The enthusiasm expressed by the Viola at the start of 2009 quickly went
awry, starting with Mutu’s injury during a game against Torino on January 12. Player
transfers, injuries and a series of referee contestations have put the Viola on
a downward slide, resulting in a mainly lackluster performance and far too
little points acquired in the Serie A over the last two weeks.
VIOLA TRANSFERS. Florence bid a final, heart-felt farewell to striker
Giampoalo Pazzini, who moved to Genoa’s Sampdoria, where he hopes to get more time on the
pitch. The Genova-based team bought Pazzini’s contract for nine million euro.
As part of the deal, they received forward Emiliano Bonazzoli from Sampdoria on
loan. Deciding not to hold an official press conference following his decision
to leave AC Fiorentina, Pazzini instead chose the pages of local daily Corriere Fiorentino as the platform where he said goodbye to Viola fans:
‘Thank you fans for the four years I have spent in Florence. A part of my heart
will always remain Viola. See you on the pitch’. The Viola also announced the
transfer of Argentinean forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo to Bologna for seven million euro.
VIOLA CITY. Fiorentina club chief
Andrea Della Valle has announced that he plans to follow through with the
construction of a new stadium for the Viola. ‘Nothing is being built for future
generations in Florence. We proposed an important
project for the city. Take for example the fact that there is no Museum of Modern Art in Florence. I think this is
crazy…Regardless of the multiple problems we have encountered with Viola City, I am not abandoning this
project’. Meanwhile, members of the local administration have been in heated
debate over where the new stadium should be located. Initially, many proposed
the Campo di Marte area but new constructions in that area would be difficult
because of the railway. Two locations are being discussed: the first is in the
Castello area, close to the city center, and the second is in the Osmannoro
area. A decision is expected in late January.
REFEREE MISTAKES. After
a series of recent mistakes made by referees, Viola club president Andrea Della
Valle is intent on taking action. Bad calls were made in previous losses
against Lecce and Milan, but after the game played against Juventus on
January 24, in which a goal by Alberto Gilardino was incorrectly disallowed for
offside, and a penalty was denied for a foul on Jovetic, the Della Valle
bitterly lashed out against the referee in a televised post-match wrap up. ‘I
give my compliments to the players who showed they can compete with the big
teams, but I am truly undignified…This has been going on for quite a few games
now, these are clear situations that even a child would see. I will take some
action, we have reached the limit, we deserve respect. [Referee Pierluigi]
Collina has to explain this attitude by the referees. My team was constructed
to compete at high levels; we cannot be penalized like this all the time. I am
offended for ourselves and the city’.
