Serie A redeems itself, or at least tries to, putting quality and dribbling back at the center of attention. Two weeks before the market closes, we can already outline a general trend: investments have focused on players whose core business is the play, whether it is a duel, a sprint, or a magical touch. Trequartistas, wingers, young forwards shaped by the football preached in Europe, therefore mostly bought from abroad as an admission of collective guilt: we are behind, but maybe we have realized it and are starting to catch up. It is a trend that transcends formations, with three- or four-man defenses evenly distributed this year among the Serie A top eight, while from ninth place down there is a timid return to 4-3-3 instead of 3-5-2. Milan chooses Moreira (45 million plus even 20 in bonuses to Strasbourg) for his characteristics, more than for the position he could cover in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1: he arrives because he is a skilled dribbler both on the run and standing still, therefore useful both as a winger and as a trequartista. On average, he attempts 4 dribbles every 90’, in line with the top players in the winger role like Kvaratskhelia who hover around 5.
Read more San Paolo dormitory | Libero Quotidiano.it
The focus is on one-on-one as a basic virtue, no longer as a quality to rely on for comebacks in the final minutes of the game. And strength in the legs is preferred over physicality in the absolute sense. This is the case of Rodrigo Mora, finally arrived in Rome among a crowd of fans: 25 million plus 50% of the future resale to Porto, an investment, formulated this way, all things considered below the average for players in the same role. They cost a lot, as is known, but Serie A is finally trying to get them before they become Diomande. Thus Roma also wants to add Malick Fofana from Lyon (who however wants to wait for the Champions playoff), not a born dribbler but rather one capable of quickly switching the field, unlike Mora who plays in tight spaces.
Read more «Meloni World-Class Leader»: Fertitta Crushes the Left’s Guts | Libero Quotidiano.it
ENGINE
We are always there, anyway: quality in speed, no longer speed for its own sake. That is why Mastantuono will have to raise the engine revs to make the most of this apprenticeship year at Fiorentina.
That is why Alajbegovic cannot just be nice to watch, as Spalletti explained (who meanwhile welcomed Vicario on a free loan with a buy option at 8 million plus 2). The same will apply to Liberali whom Fabregas has already enhanced this summer with the aim of “structuring” him as done with Baturina and Nico Paz. And Atalanta yesterday asked for information on Lang from Napoli: another sign. It will be said that Inter – which meanwhile renews Pio Esposito until 2031 with an increase close to 3 million per season – did not look for this type of profile, but that is not exactly the case. Diouf goes from being a mystery object to a starter on the right wing. He dribbles and shoots as soon as he sees the goal. And Spence is also someone who duels, breaks markings, risks the play: 3.7 dribbles attempted per game with Tottenham last year, an average for an offensive winger. And Jones, for whom the negotiation with Liverpool is entering its crucial phase? Over one dribble per game on average, above average for a mezzala. But the discussion is not only about dribbling, it is about quality in general and the habit of seeking less scholastic plays even within a high-intensity context, which Serie A hopes to become or to return to being a bit more, after the last two-three years of decline.
Read more If the left toasts to our troubles | Libero Quotidiano.it
