OFFICIAL: Laurini sold to Parma

In a move that’s not that much of a surprise, given that he’s been training with the Crociati for the past couple of days, Parma announced this morning that Vincent Laurini has joined the club from Fiorentina, signing a contract that will keep him there until 2022. No terms of the deal have been disclosed; while we heard that the Viola had considered terminating his contract to let him move elsewhere, a couple million euros may have changed hands as well.

Laurini joined Fiorentina from Empoli for €1.6 million in 2018. He went on to make 39 appearances in his two seasons with the Gigliati, tallying an assist and 10 yellow cards. While he was never a regular starter, much less a star, he put in a solid shift every time he was out there. He stuck tight to his man, motored forward on the overlap (albeit without providing too much threat), and won a shocking number of headers in the box for a guy who’s not very tall, all without ever making a fuss. He was the definition of a squad player who never tried to go outside his abilities, so we liked him.

The 30-year-old Frenchman’s departure could mean any number of things for Fiorentina’s plans. Given Laurini’s technical limitations, he wasn’t much of a wingback and thus wouldn’t have fit into a three-man defense. Conversely, if Montella opts for a back four (which he’s said is the plan), his exit could open the door for Lorenzo Venuti to start. Alternatively, this could be an indication that the Viola are looking at a new starter.

This last interpretation adds fuel to the fire that Daniele Pradè and company are hot on the trail of Sassuolo fullback Pol Lirola, although the Neroverdi are asking way too much for him at the moment. Laurini, by the way, shares an agent with both Jordan Veretout and Cristiano Biraghi, so this move indicates that the club’s channels of communication with the representatives of the latter pair remain open.

Either way, thank you, Vincent, for your time and work with Fiorentina, and good luck in your next step.