If we let the numbers talk:
players bought even counting the backup keeper: about
38m €
players sold not even counting the possible sells of Almiron and Tiago: about
22m €
Total spent in transfer budget:
16m €
We spent double the amount last season if not more.
Out: Nocerino (€7.5m), Blasi (€2.6m), Paro (€2m), Rossi (€1m), Mirante (co-own €1m), Lanzafame (co-own €2.5m), Palladino (co-own €5m), Criscito (loan €1m)
= €22.6m
In:
Amauri (€22.8m), De Ceglie (€3.5), Knezevic (loan €0.7m), Poulsen (€9.75m) = €36.75m
Total spent: €14.15m (actually alot less since the money is paid in installments over 3 years)
Using installments:
Out:
- Nocerino (€7.5m paid in 3 annual installments)
- Blasi (€2.6m paid in 3 annual installments)
- Paro (€2m, no press release on Juventus.com regarding the structuring of the deal, but it's most likely 3 annual installments as well)
- Rossi (€1m, paid in 3 annual installments)
- Mirante (co-own €1m, like Paro, no official press release regarding the structuring of the deal, but 3 annual installments is the norm)
- Lanzafame (€2.5m paid in 3 annual installments. Technically, Palermo are paying Juve €5m in 3 annual installements, but at the same time we will be paying Palermo €2.5m in 3 annual installments to co-own him, so really it's just €2.5m.)
- Palladino (co-own €5m, paid in 3 annual installments. Same idea as Lanzafame. Genoa are paying Juve €10m over 3 years but were paying them €5m over 3 years at the same time.)
- Criscito (loan €1m, paid in 2 annual installments)
Total sale money upfront = €7.7m
In:
- Amauri (€22.8m paid in 3 annual installments)
- De Ceglie (€3.5 paid all at once)
- Knezevic (loan €0.7m paid all at once)
- Poulsen (€9.75m, paid in 3 installments - €4.75m paid by July 19th 2008, €2.5m paid within July 11th 2009, €2.5m paid withing July 11th 2010)
Total transfer fee's upfront = €16.55m
Total spent this transfer period = €8.85m
As for our signings, I do see the logic behind them even if I would have taken a different route.
Poulsen has already developed into a good defensive midfielder, and carries alot more experience than Nocerino, so thats 1 upgrade.
Giovinco means we wont be stuck playing Palladino as a left or right sided attacking mid, so thats another upgrade.
De Ceglie gives us cover at lb we didn't have last season, meaning we wont have to play Grygera or Brazzo at lb if Molinaro gets injured. Not to mention De Ceglie looks very promising so he may turn out to be Ranieri's 1st choice as the season goes on. Even if he is no better than Molinaro (which I doubt), at least that means we wont be left fielding less effective players at lb. It's an upgrade either way
Tiago and Almiron have set the bar pretty low, so Marchisio wont have a difficult time proving his worth to the team.
If either of our cb's get injured, we wont be left moving Grygera to cb, and instead of Boumsong, we now have Mellberg. Thats another upgrade.
Amauri is quality, and gives us 4 attackers upfront with different attributes. Plus we can pair him alongside any1.
Objectively, I see the logic behind our transfer plan this season, even if I dont agree with it. It builds on the tactics we used last season, which saw us beat all the big teams and finish 3rd.
Furthermore, as shown above, this summer's mercato will hardly put a dent in our finances, and the sale of Tiago and/or Almiron will make it look even better. After all, Juventus are a business, and the board's job is to see us run effectively. I find it funny when I see ppl constantly slating our board for everything that happens, when alot of them are past/present executives at many other companies and have little to no experience with football. All the tactical choices on the transfer market are made by the technical team at Juve (coaches, scouts, etc), and the board just make sure ends meet, like pretty much every other company in the world.