Sunderland interest in Old Man River?

Sunderland are apparently interested in Roma defender Samuel Kuffour. Apparently he was offered to the club, having been sent out on loan at Livorno last season and being seen as surplus to requirements.

The extremely experienced Ghana international could provide Sunderland valuable experience but could also become a major liability if his pace does not meet the Premiership’s standard. I have not see him play for a while but what I have read suggests that his sprint is lagging and could easily be caught out as positional defending is not really possible at the pace of football in the Premiership.

Kuffour, former Ghana captain, former African Player of the Year and a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2001, has been keen on a move to England for some time and rejected several offers from clubs in the Bundesliga and La Liga.

Whether Kuffour still has what is needed for the Premiership is still to be see. Sunderland, needing the experience might just get the player cheap enough to make it worth taking a risk.

Golden boot back to Italy

Roma striker Francesco Totti has won the European Golden Boot award. Going into the last game of the season Ruud van Nistelrooy of Real Madrid had a chance to match or pass Totti for the award but came up limp on 33 minutes of Real’s last game.

The 30 year old Totti scored 26 times for Roma to finish one goal ahead of van Nistelrooy.

With the weighted scoring system his 26 goals in Serie A gave him 52 points, two points ahead of Van Nistelrooy with 50.

Totti played the entire World Cup and season with a pin in his ankle. He was injured last season and took the measure so he could compete.

Totti, normally an attacking midfielder took a different role with his club this season and it has paid off for him. Last year compatriot Luca Toni of Fiorentina won the award.