As the transfer window draws to a close, and numerous deals reach that tantalising and depressingly drawn out “will they, won’t they” phase, it is time to look at the squads, and evaluate who has bought players that could really have an impact this Serie A season.
From experienced and proven professionals to exciting young prospects, the peninsula will play host to a plethora of interesting acquisitions who could make Calcio fans worldwide sit up and take notice. Who will make an impact this year?
In anticipation of this thought recieving it’s answer, Forza Italian Football have put together 10 players who you should pay close attention to, from household names settling in at new pastures to unknown youth on the cusp of a breakthrough season.
10. Kwadwo Asamoah
Club: Juventus
Age :23
Position: Centre Midfield
The Ghanaian was the quiet engine of the Udinese side that has defied logic in the last two seasons to finish fourth and third respectively – and has been rewarded with a move to Italian Champions Juventus, joining his Chilean teammate Mauricio Isla in making the trip to Turin.
However, while the world was drooling over Di Natale, Alexis Sanchez, Gokhlan Inler and Christian Zapata over the last two seasons, it has been the African who has been one of the Friuli’s star performers without attracting many plaudits.
Strong, quick, committed and versatile – the African’s switch to a more high profile club should provide his talent with the spotlight it deserves. Excellent in his league debut at left wing-back in Juventus’s patented 3-5-2 formation, Asamoah is sure to be a key man for the Bianconeri.
9. M’baye Niang
Club: Milan
Age: 17
Position: Forward
Hailed as the “New Thierry Henry” by French press, M’baye Niang is Milan’s most intriguing transfer to date, and could develop into a huge talent. Given his France U-21 debut at just 16, Niang is capable of playing anywhere along the front line. Physical, quick and possessed with an eye for goal – Niang brings youth and massive potential for the future.
Previously plying his trade at Ligue 2 club Caen, Niang comes highly rated from his club management. Speaking of Niang, former U-19’s coach at Caen Phillipe Tranchant claimed “we’ve never had a player like him at the club before”. Although just 17, Milan fans will hope the hype surrounding the youngster is justified.
8. Angelo Ogbonna
Club: Torino
Age: 24
Position: Centre Back
Having plyed his trade in Serie B for the majority of his career, Angelo Ogbonna is finally getting the Serie A break that many critics believe will prove whether he is deservedly touted as one of the leading lights in the future Azzurri backline.
Strong, quick, tactically sound and able to play at full back comfortably, Angelo Ogbonna has been linked with the likes of Roma, Juventus and Milan over the last year, in particular after his assured display against the USA in February Ogbonna has instead remained at Torino, where his skills will be tested by a side expected to wage a 38 game relegation dog fight over the coming season.
A definite to watch out for, as whether the centre back has the ability to make the leap into to the highest platform of the Italian game will be revealed in due course.
7. Antonio Cassano
Club: Inter
Age: 30
Position: Forward
Antonio Cassano’s chequered career took another twist this summer, as the Bari born forward once again saw fit to demand to leave a club he had been at for no more than two seasons when he handed in his transfer request to the Milan management last week.
The Rossoneri regretfully obliged, letting “Il Talentino” stroll into the opposition dressing room at Inter, the club Cassano apparently supported all his life(but didn’t stop him signing for their rivals Milan and Roma in the past). Because of the 30 year old’s inner tantrum bomb that appears to be permanently set around the 18 month mark, it is justifiable to stick Antonio in a list of this kind from now until the baby faced attacker hangs up his boots and takes up eating Nutella as a full time occupation, if only for the potential entertainment value.
However, linking up with Wesley Sneijder, Rodrigo Palacio and Phillipe Coutinho at a rejuvenated, forward thinking Inter under Andrea Stramaccioni should provide some scintillating football in addition to the off the field theatre. Cassano looked revitalised at Euro 2012 and was playing some of the most complete football of his career before he suffered an isometric stroke in Novemeber 2011 that kept him out until April, so there doesn’t seem like a better time to watch Antonio Cassano.
6. Mattia Destro
Club: Roma
Age: 21
Position: Forward
Having secured his place at the front of the Zeman revolution down at Roma, Mattia Destro looks set to lead the line of one of Serie A’s most exciting outfits.
In true Zeman style the Giallorossi will pile forward, and provide plenty of chances for the former Siena starlet to score some goals. At just 21, Destro shone at the Tuscan side last season, scoring 12 goals in 30 appearances.
As Fabio Borini and now Bojan have left the Capital, it is up to Matthia Destro to pick up the mantle alongside Francesco Totti, Erik Lamela and Pablo Osvaldo.
Having earned an Italy call up against England in the last couple of weeks coupled with his positive performance, Destro has shown that he can play on the big stage. It will be fascinating to see whether the former Inter youth player can make the leap on a permanent basis.
5. Luis Muriel
Club: Udinese
Age: 21
Position: Forward
After exciting Serie A with his performances for Lecce last season, the diminutive attacker earned his return to parent club Udinese where he will look to link up with Diego Fabbrini and Antonio Di Natale in another exciting Udinese front line, which is beginning to become a seasonal certainty.
Called the “Colombian Ronaldo” because of his strength and dribbling ability, Muriel was subject of many a Youtube search after some of his more spectcular efforts last season, in which he netted 7 goals.
Muriel could be the replacement for Alexis Sanchez that Serie A needs, and with another good season could earn himself a glamorous move to one of the more financially comfortable clubs. In an Udinese side once again shining with promise, Muriel promises to be an exciting prospect this coming season.
4. Borja Valero
Club: Fiorentina
Age: 27
One of Spanish football’s most underrated midfielders, as part of Villarreal’s excellent side that landed a well deserved 4th in the 2010-11 season, before poor form and a shock relegation sunk the Yellow Submarine the following year, forcing a mass exodus.
Valero, who was the beating heart of the Valencian side now takes his vision and slick passing to Florence where he joins Vincenzo Montella’s revolution along with Alberto Aquilani and Gonzalo Rodriguez. A player of true quality, and an excellent acquisition – Borja Valero will add some guile to a midfield that was mourning the loss of Riccardo Montolivo.
3. Phillipe Coutinho
Club: Inter
Age: 20
Position: Forward
Signed as one of the few acquisitions in the ill fated Rafael Benitez era at Inter, Phillipe Coutinho was a world of promise when he walked into Appiano Gentile at the tender age of 18. However, for one reason or another(most likely the huge tide of change that was continuously raging around the Inter camp at the time).
The Brazilian was promptly loaned out to Espanyol, where he attracted plaudits for his tricky dribbling style, scoring 5 goals in 16 league appearances for the Catalan club. Upon the youngsters return to Inter he has looked sharp, scoring an excellent goal vs Juventus in preseason.
As Stramaccioni builds an exciting, attack minded club, the new Nerazzurri number seven is expected to light up the peninsula, linking up with the likes Sneijder, Rodrigo Palacio and Diego Milito.
2. Ciro Immobile
Club: Genoa
Age: 22
Position: Striker
Co-owned by Juventus, plying his trade at everyone’s favourite feeder club Genoa, Ciro Immobile comes off the back of an outstanding season where he scored 28 goals in 37 games.
After quiet loan spells at Siena and Grosseto the Italian found form at Zdenek Zeman’s Pescara, linking up with Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti’s in the Serie B side’s shockingly rapid ascent to the summit of Italian football.
Touted as Juventus’s next “bomber”, and heir apprent to the likes of Luca Toni, Christian Vieri and other classic number 9’s in the Azzurri history.
Strong, intelligent and a natural finisher, Ciro Immobile could provide Calcio fans with a dream pairing with Alberto Gilardino at Genoa’s never dull journey through the next Italian season.
1. Lorenzo Insigne
Club: Napoli
Age 21
Position: Forward
Compared to Lionel Messi by fellow teammate Goran Pandev, the winger who lit up Serie B with Pescara last season scoring 19 goals from a wide position looks set to pick up where Equeziel Lavezzi left off before he went to Paris this summer.
Lightning quick, skillful and a devilish dribbler, Insinge is already receiving rave reviews from Napoli fans and Calcio followers.
The hysteria was hardly abated when the youngster scored in preseason against Bayern Munich, and along with Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia Destro and Marco Verratti, Insigne looks to be bringing the new generation of Italian superstars to the fore. A pure, unabated talent, Lorenzo Insigne is Forza Italian Football’s top player to watch out for this season.
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