Alberto Aquilani

At the start of the season, Fiorentina were expected to finish in a table of the Italian Serie A, but they have managed to defy expectations so far. The arrival of players like Alberto Aquilani coupled with the young and tactical mind of Vincenzo Montella has made them an unlikely European place qualifier this season. Aquilani’s form has been such that he has even been linked with a return to Anfield by liverpool football news.

Fiorentina are in with a shout to finish in the top three positions of the Italian Serie A with only a few matches remaining in the season. They are just one point behind third placed AC Milan, who are in the final Champions league qualifying spot.

They are almost assured of an European qualification place even if it is in the form of the Europa league, as they are currently having a six point advantage over fifth placed Roma in the table. The former Italian international, Vincenzo Montella, has managed to get Fiorentina to 7 wins in the last 10 matches.

There are only four matches remaining in the season and the 38-year-old has said that he is confident of finishing in the top three. Fiorentina could have taken the third placed during last weekend itself, but AC Milan managed to produce a great comeback against Catania to win the match 4-2.

“Let us consolidate our place in the (UEFA) Europa League. After that we’ll then see about the rest and the duel with Milan. They (Milan) have a lot more experience than we do, but my side is alive and we’re going through a good moment. We will be taking on a great side. They have some great players and you can lose against a team like them. I’d take Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Erik Lamela out of their side,” said Montella after the weekend’s match. Fiorentina achieved a 3-0 win over Sampdoria during the weekend.

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The 22-year-old Mario Balotelli has been linked with a move from the Premier league champions Manchester City for quite a while now. The Italian manager Cesare Prandelli has said that the striker needs to stay focused in order to realise his full potential. Balotelli has been touted as one amongst the greatest prospects in world football, but he has failed to match his billing so far. Apart from a few performances in the last few years, Balotelli has been a major disappointment for the Premier league club Manchester city. They paid £ 24 million to secure his services from Inter Milan in 2010.

After managing to score just one Premier league goal all season, Balotelli has been linked with a move from the club in the January transfer window. AC Milan have emerged as a strong contender for his signature. The AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani recently revealed that City are requesting around £ 31 million in transfer fees in order to sell the player, while the Italian club are prepared to pay only around £ 21 million. Balotelli was recently pictured having a clash with the manager Roberto Mancini, although the Italian later said that it was a non-issue. Balotelli has rarely featured for the first-team this season.

“Balotelli has always behaved very well with us on international duty. He must always focus on proving his value on the field, without being a ’superhero’ or Mario the ‘character’ off it, and we tacticians have to find the best way to get that talent out of him,” said the Italian manager Prandelli, who warned Balotelli that he would not be picked for the national team if he does not give his entire focus to the team. Balotelli was at his imperious best for the Italian national team at the Euro 2012.

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