From De Bruyne to Modric, and Jonathan David: Serie A’s Summer of Luxury Free Transfers
Napoli, the reigning champions of Italy and the team to beat next season, have strengthened their squad with the arrival of free agent Kevin De Bruyne, who left Manchester City. Juventus picked up Jonathan David from Lille on a free transfer. Milan went after 39-year-old Luka Modric, who was out of contract with Real Madrid. These are the three most significant moves in Serie A, with less than a month left in the summer transfer window and fewer than 20 days until the season kicks off.
This situation invites serious reflection on Italian football, which clearly can no longer compete economically with the major European clubs—especially those in the Premier League (though we’ve known this for some time). Serie A is now trying to regain appeal and technical quality by capitalizing on enticing market opportunities. Often, these are aging players who, not long ago, would have been labeled “cast-offs” from Europe’s elite. But today, given the diminished technical standards of our league, they’re seen as major coups.
I have no doubt, for instance, that Kevin De Bruyne can dominate the midfield in Serie A—perhaps by playing more consistently in an advanced role, letting his teammates do the dirty work while he capitalizes on his immense playmaking skills in the final third. The same goes for Luka Modric. I’m convinced we’ll still catch glimpses of his endless class in a Milan shirt, just as we did up to his final days in the iconic white of Real Madrid. The issue, of course, is that De Bruyne just turned 34 and Modric will turn 40 (!) in September. Yet the most commonly heard—and accurate—remark about them both is: “In our Serie A, they can still teach plenty of lessons.”
That phrase, “in our Serie A,” carries weight. It reflects how Italian football sees itself, from insiders to fans: as scaled down. And this view is undoubtedly reinforced by the economic struggles of our clubs—less and less Italian and more and more international, especially American-owned—and by the technical (and results-related) issues of our national team, which is both a mirror of and the calling card for our football system.
Speaking of luxury free agents, Jonathan David is an excellent exception to the rule. Signed for free from Lille, where he made his mark in both domestic and European competitions with a steady stream of goals, Juventus’ new striker is just 25 and at the peak of his career. Juve did well to snatch him—thanks to a hefty salary and commission package—from stiff competition both in Italy and abroad. A top player choosing Serie A is always good PR for our football system. When that player is in his prime, the impact is doubled.
For a league desperate to regain self-confidence, the free signings of De Bruyne, Modric, and David can provide a vital spark—so long as they don’t remain isolated cases.
L’articolo Transfer Market Heats Up: The Biggest Serie A Signings So Far Have All Been Free Agents proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
