Youth: Barcelona following Napoli talent Marciano

Italian football site Tuttomercatoweb claims that Barcelona is interested in Napoli youth player Paolo Marciano (born 1995).

The Italian striker would be being followed by several European clubs, with Barcelona, Manchester United, Bordeaux and Olympique Lyon having shown the most interest.


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Barcelona willing to bid for Napoli striker Lavezzi
Youth: Barcelona signs Cameroonian goalkeeper
Bid for Napoli defender Santacroce upcoming

Agent calm about Napoli forward Lavezzi's future

Asked about the rumours linking Napoli forward and Argentinian (youth) international Ezequiel Lavezzi (23) with several European top clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Alejandro Mazzoni didn't really want to enter the issue in an interview with Naples regional newspaper Il Roma:

"I won't confirm or deny anything. I read about an offer by Real Madrid in the newspapers. I also read about Barcelona and Premier League clubs... I repeat that those clubs who are interested in him, have to talk first with Napoli and only thereafter with the agents of the player.

There have been some warning statements by Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis but I didn't say anything that could trigger such a reaction. I have only highlighted that Lavezzi is a top class player, who's already doing great things at 23 years old.

We plan to talk calmly with Napoli about a contract renewal, also when he's still here in February, with the hope to be able to find a deal. We will sit around a table in a calm way and we will discuss the future of the player. We have only expressed our wish to have the contract changed, but we have confidence in Napoli general director Pierpaolo Marino. He knows what to do. "

Read more:
Barcelona willing to bid for Napoli striker Lavezzi
Barcelona interested in Lazio forward Zarate
Bid for Napoli defender Santacroce upcoming

Barcelona willing to bid for Napoli striker Lavezzi

Italian football site Tuttomercatoweb claims that Barcelona is interested in Napoli forward and Argentinian (youth) international Ezequiel Lavezzi (23).

Barcelona has made the first contacts and would be willing to make a bid worth 20 million euro° for the Argentinian striker.

Lavezzi, who joined Napoli in the summer of 2007, would like the option to join Barcelona and could be trying to force his way out since he has earlier this week asked a serious pay rise. With Napoli not willing to give in to that demand because they don't want to break the financial balance in the squad, the Italian club could now be looking to sell the player.

Read more:
Barcelona interested in Lazio forward Zarate
Bid for Napoli defender Santacroce upcoming
Barcelona scouted Argentinian talent Salvio

Ex-Barça: Maradona to Argentina

Former Barcelona player Diego Maradona (48) has yesterday been officially presented as the new head coach of the Argentinian national team.

Maradona's last coaching experience dates back to 1995, when he was for a short while the manager of Argentinian first division club Racing Club.

Arriving from Argentinian club Boca Juniors in the summer of 1982, Diego Maradona played two seasons for Barcelona. After a dispute with Barcelona president Josep Lluís Nuñez, the attacker joined Italian club Napoli in 1984.

With Barcelona, Maradona won one Spanish cup in 1983, one Spanish super cup in 1983, one Spanish league cup in 1983 and one European super cup in 1982.

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1983: Maradona gets seriously injured
Ex-Barça: Antic to Serbia
Ex-Barça: Rivaldo to Bunyodkor

Bid for Napoli defender Santacroce upcoming

Naples regional newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno claims that Barcelona is interested in Napoli central defender and Italian (youth) international Fabiano Santacroce (22).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would see Santacroce as the successor of Barcelona central defender and captain Carles Puyol and would have personally contacted Giovanni Branchini, the agent of the Brazil-born defender, to talk about a transfer.

While Napoli officials say that Santacroce is not for sale, Barcelona would be preparing to launch a bid of 13 million euro° soon. The player will be offered a year salary of 3 million euro. Santacroce signed for Napoli in January of this year and has a contract until the summer of 2012.

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