With the summer transfer window kicking off today, Oli Coates looks at the top 5 signings in Serie A from last season.
Milan fought off the fierce challenge of city rivals Inter to secure their first Scudetto in more than a decade at the weekend. There’s no surprise a couple of the Rossoneri’s new arrivals from last summer have made our list of the top five 2021-22 Serie A signings, but who else makes the list? Read on to find out.
Olivier Giroud
After a decade in the Premier League with Arsenal and Chelsea, French World Cup winner Giroud arrived in Serie A for the first time at the ripe old age of 34 last summer. Turning 35 in September, he was widely expected to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s understudy at Milan this term. However, the Swede’s niggling injury struggles meant the veteran striker played a bigger role for the Rossoneri than expected.
Starting 22 of Milan’s 38 Serie A fixtures across the season, Giroud netted 11 goals in a total of 29 league appearances. While not necessarily prolific, the Frenchman scored some hugely important goals, not least his dramatic late double in the Diavolo’s comeback victory in February’s Derby della Madonnina. His presence in the side was incredibly influential, as Stefano Pioli’s side ended their 11-year wait for the title.
Mike Maignan
Milan also pulled off a superb move in the transfer market at the other end of the pitch. One of the biggest transfer sagas of recent times ended when Italy No 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma left San Siro for Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last summer.
The biggest compliment you can pay his replacement, Maignan, is that Donnarumma – one of the best goalkeepers on the planet – has not been missed one bit. Some will even argue Maignan’s superior technical ability on the ball has been an improvement for the Rossoneri, while the Frenchman’s shot-stopping and command of his box has been imperious since he arrived from Lille.
Edin Dzeko
Like Milan, local rivals Inter turned to a veteran target man to bolster their attacking options last summer. Dzeko was tasked with replacing Romelu Lukaku following the Belgian’s move to Premier League side Chelsea, and the Bosnian has performed admirably since swapping Roma for the Nerazzurri in the twilight of his career.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina captain netted 13 goals in 35 Serie A appearances during his debut campaign for the Biscione, providing Simone Inzaghi with a focal point in attack. That’s allowed the likes of Lautaro Martinez to flourish, and allowed Inter to push their old city foe right to the bitter end this season. He also started in the Coppa Italia final as the Beneamata beat Juventus 4-2 after extra time.
Tammy Abraham
The road from the Premier League to Serie A is one that is not particularly well trodden. However, one of Jose Mourinho’s priorities when taking over at Roma last summer was ensuring England international Abraham joined him at the Stadio Olimpico from former club Chelsea.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation in the capital, netting 26 goals in his 52 games for the Giallorossi so far. In doing so, he became the first Englishman to score more than 10 goals in a Serie A season, and surpassed the goal returns of Roma icons Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella in their debut campaigns for the club.
Giovanni Simeone
Loaning Simeone to Verona was a fatal mistake for Cagliari. The Isolani lost their Serie A status this season, after a goal return of just 34 contributed to an atrocious goal difference of -34.
Simeone netted 16 times in the league for the Gialloblu, catapulting Verona to their third successive top-half finish since their promotion in 2019. The Argentine’s €1m loan fee has proven an absolute snip, with the Mastini surely set to pay the €12m required to turn his stay at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi into a permanent one.
Do you agree with our picks for the top five Serie A signings in 2021-22? Why not let us know in the comments, with any other suggestions you may have for which players you think should’ve made it in here too.
Cant argue with that list – if i had to chose 1 – Mike Maignan – better than Gianluigi Donnarumma
PhD Obi Wan Max was the signing of year. He taught me to remain CALMA, CALMAAAA, CALMAAAA, and control my ejaculation so i can stay hard longer and plow him harder. He returns the favour with a pearl necklace.