Sergey Shevchenko - about the "triangular" exchange of Higuain - Bonucci - Caldara.
The grandiose deal between Juventus and Milan has become a reality. Bonucci and Caldara swapped T-shirts without any additional payments. The transfer of Higuain is formally in no way connected with the passage of two defenders: a rent for 18 million euros with an obligation to repurchase for 36 million. Impressive change of scenery at the very top of Serie A. We will analyze the motivation of all parties.
Gonzalo Higuain Last season: 35 matches, 16 goals, 7 assists, average score of Whoscored - 7.25 (championship); 10 matches, 5 goals, 1 assist, average score. Whoscored - 7.24 (Champions League) Why is Juventus?.
Sorry, but we are again about the transfer of Ronaldo. Juventus needed to compensate for costs, as well as unload the payroll. Higuain received 7.5 million euros a year, which was the highest salary in the team without taking into account the newcomer, even Dibala's half a million less. Moreover, the move to Cristiano deprived Gonzalo of a 100% place in the base, and keeping a player with such a salary in reserve is an unacceptable luxury. The departure of Higuain begged, it remained only to decide - where?.
The first option was Chelsea, who took Maurizio Sarri, but the London club did not agree with Juventus about the transfer amount. Then Milan appeared on stage, with which the Juventus were much more accommodating. The management of the Turinians too much wanted to return Bonucci, and at the same time was not averse to establishing contacts with the new owners of the "Rossoneri". Of course, letting a player into the club from the same championship is an additional risk, but Milan, we will be honest, until we compete with Juventus. If Elliott in a few years will lead the Milanese to success, then Higuain by that time will be quite an age player - now he is exactly 30.
Why is this to Milan?.
Centerforward under the foundation was the priority goal of the Rossoneri this summer. Kutron is still young, Kalinich probably will leave, Andre Silva, most likely, will go on lease. A lot of candidates were considered, but Benzema and Morata, with whom they reached the talks, do not shine with effectiveness: Karim has only 5 goals in the fights of the 2017/18 championship, Alvaro has 11. Higuain, in turn, only two years ago, speaking for Napoli, scored a record number of balls (36) in the Serie A, beating Gunnar Nordahl's record.
The leadership of Milan for some time tended to the option with Morata, who is five years younger than Higuain, but Chelsea claimed for the Spaniard 70 million, which "Rossoneri" did not suit, in contrast to more than acceptable conditions for Higuain. The Argentine also looks much more reliable in the role of the first choice, after all, Moratin has proved himself throughout his career, rather, as a "joker". And is it bad to add experience and class to the young gang of Gattuso? Speaking frankly, Higuain with his scoring instinct is a space shuttle for the current Milan.
Why is it Higuainu?.
The main quote of this transition. The new team is weaker and does not play in the Champions League. Higuain, who was himself the main newcomer to Juventus in the summer of 2016, has now become a victim of circumstances: he is not really needed in Turin and is very needed in Milan. Hence the increase in the Argentine's salary - now he will earn 9.5 million a year, and in a year the salary will grow to 10 million. From the positive, you can only note that Gonzalo will be more comfortable to perform in a familiar championship than to get used to the Premier League, and the place at the heart of Milan is guaranteed, like the beloved 9th number. If only there were no problems with motivation.
Leonardo Bonucci Last season: 35 matches, 2 goals, average score of Whoscored - 6.79 (championship); 9 matches, 1 assist, average score Whoscored - 6,42 (LE) Why is it to Milan?.
Bonucci did not hide the desire to leave, so the club had to extract from its sale the maximum benefit: an exchange without additional payments to Caldara and renting Higuain with a ransom for more than an acceptable amount.
From a game point of view, Leonardo's loss is not too critical. Bonucci turned out to be too system player. His negative playing qualities (weak play one-on-one, positional errors) were skilfully masked in Juventus, which can not be said for Milan, where Bonucci began to get more or less only in the spring, when the interaction with Romagnoli. The result is still pitiable. The scandalous transfer turned into disappointment of each of the parties, and now Leonardo returns - as reported by the Italian press, the Bonucci family returned to Turin in the winter.
What for it to Juventus?.
An experience. That's what the "bianconeri" is here and now. The victory in the Champions League is the strategic goal of the club, for which Juventus is ready for a lot. Kaldara with all his talents is not a reliable choice for top-level fights. Ex-center-center Atalanta spent only two years in Serie A and played a maximum in the LE, Bonucci also scored in the Champions League with fifty matches, including two finals. In addition, it is much easier to resume yet forgotten game connections than to build new ones.
The best game quality of Bonucci is the ability to start an attack, which Caldara does not have. This was not enough for Juventus last season. The team was too slow in the transition to the attack, which was especially evident against Tottenham and Real. The presence of Leonardo will make the game more flexible, more flexible. Note that for Bonucci, it is more convenient to use a circuit with three centerbacks, which Allegri has not used for a long time, but in Milan he is at least accustomed to playing four defenders. By the way, is the conflict between the player and the coach exhausted? In words, everything will be fine, but will the atmosphere in the locker room, Buffon's already gone, not suffer?.
Why is this Bonucci?.
He wants to play at the highest level, and the current Milan is so openly inconsistent with this level that Leonardo is ready for a serious wage cut (2.5 million less than in Milan). To leave abroad does not allow the illness of the youngest son, so the options are a bit. Bonucci decided to temper the ardor and make up with the ex-club, where the loyal brothers in arms, Chiellini and Barzagli. In the familiar surroundings will return and the usual Bonucci? Why not.
Quite a different matter - the moral side of this transfer. Juventus fans consider Bonucci a traitor because of his departure to Milan. The return of the player, who also happily marked the score in the goal against Juve, was already perceived by them in bayonets. There is no doubt that Leonardo, no matter how he played, will start booing his own fans, and in order to reduce the attitude of the fans at least to the neutral, a tremendous effort is needed. Will the player feel comfortable in this situation? Well, Bonucci knows exactly where he is going and what is waiting for him there.
Mattia Caldara Last season: 24 matches, 3 goals, 2 assists, average score of Whoscored - 6.95 (championship); 8 matches, 2 assists, average score Whoscored - 7.11 (LE) Why is Juventus?.
Turinians needed Bonucci, and Caldara became a bargaining chip in the auction. 24-year-old student Atalanta, who signed a contract with Juventus a year ago (the transfer amount is 15 million), never spent one official match for the Bianconeri.
Why is this to Milan?.
"Rossoneri" in view of the inevitable loss of Bonucci required the main centerback, and Caldara looks like an excellent choice. If you evaluate the actions in defense, then Mattia last season was much more reliable than Bonucci. Kaldara surpassed Leonardo by the basic statistical indicators: the average number of selections per game (1.6 against 0.9), interceptions (1.7 versus 1.5), ball discharges (4.4 against 3.7). As for the ability to give long transfers, Milan under Gattuso plays a fairly simple football, and in the composition there is a deep playmaker - Lucas Bilja. Ability to destroy is more important, and here Caldara should not fail.
Now in the defense of Milan looming promising bunch of Caldara with the 23-year-old Alessio Romagnoli. Two young Italians can permanently cement the protection center. Investing in the future is just what Elliott wants.
Why is it Caldare?.
There was no special choice for the player, but the advantages in sight. Here the competition is lower: Caldara is the main one by default, and Zapata and Musacchio will be on their way. In Juventus, Mattia would have to withstand competition with Chiellini, Barzagli, Benatia and, perhaps, Rugani - this is a typical example of how difficult it is for a young Italian to break through into the foundation of Juva. Winning the same titles from the bench - so-so career development for the football player, in June debuted for the Italian team.
If the bunch of Caldara and Romagnoli starts to play, then it is a direct road to the basis of the "Azzurri's skuadry" - not now, so in a few years. The immediate perspective is also quite optimistic: Milan, with all its problems, is a step forward compared with the poor Atalanta. There may be difficulties in adapting, because Atalanta with Gasperini - a team with a specific tactic (at least she played three centrabeka, here Caldara is similar to Bonucci), but the player because of his youth will be easier to adapt.
Author: Sergey Shevchenko.