After Sunday’s 1-0 win over Sassuolo, Parma find themselves occupying sixth place in the table and on the back of a 14 league game unbeaten run. Roberto Donadoni’s team are keeping themselves well and truly in the running for a European qualification spot. Improvements can still be made to the the team however, especially upfront.
The clubs strike force of Antonio Cassano and Amauri collectively have 14 league goals in 25 games and only two other players – midfielder Marco Parolo and defender Alessandro Lucarelli – have more than two league goals this season.
There is a dire need for more goals from the team, heading into this summer the Crociati need to actively and aggressively add to their attacking options. And where better to start the recruitment drive than with the tried and tested?
Sebastian Giovinco has endured a torrid season with Juventus, he only has one league goal this season and has started in just two Serie A games. Giovinco was recently booed by sections of the Juventus faithful after being substituted off in a game vs Chievo. His future with the Bianconeri looks bleak, by all accounts it looks likely that he will be departing Turin this summer.
Giovinco joined Juventus from Parma two years ago, he started well enough with seven goals in 31 league games, this season however Giovinco has struggled to find form. The summer arrivals and subsequent stellar performances of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente have forced Giovinco into taking a backseat role in Juventus’ season. Competition for places in the Juventus squad is strong across the pitch, but arguably they possess the most depth up-top. Not only does coach Antonio Conte have Tevez, Llorente and Giovinco at his disposal but he also has Mirko Vucinic and Fabio Quagliarella waiting in the wings.
Giovinco’s current Juventus form is a far cry from his performances with Parma between 2010 and 2012, in the 2010/2011 season he scored seven league goals in 30 games, in his second season he managed an impressive 15 goals in 36 games.
These were by far the best seasons of Giovinco’s career, he forced his way into the Italian national team and into the upper echelons of the Serie A scoring charts. A return to Parma for Giovinco would give him a guaranteed starting berth and the perfect opportunity to rediscover his scoring touch.
Parma’s President, Tommaso Ghirardi, has already announced that Parma would be very much interested in bringing Giovinco back to the Stadio Tardini.
“Could he [Giovinco] return to Parma? Yes, sure, I can only say yes,” he told Italian broadcaster Rai 2.
One factor which could very much work in Ghirardi’s and Parma’s favour in attempting to sign Giovinco is the fact that his current deal expires at the end of next season.
The President would back a move for Giovinco, but what of coach Roberto Donadoni? Giovinco worked under Donadoni during the back end of the 2011/2012 season. Parma appointed Donadoni in January 2012 and he and Giovinco worked together for 21 league games.
In that time Giovinco managed to score eight goals and assist a further ten, and has proven himself of being more than capable of succeeding within the Donadoni system. Donadoni has also went on record as to his admiration for Giovinco, in January 2013 he described Giovinco as “a complete football player”.
Regardless of his form and squad status Juventus know that Giovinco is still an asset and that there will be countless suitors for his services. They won’t let him go for cheap, the deal must make footballing and financial sense if Giovinco is to depart. Parma won’t be able to offer a big cash sum for Giovinco’s services, however they could entice Juventus with a deal involving one of Parma’s current assets.
In the past twelve months rumours have swirled regarding the future of Parma’s winger Jonathan Biabiany, and among his rumoured admirers have been Juventus. Biabiany could be the perfect replacement for Giovinco if he were to depart. Biabiany is a pacey winger who is capable of playing in both a 352 and 433, Biabiany’s pace and versatility could make him a key component in any potential deal to bring Giovinco back to Parma.
For all parties involved a move to Parma for Giovinco would be a good one. Parma would gain a tactically versatile player who is capable of scoring goals and Juventus would move on an out-of-form player and in return gain either cash or a player such as Biabiany.
One of the few stumbling blocks to the deal probably would be interest in Giovinco from other clubs. Due to Giovinco’s flexibility he’d be a perfect fit for any top Italian team. The battle for his signature this summer could be fierce, but Parma have something that no other club can offer; a successful track record with Giovinco as part of the team.
Parma need Giovinco, especially if they qualify for Europe and if Cassano succeeds in getting his wish and returns to Sampdoria.