Foto Source: The Sun
Luciano Spalletti won the Russia Championship and the Cup last season with Zenit Sankt Petersburg, but failed to participate in the UEFA Champions League group stages. With the summer approaching fast, the Italian manager looks to seriously improve the squad and hopes to reach the group stage of the biggest continental competition next season. Spalletti, whose first champion title was the one won with Zenit few months ago, follows few of his former players, but some other international stars from Serie A as well.
27-year-old Federico Marchetti and Udinese’s Samir Handanovic are targeted by Spalletti for the goalkeeper role. Marchetti was capped eight times for the Italian National Team, called-up especially when Buffon was unavailable, and is considered Buffon’s short and long-term replacement. Handanovic played 48 times for the Slovakian National Team, being the first choice for the goalkeeper role and one of the main reasons why Udinese is holding a great European Cup spot in the league.
Spalletti eyes two Romanian players for the defensive set-up, with Cristian Chivu (foto right), considered soon-to-be former Internazionale player, and Lazio’s new left back Stefan Radu topping the wishlist. Chivu is the Romanian National Team captain, capped 75 times, while 24-year-old Stefan Radu has been only capped nine times, being in the middle of a silent conflict with National Team Manager Razvan Lucescu, son of Shakhtar’s coach Mircea Lucescu.
Foto Source: Daily Mail
Internazionale Milano has another two players on Spalletti’s list. Dejan Stankovic and Goran Pandev are both closely tracked by Zenit. The former AS Roma manager would like to have Mirko Vucinic in his Russian team display, but is unlikely for the Montenegro international to leave, because he is an important part of the set-up on Olimpico.
Slovakian attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik (foto left) is followed by Spalletti too, but he is unlikely to choose the Russian team. The talented 23-year-old midfielder is closely tracked by several top European clubs and will probably choose Italy, Spain or England as his future destination. He played 130 times for Napoli, scoring 38 times in the process, and the playmaker was capped 43 times for his National Team, scoring eight times.
Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar, Fiorentina midfielfer Marco Donadel and Brescia’s Alessandro Diamanti are said to be trailed by the Italian manager as well.
