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With the Italian transfer deadline fast approaching, fans are wondering what further tricks Prade and Barone have up those beautiful sleeves. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina put forth an offer yesterday for Brazilian winger Raphinha, who currently plays for Lisbon’s Sporting CP.
Reportedly, the offer was valued at a €3 million loan fee plus a €13 million obligation to buy at the end of the season. Raphinha is supposedly keen on the move, and he will have to convince his current club to let him leave.
Prior to this latest report, however, Montella publicly expressed his appreciation for the winger. In an interview with Sky Sport on August 21, the day the Ribery signing was announced, Montella compared Raphinha’s characteristics to that of the Frenchman. With Montella flirting this hard, I’m sure that Raphinha has been blushing for two days straight.
From the information I have, Montella isn’t wrong. Despite having a strong left foot, the player enjoys playing on the right, where he has the freedom to cut inside so that he can shoot and draw defenders out of position.
Fans who don’t have the butterflies in their basket, however, are sure to be confused. With Ribery and Chiesa stationed on the flanks, it isn’t immediately clear where the 22-year-old would slot in to the system. This conundrum fuels rumors that Montella is currently considering trying Federico Chiesa out as a striker in a false-nine system.
On this subject, Montella recently spoke to the reporters at Football-Italia: “[Chiesa] is a very interesting player and, in my view, needs more room between the lines rather than just being out on the wing.”
If Mad-Scientist-Vinnie is truly going to test Chiesa out as a false-nine, fans are in for a fascinating season. I, personally, love experiments, but what do you think? Is Montella confusing Federico for his father? Is Montella coming on too strongly?
Tell us in the comments about a time that you came on too strongly. That’s a fun thing to do as we anxiously await any deadline news.