ANTONIO DI NATALE (UDINESE)

Antonio Di Natale can take pride in being the only man to have broken into the post-World Cup Italy team, but what does the future hold for Udinese’s diminutive striker? Steve Wilson reports Where next for Antonio Di Natale? By the time the new season kicks off the Neapolitan striker will be fast approaching his 30th birthday, hoping to be in contention for a place in Roberto Donadoni’s squad for the 2008 European Championship Finals and contemplating the fact that he is on the final straight of his professional career. After three seasons at Udinese, the thought must be turning around in his mind that he really should be ready to make the step up to one of the peninsula’s leading lights. The £6m-rated striker was linked with a switch to Juventus earlier in the season, with the Bianconeri planning to sign him in January as back-up for club legend Alessandro Del Piero. That move never occurred, although speculation is rife that it has just been sidelined until the summer. With Milan and Roma also mentioned as possible suitors, it appears that the diminutive forward could be one of Serie A’s most wanted come the summer, even if his contract with the Friuli outfit ties him to the North-East until 2011. Di Natale’s agent, Bruno Carpeggiani, has made it clear that his employer would be interested in a fresh challenge. “If someone wants Antonio then they just have to go to Udine and speak with President Giampaolo

Pozzo,” he explained. “However, I do not believe Udinese will sell one of their best players after we just renewed his contract. There have been many rumours about Milan and Roma. It’s normal that if these teams, or other big clubs, make an offer for the player Udinese could in the end change their mind, but only at the right price. And it’s obvious that Toto wouldn’t say no.” The agent’s appraisal of the situation proved to be bang on the money as a matter of days later Di Natale himself confirmed his interest in a switch to the Olimpico. “Roma are an important club for any footballer,” he explained. “It is pleasing to hear my name linked to them. Given my age, Udinese and I will look for an ideal solution which would please both of us. If the two clubs reach an agreement then I am sure there would be no problems over my possible contract with the Giallorossi.” However, what the big clubs want they don’t always get, and with Alberto Malesani guiding the Friuliani within touching distance of the UEFA Cup places this time around there is always the outside chance that Di Natale will show some loyalty to the side who took him from Empoli for £3m in 2004. It must also be remembered that striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, Lazio target Morgan De Sanctis and Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari will already feel

He has spent three seasons at Udinese, but is it too late for Antonio Di Natale to now step up to a higher level?

they are further ahead in the queue to leave Udine and it would be surprising if Pozzo sanctioned deals that would take too many of his prized assets away. Nevertheless, Di Natale’s relationship with the tifosi has become strained recently. “We feel betrayed by the player’s behaviour,” explained Candido Odorico, the President of the Zebrette fans’ association after the player’s red card for dissent against Catania. “We did not like his attitude and we cannot justify what he did. I don’t want to comment on the reports suggesting that he will leave the club. We would be very disappointed to learn that he meant to send someone a message with his gesture.” Like it or not though, it seems that the break-up of that fine side who reached the Champions League will happen sooner rather than later and a switch to one of the top outfits would complete the journey for Toto, whose career has been the exact template for all those hard-working players who have slowly crawled up the football ladder rung by rung. Starting out in the Empoli youth system, he was forced to go out on loan to various Serie C clubs before finally achieving his breakout season in 1998-99 at Viareggio. That loan spell on the Tuscan coast did enough to alert Empoli to his true skills and

38 Calcio Italia June 2007