From Serie C1 to the European stage in four seasons-that's the impressive feat former Partenopei coach Edy Reja managed to accomplish during his time at the club.

Despite beginning the season in a fashionable way-when even the prospect of Champions League seemed highly possible-a string of disastrous results after the turn of the year has seen Napoli freefall in the table down to 12th place.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the club with stubborn reports of late night parties and fistfights in training. At one point during the season representatives of the Napoli Ultras sat down with players, coaches, and club representatives to discuss a plan of action.

The aim was to bring back the team spirit that had seen the team flying high ever since Reja took over the reins at the Naples club.

Mario Balotelli is looked upon as a one of Italy's most talented players of recent times. The young hitman burst on to the scene in last season's Coppa Italia when Roberto Mancini was at the helm of the reigning champions, bagging a brace against Juventus to put Inter through to the next round of the tournament.

Since José Mourinho's arrival last summer, the Ghanaian-born forward was supposed to flourish under the coach's preferred 4-3-3 formation. However, things haven't quite turned out as planned as the forward has only appeared eight times this season.

Since the Portuguese tactician took over the reins at the Appiano Gentile, he has blasted his prodigy's attitude for his lazy attitude during the training sessions and accused him of not even putting up 25 percent of his ability.

Mourinho has dropped Balotelli on numerous occasions as a disciplinary act and not only that, the Inter tactician humiliatingly sent the starlet to play with the Primavera team to learn his lesson. Nothing seemed to have worked as the player grew even more frustrated and handed in a transfer request which was shot down by Inter supreme Massimo Moratti.

Inter Milan shockingly lost against Atalanta on Sunday, 3-1, and not only did Cristiano Doni and Co. bring Inter down from their high chairs, they also completely humiliated the reigning champions.

Mourinho's side was indeed struggling with injuries but was still able to field a decent team, even though the Portuguese tactician did make some rather questionable choices in his lineup by handing Nicolas Burdisso and Hernan Crespo starting shirts.

The scoreline read 3-0 in favor of the home team after the half-hour mark. Most people probably couldn't believe their eyes, but what was worse than Inter's dreadful performance was the obvious lack of effort from Nerazzuri side. Some blame Mourinho, some blame the players, but as far as I'm concerned it was a collective downfall.

Despite being three goals up, the home team were relentless in their offensive raids-the visiting side, on the other hand, couldn't manage to create a real offensive danger had their lives depended on it.

It is on the very rare occasions one gets to see a football player choose heart, love and loyalty over the temptation of money.

In a world where the financial aspects have come to run every part of the game, it is truly touching to see that Ricardo Kaká decided against a move to Manchester City and its truckloads of money to remain where he truly belongs-AC Milan.

The move, should it have gone through, was repeatedly likened to the death of football. While record-breaking transfer fees are nothing new, the astronomical bid for the Brazilian playmaker was certainly out of the ordinary, as were his words after his rejection of the bid had been officially confirmed.

"Not even for thirty seconds did I think about leaving," he stated on Milan Channel. "I went with my heart, as it was never going to be an economic choice for me."
"At Milan there are wonderful people, and just to confirm, I have never, and will never, ask for an increase in my wages at this club."

As the Kaká saga keeps unfolding it is getting more and more likened to the death of football.

A bid so great it's hard to grasp the numbers. Football equals money and have done so for longer than I can remember and it's incredibly sad to see a player who has remained loyal to his team for the past five years to almost be forced to part ways with his beloved club.

After AC Milan reportedly rejecting Manchester City's initial bid of €100m for Brazilian playmaker Ricardo Kaká the club has decided to start negotiations-that according to the latest reports looks to be coming to a close. The club would get a staggering €112 million while the player himself is set to land €15 million per season after taxes.

Although Kaká hardly seems to be interested in the move to Eastlands where Manchester City currently are fighting dangerously close to the relegation zone - despite the amount of money on the table-the player whom this concerns may very well be forced to leave simply due to the enormousness of the bid

Alexandre Pato has become one of Serie A's most prominent players during the last calendar year. The young Brazilian has just completed his first year at AC Milan and with his lightning speed, unique technical skills, great finishing and outstanding reading of the game; the forward has done nothing to diminish his €22 million price tag.

Alexandre Pato, whose real name is Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva received his shirt name due to his hometown being Pato Branco-which in both Spanish and Portuguese means "duck."

Pato started playing futsal at the early age of four and become known in the Parana region due to his unique skills. At the age of seven the young talent switched to football and went off to play for Gremiô Industrial Pato Branquese-a sister club to Gremiô.

However, things haven't always been easy for "The Duck." In 2000, young Pato at a mere 10 years of age was brought to the doctors with a broken arm. The doctor found something else too-a tumor that would have been cancerous had it not been removed within two months.