Born in Naples on 03/10/88, graduated in Philosophy and Politics from the Oriental University of Naples. He has been working for TMW since 2008 and was deputy editor for 10 years. Sent to follow the national team
The judgment is partial, of course. At the October break it couldn’t be otherwise and the premise is that there is still plenty of time to remedy this. But after seven championship games and a few more, good morning is already in the past for those who play in the cups. The season at its second stop for the national team matches has already turned on its engines and among the almost 750 operations defined this summer by the Serie A clubs there are already some that smell of great business. But also some others that are starting to smell like burning.
THE SEVEN BEST DEALS…
Seventh place – Nuno Tavares (Lazio) – For some he is Rocketman, for others he has already been renamed TAV, a high-speed train in white and blue colors who in five games promoted as many goals with his assists. His last meteoric season at Nottingham Forest was used by Lazio to snatch him from Arsenal for a single figure and with a formula that after this start to the season seems to be the framework for an excellent operation: loan with right of redemption at around seven million euros which may become an obligation upon the occurrence of certain conditions.
Sixth place – Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus) – It wasn’t easy to replace an icon like Szczesny, nor to arrive from Monza and immediately prove himself as a Juventus player. He is succeeding brilliantly, giving security to a department that has turned a new leaf with the arrival of Thiago Motta. He only conceded his first league goal on Sunday, on the seventh day, directly from eleven metres. Paid 18 million euroscrowned the splendid start to the season with the call-up to the national team.
Fifth place – Moise Kean (Fiorentina) – In the right place at the right time. Without the rush of having to demonstrate his value in a few minutes, with the certainty of a team that plays for his goals. Moise Kean (paid 13 million plus 5 in bonuses) seems to have finally found what he had been looking for for some time: the right club to affirm important qualities that are now, finally, no longer just potential. A center forward with body and engine to quote Spalletti who called him up when he wasn’t playing at Juventus and so let alone now…
On this lap he was forced to raise the white flag due to low back pain, but the national team is his if he continues like this. With an attitude and maturity that he had never had before (not just his fault).
Fourth place – Scott McTominay (Napoli) – Deciding to leave your place as Manchester United starter to get back into the discussion at Napoli is a more unique than rare choice. Yet the Scottish midfielder never hesitated as soon as this glimmer of opportunity opened: it is the Conte effect, but also the desire of the footballer born and raised in the red devils shirt to compete with another reality. Less comfortable, more performing. “The passion of the fans is decisive,” he declared in a recent interview. At the foot of Vesuvius there is already an idol, 30 million euros spent to move on after Zielinski’s farewell and make a player available to the coach who has no equal in Serie A in terms of his ability to make an impact in all phases of the game.
Third place – Nico Paz (Como) – Twenty years old last September 8th, a predestined talent. The post of the Maradona stadium is still shaking after his left-footed shot from almost thirty meters last Friday. He has talent and vision of the game, speed and a brilliant left foot: he has everything, really everything, to become a world football star in just a few years. Como bought him for six million euros, but Real Madrid – the club where he was born and raised – included a buy-back clause in the agreement.
Second place – Romelu Lukaku (Napoli) – Thirty-one years old, such an expensive price tag and a salary request of 7-8 million euros. Without Antonio Conte no Italian club these days would have set up the Lukaku operation. But Antonio Conte is also this, a coach who knows how to assert his reasons even when very expensive operations have to be put together. As usual, he’s right: those 30 million spent to buy Lukaku’s card they gave a completely different look to a Napoli that was once again competitive after a disastrous season. In six games already three goals and five assists: devastating impact.
First place Mateo Retegui (Atalanta) – In the league he averages one goal every 67 minutes, in seven games he has already scored the same goals he scored in the last Serie A with the Genoa shirt. Mateo Retegui couldn’t have made a better choice in the summer and Atalanta couldn’t have made a better replacement for the injured Scamacca. A cost of around 15 million euros for a perfect combination thanks to the direction of Gasperini, a generational coach who is once again transforming a good player into an excellent footballer. He also thanks Spalletti: after so many years with him and Kean, the center forward role might no longer be a problem.
… AND FIVE FLOPS
Douglas Luiz, just messes
As with the best purchases, in this case too the judgment can only be partial. But even just imagining him having a worse start than Douglas Luiz was complicated: 28 million euros plus the cards of Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea for a player who not only fails to establish himself as a starter, but when he enters he does damage: two messes in a few days and two penalties given to the opponents.
The Flaco is turned off. Where has Palladino’s pupil gone?
In Florence the star of the Flaco Colpani: among the best of Raffaele Palladino’s Monza, was the first request of the coach from Mugnano di Napoli once he landed in Florence. Confidence is not lacking but it does not shine. So far it’s one limited presence after another for a player purchased with the formula onerous loan (four million euros) with right of redemption set at twelve.
Soulè for Juric is a total misunderstanding
Having landed in Rome as the new Dybala, Matias Soulè is paying the price for expectations that are too high. The weight of a wait which for Juric is the result of a total misunderstanding given that the Argentine from Mar del Plata has just returned from one season in Serie A. Compared to Frosinone he has lost brilliance, above all serenity. The boy will be made, but for now he is just a faded copy of Joya. The hope is that it does not turn into a new Iturbe: 25.6 million euros plus bonuses were needed to snatch him from Juventus.
Emerson Royal, for now neither fowl nor fowl
Attacks badly, defends worse. The Brazilian winger was treated for months this summer and then purchased by Tottenham for 15 million euros plus three bonuses he’s not convincing anyone. Undisciplined, imprecise, too often out of position.
Thijs Dallinga and the regretful Zirkzee
It’s not easy to replace Joshua Zirkzee, far from it. But the center forward from Groningen taken from Toulouse for 15 million euros plus bonuses it’s doing nothing to dampen the regrets. We are still in the process of settling in and the hope for Bologna fans is that this phase will end sooner or later. In the meantime, Castro has already taken the starting shirt.