Fiorentina have spent five of the last eight seasons qualifying for European competition. In 2006/07 the club finished sixth and qualified for the then UEFA Cup.
A year later the club finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League. In 2008/09, the club replicated the feat before spending three consecutive years on the outside looking in on European qualification.
That included fighting relegation and sacking a coach for punching a player in the spring of 2012.
Since then the club have been building steadily under the leadership of Vincenzo Montella, a coach that has seen his stock soar on the peninsula after changing the fortunes of the now Serie B team Catania.
Despite the club moving in the right direction under Montella, Fioretina under performed last season; though they finished fourth. Inconsistency and fitness prevented the club from reaching their full potential. In addition, Fiorentina are still unable to attract better quality players at every position despite having capable players on the field. For example, the club had to rely on a loan deal for Manchester United castaway Anderson last spring. A deal that the club gained nothing by making.
Arguably the club’s two best players are Giuseppe Rossi and Juan Cuadrado. Both players are now wanted men and are linked with moves away from the Viola. Cuadrado, who is adept at either an attacking midfield or wing-back position, is the player receiving the most interest.
Fiorentina co-owner Andrea Della Valle and Borja Valero have both pleaded with the Colombian to stay another season and help the “project” move forward. Those pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears as Cuadrado continues to pursue a move away.
Fiorentina only purchased Cuadrado outright earlier this summer and to sell him so close to the end of the mercato would be devastating for a team competing in Europe this season and chasing Champions League qualification. Remember, only three clubs qualify for the Champions League in Serie A.
Fiorentina’s asking price for Cuadrado has already turned off Barcelona, who have withdrawn their original offer. Although it takes little to understand that by withdrawing an offer, Barcelona are trying to lower the asking price.
Meanwhile, Manchester United could be ready to meet Fiorentina’s €39 million valuation. A mighty steep fee after spending around €60m already for Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw.
But while it’s a steep fee it would be a nice windfall for Fiorentina, if it wasn’t mid-August already. The Viola would have little to no chance of finding a replacement near enough the quality of the Colombian.
Cuadrado has already stated he prefers a move to the Spanish giants rather than to the northwest of England. Barcelona will be playing in the Champions L
eague and will fight it out with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for La Liga’s top honours.
Manchester United are in a re-building phase and will be hoping to reach Champions League qualification, the same as Fiorentina. The Viola could retain Cuadrado if the player is unwilling to take a sideways move this summer to Old Trafford, all the while increasing his stock in Serie A. Yet, why should Fiorentina keep a player that is so desperate to move?
Fiorentina could theoretically lose Cuadrado and still qualify for the Champions League come May. With Antonio Conte leaving Juventus, Rafael Benitez’s Napoli ever inconsistent and question marks around both Milan teams, Fiorentina have an excellent opportunity to finish in the top three.
That is, if the club only lose Cuadrado.
Reports are now gaining steam that Liverpool will attempt to negotiate a deal for Giuseppe Rossi. The American born striker has barely played for Fiorentina, thanks to injury, since making the move from Villarreal in 2013.Yet when he has played, Rossi has been the difference maker in the Fiorentina side.
Supporters are still waiting to see the Mario Gomez-Rossi partnership explode and carry the Viola to the top of Serie A. That partnership was created last summer when Gomez arrived in Florence. But it hasn’t click yet or even gotten off the ground.
Unfortunately it could be over before the partnership has a chance to take full flight. Liverpool are considering triggering Rossi’s release clause of €35m if the two clubs can’t negotiate something lower. Though Liverpool are currently reluctant to pay the full amount for the former Manchester United player, the Reds need a striker and Rossi would fit perfectly as a Luis Suarez replacement.
If Fiorentina lose one of these players they can survive, but if both are gone by the time September begins, the Viola’s quest for European footbal next season could be over before it begins. Losing their two most important players in the same month and being unable to replace them is something not many teams can overcome; and it is certainly something Montella’s team won’t be capable of doing in 2014/15.
Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter @CalcioFarmer
