For a team who wants to emphasize keeping their young talent, it has been a confusing transfer season for the Juventus management.
After their demotion to Serie B in 2006, the Juve squad was filled with younger players after the departure of Fabio Cannavaro, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluca Zambrotta, Adrian Mutu, and Patrick Vieira.
Players like striker Raffaele Palladino, goalkeeper Antonio Mirante, midfielders Claudio Marchisio, Sebastian Giovinco, and Paolo De Ceglie made their presence known after all starring for the Juve primavera side.
However, since Juve have returned to Serie A after their one year absence, the younger players seem to be more of a bargaining chip than actually playing a role for the club. Juve Sporting Director Alessio Secco, who took over from Luciano Moggi after the 2006 match-fixing scandal, has done nothing to improve his reputation with fans by dangling young players in exchange for more experienced talent.
In January, Secco shipped out defender Domenico Criscito within the first few days of the transfer window. Fittingly, just days after Criscito's departure, the Juve backline was ravaged by injuries.
When Juve signed striker Amauri from Palermo in June, midfielder Antonio Nocerino, who is currently the captain of the Italy U-21 team, and striker Davide Lanzafame were also included in the deal. Nocerino was sold to Palermo, while Lanzafame joined in a co-ownership agreement.
However, it was rumored amongst the Italian media that Juve might have been willing to part ways with Giovinco, the crown jewel of the Juve youth system and called by some "the Italian Messi," who was quite impressive after spending this past season on loan with Empoli.
While Juve did bring back De Ceglie, who was with AC Sienna on a co-ownership deal, for €3.5 million, it seems that more Juve youngsters are going out for good than staying in.
Hopefully for fans, the dismissal of young talent ended today, when Juve agreed to a co-ownership deal for Palladino, who is regarded as one of Italy's best young talents, with Genoa C.F.C. Palladino had been looking for more regular playing time after being stuck behind Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Vincenzo Iaquinta, and Amauri in the pecking order.
However, for the most part, Secco uses these kids as bargaining chips. Even though they aren't proven at the highest level, there is only one way to find out... let them play. Understandably, this is Juventus, one of the most storied clubs in Europe and the world. But when Moggi was in charge, the young talent stayed at home.
Obviously the club had more money five years ago, but the blueprint was there. Loan out the young talent for a season or two after their youth team participation and then bring them back to base and let them play. But knowing the ways of Secco, the wheeling and dealing is certainly not over.
And hopefully for both fans and the team, no other young players will be sacrificed in the process.
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3 months ago
Good read. Very interesting. I don't follow Italian football closely enough to know the young players but it's always sad to see a club selling their young talent.
3 months ago
i agree with u. they are getting rid of there good oyung players. and juventus will regret it one day.
but for now they got to play giovinco de ceglie and marchisio. let them start at least some games. because if they dont there going to loose them to.
but good article!
3 months ago
Great article.!
3 months ago
Very good article..Nocerino was a brilliant player..I think in 2-3 years..Palermo will get BIG money..he is very underrated.
from 3 months ago
I agree with you Salaar, in a few years, he's gonna be one of the best in Italy. I loved watching him the first half of the season. He kinda slowed down towards the Holiday break. Then he was sent to the bench when Juve signed Sissoko from Liverpool. Considering the talent has on the U-21 level, being captain says a lot.
3 months ago
i agree ac milan is going after the likes of ronaldhino who is ugly as a beast. young talent can by far outdo a single money grubbing whore.
2 months ago
Good article Daniel, an interesting read.
2 months ago
another interesting read daniel. i think shipping criscito out after his awful performances wasnt a bad idea. if he performs well, they'll bring him back. and palladino was shipped out only on co-ownership, so they can buy his other half at any time. but if they sell giovinco, it'll be a stupid decision. with del piero, nedved, camoranesi all aging, they should keep young talent. especially the italians! again, good article. keep going. Forza Juve! lol
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