Serie A Calcio Mercato, Summer 2024-25

[CraigM]

"I agree, its obviously too early to say re Giuntoli at Juventus, but so far it does seem like he has a clear plan. Signing Motta was clever, & the rumoured targets seem to fit Motta's playing style. While Giuntoli's past track record is decent, I would say it takes at least 2 years to form an opinion on the performance of a Sporting Director at a new club"

Seeing potential in Motta as the Bologna SD did on the strength of just about saving Spezia from relegation a couple of times is one thing, reckoning he is the future after the miraculous deed of taking Bologna to the Champions League is probably something we would all do in the same position. That's not to say it's wrong, just that it doesn't show particular insight. And while his targets are obvious and expensive, they are all the sort of players we would take at Inter in a heartbeat. Why would a SD not go for the best he can if he is given the budget. Man City spend astronomical sums because they can, but they also spend those sums very well compared to most.

Agree that a couple of years is a reasonable time to judge his work though.

 

[Bluenine]

Latest Transfer Rumours: updated as of 26 Jun
- Noslin to Lazio (€15m) - tbc
- K Thuram to Juventus (€18m) - tbc
- Martinez to Inter (€14m) - tbc
- Douglas Luiz to Juventus ("€50m") - done
- Zirkzee to Milan (€40m)
- Koopmeiners to Juventus (€55m)
- Calafiori to Juventus (€30m)

Inter
IN: Martinez (14m, tbc), Zeilinski (f), Taremi (f), Frattesi (28m, fo), Augusto (13m, fo), Arnautovic (8m, fo), Alex Perez, Ndoye, Tessmann, Gudmundsson, Buongiorno, Bijol, Fabbian
OUT: Sanchez (f), Cuadrado (f), Sensi (f), Klaasson (f), Calhanoglu, Arnautovic, Radu, Audero, Dumfries, Carboni, Satriano, Oristanio, Correa, Di Gennaro

Juventus
IN: K Thuram (18m, tbc), D Luiz (50m), Di Gregorio (20m), Huijsen (lr), [Motta], Arthur (lr), Kimmich, Saelemaekers, Koopmeiners, Calafiori, Di Lorenzo, Gudmundsson/Greenwood, Soule (lr), Højbjerg
OUT: Kean (15m), Iling-Junior (14m), Barrenechea (8m), [Allegri], De Winter (8m, fo), Jorge (7m, fo), Alex Sandro (f), Szczesny, Locatelli, Rabiot (f), Gatti, Soule, Rugani, De Sciglio, Milik, Vlahovic, Chiesa, Kostic, Arthur, Mckennie, Huijsen

Milan
IN: Jimenez (5m, fo), [Fonseca], Chukwuemeka (l), Lukaku/Zirkzee, Royal, Buongiorno, Orsolini, Youssouf Fofana, J-C Todibo, Colpani
OUT: [Pioli], CDK (22m, fo), Krunic (4m, fo), Kjaer (f), Giroud (f), Caldara (f), Mirante (f), Maignan, Kalulu, Thiaw, Adli

Napoli
IN: Marin (10m, tbc), [Conte], Popovic (f), Spinazzola, Vanderson, Buongiorno, Sudakov, Højbjerg, Lukaku, Hermoso
OUT: Zeilinski (f), [Calzona], Demme (f), Dendoncker (f), H Traore (f), Gollini (f), Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia, Di Lorenzo, Meret, Simeone

Roma
IN: Angelino (5m, fo), Minteh, Le Fee, Kone, Sangare, Sergio Gomez, Gudmundsson, Matip, Lucca
OUT: Belotti (4m), Patricio (f), Lukaku (lr), Huijsen (lr), Spinazzola (f), Llorente (f), Sanches (lr), Azmoun, Sanches, Kristensen, Aouar, Dybala

Lazio
IN: Noslin (15m, tbc), Tchaouna (8m), Guendouzi (13m, fo), Samardzic, Greenwood, Orsolini, Lirola, Doig, Boulaye Dia, Gosens
OUT: Kamada (f), Luis Alberto (11m), Moro (2m, fo), Anderson (f), Immobile, Pedro, Mandas

Fiorentina
IN: Kean (15m), Lucca, Zaniolo, Simeone, Retegui, Roque, Carboni, Arnautovic, Amrabat (lr), Ayhan
OUT: Bonaventura (f), Castrovilli (f), Arthur (lr), [Italiano], Kokorin (f), Duncan (f), Belotti (lr), Ikone, Kouame, Faraoni (lr), Lopez (lr), Kayode

Atalanta
IN: Godfrey (10m), CDK (22m, fo), Zaniolo, Nehuen Perez, Martin Erlic
OUT: Holm (lr), Zapata (6m, fo), Colley (2m, fo), Koopmeiners, De Roon, Hateboer, Palomino, Scalvini


Transfers rumours in orange
l = loan
lr = loan return
lp = loan + obligatory purchase
lo = bought and loaned out
fo = full ownership
tbc = to be confirmed
co = counter option
f = free transfer
f6 = free transfer in 6 months agreed
r = retired
[] = coach
Only select loan deals / youngsters mentioned here

 

[CafeCordoba]

Money aspect is definitely a key factor when assessing sporting director's work. How much more easier is it to do your job when the money is not such a limiting factor like it is for example at Inter. You can fulfill the vision in your head much easier when you have proper funds available. Which possibly will make you look great and the alternative scenario of you not having all those funds available are never witnessed.

 

[IM21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806080213580734647

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806081323938824448

 

[IM21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806094258736148533

 

[Bluenine]

Money aspect is definitely a key factor when assessing sporting director's work. How much more easier is it to do your job when the money is not such a limiting factor like it is for example at Inter. You can fulfill the vision in your head much easier when you have proper funds available. Which possibly will make you look great and the alternative scenario of you not having all those funds available are never witnessed.

I factored the money aspect in the 3rd point (see below). Its obvious that a club like Atalanta will not have the money of a Juventus. But their objectives will be lower as well. So if Atalanta finishes 4th, its a much bigger achievement than if Juve finish 2nd

Sporting Directors should be judged on:
1. the clarity of sporting vision,
2. the consistency of approach (ie do the new coach/players fit the vision), &
3. the performance vis a vis the objectives set (which are based on the budgetary constraints).

Value for money in itself is not a key parameter, unless maybe if you are a selling club. If the club does well in those 3 parameters, the value will be created automatically. For example, lets look at Marotta:

- Clarity of sporting vision: this is clear, everyone understands how Inter play in the last 4-5 years
- Consistency of approach: This is world class, what sets Marotta apart, most new coach or player signed perfectly fit the club's vision. Even the ones who failed, like Bellanova or Cuadrado, you can't say there was no "fit", with few exceptions
- Performance: Operating under severe budgetary constraints, Inter are clearly over achieving

Just identifying a talented player & throwing money to buy him is no big deal, every SD can do that. Hell, most of us can do that. Paratici was good at that, he just was a bit flaky about the vision & fit. Chelsea Directors of Football are doing that well too, but their buying is based on more of a financial vision than a sporting vision - the talent bought has zero "fit" with the coach's playing style. "Fit" for me is a key aspect of a SD's job, its the reason "cheap" players like Darmian immediately look world class

I agree, its obviously too early to say re Giuntoli at Juventus, but so far it does seem like he has a clear plan. Signing Motta was clever, & the rumoured targets seem to fit Motta's playing style. While Giuntoli's past track record is decent, I would say it takes at least 2 years to form an opinion on the performance of a Sporting Director at a new club

 

[DARi0]

I am trying really hard to understand what the fuck Milan management are doing but i really can't. First with Fonseca and now with Lukaku.

Milan is hopeless since they fired Boban & Maldini. It's not even funny any more.

 

[IM21]

Good on Conte to not take their bullshit... also lol at Kvara saying once again he will decide after the tournament... bitch, you re under a contract and they wont let you go. Stop being a bitch.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806227967397528019

 

[Il Drago]

Speaking of top directors in Serie A i will just say a name i have mentioned before. Giovanni Sartori. He doesn't get much hype because he isn't at a top club but i have a lot of respect for his work. The things this guy has done are incredible. First he built the great Atalanta side of past years, then he went to Bologna that were in bad state and he built another great side there.

 

[PHM1605]

Speaking of top directors in Serie A i will just say a name i have mentioned before. Giovanni Sartori. He doesn't get much hype because he isn't at a top club but i have a lot of respect for his work. The things this guy has done are incredible. First he built the great Atalanta side of past years, then he went to Bologna that were in bad state and he built another great side there.

Too bad Sartori couldn't be considered Marotta's successor as they age the same lol.

 

[pupivn]

Too bad Sartori couldn't be considered Marotta's successor as they age the same lol.

So? Currently in a certain country they have to choose between two guys having similar age

 

[CafeCordoba]

I would say it's possible Sartori wouldn't even work that well at the top level club in a league. But a bit lower, where the pressure to get titles is not absolute. You can take different kind of risks etc.

 

[PHM1605]

So? Currently in a certain country they have to choose between two guys having similar age

Don't mean to trigger the debate whether Marotta or Sartori is better. I only concern of Inter fate in a couple of years.

Marotta job is so brilliant that I cant think of a name fitting his shoes for long. Therefore whenever a bright one pops up I always want him to fill the gap; but soon disappointed as his age doesn't allow, that's it.

 

[IM21]

15M for this trash... fiorentina really loves Juve

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806334375652471164

 

[Besnik]

He could be a very impactful player for Viola. He's still young, and is coming form a bigger club.

Might not be good enough for a top club, but I can definitely see him being an useful player in a team like Viola. I really think he will surprise for good on his new adventure.

 

[Pimpin]

He could be a very impactful player for Viola. He's still young, and is coming form a bigger club.

Might not be good enough for a top club, but I can definitely see him being an useful player in a team like Viola. I really think he will surprise for good on his new adventure.

good enough to fucking score 5 time against us in 3 matches, like a Babacar

 

[IM21]

He could be a very impactful player for Viola. He's still young, and is coming form a bigger club.

Might not be good enough for a top club, but I can definitely see him being an useful player in a team like Viola. I really think he will surprise for good on his new adventure.

trash has 1 year left on the contract... This is just Fiorentina sucking Juves dick once more.... Next up they gonna sell them Arthur for 40M.

 

[CafeCordoba]

That's an incredible, why the fuck Fiorentina agrees to pay that much? One year left, NO GOALS in the past season. What the fuck?

 

[IM21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806370327187837412

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806435026944278708

 

[pupivn]

That's an incredible, why the fuck Fiorentina agrees to pay that much? One year left, NO GOALS in the past season. What the fuck?

When did you first fall in love with football? Which player made inspired your passion for the sport?

I played around with a ball when I lived in Calabria; it was the only sport possible. I was seven or eight years old. In the winter, the kids in my town would play in front of the train station, and in the summer, we would move to the beach. At the time, I was a Juventus fan. This was the era of Sivori, Charles, Boniperti and Nicolai. My interest began with them, the best players.

Our interview with Rocco Commisso

The owner of Fiorentina talks about his passion for football, sparked in Calabria and fostered in the Bronx

www.firenzemadeintuscany.com