Il record (winter) market. Never, in fact, had there been a January session so rich in shots, especially on the last day. Milan is the absolute protagonist, author of a real revolution that could change the balance in the fight for fourth place: the distance from Lazio, yesterday victorious in Cagliari (2-1, goals by Zaccagni and Castellanos), is 7 points, a lot but not too many, considering that the Rossoneri still have to recover the match in Bologna. Cardinale, after having taken Walker and Gimenez, unleashed himself with Joao Felix, Thin and Bondo, who have made room for Calabria, Morata, Okafor and Bennacer, for an unprecedented restyling. Last-minute moves also for Naples, Juventus, Rome, Inter, Fiorentina and Turin, confirming a winter market richer than ever.
Milan on the loose: Joao Felix, Sottil and Bondo signed, Okafor and Bennacer sold
The icing on the cake is called Joao Felix. The talented Portuguese striker arrived at Malpensa shortly after 22pm, officially starting his new adventure in Italy. After signing the contract at the club headquarters, Joao Felix headed to the Hotel Melià where coach Conceiçao was waiting for him, ready to welcome his new player. The two will meet again at today's training session, postponed until the afternoon to welcome the new arrivals: it is reasonable to expect a debut in tomorrow's match against Roma in the Coppa Italia.
THEagreement with Chelsea does not include the right of redemption, also due to the limited time: Milan accepted the Blues' proposal, therefore a onerous loan of 2 million euros, to which 3 will have to be added for the salary until June. To make room for the Portuguese was Okay, who moved to Napoli with the same formula (we'll talk about it shortly), but the revolution certainly didn't stop there.
The Rossoneri also said goodbye Bennacer, who moved to Marseille on a onerous loan for 1 million euros, with a right of redemption set at 12 plus 3 in bonuses. The Algerian's desire to change air was decisive, given that it was the player himself who pushed for Milan to accept the French club's proposal. His replacement will be Bondo, French midfielder from Monza, purchased for 10 million euros plus bonuses. Despite his young age, Bondo will be eligible for inclusion in the UEFA list thanks to his training in Italy. The player has signed a contract until 2029, with a salary of around 1,5 million euros.
On the offensive front, Milan also purchased Riccardo sottil from Fiorentina. The striker, who has scored 5 goals and 3 assists this season, arrives on a onerous loan (2 million) with a right of redemption set at 10. Sottil will replace Okafor in the role of deputy Leao, while Joao Felix will slot in as an attacking midfielder, with Reijnders returning to midfield. In addition to Bennacer and Okafor, there could also be Chukwueze, despite the transfer to Fulham falling through due to bureaucratic issues: the former Villarreal player could still leave, given that the Dutch and Turkish markets have not yet closed their doors.
Juve: the latest signing is Newcastle defender Kelly, Fagioli to Fiorentina
Juventus' latest move is called Lloyd Kelly. After a few hours of waiting, due to the need to complete the visa procedures (being a non-EU citizen), the black and white club announced the signing of the defender from Newcastle. Juventus snatched him from the Magpies with the formula of onerous loan (3,8 million), with the obligation to definitively purchase upon the occurrence of certain conditions. The amount established for the definitive transfer is 14,5 million, to be paid in three financial years, plus 2,7 million in additional charges. Given the high probability that the purchase conditions will be met, the operation will be definitively accounted for starting today, for a total of 17,5 million euros, plus additional charges. This is the third defensive reinforcement of the winter session, after the arrivals of Alberto Costa and Renato Veiga, operations made necessary by the injuries that affected Bremer and Cabal.
In the meantime, Nicolo Fagioli has found a new home at Fiorentina. After long negotiations, the midfielder moves to Viola with the formula of a loan with an obligation to buy, conditional on the qualification of Palladino's team in Europe. The obligation to buy is set at 16 million euros, with 3 million in bonuses tied to specific objectives. In addition, Juventus will guarantee 15% on the future resale of the player.
Napoli consoles itself with Okafor, Comuzzo fades away (at least until June)
No cover shot for Napoli, even if a reinforcement, at least in numerical terms, has arrived. After the failed arrival of Saint-Maximin, in fact, the Napoli blues have decided to veer towards Okafor of Milan. The two clubs reached an agreement in a few hours, allowing the Devils to close the Joao Felix deal. A few weeks ago, the Rossoneri had attempted to sell the Swiss to Leipzig, but the deal fell through due to medical tests, at least officially. Okafor moves to Napoli in onerous loan with right of redemption set at 25 million euros, while Comuzzo, another Azzurri target, will not arrive. The young defender born in 2005 was the subject of a long negotiation, with Napoli pushing up to 35 million, of which 5 for the loan and 25 for the obligation to redeem, plus 5 in bonuses. But Fiorentina did not want to deviate from the initial request of 40, refusing any type of discount. At that point Manna, also on the diktat of De Laurentiis, took a step back, at least for the moment: the parties, in fact, will hear from each other again in the summer, given that Conte has now decided to pair him with Buongiorno in a central pairing with enormous prospects.
Inter, Sucic signed! Roma, Salah-Eddine and Gourna-Douath arrive
A shot in perspective instead for the'Inter, who gave herself the midfielder Sucic of Fabio Cannavaro's Dinamo Zagreb. The deal involves a €14 million outlay, with €2 million in additional bonuses and a percentage of the player's future resale. Sucic, born in 2003, will undergo medical checks during the week and then return to Dinamo to finish the season, although he won't be able to play before March due to a foot injury. In Nerazzurri, Sucic could play as Calhanoglu's deputy or act as a mezzala, probably starting from the Club World Cup scheduled for the summer.
“Side” shots also for the Rome, who replaced Hermoso with the Danish defender Nelsson of Galatasaray, on a onerous loan (500.000 euros) with the obligation to redeem set at 10 million. Furthermore, the Giallorossi management has completed the purchase of left back Salah-Eddine, class of 2002 from Twente, with an agreement based on a loan with obligation to buy for 8 million plus 2 million in bonuses. Ghisolfi then also closed for the midfielder Gourna Douath, young talent from Salzburg, for whom an agreement has been reached on loan with an option to buy.
Fiorentina Welcomes Zaniolo, Lazio Belahyane, Belotti Goes to Benfica
Closing with a bang for the Fiorentina, who gave themselves Zaniolo with a few months of delay: the Viola, in fact, had also chased him in the summer, only to then have to surrender to Atalanta. For the striker it is a return home, having grown up in the youth sector of the lilies. The transfer includes a loan with obligation to buy set at 15,5 million euros, conditional on reaching 60% of appearances in the championship. However, Zaniolo will not be available in the recovery against Inter on Thursday evening: the rules establish that in suspended matches only players registered on the date of interruption, i.e. December 1st, can be fielded. Also smiling is the Lazio, which has made official the purchase of Belahyan from Verona on a permanent basis. At the same time, the hiring of Provenance, Danish central defender born in 2003, coming from Velj. In the myriad of operations carried out in the rest of Italy, the one that stands out is Belotti's transfer to Benfica: the striker, protagonist of a disappointing first half with the Como shirt, will end the season in the glorious Portuguese club, which will also give him the opportunity to play in the Champions League.
