FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Italian striker Pierluigi Casiraghi was unveiled as Chelsea’s latest signing at a news conference on Friday afternoon.

Casiraghi tied up a 5.4 million pound move from Lazio by signing a three-year contract. He will link up with his friend Gianluca Vialli who, ironically, ousted him from the Juventus line up, forcing him to leave for Lazio in 1993.

Chelsea manager Vialli will now field a new-look strike force next season, with Casiraghi lining up alongside Rangers star Brian Laudrup. Chelsea have the money to spend after a season in which they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Coca-Cola Cup.

Managing director Colin Hutchinson is reported as saying: “It is great news. I’m sure Chelsea fans will be happy to hear we’re continuing to bring quality players to the club.” Lazio, meanwhile, want Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo and club president Sergio Cragnotti said: “We will have another meeting with Chelsea because we are still interested in Di Matteo. It appears to be very tough but we are going to continue.”

Di Matteo admitted earlier this week he would not be opposed to a move back to Italy.