Nicola Pozzi‘s loan from Empoli has been made permanent. The striker spent half of last season on loan at the Marassi and even took Antonio Cassano’s place in the team for a time.

Goalkeeper Gianluca Curci has been brought in from Siena to replace the now departed Marco Storari and Luca Castellazzi. Curci had been co-owned by Siena and Roma. Samp have bought Siena’s 50% and now co-own the player with the Giallorossi. “From relegation to the Champions League. I’ll be honest, I never expected such a sudden leap,” confessed the 24-year-old. “I must thank Sampdoria for this great opportunity.”

Marius Stankevičius has return from his loan spell at Sevilla.

Striker Simone Zaza has been signed from Atalanta. 19-year-old Zaza has been capped by Italy up to under-19 level.

“Do I have to tell the truth? Rather than my football career, in the last few days I’ve been thinking more about my partner and our new baby. Now, however, I’m really happy and satisfied.” 

When one puts their family above all else… Those who think that young players with a good head on solid shoulders are no longer a reality, might reconsider if they heard the words of Daniele Dessena. Two or three weeks ago, Tommaso was born to Carlotta and Daniele and in September they will all travel to Moena together. But before the spring the Dessena family have already begun to re-associate with the Blucerchiati colours. Completely. The club has just claimed the remaining half of his playing card. “I sincerely didn’t expect it – Says Daniele - I’m a bit surprised at the developments but I’m happy: to return to Sampdoria is great news for me, a suprise in the true sense of the word.”

Who contacted you from Genova? Have you spoken with anyone?

“The director Gasparin called me straight away. I don’t know him, but he gave me his personal welcome back and said a few nice things to me. I still haven’t spoken with Mister Di Carlo, but there’s still time to do so. At the moment I don’t know if I’ll be at the presentation on the 6th of July, given that my partner is still recovering, but I’m certain of being at the retreat in Moena and from then on I’m putting myself fully in the hands of the coaching staff.”

One year later, you’re coming back to Samp in Champions League. What are you looking forward to about this return?

“My desire would be to play with some continuity, I’m young and it’s normal to have some clear aspirations. My ex-teammates had a extraordinary season and next year there will be three competitions to perform in: I believe that there’ll be some big opportunities for me.”

How much did you gain from your year in Cagliari?

“In Sardinia I had a really positive season from all points of view. At the squad level we did well, especially in the first half of the season when we put just about everyone to the torch. Personally I played more than 30 games and I fitted in well in a group of good players and people.

Do you keep any good memories of your first experience as a Blucerchiato?

“It’s certainly a good memory, undoubtably. I didn’t get many starts, but even in Genova, between the championship, the Uefa Cup and the Coppa Italia, I got on the field about 30 times. The most lasting memory is one from Europe, from Belgrade. I didn’t play a great game but I got a good goal that changed everything and was fundamental for our qualification out of the group. Let’s hope it’s a good omen for this year…”

source: www.sampdoria.it

The 23-year-old is said to be eager to move to a bigger club this summer and Hertha are reportedly ready to cash in on him.

Hertha have supposedly set a €10 million asking price for Kacar. The Blucerchiati face stiff competition from clubs such as Wolfsburg, Hamburg, Juventus and Milan in the race for Kacar’s signature.

According to Spanish daily sports newspaper Marca, Real Madrid attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has also attracted the interest of Sampdoria.

Manchester United are also said to be interested in the Dutchman.

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New Siena chief Giorgio Perinetti announced yesterday Curci is leaving the relegated outfit for Samp.

He revealed: “Yes, it’s already defined. The player wanted to stay in Serie A, Sampdoria came in with the offer that even allows him to play in the Champions League.

“We lose an important player and hope to replace him adequately. We sold our half to Sampdoria, who now shares him with Roma.”

The experienced goalkeeper will become a free agent at the end of the month, with his contract at Sampdoria due to expire on 30th June.

He will then be heading for Giuseppe Meazza, with a deal having already been put in place.

The 34-year-old is set to leave Sampdoria after five years in Genoa, during which time he made almost 100 appearances for the club.

He is unlikely to see much first-team action at Inter, with Julio Cesar the recognised No.1, but he will be joining a team that landed an unprecedented Treble last season.
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Such a proposal has proven to be too good to turn down, with Castellazzi’s representative claiming a two-year deal is now waiting to be signed.

“I met Marco Branca (Inter’s sporting director) and we have arranged all the details,” Adriano Rebuffi told fcinternews.it.

“The contract is for two years, with Inter having the option to take up a third year.

“We are very happy as this is what we wanted. Luca is currently away on vacation, but he has been informed of everything.”

When asked if Angelo Palombo or Giampaolo Pazzini would be following Gigi Del Neri and Beppe Marotta to Turin, he replied:

“The President has already declared that they are not for sale.”

The tactician also spoke with excitement about his new adventure.

“It’s an honour to be here. I felt incredible joy last night when I was given the okay to complete the move. It’s an honour to be here and the Champions League will be a fantastic stage to play on. We’ll always give our best.”

Finally, he commented on Antonio Cassano.

“He is an important player and I want our relationship to be clear from day one. Our bond will grow and I’m sure he’ll have a great season as he will want to break into the Italy side for the European Championship.”

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Di Carlo said on the official Sampdoria website:

“This was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.  I know that I am filling some big shoes, but the responsibility does not frighten me.

Certain chances pass along rarely and you have to grab them. I wanted to stay with Chievo, but when I was offered the opportunity to go into the Champions League preliminary round, I could not say no.”

A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Di Carlo began his coaching career in 2004 with Mantova in Serie C1. He gained immediate promotion to Serie B, before making the step up to Serie A with Parma and then Chievo.

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The importance of the match, which could see the return of Sampdoria to top-flight European competiton after an absence of 18 years, was underlined by President Riccardo Garrone when he commented during the week that:

“What presents itself now is without doubt the greatest opportunity that has arisen in the 8 years that I have been President. We went close in 2005, enough to finish one point beneath a team that went on (Udinese). This time we have really earned our stripes and it’s a fantastic chance, so we’re pouring everything into gaining at the place at the table that we deserve.”

The sense of occasion is at fever pitch in Genova this week, as Blucerchiati fans have already pulverised the 2000 tickets available for the away fans section at the Stadio Barbera. They have even gone so far as to charter two planes to make the trip to Sicily. Defensive Right-back Luciano Zauri expressed his gratitude saying :

“For us it’s the best. They’ll make us feel us feel at home, and to see our fans support is a fundamental reference point for us. We all know the importance of this game, it’s a game like all the others, but to leave that stadium undefeated would mean a lot.”

Argentine Mid-fielder Fernando Damian Tissone was a little more mirthful in an interview with local paper Il Secolo XIX

“If we win, we’ll finish our campaign a day in advance, and maybe we can even aim for third spot, if Milan loses.. but I don’t think Genoa will be giving us a hand! Just joking, otherwise there’ll be another mess like after Lazio-Inter. Anyway, we won’t be looking for a draw as playing like that is not our strong-point, as Mr Del Neri has said. We need to repeat the kind of performance we gave in Roma.

I’ve heard that there will be a pretty hostile crowd, in fact I’m sure that they will whistle us every time we have the ball. Personally, a situation like that just spurs me on.  And besides, it’s every soccer players dream to play in a full stadium.”

He also spent a couple of words on his future at the club, stating:

“My wish is to stay here, at Sampdoria. It doesn’t only depend on me, however, as I’m in co-ownership, but I’ll do everything I can to make that wish come true.”

“Today’s match was really difficult – Del Neri began – because there was only one result we could accept if we were to continue our dream of finishing in fourth. Everybody had us penned in for the win, but instead we had to fight for the three points. This victory, like the last few the team has won, gives us the belief to go ahead and play the last two matches in the best possible manner. In the second half of the season the lads have always turned up for the big occasion and this makes me confident ahead of the next two against Palermo and Napoli.”

Next Sunday Sampdoria will be in Sicily to battle out their rivals for the fourth and last Champions League spot. The Rosaneri are two points behind, but will have the home-field advantage.

“We have two more matches to play that are obviously to be seen as two finals. However, I have always maintained that fourth place will be decided on the last day of the championship: Now we will focus on the match with Palermo, which we are going to approach will our heads high, without thinking about being able to count on one of two results. We are a team that is able to control a match, we just have to remain positive on the pitch and play with the confidence of a team that has already achieved something very important.”

Del Neri has every reason to speak highly of his team, as they have put together a campaign that has exceeded any previous expectations. At 63, they now have the record number of points for a Sampdoria team, and have won 18 matches, the next highest after the 20 won in 1990/91′s Scudetto season.

“What has happened up to now fills us with satisfaction. At a personal level I have never won five matches in a row, but thanks to these lads, I’ve broken the umpteenth taboo this year. We’re assured of a European place, three games prior to the end of the season, something which in fact has not been discussed a lot. Now we are in position to reach a even more important milestone: we will try with all our might, but whatever happens, what this group have already achieved will remain extraordinary.”

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Roma started strongly and it was Totti who opening the scoring, slotting in a neat goal to send the home fans into delirium. However, Samp didn’t come to the capital to watch and reacted with some good build up play, but not the clear chances needed to score.

Sampdoria goalie, Marco Storari, already something of a folk-hero despite only being at the club on loan since January, was again instrumental in limiting the damage done in the first half. He made a couple of great saves, including one from point blank at the near post against Totti. Teams went to the break with Roma in the lead 1-0.

Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri made two changes to the mid-field for the start of the second term. With Daniele Mannini replacing ex-Roma winger Stefano Guberti, and Andrea Poli making way in the middle of the park for Fernando Damian Tissone. It only took 7 minutes for the scores to level, as Antonio Cassano beat three Roma defenders on the edge of the box and crossed high to the far post, where Pazzini soared to meet the ball with a strong down header at the feet of Roma’s Julio Sergio.

Storari was again magnificent in the second half, as was the Sampdoria defense in total to hold out a marauding Roma side, held bent on victory. However, in a echo of last weeks win against Milan, it was Daniele Mannini who provided the cross, low in to the 6 yard box, where Pazzini again got inside his marker and with a lunging right foot, steered the ball wide of Julio Sergio, no doubt prompting a deafening roar in the home’s and bar’s of Genova Blucerchiata. Celebrations that spilled over later in the evening as a few hundred fans flocked to the Aeroporto Christoforo Colombo to welcome the team home.

Sampdoria are showing themselves in the last week to be worthy contenders in any European competition, and with this victory they cemented their spot on the international stage. The next match against already relegated Livorno looms as a celebration and an opportunity to exorcise some demons, as the Doriani went down mid-season to the Livornese. Samp now perhaps lining up a late run at third placed Milan, but nonetheless still masters of their own destiny.

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