fantasista news...

Pastore to replace Milan-bound Hamsik, and Aguero to the Old Lady?
Marek Hamsik is the latest fantasista to be linked with a summer move away from his current club, with Serie A champions AC Milan the frontrunners for his signature.

'Are you listening Milan?' Hamsik wants Rossoneri move

The Slovakian number 10 has been quoted in the press back in his home country, stating that he feels his time at current club Napoli is coming to an end: ‘I'm young, but I still haven't won anything. Not a league championship not a cup competition.’
Hamsik then added further fuel to the Milan speculation: ’Massimiliano Allegri (coach) and (Vice-President) Adriano Galliani have praised me and joining Milan would be the turning point of my career.‘, before finally adding: ’I would say that it's time to win something now’.

News sparked an instant response from Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis. The movie producer wasted no time in insisting Hamsik was not for sale, and for those that garnered any hopes of signing him, it would take: ‘An indecent proposal that takes my breath away’. The colourful owner then added: ‘If there's someone who wants to sit around my table. It's a very expensive table, do come forward’. However, as the shockwaves rumbled through the city of Naples, De Laurentiis moved to defend his player: ‘His statements were translated in an astute fashion, this is sensational journalism, Marek is a good man who has never created any kind of problem. He’s a correct guy, a real professional. Let’s not demonize him.’

Hamsek, who turns 24 near the end of July, has spent the majority of his career in Italy, firstly with Brescia who signed him as a 17 year old from his native Slovakia, before moving to Naples in the summer of 2007. His value is believed to be around the €30m mark, and if Milan were to make such a move, the deal could spark a sensational chain of events involving other fantasista and Italian clubs.

Milan already have fantAntonio Cassano, who (as already mentioned in a previous article here) has yet again been linked with a move to Napoli, or more strongly, Fiorentina in recent times. Also, the Rossoneri have been strongly tipped to sign Santos and Brazilian fantasista starlet Ganso, after this summer’s South American championship concludes.

Is Pastore praying to leave Palermo?

Imagine that...an Argentine fantasista wearing the number 10 shirt at Napoli.
Whilst Pastore has been on the radar for a lot of clubs, Napoli hasn’t previously been one of them. One club that has, on more than one occasion, is Barcelona. They, according to some, have shortlisted three players for this summer. Pastore is apparently on that list and the European Champions may look to move, especially if the deals for Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas fall through. Pastore himself seems keen on the move, recently indicating that his agent has been in contact with the Spanish giants: ‘Marcelo Simonian (his agent) is in contact with Barcelona and other clubs, so he will certainly do what is best for me.’

Away from Milan and Naples, Juventus are looking to place themselves back amongst the big boys by becoming favourites to land Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero. Atletico’s number 10 looks set to leave the Madrid club - finally, though rumours early on had him making a sensational switch to arch-enemies and city rivals, Real. However, it seems that the Bianconeri are now in pole-position to sign Aguero, his agent stating they have a concrete offer from the club: ‘Contact with the Bianconeri has been constant, Aguero wants to move to a big club and Juventus fits this profile. The chances of seeing Aguero wear the Juve jersey are concrete’, he told Tuttosport on Tuesday.

Adios Atleti! Aguero looks certain to leave Atletico this summer

Juventus have recently completed a deal which has saw their parent company inject around €120 million into the club, with half being made available for transfers. It is understood that they want Aguero to be the first of their marquee signings. Juventus have already captured former fantasista, Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer earlier this summer.