Top Italian clubs battle for Lyon’s Grosso

According to website Goal.com, Roma, Juventus and Fiorentina are all fighting it out for the signing of Italian full-back Fabio Grosso.

Grosso left Italian football with Internazionale to join French champions Lyon, where he won the League 1 title and French Cup in his first season in France. However, after just one season in France the Italian star is already being linked with a move back to Italy.

Juventus are said to be in desperate need for a left-back and have been linked with numerous defenders such as Wayne Bridge. The Bianconeri currently only have Christian Molinaro able to fill on the left-back role consistently, with centre-back Giorgio Cheillini also occasionally able to fill on as well.

Roma face similiar problems as the only senior left-back in the squad is 33-year-old Max Tonetto, with right winger Marco Cassetti also able to fill in at left-back on occasions. Roma also took 21-year-old star Antunes on loan this year with the option to buy in the summer, and may see Antunes as a long-term replacement for the left-back position.

Fiorentina’s regular left-back Manuel Pasqual could be sold in the summer according to goal.com leaving the Viola with little option in the left-back position.

Grosso will forever be remembered among Italian fans due to his dramatic last minute extra-time goal against Germany in the 2006 World Cup Semi-Final and for scoring the final and winning penalty in the 2006 World Cup Final against France.

However, Grosso will also forever be remembered among Australian fans in the incident which saw Grosso go to ground easily after a challenged from Australian Lucas Neill. The referee then awarded Italy a last minute penalty which saw the Italian’s triumph over Australia and progress to the Quarter-Final.

Referee Luis Medina Cantalejo was heavily criticised for his decision and FIFA President Sepp Blatter even went as far as to apologise to the Australian team over the incident.

Grosso is well known for his attacking abilities in the left-back position and may tempted by a move that will see him not only return to his native country, but also continue with Champions League football in Italy.

[Source: Goal.com]