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Serie A Review: Fiorentina go top and Juventus win again
6 January 2016
Fiorentina moved two points clear at the top of Serie A – for a few hours at least – after another impressive away-day showing at Palermo.
The Viola have now lost just one of their last five games on the road in the league with Josip Ilicic netting twice in a 3-1 success in Sicily.
Ilicic scored both of his goals before half-time to put the visitors in control and, after Palermo threatened a comeback via a late Alberto Gilardino strike, Jakub Blaszczykowski made sure of the points for Fiorentina.
Inter can reclaim top spot with a win at Empoli later on Wednesday.
Juve registered an eighth successive Serie A win with a 3-0 defeat of Verona in Turin.
Paulo Dybala broke the deadlock from a free-kick after just eight minutes as Juve dominated the early exchanges against winless Verona – coached by former Bianconeri boss Luigi Delneri.
The hosts' second came courtesy of a powerful Leonardo Bonucci header before half-time and Simone Zaza came off the bench to round off the scoring eight minutes from time.
Juve are now third, a point ahead of Napoli, who host Torino in the final game of the day.
Roma remain in fifth following a pulsating 3-3 draw at Chievo.
Sadiq Umar and Alessandro Florenzi handed Roma a 2-0 half-time lead only for Alberto Paloschi and Dario Dainelli to level matters after 58 minutes.
Roma went ahead again through Iago Falque, but Simone Pepe ensured a share of the spoils for the home side with five minutes to go.
Lazio drew 0-0 with Carpi, while a late goal from on-loan Sunderland midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini handed Bologna a 1-0 win at AC Milan to heap more pressure on Rossoneri boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Elsewhere, struggling Frosinone earned a useful 2-2 draw at Sassuolo and Udinese edged out Atalanta 2-1.
A 5-1 thrashing of Frosinone helped Napoli reach the Serie A summit at the season's halfway stage after Inter suffered a last-gasp defeat to Sassuolo.
Being crowned 'winter champions' may hold significance for the San Paolo side, who were also top of the pile at the same stage when they last won the Scudetto in 1990.
Andrea Consigli's heroic performance in goal for Sassuolo and a last-gasp Domenico Berardi penalty at San Siro put Roberto Mancini's Inter under threat in top spot, and Napoli capitalised in ruthless fashion.
Maurizio Sarri's men dominated from the start at the Stadio Comunale Matusa and deservedly went a goal up after 20 minutes, as Raul Albiol found the net from close range following Jorginho's corner.
Gonzalo Higuain scored from the penalty spot on the half-hour and took his tally for the season to 18 just a minute after Marek Hamsik had put Napoli three goals to the good in the second half.
Manolo Gabbiadini replaced Higuain and got in on the act himself with the visitors' fifth and Paolo Sammarco netted a consolation goal late on.
Genoa recorded an important 2-0 away win over Atalanta following late goals from Blerim Dzemaili and Leonardo Pavelotti, while a single Franco Vazquez strike saw Palermo defeat Verona at the Bentegodi.
Bologna were beaten 1-0 at home by Chievo, with Simone Pepe scoring the winner in the 79th minute after Mattia Destro had previously missed a penalty for the hosts.
Finally, veteran striker Massimo Maccarone scored his eighth goal of the season to help Empoli ease past Torino.
The winner of the 2015 Ballon d'Or will be announced on Monday, with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar vying for the award.
But who are the young players best placed to be in the running for the honour in years to come? Here we break down the likely future contenders for football's most prestigious individual prize.
Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
The Belgium playmaker enjoyed a stellar 2015. After helping Wolfsburg secure Champions League qualification, De Bruyne joined Premier League side Manchester City in a club-record move and he has already gone some way to justifying his hefty price tag. With five goals and eight assists in the Premier League, De Bruyne is already an integral part of the City side and, if he can help them to the title and inspire his country to Euro 2016 glory, the 24-year-old could be one of those present at next year's ceremony.
Thiago Alcantara - Bayern Munich
While some may have questioned Thiago Alcantara's decision to trade Catalonia for Bavaria in 2013 when he left Barcelona, the diminutive Spain midfielder is gradually establishing himself as a key player for Bayern Munich. Injuries have hampered his club and international aspirations but the 24-year-old already has seven assists this season and, if selected in the Spain squad for Euro 2016, he will have the perfect platform to announce himself on the world stage.
Paul Pogba - Juventus
Arguably the most in-demand player in the world game, Pogba has been pivotal to Juventus' rise back to the top of Italian football. The France midfielder has won three Serie A titles with the Turin giants and reached the Champions League final last season, with Juve only denied a treble-winning campaign by an unstoppable Barcelona team. Combative, dynamic and with an eye for goal, perhaps the most impressive thing about Pogba is that he is only 22 and has plenty of time to get even better. A winner of the 2013 Golden Boy award, a successful Euros with hosts France could cement Pogba's status as one of the world's best.
Antoine Griezmann - Atletico Madrid
Another member of an exciting new generation of French footballers, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is a player who continues to make huge strides each season. His debut campaign after leaving Real Sociedad for Atletico was an emphatic success as Griezmann netted 25 goals in all competitions. He already has 13 for an Atletico side that is challenging for the Liga title again this term and, with his electric pace and finishing ability, Griezmann has all the tools to help Atletico and France succeed and catapult himself into contention for the 2016 Ballon d'Or.
Douglas Costa - Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich added to their embarrassment of riches in the close-season by bringing in Brazil winger Douglas Costa from Shakhtar Donetsk and he has slotted in effortlessly at the Allianz Arena. Voted as the Bundesliga's best outfield player by Kicker, Costa has 12 assists to his name in the league - with Bayern once again coasting towards the title - and has a further two in the Champions League. The challenge for Costa, who has scored five goals in all competitions, will be to push Bayern to European success and help Brazil win the Copa America for the first time in nine years at the Copa America Centenario. He will have a strong case to be in the Ballon d'Or running if he can do so.
Stephan El Shaarawy looks set for an imminent return to Serie A after Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev claimed he is no longer in the plans of coach Leonardo Jardim.
El Shaarawy joined Monaco on loan at the start of the season from Italian outfit AC Milan.
The 23-year-old has failed to score in 15 Ligue 1 appearances this term, though he has found the back of the net three times in European competition.
Vasilyev said the principality club are in negotiations over El Shaarawy's exit amid interest from Roma.
"El Shaarawy is not any more in the project of the head coach of Monaco," he said.
"We are currently negotiating to find a solution. Maybe it’s not a comeback in Milan. It could be elsewhere.
"We are not planning to make him play again. That’s not planned. He’s a great player with a lot of qualities. He’s an international player with Italy. We need to find the right solution for everyone. I hope we will."
The forward will be hoping for a quick solution to the situation with Euro 2016 quickly approaching.
"We are discussing with Milan, his agent and other clubs in order to find something," Vasilyev added.
"I would like for Stephan that he keeps playing in order to be at the Euro because I know that the head coach, [Antonio] Conte, is thinking of him.
"I would like to find the right solution for him."
Milan CEO Adriano Galliani confirmed the negotiations with fellow Serie A club Roma.
"There are negotiations with Roma for El Shaarawy," Galliani told Mediaset Premium.
"If we were to reach an agreement with Roma, we’d have to sit around a table to find a solution."
Mario Balotelli will be included in the matchday squad to face Carpi in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has confirmed.
The 25-year-old has not featured since the 1-0 defeat to Genoa on September 27 due to a niggling groin problem.
Mihajlovic said after the 1-0 defeat to Bologna this month that a lack of available options in attack has damaged his side's form, but the return of Balotelli and positive news concerning Jeremy Menez have given the under-fire coach a timely boost.
"Balotelli will be available for tomorrow's game," the coach said on Tuesday.
"I hope Menez comes back soon. He is training with the group, the important thing is that he doesn't feel any pain. He might return before the end of January."
Mihajlovic has described the quarter-final clash with Carpi as Milan's most important game of the season as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time since 2003.
"It won't be easy against Carpi, they're a team who fight for 90 minutes, but tomorrow's match is the most important of the season.
"The objective tomorrow is to progress, we're focused on this match and if we play as I know we can then we have a good chance of winning."
Luiz Adriano is in talks over a move away from AC Milan just six months into his career at San Siro.
The 28-year-old joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in July in an €8million deal but has struggled to find his feet in Italy, scoring just five goals in 20 appearances in all competitions.
Reports have gathered pace that Milan are willing to cash in on the striker in order to bolster their funds for some further investment in January, as they aim to mount a challenge for the Champions League places in Serie A.
And, despite head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic having voiced his concern over his side's attacking threat in recent weeks, Milan have confirmed the Brazilian will not face Carpi in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday due to negotiations taking place over a move.
"Luiz Adriano is not in the squad for Milan-Carpi because he is at the centre of transfer negotiations," Milan Channel stated on Tuesday.
Clubs in Russia and China have been linked with the former Internacional striker, who scored nine goals in last season's Champions League for Shakhtar.
Brazilian defender Henrique has left Napoli and returned to his homeland, joining Fluminense on a permanent deal.
The 29-year-old moved from Palmeiras to Napoli during the January transfer window in 2014, but has struggled to earn a regular place in the first team during his near two-year stint in Naples.
Henrique made 29 appearances for the current Serie A leaders in all competitions and had not featured at all in the current campaign under manager Maurizio Sarri.
Napoli confirmed the deal via their official Twitter account, thanking the player for his commitment and professionalism while with them.
Fluminense finished 13th in Brazil's top tier last season. They conceded 49 goals in 38 league games and finished only five points clear of the relegation zone.
'A great adventure that ended too soon' - Rudi Garcia reacts to Roma sacking
Jan 14, 2016 19:41:03
The 51-year-old has thanked the club for a positive experience, but feels his spell in charge ended prematurely
Sacked Roma coach Rudi Garcia has thanked the club's fans and staff, while rueing the fact his spell in charge came to what he felt was a premature end.
The 51-year-old led the team to consecutive second-place finishes in Serie A in his first two seasons at the helm, having previously guided Lille to a double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 2010-11.
But he was axed on Wednesday after a run of only one win in 10 matches, with Luciano Spalletti returning to the club to replace him on Thursday.
Garcia leaves Roma fifth in the table after 19 matches and with a daunting tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 to come.
The Giallorossi are already out of the Coppa Italia, having lost at home to Serie B side Spezia last month.
Following his sacking, Garcia wrote on Twitter: "I would like to wish all the best to my players, staff and everyone who works at Roma.
"I go away with some great memories of the times we shared. From a personal and professional perspective, it was a great adventure, albeit one that ended too soon.
"All the best to every single Roma fan. Never forget: 'Don't question Roma, just love the club.' And I do love this club. FORZA ROMA FOREVER!"
Roma host bottom-of-the-table Verona in Spalletti's first match back in charge on Sunday.
Higuain inspires Napoli win as Inter stumble again
By Dom Farrell
Jan 16, 2016 23:51:28
The former Real Madrid forward scored twice as Maurizio Sarri's men came from behind to earn a victory over Sassuolo, while Inter dropped points with a 1-1 draw at Atalanta
Gonzalo Higuain netted a brace as Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a 3-1 win over Sassuolo on Saturday.
With Inter losing 1-0 to the same opposition last weekend, Napoli were well aware of the possible banana skin, but cruised to victory after Jose Callejon cancelled out Diego Falcinelli's third-minute penalty.
That was Callejon's first Serie A goal since April 2015, but his fellow former Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain has been far more prolific and the Argentina international then took centre-stage.
Higuain timed his run superbly to convert Marek Hamsik's cutback three minutes before half-time and he scored his 20th goal in as many league matches deep into second-half stoppage time.
Inter, meanwhile, suffered a setback in their attempt to win the Scudetto, drawing 1-1 at Atalanta.
Roberto Mancini's men fell behind due to an early Jeison Murillo own-goal at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, but Rafael Toloi soon followed suit by slicing into his own net to give Inter a point, though they are now four behind Napoli.
Champions Juventus will be Napoli's nearest challengers, two points behind, if they win at Udinese on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Ciro Immobile opened the scoring with a penalty on his Torino return and Andrea Belotti netted a brace before setting up Marco Benassi in Torino's 4-2 win over third-bottom Frosinone.
The Nerazzurri were held to a statemate on Saturday and the Nerazzurri boss revealed his frustration with the performances of his attackers
Roberto Mancini has demanded more from Inter's strikers after they failed to break down Atalanta resistance in Saturday's poor 1-1 draw.
An own goal from Rafael Toloi salvaged a point from Saturday's clash for the visitors after Jeison Murillo had turned into his own net early in the first half.
Stevan Jovetic and Mauro Icardi had been criticised for their form together prior to the game and, though their link-up forced Toloi's error, they looked short of inspiration in a flat Inter attack for long spells.
And Mancini insists his forwards must do more in the coming weeks if they are to sustain their title charge, telling Mediaset Premium: "I'm not happy, someone needs to do more to get these games won.
"I don't want to talk about individuals, we have good players in attack who must do more. It was a difficult match, but we gifted the first goal.
"We are not a side that scores many goals, which is why certain players must start scoring more.
"We did well to fight back from that own goal and get the point, but at times we try to do too much and get the simple things wrong. This is where we have to improve.
"We were on top of the table for 14 rounds, which means we have quality. We mustn't throw points away as we did against Lazio and Sassuolo.
"It's important to keep calm as we have the quality to get back there.
"The objective remains the same and if we stop giving away goals then I believe we can stay at the top for a long time."
Samir Handanovic made a handful of important saves to ensure at least a point for Inter, the pick of which was a spectacular sprawling stop to deny Luca Cigarini from close range.
"The goalkeeper is there to make saves and Handanovic had two or three situations where he did a great job," Mancini said of the Slovenia international.
Inter could now slip to fourth on Sunday should Juventus and Fiorentina win their respective games against Udinese and AC Milan this weekend.
Massimiliano Allegri believes it is wrong to compare Paulo Dybala with Carlos Tevez after the Argentina forward inspired Juventus to a 4-0 win at Udinese.
Dybala scored a free-kick and a penalty as Juve romped to victory at the Stadio Friuli, in what was Udinese's first game at their home ground since the completion of renovation work.
Former Palermo star Dybala now has 11 Serie A goals this campaign and his form has led some to compare him with compatriot Tevez - who won two league titles and a Coppa Italia during a prolific two-year spell at Juve before departing for Boca Juniors in the close-season.
However, head coach Allegri feels the two have contrasting styles, telling Mediaset: "They are two different players, both in age and technical characteristics.
"Dybala has his entire career ahead of him, he is a very balanced guy and knows what he wants. Paulo has improved a lot but we must not put pressure on him."
All of Juve's goals came in a dominant first half in which Sami Khedira and Alex Sandro were also on target, while a red card for Udinese's Danilo further aided their cause.
Juve have now won 10 straight matches, but Allegri insisted Napoli - who are two points clear of the champions at the top - remain favourites for the title.
"Napoli are going at a remarkable tempo, so they are the Scudetto favourites for now, but there are still five teams up there who have a chance of winning the title," he said.
"We missed many things in the first half of the season, but I was not worried because we changed so much over the summer.
"A period of adjustment was only to be expected. We still have a lot of work to do and can improve further."
From their very first Juventus training session together, the Italian legend insists he knew his ex-companion was destined for great things
Andrea Pirlo hailed former Juventus team-mate Paul Pogba as the best young prospect he has seen throughout his career.
The pair featured alongside one another under Antonio Conte as Juve claimed three successive Scudetti between 2013 and 2015, before Pirlo left for New York City last year.
Pogba departed Manchester United in 2012 after refusing to sign a new contract and was snapped up by the Turin giants.
The young Frenchman immediately impressed the World Cup-winning midfielder, who feels he is continuing to improve as he develops physically.
"Pogba is the best youngster I have seen. We understood he was a great player from his first training session," Pirlo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"He was skinny but his legs allowed him to be everywhere. Now he is bigger and stronger."
Pogba came to be seen as Pirlo's heir in the Juve midfield, while Lazio's Danilo Cataldi and Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain have received a similar tag in relation to the national team.
However, Pirlo disagrees with such suggestions, adding: "Cataldi is different as he is more of a box-to-box midfielder.
"Verratti isn't like me either, but he is a player that can play in the national team for the next 20 years."
The 36-year-old also questioned the attitude of young players in the modern game, suggesting many are more interest in the limelight than pushing for success.
"Now a youngster trains with the first team and they think they have made it. The most important thing is to be there and take pictures," said Pirlo.
"There are some [who are more professional]. [Juventus defender] Daniele Rugani is one, while [Fiorentina forward] Federico Bernardeschi is a serious professional, though I don't know him as well.
"People say that youngsters don't play in Italy but look at [16-year-old AC Milan goalkeeper] Gianluigi Donnarumma. If you are good enough, you will play."
Inter boss Roberto Mancini accused Maurizio Sarri of using homophobic language during their Coppa Italia quarter-final on Tuesday, as well as labelling the Napoli coach a racist.
Goals from Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic sent Inter into the semi-finals but, following the latter's late strike, Mancini and Sarri clashed on the touchline at the San Paolo.
Mancini alleged in his post-match television interview that Sarri had used Italian homophobic slurs "frocio" and "finocchio" towards him - describing the Napoli boss as "shameful".
"Sarri is a racist and men like him should be drummed out of football. I got up to ask the fourth official why there were five minutes of added time," an emotional Mancini told Rai Sport.
"Sarri then got up and shouted 'frocio' and 'finocchio' at me. I would be proud to be that, if he is what is considered a man.
"The fourth official heard everything but didn't say a word and I was sent off. This incident overshadows the rest of the match and is an embarrassment.
"I am not remotely interested in talking about the game. He is a 60-year-old man, he should be ashamed. You can argue, but this is shameful.
"I went to find him and he apologised, but I told him he should be ashamed. In England he would not be allowed to set foot on the field."
Sarri claimed after the game that he could not remember what he had said, blaming his outburst on the "adrenaline" of the moment.
The Napoli coach said: "Am I homophobic? That seems over the top. I was just irritable."
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has hinted at the impending exit of midfielder Fredy Guarin in the January transfer window.
Guarin is the target of Chinese Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning and they are reportedly set to offer Inter €18million for the Colombian.
The 29-year-old was left out of Inter's squad in their 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Napoli on Tuesday, prompting questions over his future with the Serie A club.
"He is still an Inter player," Ausilio told Rai Sport. “There's no point hiding, we are in negotiations, but until the documents are signed we cannot talk about a done deal. We'll see where all these negotiations take us.
“If Guarin did leave, he'd be replaced in the squad, but we'll make those evaluations later on."
Ausilio did not want to be drawn into speculation over who Inter will replace him with.
"It makes sense to link good players with Inter but that doesn't mean they're the right ones," he added.
"We're weighing up a few options with the coach but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be a midfielder.
"I've not ruled out other names, we're keeping an eye on everything. We definitely can't sign a non-EU player."
Scudetto still possible for AC Milan, claims Mihajlovic
22 January 2016 17:28
AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic believes his team still have a chance of winning Serie A this season despite trailing leaders Napoli by 12 points.
An impressive 2-0 home win over Fiorentina last Sunday moved the San Siro side up to sixth and they have only lost two of their last 13 league matches.
Milan are still eight points adrift of Inter in the third Champions league spot, but Mihajlovic is not ruling out an even higher target of Scudetto glory after his team's recent upturn in fortunes.
Ahead of a key away game at eighth-placed Empoli – who have only lost one of their last eight league matches – on Saturday, the ex-Sampdoria boss insisted the title was still up for grabs.
"The championship is still open," said Mihajlovic. "If we play like we did against Fiorentina we stand a good chance.
"I would like to see more continuity in my team. We have the right characteristics and I saw them after Fiorentina. Against Fiorentina it took generosity, cynicism, attitude, desire to win.
"These are all things that depend on us. We can win if we show them. We have to put together so many positive things to give consistency to our results.
"The team is growing. In respect of the past four years, after 20 games we have the most points of any Milan, but the fact we could have had more points makes me angry."
Mihajlovic's future has been the subject of significant speculation throughout this season, but the 46-year-old has not allowed that to bother him.
He added: "My future? I never doubted my stay here – I have a contract and a clear conscience.
"I work hard and always keep going. I can only worry about my team and the next match, then what will happen will happen."
Giuseppe Rossi has joined Levante from Fiorentina until the end of the season, the Liga club have confirmed.
Former Villarreal striker Rossi has started just four Serie A games in 2015-16 after battling to regain full fitness following his latest knee problem.
The 28-year-old has now opted to return to Spain for first-team football as he aims to get his career back on track after a succession of injuries with which he has been blighted since 2011.
"Levante and Fiorentina have reached an agreement for the signing of Giuseppe Rossi until the end of the season," a statement released by the Spanish club on Friday confirmed.
Rossi revealed to supporters on Twitter that he was saddened to be leaving the Artemio Franchi but was desperate to get back to playing regularly.
"I'm the first to be disappointed because I owe a debt to the Fiorentina fans," Rossi said. "I gave my all in everything I've done, from therapy to training in recent times, because I wanted to continue to give them emotions on the pitch. But it's hard to do when chances are few and far between.
"Football is life for me, and if you take that away from me I can never be happy. I hope that you and the Fiorentina fans can understand me because I want to smile again. I'll always keep the Viola in my heart, and I can never forget the goosebumps you gave me on Sundays."
Rossi excelled with Villarreal during his previous spell in La Liga, before he twice damaged knee ligaments in a 12-month period prior to his move to Fiorentina.
Tello joins Fiorentina on loan until end of season
22 January 2016 22:01
Cristian Tello has joined Fiorentina on loan until the end of the season after the Barcelona winger's temporary deal with Porto was rescinded.
Tello joined Porto for a two-year term in July 2014 and has played 33 games in his time at Estadio do Dragao, scoring eight goals.
However, he will now move to the Stadio Artemio Franchi to boost a Fiorentina side challenging for the Serie A title.
A Barcelona statement read: "FC Barcelona and ACF Fiorentina have reached an agreement for the loan of Cristian Tello until 30 June 2016, his current loan agreement until the end of the season with FC Porto is rescinded.
"With this new loan, ACF Fiorentina will take over the conditions of the agreement between FC Barcelona and FC Porto."
Fiorentina are fourth in the league, six points adrift of Napoli having lost three of their last five games in the Italian top flight.
Tello's arrival in Florence follows the signings of Mauro Zarate from West Ham and Tino Costa, who joined on loan from Russian side Spartak Moscow.
Fiorentina, who are six points off top spot after losing their last two matches, host Torino on Sunday.
Stephan El Shaarawy has completed his switch to Roma on loan until the end of the season from Serie A rivals AC Milan - with the view to a permanent move.
The Italy international endured a disappointing loan spell at Monaco in the first half of the 2015-16 campaign, and subsequently returned to San Siro.
Rather than make up part of Sinisa Mihajlovic's squad, El Shaarawy has become the first signing for Luciano Spalletti since he replaced Rudi Garcia in the Italian capital.
As part of the deal Roma will pay Milan €1.4million for the initial loan spell, with an agreement in place to make the deal permanent for a fee of €13m.
"I've joined Roma to show what I can do - to myself, the coach and the Italian game as a whole," he told Roma TV.
"I hope to repay the faith the club is showing in me and therefore I want to give 100 per cent when I play to try and achieve great things here."
New Fiorentina striker Mauro Zarate has revealed he never felt fully comfortable playing for West Ham as he was not deployed in what he believes is his best position.
The 28-year-old moved to Upton Park in May 2014 but the Argentinian never established himself as first choice and had a brief loan spell at QPR.
Zarate joined Fiorentina earlier this month, returning to Serie A where he previously played for Lazio and Inter.
And he is confident that head coach Paulo Sousa will get the best out of him in a way that Sam Allardyce and Slaven Bilic did not at West Ham.
"I am happy to be back in Italy with a great team, and to show how I can play," he said.
"It is a good chance for me to get back on track. In England, it was good because English football is enjoyable, but I wasn't too comfortable with my role at the club.
"That is why I decided to come here. I prefer to play in a free, attacking role, one that allows me to roam.
"I have already spoken with Sousa and he has assured me I will have that here."
Zarate made his debut for Fiorentina on Sunday with a brief substitute appearance in their 2-0 win over Torino.