There is news today that Andrei Barzagli, the Italian center-back who plays for Palermo, will be leaving the club in the summer.
Andrea Barzagli – top center-back now available
He has 21 full caps for the full Italian side and also played often for the Italian youth sides.
Barzagli won a bronze medal with the Italian Olympic team in 2004 and was a consistent member of the Italian Youth sides playing 8 times for the Italian Under-20 team and 15 times for the Italian Under-21 side.
The 27 year-old 6’1″ center-back has been at Palermo since 2004, and has played for them 140 times and scored 5 goals.
There were signs that Sam Allardyce was interested to bring the Italian to Newcastle last summer, and there were several reports that Newcastle were indeed interested in the top defender.
During the 2006 World Cup he was a starter for the quarter-final against Ukraine – after an injury to Alessandro Nesta and the suspension of Marco Materazzi.
Indeed, over the last two seasons there has been constant speculation in Italy about his future – with Juventus seemingly interested in signing the player.
So far he is still at Palermo, but it now seems that his club are finally ready to sell him.
Last season he was valued at around £11M, and would not come cheaply, but he is also a top defender, and that money would be well spent.
What do you think about this player?
Comments welcome.
64 comments so far
sas1
May 15, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Comment #41MathewS.africa1988 – We haven’t been linked with Barzagli. We were ages ago. There’s no quotes to suggest he is leaving, there’s no reason to report this on a nufc site.
Ed does a great job, but this is getting out of hand.
Tom_Toon
May 15, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Comment #42Ed, I appreciate your site and work, however during this hectic time of transfer rumours, could you create one thread a day where you edit it when new transfer rumours come out. It would save both the readers and you (unless its harder to moderate) hassle. Just an idea but in my opinion a worthwhile one.
Cheers.
Leo
May 15, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Comment #43might be seen as a big name to some, it took me some time to read lol
ScottyT
May 15, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Comment #44tbh i agree with tom_toon 4 a change..
i find all the specualtion rather boring tbh. its a different player every hour owen to jef united topped the lot mind! haha
but i suggest people either just ignore the story or the above idea wouldnt be bad.
Hamas (51times)
May 15, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Comment #45KAKA SEEN OUTSIDE CLAYTON STREET FISH & CHIP SHOP
AC Milan and Brazil superstar Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, commonly known as Kaka, could be on his way to The Toon to join Mike Ashley’s Kevolution. The talented playmaker today said:
“I like fish”
We think that Kaka would be a wonderful signing by the club, and if there’s one person who can get him to Tyneside, it’s Dennis Wise.
Leo
May 15, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Comment #46he does that tom toon but its good also to have these articles also
Tom_Toon
May 15, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Comment #47But obviously doesnt stick to it. Not having a go but i dont see the point of an article: Toon Transfer Rumours (Date) then adding more on later.
scott 9
May 15, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Comment #48wud be a great signing wud rather hav dunne though
nitro
May 15, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Comment #49class defender but we would NEVER get him..same applies to arshavin,van der vaart,deco,rothen etc etc..u guys should get ur head out of ur arses and smell reality..people like dunne,shorey,ashton and what we are able to attract..
Tom_Toon
May 15, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Comment #50We can attract Rothen and Arshavin (less likely after last night).
Nathan
May 15, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Comment #51This site needs to stop leaving in dreamland we are not going to sign Barzagli, he is an awesome defender and will be snapped up by a big European force like Milan
Hamas (51times)
May 15, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Comment #52Nathan can you not read, Kaka said he likes fish, we have fish here, he’s obviously coming.
cris
May 15, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Comment #53tom_toon and others, your forgeting, we are NEWCASTLE UNITED! and we sign unrealistic players…………………and then make them shit by ruining ther carriers, keep the faith! TOON TOON BLACK AND WHITE ARMY!!1
robertsa
May 15, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Comment #54yep id like him in there but we are nothing compared to bayern, juventus and inter who are all looking to build strong squads
Stanley McKenzie
May 15, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #55Unfortunetly he is too good for us.
Taiwantoon
May 15, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Comment #56Yeah, Hamas. If Kaka does come, KK need to train him to like fish and chips first.
Hamas (51times)
May 15, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Comment #57My fish sauce tells me that he’s signing a 4 year contract
Bob
May 15, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Comment #58Its funny how these sort of articles get so much stick.
Yet, when Ed does a perfectly fine piece of reporting – “Newcastle Players Away on International Duty” – there’s only a couple of replies.
Yes, some of the headlines are sensationalist – but, at the end of the day, Ed creates discussion and that is only a good thing.
gallowgate31
May 15, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Comment #59Total change in direction, but did anyone watch Arshavin last night………… I thought he played exeptionally well, he had a look of an ‘in form ‘ Emre about him, I was well impressed.His through balls and crosses were spot on. Hope we go for this guy !
I spotted Huntelaar years ago when all the talk was about Drogba and that other fella who went to chelski , same thing has happened with Torres at the bin dippers, we knew but done nowt about it, hope those days are now well and truly gone..
Zog’s words today were of some comfort, maybes he has been reading this site.
noob
May 15, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Comment #60why dunt we just sign christiano ronaldo? he is the best player in the world for now,rite?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
tired of being linking to unrealistic target..
Kyle
May 16, 2008 at 1:01 AM
Comment #61i believe that defensivly we need minimal change, our defence has coped really well to the end of the season!!!! really we need midfielders, we need supportin midfielders to the defence and attack!!!! altho, we shud look to sign a young n promising talent from anderlect called antony vanden borre, really young and a goodin 4 the future, plays at right back n has deputised for the belgium team already, he’ about 18 and i reckon would link up really well with milner, No brazillian defenders as they are to attack minded!!!!!
Lawman
May 16, 2008 at 4:28 AM
Comment #62Deco’s just been released by Barca…… MA and Wee Denis, time to get your fingers out!
Cuellar and Arshavin looked good on Wednesday. Denisov looked not too bad either.
SINGA_TOON
May 16, 2008 at 5:09 AM
Comment #63Why bother about this player, he wont join us.
Because we are in the mid table, even if he wants to join, he will join the top 4 first.
I think we better look at other players who is much more better.
Taiwantoon
May 16, 2008 at 7:59 AM
Comment #64I am not so sure about Deco. Don’t get me wrong, he is a terrific player, skill wise better than all our current players. I am just worrying about his mentality and playing style…
Sorry to be so negative, but Veron just spring to my mind.