(ANSA) - Rome, October 19 - Former Italy great Claudio
Gentile has agreed to return to Libya, the country of his birth,
to coach the national team once the conflict there is over.
''They've offered me the Libya coach position and I said
yes at once,'' the 58-year-old, who was born in Tripoli and
lived in the former Italian colony until he was eight, told
Italian weekly Oggi.
''The political situation has to be cleared up first
though. They have to arrest (fallen Libyan leader Muammar)
Gaddafi first.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 19 - Former Italy great Claudio
Gentile has agreed to return to Libya, the country of his birth,
to coach the national team once the conflict there is over.
''They've offered me the Libya coach position and I said
yes at once,'' the 58-year-old, who was born in Tripoli and
lived in the former Italian colony until he was eight, told
ANSA.
''The political situation has to be cleared up first
though. They have to arrest (fallen Libyan leader Muammar
Gaddafi) first.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 18 - This season will be Juventus
captain Alessandro Del Piero's last at the Turin club, Chairman
Andrea Agnelli told a stunned shareholders meeting on Tuesday.
''This will be his last year in black and white,'' Agnelli
said referring to the team's distinctive black-and-white shirts.
Del Piero has helped Juve win five Serie A titles and a
Champions League crown since he joined the club aged 16 in 1993.
(ANSA) - Milan, October 13 - Inter Milan's early season woes
continued on Thursday when the Serie A club said Diego Forlan
suffered a nasty thigh injury while in action for Uruguay.
The striker damaged a muscle at the back of his left thigh
after scoring his 32nd goal for Uruguay in Tuesday's 1-1 draw
with Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier.
(ANSA) - Milan, October 13 - Samuel Eto'o is said to be
interested in returning to Inter Milan on loan for a couple of
months during the Russian championship's winter break, although
his employers at Anzhi Makhachkala have said this is impossible.
The Cameroon forward reportedly spoke to his former club
about this possibility a few days ago during a trip to Milan, a
city he is still fond of.
(ANSA) - Milan, October 13 - Samuel Eto'o is said to be
interested in returning to Inter Milan on loan from Anzhi
Makhachkala for a couple of months during the Russian
championship's winter break.
The Cameroon forward reportedly spoke to his former club
about this possibility a few days ago during a trip to Milan, a
city he is still fond of.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 12 - Italian Olympic Committee (CONI)
prosecutors requested Wednesday that Riccardo Ricco' be banned
for 12 years for doping offences relating to an alleged botched
blood transfusion that almost cost the cyclist his life.
Doctors said Ricco' admitted to trying to perform blood
doping on himself when he was admitted to hospital in a critical
condition in February, but the rider has denied this.
If found guilty the 28-year-old's career will effectively
be over.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 12 - Antonio Cassano stunned Azzurri
fans by saying he wants to quit football in three years' time
after inspiring Italy to a 3-0 win over Northern Ireland in
their last Euro 2010 qualifier by scoring a double.
''I hope to find consistency with the national team, play
for three more years at the most, have a good European
championship, a good World Cup (in 2014) and then I want to
quit,'' the 29-year-old, who recently became a father for the
first time, said on Italian television.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 11 - Italy are looking to pint-sized
striker Sebastian Giovinco to lead their attack alongside
Antonio Cassano in their final Euro 2012 qualifier against
Northern Ireland in Pescara on Tuesday.
The Parma forward, who is just 1.64 centimetres tall, has
revived his career at Parma over the last year after failing to
make an impact at Turin giants Juventus, who still own half of
his contract rights.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 7 - Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has
said his side will not be taking Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier
against Serbia lightly even though his side have already booked
their place to next year's tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
''This is effectively the start of the European
championships for us,'' Prandelli told reporters.
''I want to see a team with personality, a great
performance''.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 5 - Italy coach Cesare Prandelli on
Wednesday called up AS Roma's in-form forward Pablo Osvaldo for
Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade as
strike pair Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini were both
ruled out by injuries.
Italy doctor Enrico Castellacci said Balotelli and Pazzini
had been sent back to their clubs, respectively Manchester City
and Inter Milan, to receive treatment.
Balotelli has a back problem and Pazzini is suffering from
pain in his heel, Castellacci said.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 5 - Authorities in Belgrade have
banned Italy fans from travelling to Friday's Euro 2012
qualifier in Serbia to avoid more trouble after last year's
match between the nations in Genoa was abandoned because of
rioting by Serbs.
An exception has been made for a group of 130 fans who
bought a package to travel to the game from the Italian Football
Federation.
Italy, who were awarded a 3-0 win by UEFA for the abandoned
match, have already qualified for next year's tournament in
Poland and Ukraine as the winners of Group C.
(ANSA) - Bologna, October 4 - Serie A's bottom side Bologna
sacked coach Pierpaolo Bisoli on Tuesday after picking up just
one point in their first five league games.
The club are set to bring in former Cagliari, Palermo,
Lazio and Genoa boss Davide Ballardini to replace him, according
to media reports.
This dismissal means Serie A is already on its fourth change
of coach.
Cagliari replaced former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni with
Massimo Ficcadenti and Palermo switched Stefano Pioli with Devis
Mangia shortly before the start of the season.
