Roma Consider Coloccini Move

According to reports in Italy, the former AC Milan defender would be interested in a move but is not prepared to initiate any first move.

Deportivo La Coruña are in dire straits, but a bid for Coloccini from Roma may be tempting as it would give them funds to bring in several new faces.

The 25-year-old defender moved to Milan from Boca Juniors in 1999, but spent only a few months at the San Siro before spending the next four seasons out on loan.

In 2004, Coloccini joined Depor on a permanent basis but hsa been unable to help stop the Galician club's fall from grace in the past three seasons.

Roma may be using their interest in the Argentinian player in a bid to push Matteo Ferrari into renewing his contract at the club.

While talks are still ongoing, the Scudetto chasing outfit are looking to elsewhere in a bid to ensure that they are not left short-handed.

Depor would not be keen to let Coloccini leave, but a sizeable bid and the player's desire may yet see something materialise before the end of the month.

Lotina Tells Aouate And Munúa To Reconcile

Lotina met separately with both of the players on Monday to try and find a resolution to the tension between the two goalkeepers, which boiled over when Munúa left Aouate requiring eight stitches after a dressing room bust-up on Friday.

He told each of them that if they could not find common ground then they would both be frozen out and replaced by a new signing, which is likely to spur them into a reconciliation in the coming days.

Munúa seems keen to speak with Aouate, but it is unclear whether the feeling is mutual as nothing has been heard from the Israeli keeper since Monday's meeting.

"The trainer requests for us to speak and solve our differences, so we can train with the team again as quickly as possible," he told Marca.
"I do not have a problem speaking with Dudu. When the technician considers it finished we will return to train. It is what the technician and the players requested of us."

Lotina spoke with senior first-team players Manuel Pablo, Sergio, Valerón and Coloccini to ascertain their views on the situation, with all of them agreeing that the two goalkeepers needed to settle their differences for the good of the team.

Assuming they will talk in the next couple of days, Lotina has confirmed that Munúa will be his first-choice keeper from now until the end of the season.

Pablo Amo: We Will Stay Up Deportivo defender Pablo Amo believes that the season is far from over, and that the A Coruna men can stay up...

Despite sitting 19th of 20 in La Liga, Deportivo are set to survive in the top flight.

That's the view of Pablo Amo, who was a major protagonist in his side's 4-3 loss at Villarreal at the weekend.

"There's a long time left, and I'm quite sure that we'll be saved.

"The conditions are fine for the team, and now we just need to think about working - nothing else.

"We're doing OK, our form is decent, and there's nothing else to talk about as we need to remain calm."

The former Recre man was sent off during his side's narrow defeat in Vila-Real, much to his distaste.

"There was a struggle in the area, I think with [Jon Dahl] Tomasson, and there was contact with him," explained the stopper.

"That said, I don't know if it was sufficient to imbalance him, but the referee thought so.

"He sent me off, but surely he should have done the same when I was awarded an identical penalty [earlier, committed by Josemi]."

Amo concluded by speaking briefly on the controversy surrounding Gustavo Munua's assault on goalkeeper and teammate Dudu Aouate.

"It's unpleasant for the team as what follows is the image that so many have seen - an unfortunate episode," he sighed.

"It affected us whether or not we wanted it to, as during our journey there was talk of it."

Lotina Hits Out At Ref After 4-3 Villarreal Defeat Deportivo La Coruna boss Miguel Angel Lotina was furious with the referee following his side's 4-3

Miguel Angel Lotina was perplexed after the 4-3 defeat in which his side conceded two penalties and had a man sent off.

He professed to be amazed by the difference shown when the referee "punished small or large pushes, and I'll ask the International Board to publish the regulations in this regard."

That was with clear reference to whistler Romero, who awarded Deportivo a penalty after Josemi was guilty ofa push in the box, but did not card the Villarreal stopper. However, he later sent off Pablo Amo of Depor for a similar offence.

"Pablo Amo's must have been 'big' to be expelled," blasted Lotina.

"I think that both actions merited a penalty and an expulsion, but for the referee, the difference was that one was in favour of the home team and the other the visitor.

"I find the performance of the referee in favour of the home team regrettable, because these actions were key.

"I didn't know there were big pushes and small pushes, but at least I learned something new today."

As for the game itself, Lotina sighed, "When it appeared that we had space in which to create a backlash, then came the goal that sealed the game for Villarreal."

The Brazilian midfielder has agreed terms with the Galician outfit and is now hoping to invoke a clause in his contract that allows him to leave on a free transfer this month.

Despite only signing for City in the summer on a one-year contract, the former Barça and Benfica player is keen to return to Spain and his agent is confident a deal will be done.

“We have agreed terms, but we still have to negotiate," Robert Assunção explained.

“But before making the trip to A Coruña we have to sort the situation with Manchester City because the player is under contract until July 31, but there is a clause that can permit him to be a free agent right now, six months early.

“We have a meeting with Manchester City’s directors on Monday and we have made a lot of progress although we still have to wait until Monday.”

Geovanni hopes to follow in the footsteps of some famous compatriots, including Rivaldo, Bebeto and Djalminha, and try to succeed at Riazor.

“Deportivo have a strong history and some great Brazilians have played there so I am very happy to have the possibility to be able to sign," he said.