MIDDLESBROUGH striker Massimo Maccarone went from despair to joy last night after completing his on-off loan move to Parma.
The Italian international has finally moved back to his homeland after Parma agreed a season-long loan deal with Boro - hours after the move for the 24-year-old had appeared dead in the water.
"I'm happy to have joined Parma," a delighted Maccarone said, in a deal that will reunite him with his former Empoli coach Silvio Baldini.
"I'm happy about this, because I find again my former coach. But I'm happy because there I can meet again a few of my former Empoli team-mates."
Maccarone had seen his route to the Middlesbrough first-team blocked by the signings of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka, with manager Steve McClaren turning to Joseph Job and Szilard Nemeth in supporting roles.
The £8.15m signing from Empoli in 2002 was described as 'devastated' earlier yesterday by his agent, Paolo Fabbri, when the deal floundred, but after the move was finalised McClaren wished his departing forward well - and reaffirmed his desire to see him return to Teesside.
"This is a great opportunity for him to play first-team football at a very high level," said McClaren.
"At the same time we must stress that the plan is to have him back with us next summer - he is still part of the plans.
Meanwhile, McClaren has warned his players there'll be no slacking while he's away on international duty.
McClaren heads out with the England squad this week for back-to-back World Cup qualifiers in Austria and Poland but has left strict instructions for those players not on international duty - with just Job and Bolo Zenden away with Cameroon and Holland respectively.
McClaren said: "While I'm away on England duty, I can assure you that the players won't be able to put their feet up, relax and concentrate on walking the dog while those involved in internationals are working their socks off because there's still an awful lot of work to be done.
"Believe you me, they won't be having that many days off resting because it's early season and you need to get things right and they'll probably be working harder than me over there."
McClaren's England sojourn comes with his new-look Boro standing in fifth spot after a solid start to the campaign, and the Boro boss believes his coaching role with the national side is of benefit to all concerned.
"I'm really looking forward to playing my part in games that the whole nation will have its eyes on," he said. "It's terrific for me; a great opportunity.
"The thing that I enjoy most about being on the England coaching is working with the players and working with the staff. It's just sheer enjoyment and also not having to make that final decision but instead leaving that aspect to Sven.
"Not being in charge is no problem for me and it allows me to spend more time on the training ground.
"I feel more comfortable in the England job now but I learnt a hell of a lot from Euro 2004 playing against the best teams on the continent and all that newly acquired knowledge certainly helped me.
"It also helped in terms of profile because it helped Middlesbrough bring in quality players. But most of all the experience I gain can only make me a better coach and manager and then I transfer that over to Middlesbrough.
"When I wasn't involved I used to look wistfully at England games and wish I was there in the dugout alongside Sven. That's because you are working with the best players in the country and you're involved in the biggest games. You can't gain the experience just sat watching TV or watching it from the stands."
McClaren has heaped praise on new striker Hasselbaink and has admitted the Dutch hitman has already impressed his new team-mates with his attitude - and the famous Jimmy stare.
Hasselbaink, renowned for his glazed eye stare at opponents and team-mates, hit a superb free-kick to win the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday and according to his new manager his winner's attitude is already rubbing off.
McClaren said: "Jimmy's a winner and that's why we brought him here. When you bring the likes of him and Viduka in you have to try and give them an environment in which they will enjoy their football.
"You can see we're doing that at the moment but ultimately Jimmy's a winner and wants to win football matches.
"That's already rubbed off on a lot of his colleagues already. Many have had the glazed eyes already and you need that within a football team. That's one of the things that he provides for us."
Read more about Middlesbrough here.
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