Following the club’s unfortunate exit from the Champions League and the
upcoming transfer window in January 2009, the Fiorentina may be forced to part
ways with more than a few players mid-season.
At the top of the transfer list are strikers
Giampaolo Pazzini and Pablo Osvaldo, both of whom have seen limited action this
season. Despite this, they have piqued the interest of several clubs and may
have already played their final matches for the Viola.
Following them out the door could be winger Franco Semioli and defender
Manuel Pasqual, both of whom featured with some regularity a season ago but
have struggled to make an impact of late. Nonetheless, with several top clubs
reportedly interested, including Roma, Napoli and Juventus, it seems fairly certain
that they will be leaving Florence in the near future.
On the buying front, the club has been linked
with an offer on Italy defender Andrea Barzagli, who reportedly wants to move
back to Italy from his German club, Wolfsburg. Barzagli, born in Fiesole, was
near to a deal with Fiorentina last summer before he joined Wolfsburg, and he
is seen as the ideal sign to secure the somewhat shaky Viola backline.
