On August 31, the dreams, sparks and thrills of the transfer market ended. Here are the report cards of the major protagonists of Italian football.
JUVENTUS
VOTE 9
Had Witsel arrived (or another midfielder of the same level) we would be talking about a perfect transfer market, in any case Juventus' summer remains spectacular even like this. The others still had to decide what to do and the Bianconeri presented Pjanic and Dani Alves, not exactly the latest arrivals. It goes without saying that the hit par excellence remains Gonzalo Higuain, but also Pjaca (one of the best young prospects in Europe), Benatia (who else in Italy can afford a similar "reserve"?) and Cuadrado are not joking. Sure, Pogba and Morata have left, Lichtsteiner seems to have ended up on the sidelines and an extra midfielder (also in light of Marchisio's injury) was really needed but you can't have everything. And already in this way Juventus is ready to give the assault on the coveted Champions League.
NAPLES
VOTE 7,5
Selling Higuain and rebuilding an entire team. Paradoxically, Pipita's departure proved to be useful for Neapolitan society. Of course, a top player with 36 league goals has gone away, but these first two days show that Napoli's problems were not (and are not) in the goal area. Maybe Milik won't score like his predecessor but between Mertens, Insigne, Gabbiadini (who knows why they wanted to sell him at all costs) and Hamsik, the number of goals could remain the same. The Azzurri have used the 90 million collected to reinforce the squad, so as to be able to support the double Championship-Champions commitment without too many problems, at least on paper. Maksimovic and Tonelli in defense, Zielinski, Diawara and Rog in midfield, Blazers in attack: now Napoli have two players for each position. Condition sine qua non to really try to grow up.
INTER
VOTE 7
There's no denying it: the new Chinese ownership didn't tiptoe in. Suning has invested the beauty of 114 million, changed a coach with a heavy name, reported Inter in all the newspapers. The problem is that there are many nuances between the limelight and the results on the field and these, at the moment, are making the difference. Fran De Boer will have to prove his worth as soon as possible, as well as some players paid in gold despite a pedigree to be evaluated. Joao Mario and Gabigol, for example, cost 73 million: a good amount, to be transformed into goals and entertainment as soon as possible. Banega promoted (only because he arrived on a free transfer) and Candreva, Ansaldi is interesting, it remains to be understood why a playmaker (to date still Medel) and a central defense were not hired to alternate with Miranda and Murillo, roles in which the team it was also discovered last year. In general, however, the Nerazzurri market remains positive (the lack of sales of Icardi and Brozovic should be underlined): if it is enough to go to the Champions League, we will only find out over time.
Roma
VOTE 5,5
Giallorossi insufficiency and not only due to the elimination from the Champions League (which still weighs). In fact, it is impossible to consider the current Rome stronger than the previous one and this, in the light of Spalletti's proclamations, is not positive news. Pjanic's departure (also to Juventus) is enough to weaken the team, now without a very important, almost fundamental player. Sabatini tried to replace him right up to the last minute but Wilshere's rejection (in any case light years away from the Bosnian) demonstrates how the Rome project isn't all that attractive. The only real blow is Bruno Peres, for the rest there are many unknowns: Vermaelen (fixed reserve in Barcelona and already protagonist of an expulsion in Oporto), Juan Jesus and Fazio do not seem able to solve the defense problem (indeed) , Gerson and Paredes in midfield have interesting potential but will have to demonstrate it on the pitch. In short, if the Champions League seems to have reopened, it is due to the Roma transfer market.
MILAN
VOTE 4,5
Half a vote more for the objective economic difficulties of a very strange market, bordering on the absurd. Never like this time has Galliani had to work in extremely difficult conditions: there was no money, nor was there the possibility of postponing payments. And so on with the loans with the right to purchase, the only possible formula for the CEO but not very productive, at least for good level players. Musacchio, Benatia, Cuadrado, Stambouli, Garay, Kovacic, Fabregas and Ramsey: here it is the long (very long) list of goals in the face of poor Galliani. And if we add the no for Pjaca (Juve preferred), Badelj (Fiorentina vetoed) and Bentancur (already optioned by Marotta), the fool is complete. Milan tried to make up for it with Lapadula, Gustavo Gomez, Sosa, Pasalic and Mati Fernandez, the latter caught right at the photo finish. It is unlikely that the aforementioned will be able to raise the average quality of a team that has remained outside Europe for the third consecutive time: in short, the Chinese will have to think about the "real" reinforcements, arriving in the autumn and forced to open their wallets. Otherwise poor Montella risks ending up like his predecessors.
