If you had told a Milan fan that they would sign Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus before last summer, they would have thought you were crazy. If you had gone on to say that in the following transfer window the Italian international would’ve moved back to his former side, allowing striker Gonzalo Higuain to join the Rossoneri despite them being effectively repossessed, they would’ve laughed in your face.
Added to that seemingly tall tale would be the fact that the only reason the Argentinian – who holds Serie A’s single-season goal scoring record – could join the side was because Juventus had signed Cristiano Ronaldo. Back then, all this would have seemed impossible, yet this most inconceivable story is in fact true.
On Thursday, the deal was completed, Bonucci having been swapped with young star Mattia Caldara – both valued at €35 million – while Higuain went for an €18 million loan fee with another €36 million still to pay in order to make the deal permanent.
“It was difficult to imagine that this would happen, but it’s fantastic that it has,” Bonucci, who was both whistled and applauded by supporters on his return, told Juve’s YouTube channel. “I’m excited. Turin is my home and Juventus is my home, so I’m really happy to be back.”
Coupled with the fact that Inter have made some extremely astute signings this summer – thanks in large part to the extra funding available by having qualified for the Champions League on the last day of the 2017/18 campaign – Serie A looks set to provide another scintillating year of football.
The Nerazzurri have splashed out on Radja Nainggolan from rivals AS Roma, Argentinian Lautaro Martinez, World Cup sensation Sime Vrsaljko, talented Italian Matteo Politano from Sassuolo, as well as defenders Stefan De Vrij and Kwadwo Asamoah from Lazio and Juventus respectively. While they have not been involved in the shocking to and fro between Milan and Juventus, it is clear that they have an extremely talented squad to start off the new campaign.
Juventus will of course draw many of the headlines as the world watches on to see what Ronaldo can do in a new league, yet there is also another benefit to this summer strengthening. For the first time in a long time, the City of Milan has two genuinely competitive squads, setting up fascinating derby fixtures between the pair on October 17th and March 21st.
Most captivating of all will be to see two of the world’s very best strikers pitted against each other, Argentinian duo Higuain and Mauro Icardi set to pull on red and blue respectively in the Derby della Madonnina. The former Juve man has made 177 league appearances since moving to Italy from Real Madrid back in 2013, firing in 111 goals, while Icardi has managed exactly the same tally from 192 total Serie A matches.
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A joint strike force like this has not been seen since the 2011/12 campaign, in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Milito went toe-to-toe in the city’s most pivotal fixture. In that season, the eccentric Swedish star finished as league top scorer for the Rossoneri with a total of 28 goals, his Inter counterpart finishing close behind with 24.
Edinson Cavani – then at Napoli – was also on that list with 23 strikes, as the league was awash with firepower. This year will be no different, as there is no doubt that Ronaldo will be gunning to head up that list, and it will be a joy to see the Italian league full of so many talented players once again.
There can be no argument that the transfer window has caused the most shocks of any among Europe’s top five, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it will, having been the only of those leagues to remain competitive right up to the end of last season.
People may not have believed you if you’d said to them before last summer that all of this would’ve happened, but you’d better believe that Serie A is back.
