Fiorentina enjoyed a cracking win over the reigning champions recently to soar further up the Serie A table. Giancarlo Rinaldi examines the secrets of their success with one evergreen superstar at its centre.
When Giacomo Bonaventura left Milanello for the final time, there were those who thought it was the beginning of the end. He had passed 30 and his days as a rising star at Atalanta felt a long time ago. There had already been a couple of seasons of dwindling minutes with the Rossoneri when they ultimately decided he was surplus to requirements. Now in his fourth year at Fiorentina, however, he has kicked any thoughts of a downward spiral firmly into the stratosphere.
His reward for his impressive form has been a return to the Italy fold for the first time in years. “He has complete control of the ball,” swooned Luciano Spalletti. “He can shoot from outside the area and break into the box. The only thing I was hesitant about was his age but if he keeps doing what he’s doing you’ve got to call him up.”
There will be mixed feelings in Florence, however, as the 34-year-old has been vital to the Viola’s great start to the Serie A season. While it is always an honour to see a player pick up international caps, it will be tinged by concern over the possibility of him getting injured or, at the very least, tired against Malta and England. The pews of the Duomo may be filled with some unfamiliar faces over the next few days praying that he comes back to the Stadio Artemio Franchi in one piece.
His start to the league campaign has been a blistering one with four goals and two assists in his first eight games. That already matches or exceeds his scoring tally in five of the last seven seasons. Nobody expects him to continue at this rate but, nonetheless, it has made him one of the first names fans look for in the match squad for any game Vincenzo Italiano’s men play.
What he lacks in pace, Bonaventura trumps with his football brain. He rarely gives away possession, has the vision to cut open defences and also possesses a cool head in front of goal. It is a skill set that a player half his age would envy.
That has made him a key performer in this good start to the season by his club which was capped by the convincing win over Napoli. In a sliding doors moment, it had many people wondering how different the world might have been if the Fiorentina coach – who was linked with the position – had moved to the Stadio Maradona instead of Rudi Garcia. Certainly, the transition to the Frenchman has not been a smooth one.
It is easy to get carried away by one good result, of course, and closer scrutiny of the Viola’s opening games flags up as many worries as it does wonders. They rode their luck to win in Udine with just two shots on goal – both converted – to their opponents’ eight. It was proof, if proof were needed, that San Pietro Terracciano’s divine performances already appear to have seen off another contender to his goalkeeping crown – Oliver Christensen. The role of number one is not up for debate among even the most contrary Fiorentini.
Second-half slumps against Frosinone and Lecce would also have some alarm bells ringing as would a supine showing against Inter. But when they have been good – like against Genoa, Atalanta and the Neapolitans – they have been tremendous. It has got fans dreaming of another European finish this year but perhaps of a higher quality than the one they pinched from La Vecchia Signora’s shopping basket last summer.
Bonaventura has stolen the show but there are other names worthy of mention. Lucas Martinez Quarta and Luca Ranieri have both become unlikely goal threats in a formation as fluid as stracciatella soup. Young full-backs Fabiano Parisi and Michael Kayode have also been revelations – the latter particularly welcome with Dodô looking set to sit out much of the season with an injury. Spalletti might well be watching both of them with an eye to the future.
Alongside Bonaventura, Alfred Duncan is also enjoying something of a revival and new boy Arthur Melo looks to be rebuilding his reputation one game at a time. The odd match has looked too physical for the Brazilian schemer but with the time and space he is getting in this 4-2-3-1 formation, he has been thriving. Most fans have already forgotten that Moroccan lad who signed for Manchester United.
On the wing, too, it has been a joy to behold Nico Gonzalez – fresh from a contract keeping him in Florence until 2028. He is the livewire who sparks this team into life with his darting runs, dribbling skills and amazing aerial prowess. Add to that a dash of Josip Brekalo and the return to fitness of Jonathan Ikoné you have the makings of a team that can unlock you in many different ways and from all kinds of angles.
The only bum note so far has been from the forward line where M’bala Nzola has but a solitary goal to his credit – a late, inconsequential strike against Cagliari. That still puts him one better than fellow new boy Lucas Beltran who is still waiting to burst the net. Dreams of him being the next Gabriel Batistuta will have to be put on hold for a wee while to come.
But that is to pick a flaw in a team that has been on a run of results since the tail end of last season which is truly impressive. Their coach – a relentless firecracker on the touchline with constant gesticulating and outfit changes – has seen his reputation rightly rise along with his team. They appear to have taken the disappointment of last season’s two lost cup finals and channelled it into improving their performances and becoming a better side all around.
We’re only eight games in, of course, and few fans have had their fingers burned more often than followers of Florence’s finest. Still, these opening exchanges have at least put a smile on their faces ahead of some stern tests to come. With Bonaventura pulling the strings, Italiano orchestrating and Gonzalez striking all the right chords, they are one of the most magical sides in Serie A at present. Where will it take them? Only time can tell. But – like a sunset over the Ponte Vecchio – all their fans will be hoping to savour this special moment for as long as they can.
Giancarlo Rinaldi is the author of a number of books on Italian football – you can buy them here. Or why not follow him on X where he is @ginkers.