Roma" , Totera told  Soccer City Show  on Toronto's CHIN Radio .  Thus, Toronto might leverage their good relationship with AS Roma developed over the deal that brought Michael Bradley to Toronto, to add talent  to their formidable roster. Keep it locked on this blog,  c...

Former Canadian international Enzo Concina returns to North America. A close collaborator to Mazzarri in Naples he had been relegated to an observer's role at Inter.  Concina, a friulian emigrated to Canada as a youngster, donned the maple leaf from 1988 to 1993, collecting 4 caps and scoring a goal in the process. A staunch central defender, he plied his club soccer for many Serie B sides Ravenna, Cesena, Pavia, Piacenza, Monza, Nola and Forlí. In Canada he played for the Montreal Impact, where he won the American Professional Soccer League in 1994. Concina told CHIN Radio's Soccer City Show  that he will assume a role of greater responsibility at the other team that Erick Thohir owns - DC United - where he will be Ben Olsen's assistant coach this season. 

When Brazilian national team coach Luis Felipe Scolari "suggests" you should get competitive playing time, you should take the hint. With former Inter shot stopper Julio Cesar sitting idle at Queen's Park Rangers (collecting only one club appearance this season), Scolari hinted that Cesar get ship-shape for the World Cup by signing for a Major League Soccer (MLS) club. The MLS represented one of the last options available to Julio Cesar for playing top flight soccer. In summer 2013 it became clear that Julio Cesar would not be a permanent fixture in QPR's starting eleven, due in part to his 2.5 million GBP annual salary.   Attempts to sign the Brazilian by SSC Napoli and AFC Fiorentina failed in the 2013 summer transfer window as the clubs were unable to find an agreement on wages, and (in Napoli's case) image rights.   The January transfer window proved just as fruitless, leaving Julio Cesar with limited options to play competitive club soccer, with T...

Giuseppe Rossi’s agent Andrea Pastorello spoke about his clients possible return today. “Rossi’s knee continues to heal well, and we haven’t seen any problem that may typically arise in this phase of rehabilitation. Beyond that, Giuseppe is in great spirits, which helps in the work that is being done to bring him back” he intimated to Firenzeviola.it . “Giuseppe’s rehabilitation is dependent on daily responses to tests. According to the schedule that we have fashioned with [world-renowned physical therapist] Luke Bongiorno and based on progress made thus far his return to practice is projected for March 20, thus, 10 days earlier than predicted”, he said happily.  From that point, Rossi will need about a month of preparation in order to get up to speed. With respect to Rossi’s chances of making the World Cup, Pastorello said: “ACF Fiorentina’s medical staff is in contact with their counterparts in the national team. I have become personally involved in this upon ...