And also this year we arrived at the mid-August weekend. Days of sun, sea and relaxation for all Italians, and also for market operators, who, at least until Tuesday, will turn off their cell phones and catch their breath, in view of what will be the hottest two weeks (in every sense ) of the summer of football. The fans rejoice, tremble, in some cases get angry, all for the transfer market. And we, punctual as always, give our judgments on the movements of the big names in our championship, aware (and this is precisely the beauty of it) that, until August 31st, nothing can be taken for granted, and that the balance could be completely upset.
Juventus 7
While remaining the queen of the Italian transfer market, Juventus lose half a point compared to last week. No progress has been made, neither on the purchases nor on the sales front. And this, with the championship just around the corner (full of expectations after John Elkann's proclamations) could also become a big problem. Antonio Conte was clear, to compete until the end for the title, 4 (!) players are still needed: 3 wingers and a central defender. The new Juventus coach will have to teach these (especially the men in the flank) very particular game mechanisms, given that, in his tactical system, they play a decisive role. Marotta therefore has to hurry up, but the transfers are urgent first. Otherwise the risk is to see the door slammed in his face (see Hamburg with Elia) or to be asked for bizarre requests (such as the Quagliarella – Vargas exchange). So everything will happen towards the end of the market, after having sold (possibly well) Amauri, Iaquinta, Martinez etc. Then Marotta will be able to attack the coveted wingers in midfield (Vargas, Farfan, Giaccarini) and that indispensable central defender to build a great team from the ground up (Chelsea's Alex would be ideal). But time is running out, and last-minute negotiations (like the one a year ago with Milan for Borriello) are not always successful.
NAPOLI 7
In our opinion, even Napoli lose half a point compared to 7 days ago. But as you say, De Laurentiis says he wants to buy Rossi and you lower his vote? The answer is yes, at least until the blue president declares Pocho Lavezzi non-transferable (something done, as far as his word can count, by Walter Mazzarri on Friday). Are you really sure, Neapolitan fans, that giving up the Argentine thunderbolt for Giuseppe Rossi would be a bargain? We sincerely have some doubts, above all in the light of what Lavezzi did under Mazzarri's orders. Of course, Pocho has exaggerated lately (it's hard to forgive him the week in Sardinia based on discos, while his teammates trained in Castelvolturno) but who better than the Neapolitans can know that champions should be given some whim? Ask Luciano Moggi (we have done it) for information on the management of Maradona, just to give the most illustrious example. It's okay that Lavezzi is not (and will never be) the Pibe de Oro, but for this reason Napoli has always been the most decisive player, even compared to Cavani. Having said that, however, the substitute would be respectable, even if convincing Villarreal seems an almost desperate undertaking. Furthermore, on Wednesday, the Yellow Submarine will be on stage in the Netherlands, where they will face Odense in the first leg of the Champions League preliminaries. Rossi is obviously on the list, and if he were to play even one minute, he would not be able to participate in Napoli's European campaign. It is true that if Lavezzi were to go to Inter, Goran Pandev would in all probability arrive in the shadow of Vesuvius, but buying Rossi would only make sense if full-time, certainly not part-time. Either lightning negotiation (within a weekend) or half-service Pepito. This will be De Laurentiis's dilemma under the umbrella, provided that the volcanic president of Napoli does not decide to surprise everyone with yet another twist.
LAZIO 6,5
The descent also affects Lazio. While Reja continues to experiment in friendlies (among other things not particularly welcome, given the boos from the Biancocelesti fans), the transfer market brings news only on the transfer front, while everything is silent on signings. Zarate to Spartak Moscow, Floccari disputed between Benfica and Fiorentina, Kozak doubtful about his future. All this does not seem to be good for the environment, which is constantly boiling despite the arrivals of Klose and Cissè. The dispute against President Lotito does not stop, nor does the one against Reja, all in an increasingly strange market context. It's fine to thin out the squad (especially in attack), but is Zarate really useless to this Lazio team? Steps for Floccari and Kozak (two first strikers, just like Klose), but the Argentine could also come in handy during the season, given that Cissè, beyond the excellent pre-season, is subject to some physical problems. Reja then, had asked (a month ago) for a quality midfielder and a central defender. They will arrive, but at the moment there is no trace of them. Let's be clear, Lazio remain an excellent team, with a framework of grit and quality, but perhaps, given the tragicomic environment that surrounds them, a little clarity would not hurt. Something that is completely missing, given that Reja was forced to play two parallel pre-seasons, with Lazio A and with Lazio B. An unmanageable situation even for a bench press like him. Lotito and Tare, now it's your turn.
MILAN 6,5
The vote remains the same, if only because the Rossoneri have already lifted their first trophy of the season in Beijing. The market continues to be in hiding, but the feeling is that things will soon unblock. Aquilani or Montolivo, this is the dilemma, even if Milan, in the end, could even take them both. Of course, for the fans who had made their mouths with very different names (Fabregas above all), this Italian "Mister X" will be half a disappointment, but looking closely, the Rossoneri won't be fishing so badly. Our national team's friendly match against Spain clarified many things. First of all that Alberto Aquilani and Riccardo Montolivo are anything but waste, given that Cesare Prandelli is building the Italy of the future on them (and given the results, it doesn't seem to us that he is making a mistake). Evaluations on the market are then made by looking at the quality-price ratio, something in which Milan have always excelled (and even this summer, with Mexes and Taiwo taken on a free transfer, things aren't going any differently). Aquilani costs 10 million, more or less like Montolivo. However, the Rossoneri, with that amount (euro more, euro less) plan to take both. Were they to succeed, they would surely make an applause operation. Because in these times of economic crisis (and you readers of Firstonline know it better than the others), thinking of a president (of Milan, but above all of the Council) who spends crazy sums on football, would really be science fiction.
ROME 4,5
Here we are in the "Deficiencies (serious)" department. But what is Thomas DiBenedetto's Roma up to? May the delays in closing the deal with Unicredit pass (which by the way is not concluded yet, but this time we're really here!), pass the transfers to direct competitors (see Vucinic at Juventus) or at bargain prices to those who really don't he needed (Menez to PSG for only 8 million, who knows Zamparini's laughter), but here we are faced with a structure that creaks dangerously, even before the season has begun. The De la Pena affair is the emblem of this Rome. Weeks of battles to bring him to the capital (Sabatini didn't look kindly on him, but Luis Enrique had set him as a sine qua non), and then the marriage ends when we're still on our honeymoon. Officially for personal reasons of the Spaniard, but in reality misunderstandings regarding the transfer market filter through the walls of Trigoria. Because the real problem of Rome is just this. The team is incomplete, and certainly not because of Sabatini (the only one, together with Luis Enrique, to be promoted with flying colours). The truth is that there is no money, because otherwise Roma would have had a top-level striker for some time. As we write, the arrival of Espanyol striker Pablo Osvaldo, formerly of Fiorentina and Bologna, seems close. But the Italo-Argentine is anything but an established player. In the exchange with Vucinic, in our opinion, Roma will lose, and how if they lose. And hearing Luis Enrique talk about the transfer market (“I would like both Osvaldo and Nilmar to arrive”) is almost tender.
INTER 4
At the moment the real disappointment of this transfer market. As we write, Samuel Eto'o (one of the strongest forwards in the world, it should be remembered) is one step away from Anzhi (!!!). And to replace him, there is talk of Tevez on loan (!) or Lavezzi. Not only that, the Nerazzurri are also negotiating the transfers of Sneijder (Manchester City) and Milito (Galatasaray). Except that, most likely, the Dutchman and the Argentine won't leave (but certainly not because of Inter's merits), the Nerazzurri transfer campaign really leaves you speechless. Selling Eto'o for 25 – 30 million could also be a fair (good would be too much) deal for Moratti, but on a technical level it leaves us speechless. The Cameroonian is a real phenomenon, and one like this can only be sold for a crazy amount (at least double that accepted by Moratti), especially since the buyers certainly don't have money problems. Eto'o knows something about it, and in total he will receive 60 million net for the next 3 years. Inter on the other hand, in addition to losing the strongest striker in the squad, will earn an amount that won't even allow them to buy a substitute, unless negotiating on the price (Tevez would cost 40, Lavezzi has a termination clause of 31). At this point then, Sneijder will most likely remain (but who knows with what desire), given that Manchester City have turned to Nasri, and United do not have the money to be able to afford the Dutchman. And so Gasperini, in addition to losing Eto'o, will also find himself the number one tactical misunderstanding of his start to Inter management at home (the attacking midfielder is not in his form). For the midfield then, Kucka was purchased in co-ownership deal from Genoa. It's a pity that the Slovak will remain in the Rossoblu at least until January. So Inter will have to get rid of the first months of the season with the usual (very valid) suspects. And we, in addition to thunderously rejecting the Nerazzurri (for the moment, it should be remembered), we really don't understand each other anymore.
