Giants in Marchionni chase

Thursday 29 December, 2005

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Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina are set to go head to head in the transfer market for Parma winger Marco Marchionni and Ternana’s Luis Jimenez.

The wide midfielder’s contract expires at the end of this season and the free agent will be a tempting prospect for any of the big clubs.


Although he was out of action for almost seven months with a knee ligament injury, the 25-year-old has been one of the Gialloblu’s best players so far this term.


However, he has repeatedly hinted that a renewal is not on the cards, so he can begin official negotiations with interested parties in January.


Inter and Juventus are the main contenders for Marchionni’s signature, though there is an intriguing proposition from Fiorentina.


Marchionni would be able to reunite with his former Parma boss Cesare Prandelli at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and it’s well know the Viola are looking for a wide midfielder during the transfer window.


He is an Italian international with two caps under his belt, having made his debut during the 3-1 defeat in Poland on November 12, 2003. Marchionni first achieved notoriety with Empoli before joining Parma in 2001.


Meanwhile, Fiorentina seem to have wrapped up the capture of Ternana’s 21-year-old Chilean creative midfielder Luis Antonio Garces Jimenez – a former target for Juve, Inter, Roma and Lazio.


“There is a difference of £345,000 between offer and demand,” explained agent Rocco Dozzini on Lady Radio this afternoon. “The two parties have come closer together over the past few days, but there are a few details to work out before we can make the move official. Jimenez would consider Fiorentina to be a very important career step.”