OFFICIAL: Maxi Olivera signs with Fiorentina

Now that Marcos Alonso has left the building, Pantaleo Corvino has to start thinking about his replacement. Wait for it. Waaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiit. Okay. Now that that’s done, we can officially welcome new signing Maxi Olivera from Peñarol, who will step into Alonso’s spot at leftback and/or left wingback, where he should form a solid platoon with fellow newcomer Hrvoje Milic.

While the terms haven’t been disclosed, Fiorentina have probably parted with just a small portion of the Alonso windfall for a player who was named best in the Campeonato Uruguayo Especial (great name for a league, by the way). He’s played in two Copa Sudamericana matches already for his old team, notching an assist and also wearing the armband for one of them. Of course, that’s also his entire Peñarol career, as the Carboneros just bought him from Montevideo Wanderers this offseason. Not surprisingly, they’re not pleased to lose him already, but such is life when you get involved with third-party ownership players. Of course, something like this could never come back around to bite Fiorentina.

Last season with Montevideo Wanderers, the 24-year-old Olivera (as captain) scored 2 goals, set up 4 more, and received 13 bookings in 33 appearances. While he’s not a speed merchant by any means, he possesses enough athleticism to stick with most wingers. He reads the game well, is fearless in the tackle, likes to drive forward and cross, and generally evinces the sort of desire that’s made the Garra Charrua feared and respected throughout the world. As Oscar Tabarez refuses to call him up, he should have plenty of time to settle into Florence over the international break, and will help make Corvino’s plan to have an all-Uruguayan and Balkan team a reality.