Sure, why not bring in Luca Antonelli

Cristiano Biraghi has had a couple of rough games this season, notably against Chievo Verona, but he’s generally been at worst a very solid presence on the left flank. Maxi Olivera, on the other hand, has struggled badly, getting skinned alive against lowly SPAL. It makes sense, then, that Fiorentina would register interest in Luca Antonelli.

According to calciomercato.com, Pantaleo Corvino sees the 31-year-old as a bargain signing for depth. Antonelli’s contract runs out next year, meaning that the Rossoneri would probably be willing to let him go for cheap in most circumstances, but when you add in his age and the scintillating form of Ricardo Rodríguez, it seems unlikely that the ex-Grifoni man will be in Milan for much longer.

Look, I’ve always liked Antonelli. I liked him at Genoa, where I thought he was one of the better fullbacks in Serie A. I like his work rate and his defensive instincts and think that he probably deserved more than his 13 international caps. But improving the backup leftback is not exactly a priority for Fiorentina when the only sources of creativity are a pair of 20-year-olds on the wings. This isn’t rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic; it’s more like worrying that the wood in those chairs could warp if it rains.

So yeah, Antonelli would be a fine option to back up Biraghi next year. But holy crow, this is the first concrete transfer rumor I’ve picked up in a bit. I know that Corvino works under the radar, et cetera et cetera, but c’mon, man. If ever a fanbase needed more hope than Luca Antonelli can provide, this is it.