Okaka tetap di Roma

Stefano Okaka Chuka adalah salah satu mutiara milik AS Roma. Bahkan pemain berdrah Nigeria ini pernah mencatat sejarah sebagai pemain termuda dari klub Italia yang mengikuti kompetisi internasional, kala ia melakukan debut saat Roma menghadapi Aris FC di Piala UEFA 2005.

Musim lalu, Okaka dipinjamkan ke klub Serie B, Modena, demi memperoleh kesempatan bermain yang lebih banyak. Selama semusim berbaju Modena, ia mencatatkan penampilan cukup baik. Okaka menorehkan tujuh gol dari 33 penampilan. Sedangkan musim ini Okaka sudah merumput dengan seragam Giallorossi sebagai pemain pengganti di partai perdana Serie A.

Kini ia telah kembali dari masa peminjaman. Melihat susunan pemain depan Roma saat ini, peluang Okaka untuk menembus tim inti cukup berat. Mengingat usianya masih cukup muda, 19 tahun, maka wajar jika ia membidik klub lain untuk menjadi pemain pinjaman, demi mendapatkan kesempatan bermain yang lebih banyak. Seperti yang dipraktekkan oleh Alberto Paloschi dan Yoann Gourcuff.

Meski demikian, agen Okaka, Domenico Scopelliti, memberi indikasi kalau kliennya lebih memilih bertahan ketimbang dipinjamkan. “Ia sangat gembira bertahan di Roma sebab ia merasa seperti Giallorossi. (Luciano) Spalletti mengambil keputusan dengan direktur dan itu membuatnya senang. Ia siap dipinjamkan jika namanya tidak dipertimbangkan masuk dalam skuad, namun lebih baik jika ia diberi kesempatan untuk masuk dalam skuad,” ujar Scopelliti kepada Romanews.eu

Menurut Scopelliti, klub lain sudah mengantri untuk menggunakan jasa Okaka. Namun dua peminat serius, Pisa dan Ascoli, baru mengajukan pendekatan pada hari terakhir bursa transfer. Ia berkata: “Klub-klub lain menginginkannya, termasuk Bologna, Siena, Pisa, dan Ascoli. Bologna masih menanti, begitu juga Siena, namun Pisa dan Ascoli mengajukan pendekatan di hari terakhir.”

“Kini kuharap Okaka akan bertahan di Roma, sebab itu berarti ia telah melakukan hal yang benar,” tandas sang agen.

Official: Chievo Loan Esposito

Chievo have signed Roma winger Mauro Esposito in a season-long loan deal.

Esposito had been one of Serie A’s best wingers during six years at Cagliari between 2001 and 2007, and this helped him to win six caps for Italy.

Last summer Roma purchased 50 per cent of the Neapolitan’s contract for €2m plus the loan of Daniele Magliocchetti.

However things did not go according to plan in the Eternal City, and he made just eight Serie A appearances last season, none of them starts.

Earlier this summer, Roma surprisingly moved to gain full control of Esposito by purchasing the remaining 50 per cent from Cagliari.

However, the 29-year-old was immediately told that he did not feature in the club’s first team plans, and as a result he has been shipped off on loan to newly promoted Chievo.

The Flying Donkeys, who lost star man Victor Obinna to Inter last week, are also trying to complete a move for Napoli’s Mirko Savini before the transfer window shuts this evening.

Chievo had a good start to the new season, defeating Reggina 2-1 yesterday afternoon at the Stadio Bentegodi, thanks to an 88th minute winner by Vincenzo Italiano.

Roma Ship Out Andreolli

Roma youngster Marco Andreolli has been sent on loan to Serie B newcomers Sassuolo...

Andreolli is yet to make a senior appearance for Roma since arriving as part of the deal that saw Christian Chivu join Internazionale last year.

The 22-year-old defender spent the latter part of last season at Vicenza, and he is set for another term in Italy's second tier after joining Sassuolo.

The Neroverdi began their first-ever Serie B campaign with a loss against Salernitana, who also won promotion after finishing first in Serie C1/B last season (Sassuolo topped Serie C1/A).

Andreolli, who is part of the Azzurrini squad for their upcoming European Championship qualifiers, is expected to feature against Pisa next weekend.

Spalletti Plans New Look Roma

The Tuscan tactician is looking to reshuffle the side after the disappointing draw with Napoli at the Olimpico. The Lupi did not manage to break down the 10-man Partenopei and even risked a stunning slip-up.

Luciano Spalletti will have plenty of time to reflect upon Sunday's events due to the international break. The Giallorossi were on the right track to secure the first three points of the season, but incredibly let the Vesuviani back in the game, despite Fabiano Santacroce's dismissal in the second half.

Marek Hamsik levelled the score in spectacular fashion and live-wire Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi spurned a glorious chance when one-on-one with Doni.

The 4-3-2-1 system that Spalletti tried out in summer friendlies and the Supercup match against Inter has not exactly paid off, so he will go back to the trusted and successful 4-2-3-1, with some minor adjustments.

The experienced coach will have to sort out the role of Julio Baptista in particular: " We brought him in because he can play in the middle, and he will certainly play there too," he noted after Sunday's match.The Beast was not at ease cutting in from the flanks, and his impact on the game was minimal.

What's important is the recovery of Francesco Totti: after the umpteenth setback suffered in the Supercup game, Er Pupone is fit again and just needs to get a few minutes under his belt.

With the captain reprising his lone striker role and Rodrigo Taddei also ready to reclaim his right wing place, Mirko Vucinic will most likely return to cause havoc on the left flank.

This could pave the way for the ex-Real Madrid man to be fielded in the middle of the park, as a trequartista, alongside Alberto Aquilani and Simone Perrotta, who is on his way to recovery from a tendon inflammation.

Totti To Pen New Deal Until 2014

Roma legend Francesco Totti is set to renew his current deal with the club which would see him play on until he is 38.

The captain and talisman has played for the club all his career, making his debut in 1993.

His current deal expires in 2010 and he is ready to extend it by five more seasons, earning the same salary in the process. He will continue to earn €5.5m per season and will pen a new deal until 2014.

Totti is expected to extend his contract by the end of this term and it would mean a 25 year career with the Giallorossi by the time he hangs up his boots.

Er Pupone has made almost 400 appearances for the club, scoring over 200 goals in the process.

The playmaker is currently recovering from injury and he should be back in action for the game against Palermo in week two of the Serie A season.

The 2006 World Cup winner’s extension is just what the tifosi wanted. The club have never feared losing their man to other teams as he has always pleaded allegiance to the Roma cause and he recently stated that he would retire there.

Aquilani Close To Extending - Agent

Alberto Aquilani’s agent Franco Zavaglia admits that his client will extend his deal with Roma and it’s only a matter of time before the pen is put to paper.

The Giallorossi have so far failed to renew the player’s current deal as neither party managed to agree on figures.

Aquilani was head hunted by a number of top sides all summer and Juventus, Arsenal and Inter all had their interest for the player turned down.

Zavaglia has now revealed that the midfield dynamo is always moving closer to reaching a compromise with his side.

“Alberto's words are what count and he has always said he wants to remain at Roma,” Zavaglia told Radio Incontro.

“We are working closely with the club but we cannot say more because we don’t want to destabilise the situation.

“We don’t have any doubts over the player staying even though other people did.”

Aquilani has been outstanding for Roma and they played hardball all summer as they shackled the midfielder to the club table.

Roma's New Stadium Plans

Roma are planning to build a new stadium in memory of Franco Sensi, and as such want to move away from the Stadio Olimpico, according to Il Corriere Dello Sport.

Reportedly, the new venue will be named after the late Franco Sensi, who passed away last month following a long battle with illness.

Early reports suggest that it will be a state-of-the-art 50,000 all-seater stadium. The Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, has promised that the plans for the Giallorossi’s new stadium will go ahead.

The club are now looking to purchase suitable land on which to build the new facility in the Caltagirone area of the Eternal city. Roma have shared the Stadio Olimpico with bitter rivals Lazio over the years and fans will be delighted to hear about the new proposals for their very own stadium.

The Olimpico has hardly been renovated since its last major overhaul for World Cup Italia '90. The stadium is infamous for its lack of security, poor facilities and poor views from the stands and Curvas.

It seems as if the trend between the top four clubs is shifting. Juventus have been the first of the big boys to start moving and shaking for a new stadium.

The Bianconeri are moving forward well with their plans to develop the old Stadio Delle Alpi. Roma are likely to follow suit with their new Stadium plans. A new, modern facility with excellent amenities is just what the club needs as they move onwards and upwards.