Call them “market skirmishes”. Those who, when everything seems to be done, block deals and force insiders and fans to wait nerve-racking, almost longer than the entire negotiation. But then, barring sensational twists and turns, even the last details fall into place and the parties can toast to the long-awaited white smoke. This is what Juventus and Milan are hoping for, ready to close the transfer of Higuain and, immediately after, that of Bonucci and Caldara.
A negotiation that seemed already on the finishing straight, so much so that many were already expecting it to be official yesterday, however the games are not over yet and the parties, before uncorking the champagne, will have to meet again and complete the operation. At stake is the severance pay that Higuain asked Juventus, 4,5 million, which would allow him to close the transfer in question with profits. Yes, because Pipita in the Rossoneri will certainly have an extra year of contract but his salary, from the current 7,5, will drop to 6. Hence the amount asked of Juve in a summit that lasted just under an hour which, at least for the moment, it has not led to the final agreement.
The parties will meet again today and, in all probability, they will reach an agreement: the deal, in fact, is practically concluded and it is very difficult to jump for such a figure. As evidence of this, just as Marotta met Pipita's prosecutor, Leonardo did the same with Caldara's agent, effectively setting up the maxi exchange that sanctions the new-found alliance between Juve and Milan, never so close since pre Calciopoli.
Once the operation is concluded, the Rossoneri will continue their comeback market, without forgetting that, beyond the facade declarations, a turnaround on the bench is still possible, with Gattuso who would give way to Conte. However, everything depends on the agreements that the latter will make with Abramovich, which is why voices close to the now ex-Chelsea coach see the deal as rather complicated.
Gattuso, who in any case has caught on to something, is rooting for Roman and hopes that Leonardo will give him a winger, perhaps without sacrificing Suso, requested by Roma (18 million plus Perotti) but considered very important. The hot name is that of Bernard, a Brazilian whose contract with Shakhtar is about to expire, in which, however, there is also the very strong interest of Chelsea.
We'll see what happens, meanwhile to animate the Milan football there is (re) also Inter, author of another transfer market. Sime Vrsaljko is a new Nerazzurri player: this was announced by Atletico Madrid with an official press release, which certifies the transfer of the Croatian with the formula of an expensive loan (6,5 million) with the right to buy (17,5).
But Ausilio doesn't want to stop there: Spalletti has asked for a midfielder and the hottest name is that of Vidal, ready to leave Bayern with the same formula used for Vrsaljko. Here the figures would be slightly higher, with the Chilean costing around 30 million for a salary of 4,5 per season, to the delight of Spalletti and all the Inter fans, at which point they are allowed to dream big.
The same cannot be said of Naples, which yesterday saw De Laurentiis on the home pages of all the sports sites but for matters far removed from the blue world. In fact, ADL has become the new owner of Bari, chosen by Mayor Decaro at the end of a three-way fight that also involved Lotito and Preziosi. The Apulians, forced to restart from Serie D after the bankruptcy of a few days ago, will thus have a respectable president, and who knows if they will love him more than the Neapolitans, now rather hostile towards his strategies.
A bitter pill instead for Lotito, who however can console himself with Milinkovic-Savic: the Serbian, albeit a day late, showed up in Rome with the aim, at least in words, of never leaving. Sure, the market can still offer surprises but the feeling is that Lotito won't sell for less than 120-140 million and this money, for now, has never been offered by anyone. Inzaghi rejoices, aware that his president is a tough nut to crack and that, at worst, he will be able to console himself with Rafinha, always waiting for a call to take him back to Italy.
