++ [ originally posted by pecker ] ++
And yeah it doesn't really seem like something he would do, so I think we'll see Gila in red and black after the summer.
that would be a huge blow
ilardino puts Parma first
Monday 2 May, 2005
Alberto Gilardino says he won’t think about his own future until Parma are mathematically safe of avoiding relegation.
The 23-year-old is one of the hottest talents in the Italian game and has been linked with numerous outfits over the last 18 months.
But the Italian international is just concentrating on his present club for the time being.
"We need to make sure of our survival which is of real importance to everyone here," said the former Piacenza ace.
"Only in the summer will I evaluate the offers on the table. Obviously the more there are to choose from, the better it is for me and Parma."
Milan were thought to have already reached an agreement for his signature but Juventus, Inter and Real Madrid are still being linked.
"The fact that I am of interest to clubs shows that I am confirming the good things that I did last season," he added.
"Would I consider a move abroad? It depends but it would be important for me to keep scoring in Italy with the World Cup coming up."
Gilardino confirmed his ability on Sunday when he netted four in the amazing 6-4 win over Livorno – for whom Cristiano Lucarelli also netted a quartet.
"I scored 23 goals last season and I wanted to repeat that feat," continued the classy forward. "I’ve now got 21 and there are still four games left."
Meanwhile, Parma official Luca Baraldi has confirmed that a Gilardino sale will occur at the end of the campaign.
"It will be tough for us to keep hold of him," he admitted. "We’ll see what offer suits both him and us."
Players of the Week:
Gilardino (Parma) & Lucarelli (Livorno)
Monday 2 May, 2005
Alberto Gilardino and Cristiano Lucarelli are unlikely to ever forget Parma’s amazing 6-4 win over Livorno, in which both men scored four goals apiece. Some had billed the Week 34 encounter as a battle between two of Italy’s most in-form strikers but few would have predicted them to have made such an impact during an amazing 90 minutes at the Stadio Tardini.
Nevertheless, scoring a quartet in Week 34 of the Serie A season is something that Gilardino is not new too. After all, he did exactly the same last term when Udinese came to visit. Yet Sunday’s display illustrated the fact that Gilardino is set to become a key player in the world of Italian football for some years to come – both on the domestic and international stage.
The former Piacenza boy now has 21 League goals to his name, having joined Roma’s Vincenzo Montella at the top of the scoring charts thanks to his weekend’s heroics. And a few more performances like that should ensure that Parma remain in the top-flight, which would be an ideal gift before his likely departure in the summer.
It seems certain that Gilardino will leave the Gialloblu at the end of this campaign. What isn’t quite so clear is where he will be playing his club football next term. A deal with Milan looked likely but can the Rossoneri really afford to have Andriy Shevchenko, Hernan Crespo, Pippo Inzaghi and Gilardino on their books at the same time? Keeping them all happy wouldn’t be the easiest thing to ask from boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid have also been associated but Gilardino won’t want to take the risk of trying to settle in a foreign land with the 2006 World Cup Finals on the horizon. That leaves Inter and Juventus as possible alternatives for the forward. The Nerazzurri could make a move if they sell Christian Vieri or even Adriano. While Juve would express an interest if stories that they are set to sell David Trezeguet turn out to be true.
One player who won’t be on the move this summer is Lucarelli even if his 20 goals so far have impressed. That’s because the Livorno born 30-year-old epitomises something that is rare in the modern game - loyalty.
Lucarelli began his career with Perugia before spells at Cosenza, Atalanta, Valencia, Lecce and then Torino. He endured a turbulent spell in Turin and after receiving much criticism for his poor performances in the 2002-03 season, the defining moment of his career came when he secured a loan deal to his hometown club.
Lucarelli was instantly inspirational in their fight for promotion, netting a staggering 29 goals in 41 matches. With a tough first season in Serie A ahead, the club desperately wanted to keep hold of a striker who really did lead from the front and Lucarelli, for his part, did not let them down. "It’s either Livorno or I’m hanging up my boots," insisted the bullish forward.
He made it clear that he was unwilling to take his family away from an environment they knew so well. He also took a 50 percent wage cut when he was finally sold to the Tuscan minnows and in exchange he has once again captained the team of his birthplace this term, even leading them to a 1-0 victory over champions Milan in January.
Lucarelli’s passion on the pitch is matched only by his finishing ability on it. Together with veteran striker Igor Protti he forms one of the most underrated attacks in the League. And if Livorno amazingly finish in the top half of the table then that is going to be largely down to one man and his goals.
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And just a few weeks ago folks here were dismissing Gila as overrated...
