La Viola’s Daniele Prade has thought a little outside the box during the January mercato and opted for more seasoned veterans instead of hot prospects.
As the transfer window slammed shut Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado was by far Serie A’s biggest casualty, heading to Chelsea for €27 million. However, those coming through the Aeroporto di Firenze arrivals gate raised just as many eyebrows.
While the Fiorentina hierarchy swapped the Colombian for 22-year-old Mohamed Salah to placate fans, it was the return to Italian football of Alberto Gilardino and Alessandro Diamanti that questioned the future direction of the club.
At 32 and 31 respectively the decision to bring in two men in the latter years of their careers to bolster the Viola attack certainly contradicted sporting director Daniele Prade’s youthful transfer strategy of signing players yet to hit their peak.
Arriving shortly before coach Vincenzo Montella in 2012, after finishing 13th, the club were in serious need of transformation and quickly set about restructuring the squad.
In came Cuadrado, Matias Fernandez, Borja Valero, Nenad Tomovic, Alberto Aquilani and Gonzalo Rodriguez — average age just 26 — and an entertaining side narrowly missed out a UEFA Champions League berth by two points.
With the policy bearing fruit the squad was supplemented with a 25-year-old Giuseppe Rossi and another raft of promising mid-20 somethings and youngsters during the summer of 2013.
Spearheaded by marquee signing Mario Gomez, great things were expected. However, arguably the biggest success of the arrivals was a 32-year-old Joaquin — possibly instigating the policy change.
Enter the grizzled duo of Diamanti and Gilardino, who despite their age really should not be seen as panic buys.
Rossi’s neverending injury troubles, Gomez struggling for form and Cuadrado — a makeshift striker this term — departing left Khouma Babacar as their only striker of note at just 21-years-old.
Therefore Gilardino and Diamanti arrived as much needed reinforcements in attack but more importantly with the experience the side lacks, as Fiorentina challenge on three fronts.
If Fiorentina can get close to the Champions League places once more, the duo’s game-management could be vital in finally delivering on the promise of the last two seasons.
Babacar’s physicality and youthful exuberance is not always the best way to overcome more robust, and particularly experienced defences, who can out-think him and blunt his impact.
With a wealth of Serie A experience Gilardino can be vital when travelling to the likes of Inter and Lazio, where intelligent movement and ability to bring the midfield into play could be crucial.
If Fiorentina can find Diamanti in or around the opposition box, the danger he possesses in his left-foot is another extremely potent weapon to exploit.
Against a competitive Genoa Saturday night the former Guangzhou Evergrande man was somewhat shackled by their pressing, but when finding his rhythm his distribution in attacking areas is some of the best in Italy.
With Cuadrado’s departure and previously stuttering form it is easy for Fiorentina followers to view the current transfer strategy negatively; but they should remain confident of Prade and Montella’s insight.
Come May, they could be in for a welcome surprise from their ‘veterans’, who could prove inspirational bargains in achieving the club’s Champions League aspirations.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
