Now there are no more excuses. After (ahinoi) the European Championship, the transfer market has officially come alive. After the interim month of June (actually richer than usual), after the waltz of co-ownership, after the expiry of the contracts, now is the time to get serious. There are many dreams, from the "usual" top players to last-minute shots which, as the past has taught us (true Nocerino?) often turn out to be decisive. It is therefore time to resume one of our good summer habits, the "Pagellone" of the transfer market. Aware that the marks given today can dramatically change tomorrow, for the better or for the worse. One more reason to get on the negotiating carousel with us.
JUVENTUS RATING: 7,5
A market for Italian champions. While waiting for the "top player" (who would make our judgment skyrocket), the bianconeri have simply made a clean sweep. Did Conte want a midfielder? To make no mistake, Marotta (the best transfer market manager so far) took two from him. Isla and Asamoah are so much stuff! The former is at his best on the right wing, but he can play practically anywhere, the latter is the classic "curd" in the midfield, a perfect replacement for Vidal, the right man to guarantee a 60-game season. Conte then wanted an experienced central defender, capable of making Bonucci or Barzagli catch his breath, or to be used on important nights, those in which the legs of the younger players can tremble. Lucio perfectly embodies the role, plus he was taken on a free transfer. All in all, a bargain regardless. In attack, for now, the blow is Sebastian Giovinco, someone who, media-speaking, pays for being Italian. His name was “Giovincinho” in fact everyone would talk about him, but maybe it's for the best. Because the unknowns about the "Formica Atomica" do not concern the technical qualities, but the personality. The work of Marotta and Paratici on young players is also excellent: half of Boakye, the purchases of Leali, Pogba and Masi, the advanced negotiations for Gabbiadini and El Kaddouri, the interest in Destro, all important deals in a future key. Too bad only for Verratti, who seems about to move to Paris, on which Juve had arrived well before PSG. There remains only the last box to fill in, the one relating to the famous "top player". Will it be Van Persie? Suarez? Or maybe a surprise coup, like Dzeko or Higuain? It's still too early to tell, but whatever happens, the black and white market is already worthy of the Scudetto.
INTER VOTE: 6,5
Had we ventured a "Pagellone" a few days ago, the vote would have been very different. But the market is known to be like a game of poker: a card can break the bank at any moment. And so the Inter that is being born turns out to be at least interesting. The project, whatever the critics say, is quite clear: to rejuvenate the squad, reduce the amount of wages, get back competitive. A complicated but ambitious plan, which, if carried out well, can also be successful. Sure, the fans turn up their noses, and, reasoning from the heart, it's hard to blame them. The farewells of Julio Cesar (however it goes, he is no longer part of Inter's plans) and Lucio are strong blows, and Maicon's could soon arrive too. After Eto'o, other treble heroes who leave. Painful of course, but on balance it is right. For the costs (which have become frankly unsustainable) and for the pitch. On the other hand, the choice of the coach already foreshadowed a new policy. To do well, Stramaccioni needs players who are hungry as well as willing to learn something new. Silvestre is not worth the Lucio of 2009, but he has excellent means and can certainly compose a respectable couple with Samuel. Handanovic is an excellent goalkeeper, perhaps the best in Italy after Buffon, moreover he is 27 years old (almost 6 less than Julio Cesar) and a salary of 2 million (less than half of the Brazilian). Good operations therefore, like those of Palacio and Guarin. The former Genoan is no longer very young (he turned 30 in February) but he comes from an excellent season, topped off with 21 goals, he also guarantees tactical flexibility and lungs. The redemption of the Colombian, on the other hand, has been passed over in silence, but it could prove to be Inter's extra weapon. With six months of experience behind him and, above all, no injuries, he is one of the best midfielders around. In short, the Nerazzurri market tickles our imagination. Something more is needed to aim for the Scudetto, but Moratti still has almost two months to go. And the feeling is that he will give it some blows.
MILAN RATING: 5,5
Resistance market. For the moment (we want to emphasize this) Milan have won, giving up a ton of millions for Thiago Silva and confirming Zlatan Ibrahimovic, undoubtedly the most decisive man in the team. Enough for enough? In our opinion not. The Rossoneri underwent a sensational restyling, letting go of all the old glories, except for Captain Ambrosini. Via Gattuso, Nesta, Seedorf and Inzaghi (just to mention the main ones), inside Traorè, Acerbi, Montolivo and Constant. Good players, but no big names. And so the amount of wages has dropped considerably, but also the technical rate and experience of the squad. The fans are perplexed, especially as Juventus is getting stronger and Inter are back to investing. Legitimate concerns, which however will not change the policy of Via Turati. In fact, the Berlusconi family no longer wants to be faced with budgets like the one approved last April, with a deficit of 67,3 million euros. A heavy figure, which could in part be covered by the sale of Thiago Silva. Berlusconi defined his confirmation as "a choice of the heart", we prefer to call it "a choice of the mind". Because the Brazilian's departure would have left a huge technical void, which the club would not have been able to fill. However, asking the fans to fill the stadium in the face of such a sacrifice seems a bit much to us, also because the square is not responding according to company expectations. It's hard to blame her, the team has several shortcomings. The biggest ones are on the wings: on the right there is only Abate, on the left the void and also in midfield the lack of a quality playmaker stands out. Important flaws, difficult to fill. Unless… Ibrahimovic leaves. We have been saying for some time that his 12 million a year salary is no longer part of the company's plans, and that a sale of him could revitalize the AC Milan market. Which otherwise will continue in the name of low-cost. To the delight of the opponents.
