Transfer window in Serie A – summary

While there has been a lot of spending in Premiership this January, which was a signal that English first league has gone far ahead of their main rivals Italians, there weren’t any major transfers in Serie A. As for Calcio, Global economic crisis lasts for several years now and even the bigger clubs were able to compete with the giants from the island. It remains to be seen if this will be a decisive detail in the Champions League triple clash of Premiership and Serie A. Soccerpie gives you a summary of the January transfer window in Italy:

Atalanta: They are always playing it smart, the midtable spot allows them to calculate and slowly prepare the team for the next season. They signed Plasmati from Catania and Parravicini from Parma, two very interesting players. The first one will be replace Floccari who is leaving to a big club this summer and whose transfer secured Atalanta for the next year.

Bologna : Club owners, Menarini family fulfilled their promise given to Sinisa Mihajlovic; he led Bologna away from the bottom and they didn’t spare money and signed Osvaldo from Fiorentina as well as experienced Mutarelli. It seems that they will solve the problem in the attack and escape towards the midtable.

Cagliari : The sensation of the season, there is no need to change anything, they are giving football lessons with their existing squad, they kept all the players at Sardinia and they are in for a calm spring.

Catania : Zenga brought Capuano and Potenza so defense will be granite. Plasmati left but Spinesi could get back in form from last season… there are no problems for Catania, they will certainly reach the 40 points that guarantee survival.

Chievo : They expected more from the transfer window but good spell in January made them relax so they expect to survive with the current squad. Makinwa arrived but he is not what Veronesi need. They still lack a real striker.

Fiorentina : They have done their job this summer, January was a chance for a clean-up, to let few players go and start negotiating for summer when they will try to sign Ivanovic from Chelsea and Sampdoria captain, Palombo.

Genoa : They had no need for changing anything either, they are doing great. They kept Milito, sold Gasbarroni who is an excellent players but Gasperini will trust his position with Jankovic and Palladino.

Inter : They sent the big failure Quaresma to Chelsea; the press think that it is preparing for Drogba’s transfer in the summer. Moratti is adamant in his intention not to buy anyone.

Juventus : It was as though there was no transfer window for Juventus. They were expected to reinforce the defense because of numerous injuries but they refused that saying that the recovery of injured players will be their biggest reinforcement. But somehow Zanetti and Chiellini got injured again. It would be no wonder if they kept this up and Ranieri started playing in the finish of the season.

Lazio : Romans have the quantity but not the quality. It is logical that they reduced the number of players but they didn’t reinforce the team. However, they did buy Angeleri but excellent Argentinean will arrive this summer.

Lecce : Brazilian Edinho arrived, but the midfield is not the biggest problem. Defense is a much bigger problem and they didn’t solve the flanks. This kind of transfer window has left Salentini in the role of main relegation contenders.

Milan : Acquisitions for the future like Mattioni and Thiago Silva are yet to show their quality. As for the rest, it is enough to say Becks. If he stays in the club after March, 7 Milan will be the biggest winner of the transfer window in Italy.

Napoli : It is hard to tell, Jesus Datolo arrived and the club paid eight million for him and knowing sports director Marino, it shouldn’t be wasted money. However, Napoli haven’t yet set free from some of the players that are only keeping space and not playing…

Palermo : They made some good moves before selling the team in June. Those investments turned out to be great. Few younger players arrived but Nilmar didn’t and he was their primary target. We will see in June, such Palermo objectively have the strength to fight for Europe.

Reggina : If they don’t get relegated this season, they never will. They are rock-bottom without good signings in defense which is their biggest problem. Few players arrived but for already covered positions. That is why Reggina will hardly manage to save this season.

Roma : Motta and Diamoutene, alternatives for defense, which was club’s priority. That is not enough for high goals. Panucci case shook the club but experienced defender still stays in Roman club. How much he will play knows only Spalletti. Roma had no money for major signings, so having that in mind this transfer window wasn’t so bad.

Sampdoria : As we see it, the biggest winners of winter transfer window. Marotta fulfilled his promise and corrected the mistakes from this summer. Pazzini, Raggi, Da Costa arrived…The biggest acquisition is that recovered Palombo stayed. Lead by fantastic Cassan they can do a lot but it is too late for big things. They might make it far in UEFA Cup but if they don’t improve in the league coach Mazzari will lose his job, there are no more alibis.

Siena : They are doing well, so the management though that there is no need for new signings. However, they didn’t sell anyone, either on coach Giampaolo’s demand. Actually, Amoruso arrived from Torino, but no one sees why, Siena already have an excellent attack, combination of talented and experienced players.

Torino : They bought Gasbarroni who was an excellent player but they seem to have forgotten one thing. The positions where he former Sampdoria player might play are already occupied with two best players in the club, captain Rosina and young Abate… they only wanted to buy. Rivalta arrived from Atalanta but he already got a serious injury. Nothing new, bulls have no strategy so they are in for a tough spring.

Udinese : They have an excellent team but it is too late for some major actions after three nightmare months. They could have an excellent spring in UEFA Cup though. But this summer they are in for an earthquake; Zapata, Felipe, Inler, D’Agostino, Quagliarella, Di Natale are all on biggest European clubs’ lists. Some will leave and who will stay is left for us to guess in the next three months.

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