After another summer in which Torino have had to see their most prized asset leave as Matteo Darmian moved to Manchester United, Marco Jackson believes the Granata have invested the money recouped for the Italian international wisely.
After a thrilling 2013/14 season that saw Torino qualify for Europe for the first time since some 20 years hence, there was always likely to be something of a comedown. Torino’s Serie A campaign undoubtedly suffered a little under the weight of the Europa League and the loss of players such as Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci – indeed, Giampiero Ventura’s side averaged 0.85 points per game less in the weekend after European games than when they had not competed in midweek.
However, the Granata improved in the second half of the season and posted a second consecutive top ten finish for the first time since 1994.
With work for their new Filadelfia Stadium underway, and not (currently, at least) being one of Italy’s glamour sides, there will always be pressure for Toro to sell on their star players. This summer was no different.
Just as Immobile and Cerci left the Stadio Olimpico last year, Matteo Darmian was allowed to move on this time around. His departure was expected, and a deadline was set in order that Urbano Cairo would be able to not just replace the full-back, but invest his fee. Clearly, after Cerci’s departure dragged on until September last year, lessons had been learned.
Then, Cairo replaced youth with experience, turning to veterans in the shape of Maxi Lopez and Fabio Quagliarella to plug the holes his stars had vacated. This time around the replacements have been more shrewdly brought in and there is a visible methodology to the club’s acquisitions.
First, Davide Zappacosta (23-years-old) joined for €5.5 million to drop in where Darmian left off. Zappacosta has already more than 100 games under his belt, and was a mainstay in Italy’s Under 21 side. He was followed by Atalanta team-mate Daniele Baselli (also 23), who has played a similar number of games, and accompanied Zappacosta in the Azzurrini side regularly.
When Cairo ensured that 20-year old Marco Benassi’s co-ownership was resolved in Torino’s favour, there was a pattern emerging – something that was furthered with the successful pursuit of Andrea Belotti (21). Belotti is known by the nickname ‘Gallo’ (the Rooster), so he should have fun linking up with Maxi Lopez, the ‘Gallina d’Oro’ (Golden Hen).
“We have signed the spine of the Under 21 side”, Cairo admitted to Tuttosport after Toro’s 4-1 win against Pescara in the Coppa Italia – and it is true. Four of that squad are now available to Ventura.
Torino’s focus on youth is long-standing. Not only did the Granata win a record ninth Primavera title last season (though a first since 1991/92), but they lost only once in the group stages in the previous campaign; success is becoming commonplace.
The fruits of that Moreno Longo team are beginning to come to the fore, too, quite aside to those currently in the first team. Three players currently loaned out by the Granata were called up for the first game of the new Under-21 biennium against Hungary. Mattia Aramu (with Livorno this season), Vittorio Parigini (Perugia) and Antonio Barreca (Cagliari) were all involved with Luigi Di Biagio’s squad in a match that Marco Benassi started.
As the number of young Italians in the squad grows, it is worth noting that their supporting cast (Quagliarella and Amauri aside, perhaps) are not particularly long in the tooth either.
Colossal Serbian centre-back Nikola Maksimovic has been valued at €24m by the club as they have batted away Napoli’s advances – he, too, is just 23. Furthermore, Gaston Silva (21), Afriyie Acquah (23) and Salvador Ichazo (23) all look set to play big parts for Giampiero Ventura’s side as they look to re-assert themselves as European contenders again.
It is easy to see why Torino have refined their focus.
Ciro Immobile and Matteo Darmian offer compelling examples. Both made the step from promising youngsters to fully-fledged Italy internationals while with the club, and brought in a transfer fee when they left; enough to invest in a direct replacement and more besides. As such, even if Torino hold onto their players for a season or two, there is always a price that will prise them away. Cairo admitted as much to Radio Rai recently.
“To Matteo [Darmian], I promised last summer,” he explained, “that if a year from now a suitable offer to him and us comes in, I assure you that I will take it.
“Manchester United is one of the biggest teams in the world; I did not have the heart to keep him.”
That model looks to be one Torino are working with. Recruit young players – Darmian had rather fallen off the radar after a promising start with AC Milan – and allow them to fulfil their potential, then sell them as their values are peaking. In a league that has a reputation for extending the careers of older, slower players, Cairo’s young bulls look set to provide a breath of fresh air.
