The Counter Attack

What is The Counter Attack?

Alright, here's the official and boring answer: The Counter Attack (TCA) is an independent blog which focuses on news and stories of Italian Serie A.

Why it's called TCA?

Well, simple. Because most of the soccer terms already been used by other websites and bloggers, it left the author with only two options, with the last resort was "Parking The Bus". So it's an easy and obvious choice, isn't it?

In the last article, we talked about the talks between Lazio and PSG over Joaquin Correa have stalled and the Argentinian is likely to stay at the Roman club – although it’s not a good news for president Claudio Lotito.

Correa has 30 goals and 18 assists in 117 games for Lazio since joining the club in 2018. He was the second highest goal scorer for the Biancocelesti last season, with 11 goals in all competitions, trailing only Ciro Immobile's 25 goals. Most significantly, he shown that he can be relied upon when Immobile fails to score.

Under former coach Simone Inzaghi, Tucu was obliged to play a supporting role to Immobile. Consider what might have happened if he was made the protagonist in the Lazio’s front line?

This is bold but don’t get me wrong. As a Laziale, I always love Immobile. However, our King will be 31 later this month, and selecting his heir will undoubtedly demand the attention of the club's hierarchy. Felipe Caicedo is a good player but he is even older than Immobile. In addition, his contract is due to end next year, and his future is unknown. While Vedat Muriqi has failed to find his feet since his €18.50m-arrival last summer, scoring only two goals in 34 appearances.

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has been entrusted with finding appropriate candidates for new coach Maurizio Sarri. Several players have been identified as potential targets, but the Roman club will have to sell first before pursuing any of them.

In the eyes of club president Claudio Lotito, Joaquin Correa is one of the players who can produce the necessary transfer cash. The Argentine striker is believed to be struggling to adapt to Sarri's new style (not sure which “clever guy” said so as Tucu has proven in Sampdoria and Sevilla that he can play as a left winger) and has stated his wish to leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain are allegedly close to signing the 26-year-old and have made a proposal to Lazio. PSG are offering €18m cash plus Spanish winger Pablo Sarabia in exchange of Correa. Tare is a fan of Sarabia and the Biancocelesti are believed to have accepted the offer.

However, the talks have been put on hold by PSG sporting director Leonardo as Les Parisiens now sense a huge opportunity to sign one of the finest players in this industry. And the name in question is Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese superstar is reportedly dissatisfied with Juventus' fourth-place finish last season and wanted to leave Turin in pursuit of more titles. Ronaldo has one year left on his current deal and the Bianconeri will look to offload him (and his astronomical €31m net pay each year) before he becomes a free agent next year.

Meanwhile, PSG’s striker Mauro Icardi has been a target for Juventus for quite some time, a swap deal between the former Inter striker and Ronaldo is on the cards.

Lazio are reported to be close to signing four of their summer transfer targets.

The first name will be Elseid Hysaj. The Albanian full-back will join Lazio on a free transfer after his contract with Napoli expired last month. The 27-year-old is keen on a reunion with Maurizio Sarri and now only the signature is missing.

The next player in question is Tomas Basic. Talks between the Biancocelesti and Bordeaux have been ongoing for some time. According to reports, the two clubs are moving closer to striking a comprehensive agreement for the 24-year-old Croatian midfielder.

The third target is Felipe Anderson. According to latest updates, Lazio have agreed to pay West Ham €3m in order to reunite with the Brazilian winger.

The Hammers will also entitle a 50% future sales value of Anderson, who is willing to cut his pay in half in order to seal a return.

Last but not least, there is Luka Romero. Dubbed as "Mini Messi", the young Argentine attacking midfielder is the youngest La Liga debutant when he came off the bench in a match against Real Madrid in June 2020, at the age of 15 years and 219 days.

Lazio have set their sights on Ligue 1 in quest of strengthening the midfield. The name on their radar this time is Boubacar Kamara from Olympique Marseille.

Born in 1999, the Marseille native has spent his whole youth career with Olympique Marseille. In December 2016, he made his professional debut against Sochaux in a Coupe de la Ligue encounter.

Kamara is a defensive midfielder who can also play as a centre-back. Despite his young age, he has clocked up more than 9000 minutes of senior football and already showcased his talent at continental level (11 appearances in Europa League and 5 in Champions League).

Mikkel Damsgaard is set to be one of the most sought-after players in this summer's transfer window, with Barcelona, Milan, and Liverpool among the clubs interested. Damsgaard, who was born in the year 2000, is a versatile attacker who can play on both flanks as well as a Number 10.

The 20-year-old joined Sampdoria for €6.75 million last summer. Under Claudio Ranieri's guidance, he scored two goals and added four assists in 35 league appearances in his debut Serie A season.

Damsgaard is currently with Denmark national team at Euro 2020. Reports suggest that a transfer fee of at least €30m to €50mis required to persuade Sampdoria to sell off their prized asset.

You may read more of the Danish golden boy here. This player analysis is written by The Coaches' Voice Academy (CV Academy).

Lazio are poised to convert their back-three defensive system during Simone Inzaghi's tenure to a four-man defence, regardless of whether Maurizio Sarri uses a 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 formation.

Francesco Acerbi, who is among the four indispensable players under Sarri, has firmly established himself in the heart of defense. He will be partnering Luiz Felipe, despite the fact that the 24-year-old Brazilian was out for much of the last season due to injury.

On the right, Sarri will be rotating Adam Marusic and Manuel Lazzari - depends on who their opponents are (assuming the Italian isn't sold). The Montenegrin is a better defender between the two, but Lazzari's speed and ability to assist may perhaps turn him into another Juan Cuadrado.

Manuel Locatelli has been one of the standout performers in Italy's Euro 2020 campaign thus far.

Big clubs across Europe have shown interest towards the Sassuolo's midfielder and Premier League outfit Arsenal are one of them.

Juventus have been the favourites to sign Locatelli. The Old Lady is said to be proposing Sassuolo a variety of player-plus-cash deals but have stalled on their approach.

Recent reports suggested that the London club now have an advantage over Juventus in the hunt to acquire the 23-year-old as they are willing to pay the entire €40 million required.

As confirmed by the Neroverdi's CEO Giovanni Carnevali, The Gunners have made an "important bid" for Locatelli.

Lazio have been focused on bringing in wingers and full-backs in recent weeks, as club management want to give new boss Maurizio Sarri the reinforcement he needs in the preparation of upcoming season. However, the central-midfield is also an area that requires attention.

The Roman club is said to be close to concluding a loan agreement with Arsenal's Lucas Torreira that includes a buy option. However, according to the latest updates, the Biancocelesti have reached an agreement with Bordeaux midfielder Toma Basic.

The 24-year-old Croatian is a central-midfielder who can also operates in a more defensive role in the middle of the park. In the past season, he made 34 Ligue 1 appearances for Bordeaux with 4 goals and 1 assist to his name. He would be a heir to the ageing Lucas Leiva.

Whether you like him or not, Jose Mourinho is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the game. He is a detail-oriented person that pays close attention and notice every minor details from training to tactical preparation.

Mourinho is also known for his capability of bringing the best out of his players, giving them dose of confident to reach their potential.

In this article from The Coaches' Voice Academy (CV Academy), you will find out how former players, staff, and peers have to say about 'The Special One', both as a coach and a person.

Read the article here.

According to reports, Italian forward Domenico Berardi is expected to leave Sassuolo this summer. Lazio are one of the clubs who are keen on his services.

Berardi is under contract with Sassuolo until 2024. He made 30 Serie A appearances for the Neroverdi last season, scoring 17 goals and 8 assists.

It's no secret that Lazio are looking for new wingers who can play in Maurizio Sarri's 4-3-3 system and the Italian international definitely fits the bill.

Various rumours have appeared in recent months that the Biancocelesti are interested in bringing back former attacker Felipe Anderson.

The 28-year-old was on loan at FC Porto from West Ham United last season and appears to have no future with the English club, who spent €38m to sign him in 2018.

According to Manuele Baiocchini of Sky Sport Italy, the Roman club has held negotiations with the Brazilian's entourage for a possible reunion.

Lazio have made contact with Liverpool about signing winger Xherdan Shaqiri.

According to reports, a deal to bring the Switzerland international to Italy may be finalized in the coming weeks.

Liverpool are willing to let Xherdan Shaqiri go this summer, but they are not in a rush to do so unless they get an acceptable offer.

Shaqiri joined The Reds from Stoke City for €14.70m in 2018. Last season, he only made 14 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, contributing two assists.

Milan are seeking for a new No.10 after Hakan Calhanoglu turned down a new deal to join city rivals Inter on a free transfer. The latest name that linked with the Diavolo is Lazio’s playmaker Luis Alberto.

According to reports, Milan might involve Alessio Romagnoli in the negotiations, in order to achieve the €60 million fee sought by Lazio president, Claudio Lotito.

Jose Mourinho is largely considered to be one of the finest managers in the game, having guided a number of elite clubs to national and European titles.

The self-proclaimed "The Special One" will be the Roma coach in the coming season. We all know his great achievements as a coach, so let's look at some interesting stories that you might not know (yet) about the Portuguese tactician.

1. Playing Career

During his playing career, Jose Mourinho was a midfielder. He became a professional football player after following in his father's footsteps (who was a goalie and subsequently a manager). His career, on the other hand, has not been particularly fruitful.

2. I Hate School

Mourinho's mother, a primary school teacher, wished for him to pursue a career in business. Mourinho was enrolled at a business school, but he only lasted one day.

3. PE Teacher

Before becoming a coach, Mourinho worked as a PE teacher in Portugal. “Prior to his arrival, no girl had ever expressed an interest in participating in physical education. One of his female pupils said, "Suddenly, nobody was asking for a doctor's sick certificate."

4. Protecting His Dog

Mourinho was handed a police caution in 2007 after reportedly refusing to allow his beloved pet dog to be quarantined. According to reports, the official sought to quarantine the dog because he suspected it had been transported overseas and then returned to the UK without immunizations. Mourinho was given a warning for interfering with the authorities' work.

5. Dr. Mourinho

Mourinho was awarded a doctorate by Lisbon’s Technical University in 2009 for his achievements in professional football.

The institution claimed the homage was in honour of his professional accomplishments, which included leading FC Porto to UEFA Cup and Champions League championships in 2003 and 2004, before transferring to Chelsea and capturing back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

Inter are set to sign Milan’s Halkan Calhanoglu on a free transfer. The Turkey international’s contract with the Rossoneri expires at the end of this month and has opted against renewing it. The move will see Calhanoglu still playing at the San Siro, but in black-and-blue jersey.

Despite their fierce rivalries, we can still find plenty of players who have represented both Milanese clubs in the past. TCA has decided to compile a list of notable players (in our opinion) to have played for both Milan clubs in the last two decades (in no specific order).

1. Antonio Cassano

As reported by Football Italia, Antonio Cassano is the last player to have completed a move from Milan to Inter in 2012. Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia was one of the members of Milan’s Scudetto-winning squad in the 2010-11 season. He moved to their crosstown rivals Inter in 2012.

2. Giampaolo Pazzini

Pazzini was Antonio Cassano’s striking partner during their days together at Sampdoria. He joined Inter in 2011, almost the same time Cassano moved to Milan. A year later the duo was involved in a swap deal which saw them exchanging clubs with each other.

3. Leonardo Bonucci

Bonucci began his youth career with Inter before becoming a world-class centre-back at Juventus. He moved to Milan in 2017 after seven successful seasons at Turin. However, the Viterbo-born defender decided to move back to the Bianconeri after just one year in the red-and-black jersey.

4. Andrea Pirlo

The maestro played for Inter on his early career however was unable to break into the first team. Pirlo was sold to Milan in 2001 and since then, he enjoyed his trophy-laden career including two UEFA Champions League winners with the Rossoneri.

5. Clarence Seedorf

Like Pirlo, Seedorf played for Inter before moving to the Rossoneri. The Dutch joined Milan in 2002 and won his third Champions League titles in the following year. He is also the only player to have won in this tournament with three different teams (Ajax and Real Madrid).

6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Despite unable to lift the Champions League trophy during his time in Milan, Ibrahimovic did won 4 Scudetto titles with the Milanese clubs (3 for Inter and another with Milan). Currently enjoying his second spell with the Rossoneri, the big Swede is definitely hoping to add more silverware to his trophy cabinet with a club he loves before hanging up his boots.

7. Ronaldo

The Brazilian phenomenon (not Mr. Water-drinking) was one of the most feared strikers in the late 90s and perhaps early 2000s. He joined Inter back in 1997 and was almost unstoppable until severe and recurring injuries slowed him down. In 2007, Ronaldo transferred to Milan from Real Madrid. He spent two seasons with the Rossoneri before moving back to Brazil.

8. Christian Vieri

“Bobo” Vieri became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Inter from Lazio for €46.48m (Transfermarkt). The powerful number nine spent six years with the Nerazzurri, racking up 123 goals in 190 appearances on all fronts. He switched to Milan in 2005. However, his solitary season in the red-and-black wasn’t a fruitful one as he merely played eight times for the club, scoring one goal.

9. Hernan Crespo

The Argentine will always be remembered on his brace for AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final defeat to Liverpool. While in his following three seasons with Inter, Crespo won three straight Serie A titles under Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho.

10. Roberto Baggio

Although not as prolific as he was at Fiorentina and Juventus, the Divine Ponytail still able to win his second Scudetto in 1996, for Milan. Baggio joined Inter later in 1998, however injuries and conflicts with his coach has limited his playing time. He decided to move to Brescia after two years with the Nerazzurri.

Lazio are in serious interest on Eintracht Frankfurt winger Filip Kostic, who is also a target of Serie A champions Inter.

It was said that the German club wants around €25-30m for their star. Lazio are open to sell their Argentine forward Joaquin Correa for around €30m in order to fund the transfer. Another option could be a loan with an obligation to buy.

Kostic has a contract with Frankfurt until June 2023. The left winger contributed 4 goals and a spectacular 17 assists over 30 Bundesliga appearances last season.