Ahmed Barusso

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Ahmed Barusso
Personal information
Full name Ahmed Apimah Barusso
Date of birth December 26, 1984 (age 22)
Place of birth    Accra, Ghana
Height 184 cm
Nickname Ciro
Playing position Central Midfielder
Club information
Current club Rimini
Number 14
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2003-2006
2006-		 Manfredonia
Rimini		 61 (9)
8 (2)   
National team2
Ghana 0 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 12-24-2006.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 12-24-2006.
* Appearances (Goals)

Ahmed Apimah Barusso (born December 26, 1984 in Accra) is a Ghanaian football central midfielder, currently playing for Rimini Calcio of Italian Serie B.

Contents

[edit] Professional Career

[1] A rising star midfielder known as Ciro to his friends, the 1984-born starlet is making an impact after helping Manfredonia win triple promotion from the amateur Leagues to Serie C1. The Ghanaian is a ball-winning defensive midfielder who comes equipped with a devilish shot from long distance. His powerful, physical and technical style of play has been compared to other Ghana-born players. In particular a more technical Desailly, a physical Muntari and a powerful Michael Essien.[2].

The 1.84m tall, bulky Ghanaian midfielder is earning rare reviews in the Italian Serie B. This former FC Nania of Accra Youth team player, was recommended by Ghanaian Football Legend Abedi Pele to his Italian friend Franco Janich, who took Barusso to the amateur side Manfredonia.

With the Manfredonia side he played 18 games and scored a lone goal in Serie D that season. The next season he turned up for Manfredonia in the Serie C2 where he played 19 games and scored three times. In the 2005/2006 season he played 24 games (5 goals) in the Serie C1. Unfortunately Manfredonia couldn’t qualify for the Serie B and it became harder to hold onto their most prized asset[1]. A whole load of Serie B clubs came calling. He snubbed clubs like Modena F.C. [2] and Piacenza and settled for modest side [3] Rimini[3]. 8 games into this season, and the midfielder has been gaining rave reviews from newspapers all over the Italy including La Gazzetta dello Sport. He was voted the best player in the games versus Juventus and Bologna. [4] . He scored a wonderful long range strike against Bologna in September 2006[5]. During the pre-season with Rimini, he scored from distance against Ascoli and Cagliari Calcio and his goals in Serie C were predominated by long range strikes.[6].


[edit] Rimini's Outright Signing

Rimini sporting director Walter Muratori said of Barusso "We bought him for about 300,000 Euros and we’re confident in his abilities, even if we are also finding out now how much he can improve. “Now his future is in his own hands. He has great potential, but it will be up to him to realise it,” added the official.[4]. On November 30, 2006, Rimini moved to complete the outright signing of the Ghanaian sensation. [7]. His registration had been shared with little club Manfredonia, but Rimini confirmed they secured Manfredonia's 50 per cent of Barusso's transfer rights to the tune of £900,000 - a move which opened the way for A.C. Milan to secure the option.


[edit] Interest of Elite European Clubs

With his Powerful, physical and outstanding performances in midfield this season, Barusso has attracted the scouts of Fiorentina [5], Arsenal F.C.[6] [7] and Inter Milan[8]. Italian Serie A side, Messina have also expressed interest in the midfielder "We would love to sign Ciro Barusso from Rimini. But the way he is playing I fear there'll be an auction for him in January." Italian and British media reports stated Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is also aware of Barusso's growing reputation and is keeping tabs on the midfielder. English giants Newcastle United is also said to be interested in him, but this has never been confirmed.

British tabloid newspaper, The Mirror headlined "GHANA'S BARUSSO GUNNER BE GOOD". The report said Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's impressive knowledge of world football has led him to also having the £2m-rated ace watched. Barusso is a powerful ball-winner similar to countryman Michael Essien, who Chelsea F.C. signed from Lyon for £24.4m last year. He has four seasons' experience of Italian football, having joined from third division Manfredonia during the summer, and is under contract until 2010. But his club would be unable to resist an Arsenal bid. [8].


[edit] AC Milan secure option on him

But on December 5, 2006, the Italian Press[9] reported that Italian giants A.C. Milan have had an agreement with Rimini to secure the option for the powerful midfielder, Ciro Barusso. (Read: Barusso drops big AC Milan hint )

The Serie B club had earlier released a statement, denying any deal [10] with A.C. Milan and other elite European teams for the youngster, with Muratori maintaining that he’s collected no bids for the youngster, but new reports state that A.C. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has made a personal effort to close the signing. Barusso is said to be on his way to Milan in June 2007 for around £2 million. [11]. In Italian Il Milan prende Barusso

[edit] Broken leg

On October 28, 2006, during the 9th Week[12] of the 2006/07 season Serie B match between Crotone and Rimini, Crotone player Alfredo Cardinale fractured Barusso's tibia in a cynical tackle. He was sent to the Rizzoli Hospital in Bologna and is recuperating through the help of Professor Marcacci. Doctors have revealed that the highly rated player will be out of action for 4 months after surgery on the right leg. [13]. Ghana Fans Reaction to the horrible news.

"The surgery was very successful and I will be on the sidelines for at least four months," Barusso told BBC Sport. "But it's still a major injury and a big blow as I have played very well since the season started."

Barusso admitted he was expecting even worse news. "It's better than I feared because in the long term my shin will be sound," he said. He has been in good form since the beginning of the season and has been linked with moves to Inter Milan, Arsenal and A.C. Milan. Despite his broken leg, suffered in action against Serie B rivals Crotone, Milan are pushing through a deal worth around £3 million for the midfielder.

Barusso's move won't be rubberstamped until he undergoes a medical at Milanello, however Gazzetta dello Sport says Milan are favourites to land the powerful Ghanaian before the end of the season. [14].

[edit] International Career

Barusso was part of the 2003 Ghanaian Olympic Team, known as the Black Meteors, that qualified Ghana for 2004 Summer Olympic Games. He was then played as a Central Defender and was involved in the qualifying matches against Liberia's Olympic team in the qualification for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. However, a new National Team Coach, Mariano Barreto was appointed and he formed another team and Barusso went off the radar as he begun a new career in Italy.

Recently, Barusso was in the frame to receive his senior International debut when Ghana played Australia on November 14, 2006 in London, before his leg was broken in the Serie B match, two weeks prior to the friendly. He has since admitted to La Gazzetta dello Sport he wants to play alongside Superstar midfielder Michael Essien in Ghana's midfield.[15].

[edit] Trivia

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Agent: AC Milan favourites to sign Barusso", Ontheminute.com, 2007-02-21. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
  2. ^ "Barusso, primer fichaje para Enero", milanadictos.com, 2006-11-07. Retrieved on November 7, 2006.
  3. ^ "Manfredonia, ufficiale: Barusso ceduto al Rimini", ilgrecale.it, 2006-06-15. Retrieved on June 15, 2006.
  4. ^ "Ahmed Barusso: The Next Big Thing", ghanaweb.com, 2006-10-07. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
  5. ^ "Barusso (Rimini), un gigante in campo, bambinone nella vita: "Dedico il gol a mammà"", goal.com, 2006-09-27. Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
  6. ^ "Nanà Barusso: "Voglio fare un gol a Buffon!"", manfredoniacalcio.com, 2006-08-09. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.
  7. ^ "Rimini complete outright deal for Barusso", tribalfootball.com, 2006-11-30. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
  8. ^ "GHANA'S BARUSSO GUNNER BE GOOD", mirror.co.uk, 2006-10-26. Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
  9. ^ "Il Milan prende Barusso", sport.alice.it, 2006-12-01. Retrieved on December 1, 2006.
  10. ^ "Rimini deny Barusso requests", Channel4.com, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on November 20, 2006.
  11. ^ "AC Milan secure option for Rimini's Barusso", tribalfootball.com, 2006-12-01. Retrieved on December 1, 2006.
  12. ^ "Week 9 Reports", channel4.com, 2006-10-28. Retrieved on October 28, 2006.
  13. ^ "Barusso out for four months", bbc.co.uk, 2006-11-03. Retrieved on November 3, 2006.
  14. ^ "AC Milan move for Rimini crock Barusso", tribal football.com, 2006-11-08. Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
  15. ^ "Ciro Barusso sogna la Nazionale: "Per giocare al fianco del mio fratello Essien"", goal.com, 2006-09-29. Retrieved on September 29, 2006.
  16. ^ "Black Meteors pip Liberia in Accra", ghanaweb.com, 2003-06-28. Retrieved on June 28, 2003.

[edit] External links


Rimini Calcio F.C. - Current Squad

1 Pugliesi | 2 Vitiello | 3 Bravo | 4 Cascione | 5 Porchia | 6 Milone | 7 Valiani | 8 Tasso | 9 Moscardelli | 10 Ricchiuti | 14 Barusso | 17 Pagano | 21 Peccarisi | 22 Handanović | 27 Jeda | 31 Digão | 32 Matri | 36 Bischeri | 55 Cristiano | 77 Baccin | 79 Giorgio Regonesi | Coach Acori
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