Is Italy's Andrea Belotti Worthy of Replacing Paulo Dybala for Palermo?
Palermo's Italian centre-forward Andrea Belotti, 21, is next in line to replace Paulo Dybala.
Having watched Palermo back Dybala during his struggles, Belotti will need to receive the same leeway if he is to fulfil his potential.
He has already shown his class for Italy's Under-21s and will look to carry his form in qualifying into this summer's European Under-21 Championship.
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Arrivederci
Entering this season, Dybala was one of Italy's biggest transfer flops.
Per Brian Homewood at Reuters: "Argentine teenager Paulo Dybala, heralded by [Palermo] president Maurizio Zamparini as 'the new Sergio Aguero,' managed a disappointing three goals in the whole campaign."
Per Dan Riccio at Sports Net: "Paulo Dybala was dubbed by Zamaparini as 'the new Aguero.' The Palermo owner obviously did not help matters putting that kind of pressure on the youngster."
Zamparini looked like a fool having gleefully grinned at securing Dybala's signature.
Signed from Instituto for €11.9 million/£9.3 million in 2012, Dybala was presented as a transfer coup from Zamparini.
"We have got Paulo Dybala," Zamparini said, per Sky (h/t Football Italia). "We snatched him from the clutches of Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea."
Despite Zamparini's public-relations offensive, Dybala's market value at the time was €2 million/£1.6 million meaning Palermo overpaid by €9.9 million/£7.7 million.
Zamparini's pertinacious belief that Dybala would overcome a two-year slump has paid dividends.
- 2014/15 season: Scored 13 goals in 2,965 minutes over 34 Serie A games.
- 2013/14 season: Scored five goals in 1,918 minutes over 28 Serie B games.
- 2012/13 season: Scored three goals in 1,257 minutes over 27 Serie A games.
Excluding Dybala's passing, there are concerns statistically.
- 30.8 per cent of Dybala's goals were created by Franco Vazquez. Will Dybala be as effective without Vazquez?
- Dybala's 31.6 per cent shooting accuracy and 9.0 shots per goal are inefficient. He is a volume-shooter.
- 47 footballers from the Bundesliga, Eredivisie, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A outscored Dybala.
Going to the other side of the spectrum and judging Dybala only by the eye-test provides context to Zamparini's tunnel vision.
Amid the criticism of Palermo's investment and Dybala's lack of production, he showed a complete attacking skill set in training: a scorer, creator, dribbler and facilitator.
Instead of selling Dybala for a loss, Zamparini waited patiently (two seasons!) for his version of Aguero to transition from training star to the real deal.
This is why Zamparini felt betrayed when Dybala tried to enforce his leverage over Palermo.
"I was told that Dybala would no longer sign [an extension] and that he now wanted up to €15 million/£11 million in wages. No way," Zamparini said, per Tuttosport (h/t Sky Sports). "I had treated him like a son."
Holding out, Zamparini negotiated an advantageous transfer deal for Palermo upon selling Dybala to Juventus, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio's website:
- Juventus will pay Palermo €28 million/£20.6 million plus €8 million/£5.9 million in potential bonuses.
- Palermo acquire full ownership of Edoardo Goldaniga and a "second [Juventus asset] will be chosen later on." That player is rumoured to be Eric Lanini, per Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia).
The Successor
Locking eyes momentarily with Belotti, Davide Astori shifted his attention to the unmarked Andrea Rispoli.
By the time Vazquez delivered a low left-footed cross, Belotti was by himself on the far post.
Poking the ball past Lukasz Skorupski while Astori nervously appealed for offside to no avail, Belotti celebrated by raising his hand to his head, mimicking a rooster.
Belotti's moniker is the rooster, an inside joke between his friends.
Ending a 16-game run without a Serie A goal, Belotti was alert till the end, unlike Astori.
Scoring a 93rd-minute winner in Palermo's 2-1 victory over Roma is a testament to Belotti's never-give-up attitude.
Having grafted at AlbinoLeffe, Belotti has tasted what it is like to slog in modest surroundings, a la Christian Vieri, who toiled at Pisa, Ravenna and Venezia.
"I can't tell you why I am now scoring so many goals," Vieri said, per Jeff Powell at the Daily Mail. "It is a mystery which makes me happy. [The goals] just keep coming."
Raised in Australia, Vieri was an ugly duckling at Marconi Stallions, according to then U15 manager Rick Chiellini, per Martin Flanagan at the Age:
"[Christian was] a big kid who appeared uncoordinated and had a funny way of running, arms all over the place, head shifting about.
The inevitable comparisons were made that he was nothing like his father, the consummately skilful Roberto Vieri.
"They almost ridiculed [Christian]," says Rick. "I think it made him more determined."
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When then-Italian national team manager Cesare Maldini granted Vieri his international debut in 1997, he was rated by the veteran Gianfranco Zola.
"Christian's tactical awareness has surprised me," Zola said, per the Independent. "I've given him just one piece of advice, and that is to play according to his instinct."
Vieri would go on to become one of the most lucrative footballers of his generation, and Zola's advice is also applicable to Belotti.
Discarded by Atalanta, Belotti has forged his own path.
"I did a trial but got immediately turned down [by Atalanta]," Belotti said, per James Horncastle at WhoScored. "It's a bit of a shame I never played for the Nerazzurro."
Napoli then rejected Belotti, a fact his agent Sergio Lancini opportunely pointed out.
"[Belotti scored] two goals against Napoli, one of the clubs that did not believe in his abilities," Lancini said, per Calcio Mercato (h/t Football Italia). "Palermo deserve credit for trusting him and taking advantage of AlbinoLeffe's [financial] difficulties."
He scored six goals in 1,337 minutes over 38 Serie A games this season, which is uneconomical and he was outscored by Kamil Glik, who recorded seven goals for Torino as a centre-back.
Given that Palermo continued to support Dybala after he flunked in back-to-back seasons, Belotti must receive the same encouragement.
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Belotti is a bigger aerial threat, has better shooting form and his shot selection is more proficient than Dybala.
During the 2013/14 Serie B season, Belotti (10 goals) doubled Dybala's output (five goals).
Palermo manager Giuseppe Iachini "is working towards the future" post-Dybala, per Sky (h/t Press Association Sport via ESPN FC).
That could be a reference to Iachini combining Vazquez's genius with Belotti's blue-collar style.
Crucial to Dybala's revival, Vazquez can play a major role in Belotti turning his career around next season.
"Vazquez is a fundamental player for us," Zamparini said, per Rai GR Parlamento (h/t Mark Doyle at Goal). "We're going to build a team around [him]."
A 6'2" and 179-pound No. 10, Vazquez opens up play with his audacious passing and gliding runs.
Before going on holidays, Belotti has a chance to boost his confidence at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Scoring six goals in nine games en route to qualifying for the Euro U-21s, Belotti is part of the Azzurri's outlook.
Palermo might have Italy's future No. 9 in Belotti if they commit to him as Dybala's replacement.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.
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