Blog: Transfer of the Year
Out of a long list of candidates, Serafino Ingardia picks his favourite 2008 signing. And the winner is…Amauri
Alessio Secco may not be regarded as one of Serie A’s best sporting directors, but signing Amauri from Palermo this summer was perhaps the best out of all the possible transfers he could have made.
The Brazilian came to Turin at a relatively cheap price, £19m in an exchange deal which also involved Antonio Nocerino, but against the will of former transfer guru Luciano Moggi, who openly had doubts over the arrival.
The Amauri transfer saga lasted way too long, with exhausting negotiations between Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini, the player’s agent and Juve. But once the striker became a Bianconero, everybody soon realised it was definitely worth it.
The timing was perfect indeed, considering that David Trezeguet picked up an injury in September and Juventus would have otherwise been left with only two forwards – Alex Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Amauri became a key figure in their formation and didn’t find it difficult to establish himself at the Olimpico. His scoring trend has gone well above expectations since he has so far netted 11 goals in 17 League appearances, comfortably more than one every two games.
“He is fundamental for us. Amauri was a definite purchase and gives us plenty of options up front,” admitted Claudio Ranieri. The former Napoli man, who is waiting for his Italian passport and is still eligible for La Nazionale, won the Best Serie A Player award last year and is set for further accolades in the coming months.
The Bianconeri could have also found an easy way to double their money in less than four months when Real Madrid came knocking following Amauri’s great displays in the Champions League. But the Merengues’ £40m offer was promptly turned down.
If Juve are to compete for silverware both in Italy and Europe then they cannot afford to let him go. While in the past their captures of Jorge Andrade, Sergio Almiron and Tiago have proven to be expensive flops, this time around we can no doubt state that the Old Lady was clearly spot on by signing Amauri.
Source:
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/blogs/si24.html
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