(Photo by New Press/Getty Images)
Reigning champion Inter Milan has received an ample quantity of attention and applause following an impressive transfer season, as they look to compete for a legitimate shot at not only retaining the Scudetto but capturing the Champions League title, too.
The nonchalance on display across town, conversely, has created much uproar, as AC Milan has been very passive in the market this year following the exodus of former stalwarts Paolo Maldini, Kaka and manager Carlo Ancelotti.
AS Roma has managed to stagnate to an even higher degree, losing more talent than gained in a clear demonstration of managerial disorder. They’ve fallen down in the hierarchy of Italian football, while Fiorentina and Juventus look sharp enough to vie for a top-three finish.
Yet flying so quietly and unassumingly around the radar are two sides that possess a more-than-capable chance at securing their position among Serie A’s contenders.
Those are the clubs that reside in Palermo and Napoli.
Although neither club has seized the headline in what has become an eventful off-season, neither has been static. In fact, both have been as active in underpinning their respective rosters as any other team living on the upper echelon, albeit the players signed were of a lower class in celebrity.
And the rebuilding project for Palermo has been just as productive as Napoli leading up to this moment.
For the Sicilian outfit, it began with bleak conditions upon the closure of last season’s transfer window.
Taking into account that a total of four managers replaced each other throughout the past two years, stability wasn’t a strong point.
The concession of developed players in forward Amauri, defender Andrea Barzagli and Cristian Zaccardo upon the beginning of the 2008-2009 season was an evident low-blow, with each player looking to capitalize on their prospects elsewhere.
Heading into the 2009-2010 campaign, the bulb is much more brilliant.
Working on top of fundamental signings in midfielder Fabio Liverani and the snarly Antonio Nocerino in last year’s off-season, president Maurizio Zamparini has scoured Europe and beyond for unheralded talent hiding in the corners.
To assure himself that his side is enhanced, Zamparini uncovered burgeoning midfielder Nicolas Bertolo, Javier Pastore, and Dorin Goian. These names are hardly tantalizing, although each possess a wealth of potential.
Pastore, who was hounded by Manchester United and AC Milan, has a game equipped to befit that which is played in Italy, having been dubbed the Argentine Kaka for his intelligence and deadly precision.
His performance at 20 years of age has inspired aficionados of the Primera Division de Argentina to vest belief in Pastore to one day deliver on the international level as well, not only as a fixture but as a principal component.
“I like to be right in the thick of the action,” Pastore told Tuttomercatoweb, stating his desire to embrace a trequartista role. “The position that Zenga put me in against St. Veit [during training session] is definitely my favourite. The coach has instructed me to keep things simple, and I won’t let him down.”
To the delight of Palermo fans, Pastore feels he will be productive with fellow countryman Bertolo.
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