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.

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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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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Credit to the uploader.

Credit to the uploader

The run in over the next fortnight is tough for for the Blucerchiati, as they face the red side of Milan on Sunday in Genova and then travel to Rome the following weekend to take on the table-topping Giallorossi.  However, nothing could be a firmer test of their European credentials, so the motivation to take something out of both games will have the team and their supporters sizzling. Unfortunately, due to the violence prior to last weekend’s Derby, Samp supporters will be unable to follow their team to to the capital, meaning the quest to take all three points against Milan this Sunday takes on an added resonance.

In team news, sparkling young mid-fielder Andrea Poli is doubtful after hurting his ankle at training on Wednesday, while Daniele Gastaldello’s 1-match suspension means a competition for a central defender spot between Pietro Accardi and Marco Rossi.  The word is it will be Rossi as he is considered to be stronger in the air.  Rossi, the attacking pair of Pazzini and Cassano, and winger Marco Padalino are all one card away from suspension, and Cassano, who has recovered well from the cynical treatment he received at the hands of Genoa on Sunday,  will want to be especially careful as he hates to miss the matches against his old team.

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Credit to the uploader.

“A magnificent victory, really great. It was a tough, hard-fought and difficult match. All our boys put a extraordinary effort in on the pitch and it was a real turnaround in respect of the string of defeats we’d recently suffered.”

“Genoa played very hard – continued the President, turning his attention to the rough treatment meted out by the Rossoblu – yellow cards aside, they must have comminted 25 or 30 fouls. Obviously it would be better if there was more respect. But we have patience on our side. I’m thinking especially of that Genoa fan who, in a really childish and cowardly fashion, threw beer all over me from his car window before the match. I was totally soaked. However, that beer I think brought us lots of luck, because on a couple of occasions I thought the ball was going into our net and instead it missed. So I say thankyou!”

“Are we at full tilt for the Champions League? Yes, yes, I think now we can say it. I’m not going to wash this beer-soaked shirt before the end of the championship and I hope it continues to bring us luck. Now we’re heading into all head-on clashes, Livorno aside. On Sunday against Milan we’re expecting a very hard match, but if we can play like this we should believe in ourselves, we can seriously aim for the Champions League. It’s a shame for Gastaldello that he has to miss the match through suspension, but we have a strong defence and a altogether threatening attack. Antonio came off but he’s OK, against the Rossoneri he’ll be there and in the same form he was in this match I’m sure.”

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Away to the club which established current Samp coach Luigi Del Neri’s reputation, any doubts were slashed in the first minute as Samp started with a tap-in goal to Antonio Cassano in the first minute. Chievo tried to react and it took some fine goalkeeping by on-loan ‘keeper Marco Storari to keep Samp in the lead at half-time.

Ten minutes into the second term and Samp doubled their lead through Giampaolo Pazzini on the second try after his first shot was blocked by the Chievo goalkeeper Sorentino. Pazzini collected the rebound from the save and deposited it in the net to take his personal tally for the season to 14 goals.

Whilst Chievo managed a goal to mid-fielder Mantovani ten minutes from the end, their tenacious efforts – even sending the goalkeeper forward for a free kick at the death – were in vain and Sampdoria returned to Genova with all 3 points.

Other results all conspired to put Samp back in the race for precious European spot, Palermo’s loss in Catania, Juventus really breaking down in Udine and Napoli, Genoa and Fiorentina all sharing points with lesser rated teams meant the Blucerchiati head into this Sunday’s crucial Derby della Lanterna in equal 4th spot.

On the horizon there is the definite possibilty of a lead change in Serie A this weekend. Roma will know on Saturday night if they have the change to usurp Inter as Mourinho’s men play away to Fiorentina in the late game, while the result of the Saturday evening match between Napoli and Parma will be closely watched by both Sampdoria and Palermo. On Sunday, Cagliari have the opportunity to inflict further misery on Juventus, and Doria fans will be hoping that Chievo can cause some mischief in Sicily before all attention turns to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in the evening for what promises to be a truly incendiary encounter.

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