What was, for you, the last transfer summer we left with a stronger squad than we entered?
Last summer. Pogba, Morata, Caceres, Padoin, Pereyra out - Higuain, Pjanic, Cuadrado, Dani Alves, Benatia, Pjaca in. At the time it didn't seem it but the summer window before also turned out very well. Before that it's negligible because the level of the squad wasn't the high level it is now.
Squad failings (lack of rotation options up front) in the latter part of last season are down to the change in formation. Serious injury to Pjaca and the ongoing rehab of Marchisio also contributed to this. What I wouldn't be surprised with is if the squad we start with next season looks stronger than last, given the probability that we will rectify those issues. Schick is almost signed and we're after at least one winger and a DM.
We definitely start off the season with a worse right back. The season after next we'll definitely start off with a worse goalkeeper and central defence. Could have been worse, it could have been all three at once...You have to look at the projections and age of the squad as well.
Don't listen to me, 70% of our esteemed members rated the mercato as either an 8 or 9 out of 10 for last summer:
http://www.juventuz.com/threads/42767-Rate-Juve-s-mercato.
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You're right. It doesn't have to be big cash in order for us to sell him. We sold Vidal for peanuts.
What we rejected is all on the media side. Also, it really means nothing but a negotiations if we rejected but end up selling in the end.
I'm not talking about good or bad moves. It's just a fact that we DO sell players when a good offer arrives. Some were living in lies saying how we're not a selling club and that's all BS. They shut their mouth once we sold Pogba. But we also sold Vidal and Coman.
'unless player wants to leave' is a huge deal here. We're talking about top players here and not mediocre ones who'd gladly finish their career here while sitting on the bench. Our best players were and will be wanted by the best clubs who do have the money at their disposal. It's literally like we're telling them: if you bid high enough, you can have our players. Because players would hardly reject top clubs and higher wages -- which is something they are offering.
I don't care if we're 9th richest club out there according to economistis who see only numbers and not the whole picture here. Numbers per se mean nothing if you're not investing (as much as others) and they don't mean much if we're spending big only if we sell big. Our strategy differs from Real, City and others. And people should realize that. We're focusing on developing young players and big talents while we buy safe-ish quality. Our club being friendly towards players means only encouragement for them to come here in order to advance in their career but also move on if they show what they're capable of. It's Real and others that will/can buy them if they want to, once they reach that level. Because we wouldn't say no.
We buy talents like Schick and Dybala while they are younger because they are cheaper then as well....because we can't buy them when they are established €100m+ players.
Like I said, we've rejected most of the big bids for our players, the proof is there. We've sold two players for 'considerable' money, and the Vidal one was definitely not a financial or technical choice. I wonder how many bids we have rejected in that time for Bonucci, Dybala, Pogba (before he went for a world record), Rugani, who are ones I can remember being strongly linked away. I'm pretty sure we rejected a lot more for Vidal a year or two before he was sold. Well that is if we take transfer rumours or Marotta's comments as gospel. That guy also lies a lot, it is part of his job whether he means to deceive or the position changes. It's the same with all of them.
Andrea Agnelli has stated numerous times about our financial position relative to others, so it's not really important whether you care or not, it's the position we are in. The club is doing good work but it's a longstanding problem playing in this relic league.