No Italian teams have threatened to come up with a record-breaking bids to rival that of Real Madrid's for Tottenham's Gareth Bale or attempted to outbid the newly rich Monaco when they swooped for Falcao, the most prolific striker (in terms of goals per game) in Europe. Nor did Edinson Cavani—a player who could vie for that title this year—realistically look like staying within the Italian shores.
But To complement them Fiorentina secured the signature of Mario Gomez, fresh from being an integral part of the all-conquering, treble-winning Bayern Munich.
But it is Juventus, the reigning Italian champions, that will feel the wrath of the microscopes most scathingly. Expected to capture a third consecutive Scudetto—a feat only done three times in the last 60 years—their transfer activity has been select.
One player, however, who looks destined to leave fans both delighted and despaired is the nomadic Carlos Tevez. Signed for a paltry €9 million in June, the Argentinian striker arrived from Manchester City, thus ending a seven-year, love-and-loathe affair with the English Premier League. Here is a player who guarantees goals, averaging a goal every other game when in the colours of City. He is renowned for his tireless work rate, his feisty attitude and his dogged determination to aid his side's cause.
He does, however, have a dark undercurrent: His career is littered with a litany of strife. No Manchester United fan will forget anytime soon how, fresh from forming a Champions-League winning quadruplet alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, his head was soon turned by the lucrative offer from resented rivals, City.
Then, when at the Etihad, there was the debacle with former boss Roberto Mancini, when the two were at loggerheads with each other following Tevez's apparent refusal to be subbed on during a pivotal game against Bayern Munich. After a self-imposed exile, Tevez didn't appear for the club for six months. But the caveat to that last saga is that he returned to the team and played an instrumental part in the team winning the title. He has that effect.
When questioning if he can fire Juventus to European glory, that will simply be a stretch too far. Whilst he equals his teammate Andrea Pirlo in possessing a Champions League winners medal, in his 33 appearances in European competition, he has notched only six goals. Last year, Juve exited Europe's premier competition at the quarterfinal stages, going out in a whimper to eventual winners Bayern Munich. When questioning if they can go several rounds further this year, even before they signed Tevez, Juve could not compete with the rest of Europe's creme de la creme.
Barcelona have not only strengthened their team with the acquisition of Neymar, but they have also fought off Manchester United's overtures to retain key players, such as Cesc Fabregas. Real Madrid have welcomed new coach Carlo Ancelotti to the Bernabeu by allowing him to spend a €70 million bounty on new players—and that is before Gareth Bale's €100 million arrival is secured.
Bayern Munich have Pep Guardiola chomping at the bit to get started. Last year's finalist's Borussia Dortmund have retained key personnel. Chelsea have Jose Mourinho, winner of two Champions League titles with different clubs, at the helm. Unfortunately for Bianconeri fans, it will take more than the arrival of Tevez to end their 18-year wait for a European title. He does, however, appear to be experiencing a new lease on life in Turin. After recently telling the club's website that he hasn't "worked this hard since I was at Boca Juniors" (when he first burst onto the scene), he's also drawn praise from head coach Antonio Conte. He will prove the perfect foil to fellow new signing, rangy target man Fernando Llorente. The Spaniard can control crosses from the wide-men whilst Tevez—who excels with the ball on the ground—is superb at close-range finishes. It could prove a potent combination.
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