Luca Toni double strike against Genoa

Luca Toni double strike against Genoa

Roma striker Luca Toni is hoping his two-goal display against Genoa on Sunday caught the eye of Italy coach Marcello Lippi.

The 32-year-old, on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season, notched his first goals since his return to Serie A football in the 3-0 win.

Toni made the move to Roma at the start of this month following a difficult spell in the Bundesliga, where a lack of playing time has damaged his chances of making Italy's World Cup squad.

But the striker is hopeful Sunday's performance will have gone some way to remedying that.

"Lippi knows what I'm capable of in the national side and I've already had many happy moments wearing that shirt," he told reporters. "I know the better I do at Roma the more chances I will have to join the national side.

"Right now, what's important for me is to score many goals to put Roma ahead."

The result against Genoa marked Roma's third win in four games and extended the Giallorossi's unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Their next league match is at Juventus, who are also battling for a place in the Champions League, and Toni is hopeful his team can produce another winning performance.

"We are happy and the better we do, the more enthusiastic we are," he added. "We'll have to play Juve now and we hope it will be a great match."

Read More

Luca Toni switches to Roma

Luca Toni switches to Roma

Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni is "more than convinced" he will be a Roma player by January 2.

The 32-year-old is surplus to requirements at the Bundesliga club and has seemed increasingly likely to be on his way to Roma.

Toni believes he will officially seal his return to Italy on Saturday.

"We hope that things will go as well as they should do and to all take satisfaction from this," the Italy international told radio station Centro Suono Sport.

"I'm very up for this, I want this situation and at the end this situation has to happen.

"I am more than convinced that on the second I'll be at Roma.

"We hope to find ourselves there on January 2 and do have six great months."

Toni has fallen out with Bayern coach Louis van Gaal and is no longer wanted by the Dutchman.

A return to Italy would boost his chances of forcing his way back into Marcello Lippi's plans for next summer's World Cup.

Read More

Mourinho in search of striker

Mourinho in search of striker

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is seeking to reinforce his squad with a striker in the winter transfer window.

With Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o set to compete in the African Nations Cup in the new year, Mourinho's only demand is for Inter to acquire a forward.

"Considering we will lose Eto'o for a month-and-a-half, I would like a striker in January," said Mourinho in a press conference.

Lazio striker Goran Pandev and Bayern Munich forward Luca Toni, both of of favour with their respective clubs, have been linked with a move to Inter.

"It's impossible that in a given player you have all the qualities that we need," said Mourinho. "Pandev is not Toni in the area but Toni is not Pandev in terms of speed and creativity.

"But Toni is a Bayern player and Pandev is a Lazio player and none of these player are free agents or are easy to sign.

"Hence, I leave the decision to the club.

"If they are able to sign one that would be good, otherwise, we will stick with what we have."

Read More

Luca Toni needs regular time game

Luca Toni needs regular time game

Luca Toni has not ruled out leaving Bayern Munich this season if he is not guaranteed playing time.

The Italy international has sat out Bayern's opening four Bundesliga games with a tendinitis problem but expects to be a starter in Louis van Gaal's side when he returns to fitness.

"With Van Gaal there is a particular rapport," said Toni. "If I am not given any playing time I will speak to the club that declared me not transferable this summer to understand what my future is."

The 32-year-old striker was linked with a move away from the Bundesliga giants following the arrival of summer signings Mario Gomez and Ivica Olic to the Allianz Arena.

Earlier this summer, Toni was sent to train with Bayern's reserves after his level of fitness failed to impress Van Gaal.

However, Toni is eager to get back on the pitch and deliver.

"There's a World Cup in a year's time and a title to be defended and I don't want to miss that chance," said Toni.

"I hope to return to play as soon as possible."

Toni has scored over 38 goals since his 11million euros transfer move to Bayern in 2007 from Fiorentina and finished as the leading scorer for his club with 14 goals in 25 league appearances.

Read More

Roma wants Luca Toni

Roma wants Luca Toni

Luca Toni's agent believes the Bayern Munich striker is "80% likely" to move to Roma before the transfer window closes.

The Italy frontman has been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena following the summer signings of Mario Gomez and Ivica Olic, with West Ham, Monaco and Roma among the clubs reportedly interested.

Toni's agent believes the Serie A side are favourites to land the former Fiorentina striker with the presence of former Azzurri team-mate Francesco Totti weighing heavily in their favour.

"It's a situation that is 80% likely be concluded successfully," Jose Alberti told Romagiallorossa.com. "At the moment there is no negotiation but only an interest on Roma's part.

"Both the club and the player have been informed and Roma are awaiting a response from Bayern Munich.

"Toni would have a lot of desire to return to Italy, also because he played in the World Cup 2006 with Totti and that would be an extra incentive for him."

Toni spent two seasons at Fiorentina, scoring 31 goals in 38 league games in his first campaign.

That form persuaded Bayern to shell out around 11million euros for him in 2007.

However, despite scoring over 38 goals in the Bundesliga he is likely to find himself relegated to the bench this year and, with the World Cup around the corner, that could persuade the 32-year-old to seek a move back to Italy.

"He wants to regain the faith of those who didn't believe in him in Germany," added Alberti. "With that I'm not saying he's been treated badly, but many have not believed in his quality.

"Let's remember that in Italy he was top goalscorer, while they have been difficult seasons for him in Munich.

"Will Bayern let him go for 5million euros? I don't want to get involved in these things because they don't concern me, I'm only thinking about the player's interests.

"I can confirm only that there have been contacts."

Read More