Sporting
01-30-2003, 02:36 AM
didn't expect that :D
MILAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Chievo midfielder Dario Passoni and Vicenza defender Alessandro Dal Canto are close to making surprise transfers to Russian club Uralan Elista, it was reported on Wednesday.
Uralan, who finished 13th in the Russian premier league last season, appointed former Inter Milan and Bologna forward Igor Shalimov as their coach in December.
"The agreement for Dal Canto is practically a done deal," agent Giocondo Martorelli, who is handling the proposed moves, told the daily Corriere della Sera. "For Passoni, however, we still need to convince Chievo."
But Passoni said he was ready to make the switch from Serie A to a provincial Russian team.
"I would go there to play. In fact, it is an adventure that fascinates me. Why not go into history as the first Italian player to emigrate to Russia?
"I have been told that (Elista) is a very ugly city, really sad. It is in the middle of sand dunes and the climate is terrible -- torrid in summer and freezing in winter.
"I have a family, a wife and a little lad of three but I would move just the same -- maybe at the start they would just visit me," said Passoni.
Martorelli said Russia along with China could become popular destinations for footballers at a time when cash is tight in Italian and west European football.
"Russia, together with China are the frontiers of the new football, also for our players. They are places that have money and a desire to invest in sport," said the agent.
MILAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Chievo midfielder Dario Passoni and Vicenza defender Alessandro Dal Canto are close to making surprise transfers to Russian club Uralan Elista, it was reported on Wednesday.
Uralan, who finished 13th in the Russian premier league last season, appointed former Inter Milan and Bologna forward Igor Shalimov as their coach in December.
"The agreement for Dal Canto is practically a done deal," agent Giocondo Martorelli, who is handling the proposed moves, told the daily Corriere della Sera. "For Passoni, however, we still need to convince Chievo."
But Passoni said he was ready to make the switch from Serie A to a provincial Russian team.
"I would go there to play. In fact, it is an adventure that fascinates me. Why not go into history as the first Italian player to emigrate to Russia?
"I have been told that (Elista) is a very ugly city, really sad. It is in the middle of sand dunes and the climate is terrible -- torrid in summer and freezing in winter.
"I have a family, a wife and a little lad of three but I would move just the same -- maybe at the start they would just visit me," said Passoni.
Martorelli said Russia along with China could become popular destinations for footballers at a time when cash is tight in Italian and west European football.
"Russia, together with China are the frontiers of the new football, also for our players. They are places that have money and a desire to invest in sport," said the agent.