Fabianni is not a happy camper, and other stuff

By: Jeremy | January 13th, 2009

Well, River Plate have declared dead the negotiations for Cristian Fabianni. Newell’s wants too much, and it doesn’t look like Santiago Salcedo wants to return, or at least so says his agent (and good friend of Lope$). I’d heard that the minimum was $500K and Salcedo. Since that is too rich for River’s blood, there is no deal.

For his part, Fabianni handled the news with all the class and elegance the ass hole has shown up to this point. He cried. Well, whined is more like it. He said that he will not be seen in Rosario. He’s prepared to sit the season out or return to Cluj in Romania. Just one problem. He is under contract and paid up to date, and his transfer was paid. So if he doesn’t return to work and fulfill his contract, Newell’s can file a complaint with AFA and FIFA and he will be out of work for two years for breach of contract.

I know he is an idiot, but can he be that big of an idiot?

Team captain and all around good guy, Rolando Schiavi said that Fabianni handled the situation wrong. I’m not sensing a lot of good will towards the Ogre from the rest of the team. It doesn’t look to good for his chances of returning.

Lucas Bernardi gave an interview and said the he is dealing with moving now and hopes to leave France on Friday to return to Argentina and join the team in preseason training. Bernardi is a defensive midfielder with lots of European experience. At 31 and coming off an injury, I am not sure what to expect on the pitch. Off the pitch I expect him to be a clubhouse leader.

In addition to the four friendlies scheduled -Racing Club and Huracan in Argentina; Everton and Colo Colo in Chile, la Lepra just added another against Colon.

Just for fun, here is a list of the players invited to Mar del Plata for training (compiled by the good folks over at 3 de Noviembre de 1903: Gracias Isaac
. I took the liberty to translate it and condense it a bit.

Goal keepers:
* 1-German Caffa
* 22-Sebastian Peratta
* 12-Lucas Hoyos
* ##-Gaston Canuto
Defenders:
Right Backs
* 8-Pablo Aguilar
* 2-Ivan Pillud
* ##-Martin Strano
Central Defenders
* 6-Rolando Schiavi
* 29-Juan Insaurralde
* 3-Nicolás Spolli
* 14-Alexis Machuca
Left Backs
* 16-German Re
* 34-Juan Quiroga
* 30-Ernesto Cristaldo
Midfielders:
Right:
* 17-Mauricio Sperdutti
* 35-Gaston Machin
* 26-Pablo Perez
Center:
* 5-Hernan Bernardello
* 25-Pablo Monsalvo
* ##-Carlos Vaca
Left:
* 21-Leonel Vangioni
* 18-Matias Donnet
Attacking/Hook
* 23-Leandro Torres
* 33-Mauro Formica
* 28-Sebastian Grazzini
Forwards:
Striker:
* 11-Diego Torres
* 7-Damian Steinert
* 20-Alejandro Da Silva
Center:
* 24-Leandro Armani
* ##-Federico Falcone

The four guys without numbers are from the inferiores and will be participating in their first preseason with la Lepra. The one with probably the best shot at making the team is Falcone, for two reasons. One, he plays the Ogre’s position and with Fabianni going nuts, we need one. Two, from everything I have read about this kid, he’s a beast in the box.

Juan Fideleff is off training with the U20, so he won’t be in camp.