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FIORENTINA FANZONE
There appears to finally be a lull in action during preseason, so maybe it’s time to reflect on how it has gone so far for the purple ones. There has been a flurry of transfer activity after a slow start, and of course some exciting auction action. Did the club invest in any infrastructure? The answer to all these exciting questions and more is below!
Auction joy as Estupinan signs!
The big news in the last week for Fiorentina was the surprise auction win of top-class Ecuadorian defender Pervis Estupinan. The exciting defender bolsters an already strong defence, and is younger than a few of the experienced lads back there, giving the option of selling one off if need be. He boasts excellent multi-skills, something the gaffer has been trying to improve on over pre-season.
P_Estupinan 26 ecu 1 21 19 14 27 1 518 290 703
How much for this fine player you ask? 31m is all it took. Was this a cheeky low opportunistic offer? Not really, it was pretty much all Fiorentina had in the bank! So how did the gaffer get his man, was it science or bribery? No, it was all down to good luck genes or good karma accrued through helping little old ladies across the street. Of course, there was an element of sensible decision making in terms of not going for the best or youngest players on offer, but mostly it just boils down to good luck. Estupinan now has the luxury of knowing he is not going to be sold for the whole season, something most of the Fiorentina squad would kill for, given the regular coming and goings at the club.
So how did Fiorentina only end up with just enough for an auction bid? They had an impressive 78m in the bank at the end of last season following prize and staying up money. There was even a late, late deal with Liverpool for De Jong which led to another 10m leaving the coffers. It appears the gaffer didn’t hold out much hope of picking up anyone decent in the auction, so instead did some trades to boost his side.
So, who are the new faces, and are they still going to be at the club after the first week of the season?
One player who is definitely staying is new striker Berardi, who has been made club captain. Berardi joined from Chelsea after being chased for some time. Being both Italian and multiskilled made him one of the top of the manager’s list for acquisitions.
D_Berardi 29 ITA 1 8 21 24 30 1 681 84 101
His striking partner this season will also be a new signing, Lautaro Martinez, who arrived from Aston Villa, also after a lengthy chase for his services. He has decent secondary skills as well as good abs towards an uprate. Overall, the front two are a good improvement on Guirassy and Guedes who finished last season up front.
L_Martinez 28 arg 1 7 18 23 26 1 936 406 654
It becomes more complicated in midfield however, with only Chukwueze being given a definite squad number for next season. There are strong rumours that both De Jong and Lobotka have already been sold! The manager did not want to confirm or deny that a deal has been agreed, but given that the club have already been advertising striker St Maxim the clever money would appear to be on a deal with Real Madrid, who have agreed to sign him from Huddersfield.
Given the managers love of Italian multiskilled players, could these mean that Locatelli could be on his way to Fiorentina? He would be a major signing if so, being of a similar mould to the very popular Sanches, but better. It is unknown when the deal can be announced, as the transfer board has closed down for Christmas, so it may well be that nothing is announced officially until the new year.
The defence has seen the arrival of four new faces including Estupinan, the others being Araujo, Kostic and Alaba, all excellent multi-skilled players. They complement existing defenders Militao and Spinazzola well in a strong back line. Young Zeze is developing well, and will provide some decent cover, and get more games in the cup, whilst academy product Zan is unlikely to get much game time, provides additional cover.
Despite being advertised at one point, Marmardvili will remain Fiorentina’s number one at the start of the season at least.
No stadium work planned
Fiorentina have decided not to invest in an extra stand this season, despite growing demand for tickets since the side moved into the top division. The 50,000 stadium is likely to be full for every game, but the manager believes that the smaller stadium will go in their favour. ‘’The atmosphere here was fantastic last season, and I’m not sure that expanding the stadium will help the fans experience. Some more cynical fans have pointed out that the manager has refused to commit himself to the club for more than the next season, so didn’t want to make long-term investments.
There has also been no investment in the youth academy, this season or last. Is this also a sign that the manager is not interested in the long-term health of the club? Or just a symptom of his pathological hatred of youths? Who knows? The gaffer has never been a fan of the youth system since it was abused in the early days of FFO, and is seen as being akin to cheating to get ahead. The return to a youth focus in the league has not gone down well, but it is maybe that clubs like Fiorentina with decent assets on the pitch can wheel and deal their way to solvency and success still rather than use and abuse the youth system, but time will tell.
So, what next for Fiorentina?
The club have advertised St Maxim, who hasn’t even arrived at the club yet, along with defender Araujo, and are said to be looking for an attacking midfielder. There has been little interest to date, other than some cheeky older players offered. The manage is hopeful this is just because most managers have switched off now for Christmas, and once the season starts again in January the transfer market might hot up again.
Squaddie to be sold?
With the arrival of Estupinan the club have an extra player, so who is likely to depart to help raise some wage funds? Well, the list is quite small, given 5 squad players can’t be sold as they are youths, or a BHN player, which is problematic, and that only leaves low level, low value squaddies to be sold, such as Sivis or Djoco. What we might see instead, is an older defender such as Alaba or Kostic sold to raise a higher level of funds.
First eleven still uncertain
Whilst most sides are likely to have a pretty certain first eleven by now, the boss has stated that all places are up for grabs, and encouraged his squad not to overdo it over Christmas, as only the most fit and determined players will be in the first team sheet for the season.
Words 1207 so far.
There appears to finally be a lull in action during preseason, so maybe it’s time to reflect on how it has gone so far for the purple ones. There has been a flurry of transfer activity after a slow start, and of course some exciting auction action. Did the club invest in any infrastructure? The answer to all these exciting questions and more is below!
Auction joy as Estupinan signs!
The big news in the last week for Fiorentina was the surprise auction win of top-class Ecuadorian defender Pervis Estupinan. The exciting defender bolsters an already strong defence, and is younger than a few of the experienced lads back there, giving the option of selling one off if need be. He boasts excellent multi-skills, something the gaffer has been trying to improve on over pre-season.
P_Estupinan 26 ecu 1 21 19 14 27 1 518 290 703
How much for this fine player you ask? 31m is all it took. Was this a cheeky low opportunistic offer? Not really, it was pretty much all Fiorentina had in the bank! So how did the gaffer get his man, was it science or bribery? No, it was all down to good luck genes or good karma accrued through helping little old ladies across the street. Of course, there was an element of sensible decision making in terms of not going for the best or youngest players on offer, but mostly it just boils down to good luck. Estupinan now has the luxury of knowing he is not going to be sold for the whole season, something most of the Fiorentina squad would kill for, given the regular coming and goings at the club.
So how did Fiorentina only end up with just enough for an auction bid? They had an impressive 78m in the bank at the end of last season following prize and staying up money. There was even a late, late deal with Liverpool for De Jong which led to another 10m leaving the coffers. It appears the gaffer didn’t hold out much hope of picking up anyone decent in the auction, so instead did some trades to boost his side.
So, who are the new faces, and are they still going to be at the club after the first week of the season?
One player who is definitely staying is new striker Berardi, who has been made club captain. Berardi joined from Chelsea after being chased for some time. Being both Italian and multiskilled made him one of the top of the manager’s list for acquisitions.
D_Berardi 29 ITA 1 8 21 24 30 1 681 84 101
His striking partner this season will also be a new signing, Lautaro Martinez, who arrived from Aston Villa, also after a lengthy chase for his services. He has decent secondary skills as well as good abs towards an uprate. Overall, the front two are a good improvement on Guirassy and Guedes who finished last season up front.
L_Martinez 28 arg 1 7 18 23 26 1 936 406 654
It becomes more complicated in midfield however, with only Chukwueze being given a definite squad number for next season. There are strong rumours that both De Jong and Lobotka have already been sold! The manager did not want to confirm or deny that a deal has been agreed, but given that the club have already been advertising striker St Maxim the clever money would appear to be on a deal with Real Madrid, who have agreed to sign him from Huddersfield.
Given the managers love of Italian multiskilled players, could these mean that Locatelli could be on his way to Fiorentina? He would be a major signing if so, being of a similar mould to the very popular Sanches, but better. It is unknown when the deal can be announced, as the transfer board has closed down for Christmas, so it may well be that nothing is announced officially until the new year.
The defence has seen the arrival of four new faces including Estupinan, the others being Araujo, Kostic and Alaba, all excellent multi-skilled players. They complement existing defenders Militao and Spinazzola well in a strong back line. Young Zeze is developing well, and will provide some decent cover, and get more games in the cup, whilst academy product Zan is unlikely to get much game time, provides additional cover.
Despite being advertised at one point, Marmardvili will remain Fiorentina’s number one at the start of the season at least.
No stadium work planned
Fiorentina have decided not to invest in an extra stand this season, despite growing demand for tickets since the side moved into the top division. The 50,000 stadium is likely to be full for every game, but the manager believes that the smaller stadium will go in their favour. ‘’The atmosphere here was fantastic last season, and I’m not sure that expanding the stadium will help the fans experience. Some more cynical fans have pointed out that the manager has refused to commit himself to the club for more than the next season, so didn’t want to make long-term investments.
There has also been no investment in the youth academy, this season or last. Is this also a sign that the manager is not interested in the long-term health of the club? Or just a symptom of his pathological hatred of youths? Who knows? The gaffer has never been a fan of the youth system since it was abused in the early days of FFO, and is seen as being akin to cheating to get ahead. The return to a youth focus in the league has not gone down well, but it is maybe that clubs like Fiorentina with decent assets on the pitch can wheel and deal their way to solvency and success still rather than use and abuse the youth system, but time will tell.
So, what next for Fiorentina?
The club have advertised St Maxim, who hasn’t even arrived at the club yet, along with defender Araujo, and are said to be looking for an attacking midfielder. There has been little interest to date, other than some cheeky older players offered. The manage is hopeful this is just because most managers have switched off now for Christmas, and once the season starts again in January the transfer market might hot up again.
Squaddie to be sold?
With the arrival of Estupinan the club have an extra player, so who is likely to depart to help raise some wage funds? Well, the list is quite small, given 5 squad players can’t be sold as they are youths, or a BHN player, which is problematic, and that only leaves low level, low value squaddies to be sold, such as Sivis or Djoco. What we might see instead, is an older defender such as Alaba or Kostic sold to raise a higher level of funds.
First eleven still uncertain
Whilst most sides are likely to have a pretty certain first eleven by now, the boss has stated that all places are up for grabs, and encouraged his squad not to overdo it over Christmas, as only the most fit and determined players will be in the first team sheet for the season.
Words 1207 so far.
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