The different market: the comparative revolutions of Juve, Naples and the Romans
There are teams that have inflamed this summer market more than others, in the month of August. And that even ending it with a count down that in some cases helps in some others puts pressure.
From this point of view the Milanese seem to be more serene. Inter – convinced to keep Skriniar – would only need a defender (to replace also numerically) Ranocchia. Milan must wait until the last days of the transfer market to complete the squad of the Italian champions with a defender and a midfielder. Important but not essential.
And in any case, the two Milanese put an extra piece in the 11 starters: Lukaku on one side, De Ketelare on the other. Two pieces of 90, like their numbers, but the rest are (or will be) very important pawns to give even more depth to the squad.
Elsewhere there has been a real revolution. At Lazio, of which little is said to tell the truth because he concentrated his purchases not in the final phase of the market, compared to Inzaghi’s last season there are only 4 owners left: Immobile, Milinkovic Savic, Lazzari and Luis Alberto (who moreover has always been talked about a lot about the market). A real revolution in the name of Sarri: now we can consider the transformation complete and on which Sarri can work bringing the concepts of him that he had already begun to implant last season.
Certainly, the revolution in Rome caused more hype. A trophy raised in the air and the club’s mission (to reach the Champions League within three years, focusing on talented young people) has above all served to make it clear that the road can also be shortened. Relying on Mourinho, always a winner, and his charisma has allowed the club and Tiago Pinto to make an extraordinary market so far. Dybala and Wijnalduum are “only” the last two hits. They are not young, as Matic is not young. But they are ready, ready to win or to try and win now. Winning a trophy, contending for the Scudetto until the end, returning to the Champions League and then again a virtuous economic flywheel. Instant team has been defined. And maybe it’s not over. Moreover, in the face of a total of top-level sales, to certify, if needed, the excellent work of Tiago Pinto. Also because placing redundancies and off-projects is definitely the most difficult thing in this market where everyone wants to take you by the throat.
The concept of an instant team was also the leitmotif of Juventus. Allegri after the first year in which he had married (and endorsed) the new course of young people and preferably Italians (Juventus last season had an average age of signings of 22.8, with the oldest player arriving at 25, Gatti ) has changed direction. Now the youngest is 25 (Bremer) and the average age of the purchases (if they arrive in addition to Kostic also Paredes and Depay who are still objective) is 29. Purchased during this summer (assuming the two above) would arrive 4 and a half holders (Bremer, Di Maria, Pogba, Paredes and Kostic who at the moment would play in the holder while waiting for the Church). Virtually half the team to underline how much Juventus still lacked last season, according to the technical guide, how much it was necessary to rebuild. Here too some sales have arrived (and others will arrive), always indispensable in the sign of financial balance: in today’s football.
That balance that Napoli sought and that was the guiding star of the blue market. Napoli had an important goal: touching the wage bill. And so it will be. But the challenge was to maintain the same competitiveness: we will see if the purchases at Naples will be as effective as those who have left. It is a great challenge, so far they are showing good things and Spalletti has already loaded him in the locker room: at the end of the year he said he wanted to see a trophy, since they were all dead. Napoli has lost more than 1500 appearances in the blue jersey, has completely distorted his physiognomy, but not his character. Talented young people arrived from all over the world: Georgians, Spaniards, Koreans. Maybe Italians and Argentines will arrive again, maybe a Costa Rican. Because Napoli still wants to be competitive even with lower costs. A revolution completely opposite to that of Juventus and Roma. More similarity perhaps to that of Lazio, but even more austere (if you go and look at the costs of wages).
This is why this championship that is about to begin will be interesting. Who has chosen continuity, who has chosen rupture. And who has found his way inside the breakup. But in the end only one will win. But does this necessarily mean that others were not right?