Transfer Wrap Up: Toni Goes on Loan to Roma and Both Sides of Milan Looking at Liverpools Unhappy Gems

With most of the worlds football in a bit of a quiet moment, the transfer news and rumors are really starting to pick up, players are restless and want to be sure they can get in their national sides for the upcoming world cup.


Toni leaves Bayern on loan to Roma


It is official now, on Bayern Munich's official website it says,

"Luca Toni requested to be loaned to AS Roma until the end of the season for personal reasons"

and now Toni's wish was granted, the Italian striker has moved to Roma until the end of this season, hoping to get regular playing time so that he can enter the World Cup squad for 2010. Toni's personal reasons can probably explained by his minimal playing time with the first team, Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal and Toni often had disputes, and Toni was hoping Van Gaal would be sacked, but instead Toni left for Rome.


Beckham already training with AC Milan


Beckham has been reunited with AC Milan, and now the rossoneri's season might start looking up with the addition of the English midfielder. Beckham has high hopes of entering the England squad for 2010, and Capello has recently hinted to Beckham already being a certainty for South Africa 2010.


Inter Milan looking at Gerrard and AC Milan see Torres as an option

With Liverpool's bad spell of results, many of the top players are unsettled and restless, especially the spanish striker Fernando Torres who said that if Liverpool do not grab a Champions League spot then he will leave in the summer. While Torres shows his unhappiness, it seems that Gerrard is keeping his inside, with the bad results Liverpool has had, he might be looking to go abroad for what could be his last move in his career. Inter Milan are looking at Gerrard closely and have supposedly already sent officials to England to oversee the possible transfer.


Manchester City looking for big names to sign over the summer


With Roberto Mancini at the helm of Manchester's blue side, many more players are considering Manchester City a possible option for their career. Mancini has already targeted many Serie A players like Juventus' Buffon and Chiellini, Inter Milan's Cordoba, Napoli's Hamsik, and Palermo's Kjaer. But much bigger names could be on the way like Ribery, Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Gerrard, Mascherano, and Torres. If Manchester City can get Champions League football for next year, many of these players could consider City as a possible option.


Vidic could leave United for Real Madrid, to be replaced by Porto's Bruno Alves


Manchester United have put a 30 million price tag on Nemanja Vidic, and it is possible that the Serbian could leave for Madrid, as Real are having a lot of defensive troubles. If this move were to take place, United are looking at Bruno Alves as the possible replacement, the Porto defender has Champions League experience and could be looking for a big move. Another name for the future would be Palermo's Kjaer, the young Danish defender is tracked by many big clubs.

Goal of the Year Contender: A Spectacular Volley by Cozzolino

With 2009 ending soon, many awards will probably be decided, things like manager of the year, player of the year, team of the year, and goal of the year. While parusing through the internet I fell upon what for me is the goal of the year, what can only be described as an unsavable volley by Cozzolino for me is a serious contender for goal of the year. Lecco vs Como in Italy's Serie C2 provided this fantastic goal shown in the video below, a goal like this will probably never occur again, and this is why we should appreciate it.


What do you think of this goal? Is it worth goal of the year? Comment below!

Happy Holidays from SWU!

Soccer Wrap Up thanks all of its viewers for your support, the blog has grown a lot recently thanks to sites like www.serieatalk.com, www.premiershiptalk.com, www.soccerpro.com, and many more! Hopefully 2010 will be a year of even more views, comments, and more, so thanks for supporting and have happy holidays!

- SWU Staff

Messi Named FIFA World Player of the Year

Messi has conquered everything there is to conquer, after winning the Ballon D'Or, he snatches the FIFA World Player of the Year award, perfecting the year for him and his mates at Barcelona. It seemed obvious that the award would go to Messi, not only did he guide the phenomenal Barcelona team to the famed treble, but he gave Barca the World Club Cup, allowing Guardiola to say that every tournament he has entered with Barcelona in, he has won.

But this isn't the only news that comes out of the FIFA Gala, Marta, the woman player of the year won for the fourth time in a row, something that has never happened in womens or mens football.

And amidst these two fantastic winners, the World XI came out, with Barcelona dominating the list,

In goal is Real Madrid goalie Iker Casillas, with a back four of Dani Alves (Barcelona, right back), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United, center half), John Terry (Chelsea, center half), and Patrice Evra (Manchester United, left back). The midfield of three is composed of Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), and Andres Iniesta (Barcelona). And finally, the three fantastic forwards are Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), and Lionel Messi (Barcelona). The team made up of four Barcelona players is certainly powerful, but some wonder how Eto'o, Puyol, Ibrahimovic, Lampard, and Drogba didn't make the team.

What do you think of these awards? Comment below!