Here at the Lazio Offside, we’re pumped for what is the biggest week of the season.

Derby week was kicked off on Saturday with the Primavera clash between Lazio and Roma at Formello. In true style, we ran out 2-1 winners.

Roma took a first half lead thanks to Sciarra, and a second half fightback was required for us to take the spoils. First Tommaso Ceccarelli, who had a great game, scored a penalty. Six minutes later, Enrico Zampa, scored the goal which proved to be the matchwinner.

Man of the match went to Enrico Zampa, who also scored the winning goal and celebrated under the Lazio supporters. Primavera captain Alessio Luciani, prodigy Marco Davide Faraoni, ‘keeper Antony Iannarilli, Nigerian import Sede Adeleke also played games of the highest quality, all earning ‘pagelle’ of 7. The other 7 went to Uruguayan Gonzalo Barreto, who was making his return from a fairly lengthy injury layoff.

Given there is a lot of problems with our youth system at present, as with the rest of the club and the fact that some of these talents may not remain with their “squadra del cuore” for much longer, it’s nothing short of fantastic that we get to enjoy this victory.

It’s worth noting also that Alessandro Di Mario, who was below par in this Derby, remains the leading scorer in the competition with 14 goals. We currently sit within the top 5 which should see us reach the playoff stages. Development is the name of the game, and we have some genuine talents on our hands here. Hopefully as many as possible remain in the blue and the white.

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Pagelle courtesy of LaLazioSiamoNoi.it
Photos courtesy of Alessandro Pizzuti.

Newell’s Old Boys Uruguayan sensation Joaquin Antonio Boghossian has been attracting interest from Europe ever since Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Baretto have started to get more ink in the international football press.

Some people who drank too many Red Bull vodkas say of Boghossian – valued between 2,5 and 4 Million depending who you ask – that he’s a mix between Martin Palermo, Christian Vieri and Luca Toni (!?)

His amazing aerial game and great goal record – 14 goals in 25 matches in Argentina and 16 in 16 with C.A. Cerro in 2007 as 19 year old – has teams blushing when they see him. The 6 ft 6 inch forward of Armenian origin is impressing everybody in Argentina but he’s only on loan from Montevideo side C.A. Cerro. The little Uruguayan side will most probably want to cash in on this unexpected explosion.

After being linked with Sampdoria and Catania (tricked into thinking he was Argentinean) in the last six months, now it’s Roma’s name being written next to Boghossian’s in the papers. But the German and English sides have started to smell a bargain with Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa sending scouts to South America, so the Italian squads better make a move quick because Boghossian’s hugeness makes him easily recognisable to everyone, let alone German scout

Boghogoal Uruguay

Boghogoooooles Argentina

And a video plea to join Armenia

The mercato has now closed and Lazio welcome five new players to the eagle’s nest.

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Giuseppe Biava

The veteran defender has joined us on a two-year deal. He will be 33 in May so this is hardly a signing for the future, and it is hard to see him playing a major role with Radu, Stendardo and Dias all ahead in the pecking order. Nonetheless he adds depth and experience and will probably ensure the days of Siviglia will end with this season. Benvenuto Giuseppe!

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André Dias

The 30-year old Brazilian defender joins on a 3 and a half year deal from South American powerhouse São Paulo. He was a decorated player in his homeland, having won the league three times and in 2008 and 2009 he was awarded the Bola de Ouro, given to the second best player in the national championship. He is not a young player but should add something to our backline and maybe he will break into Dunga’s Brazil squad. Bem-vindo!

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Thomas Hitzlsperger

Probably our most exciting signing. We needed a midfielder of quality and we got one in the man known as The Hammer. The former Aston Villa player and Stuttgart captain has been a regular for Germany for six years and has over 50 caps. His form dropped considerably over the last few months and hopefully this is the fresh change he needs to rediscover himself. At 27 years of age, he still has plenty of football ahead of him. I look forward to seeing him smack goals in with that beast of a left foot. Wilkommen!

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Eyal Golasa

This is a controversial signing, but Lazio have officially registered the 18-year-old starlet, so for all intents and purposes he is a Lazio player. His former club, Maccabi Haifa dispute the validity of this. The deal is further complicated as in July, Golasa is required to enlist with the Israeli Defence Forces. At this stage I’m quietly confident these two issues will resolve themselves in our favour. The player’s technical quality is not in doubt though. At 17, he led Maccabi into the Champions League group stage and should step right into our side.

ברוך הבא

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Gonzalo Barreto

We have already presented the Uruguayan and his contract has now officially been deposited to the Lega, so he can begin playing for Lazio. Interestingly, he has been registered on loan deal, which has not been explained yet. He was said to have signed for 5 years.

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DAJE RAGAZZI.