The news of the transfer market was particularly sparkling this year. And not only because there has been the most expensive change of jacket in the history of football. Neymar, Coutinho, Donnarumma, the expenses of the English teams, Milan, Juventus, Barcelona: there are many topics that deserve to be explored.
Certainly, the deal that made newspapers around the world speak was that of Neymar. The ace of Seleção left Barcelona after four seasons to the crazy amount of 222 million euros, to land at the Paris Saint-Germain court. And the Spanish team started looking for a replacement, activating a series of chain effects.
But it is said that those who spend more will get even more. Neymar is basically just a player. Certainly very important – for talent and image – but football is still played in 11.
And Milan knows it well, the other major player on the market, at least here in Italy. The Rossoneri company, after the change of ownership, has in fact invested a lot of money to almost completely renew the 11 owners.
But – taking into account all the news cited and the other main ones – what was the most sensational affair of this summer? Which one will yield the most in sports and economic terms? Answering is not easy. And for this reason, we have decided to ask you for an opinion too, through the now tested mechanism of # 5cosesocial.
From 2 to 13 September you voted within a 30 player squad until you choose the 5 best deals of the summer that you find below. In all, we have registered more than 16,000 votes. Here’s what came out.
1. Neymar
The outcome of our survey perhaps, on closer inspection, was quite predictable, at least in the first two positions. What we did not expect, however, was the gap that the first classified gave to the second. To triumph in our examination of the best deals of the 2017 transfer market was Neymar, who moved from Barcelona to PSG.
The Brazilian champion, however, was not satisfied with winning. He even won out. Even in the final, when he faced the four that our readers considered the other best passes of this summer, he had no problem gathering more than 50% of the votes.
An even more important share if you think that the survey was not about the strongest player, but about the best deal. And Neymar changed his jacket for 222 million euros, a figure that is certainly not negligible. However, most of you think that the player for that amount was still a great deal.
The career of the PSG striker
Born in 1992, the striker took his first steps in professional football in Santos, immediately impressing with his talent. And he made his debut in the Verdeoro national team in August 2010, at 18 years of age, immediately scoring a goal.
Then, in 2013, the move to Barcelona came, where he teamed up with Leo Messi. Together with Luis Suárez, who joined the other two in 2014, they then formed a legendary trident . The three – among other things, a Brazilian, an Argentine and an Uruguayan – also set the record for the most prolific attacking trio in the history of Spanish football.
The Neymar palmares, on the other hand, are full of both individual and team prizes. He has won two Spanish championships, a Champions League , a Libertadores Cup, a Club World Cup, an Olympic gold medal and a title of top scorer of the Champions League (on an equal footing with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo). And now aim for new goals.
2. Leonardo Bonucci
The only one who from the beginning seemed able to stand up to Neymar in the fight for the first place in our ranking is Leonardo Bonucci. The AC Milan defender did very well in the early stages of our poll, but he collapsed in a certain sense in the final, leaving the Brazilian colleague free field.
To find the reason for this collapse, you don’t even have to try too hard. The last votes, both in the semifinal and in the final, took place after some particularly opaque tests by the defender of the National team. And in particular, after the 4-1 cashed by Milan in Rome, against Lazio.
In short, it is as if suddenly the affair operated by Milan – which tore an important piece directly from a rival’s roster, at a not excessive price – sounded less fascinating. Or, at least, to be verified in the medium term and not to be enhanced ahead of time.
From Inter to Juventus to Milan
Born in Viterbo in 1987, Bonucci grew up at Inter, a team with which he also made his Serie A debut in 2006. However, he began to be noticed a few years later, between 2009 and 2010, when a good season played in Bari brought it to the attention of the big teams.
It was purchased by Juventus in 2010, with a valuation of just over 15 million euros. The first year, however, under the direction of Delneri, was not at all good, characterized by various smudges. In the following season, however, Antonio Conte arrived , who knew how to make the most of it and kick off the chain of Juventus successes.
With Juve he has won six consecutive league titles and has also obtained the title of best overall player of the championship assigned by the AIC. Furthermore, between 2016 and 2017, as proof of his growth, he was included in the Best XI of L’Équipe , in the team of the year UEFA and in the team of the year of the Champions League. He went to Milan for 42 million euros.
3. Romelu Lukaku
Behind the two big favorites in our survey was Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United’s new signing. The Belgian player has distinguished himself from the initial phase of the investigation: inserted in group C, Bonucci’s, collected 29% of the votes, surpassing Vecino of Inter and Bakayoko of Chelsea.
Then in the semifinals, he finished again in a group with Bonucci, placing himself second here but being fished for the final. On the other hand, in this phase, he managed to excel on other ninety pieces such as Alvaro Morata (transition to Chelsea) and Blaise Matuidi (transition to Juve).
Finally, the excellent result in the final that sends him directly to the podium. In addition to the good reputation that Lukaku has earned in recent years – thanks to the seasons at Everton and with the national team of his country – the first good performances with United helped him. In fact, in this championship start, he has already scored 4 goals in 4 matches.
A promise finally fulfilled
Born in 1993, Lukaku was a promise for a few years that was struggling to be fulfilled. Today, however, his maturation is complete and the attacker seems ready to break through permanently. Born in Antwerp to parents of Congolese origin. he grew up in Anderlecht.
After a couple of seasons spent in the most important Belgian club, he was bought at 18 by Chelsea. Here, however, very young, he struggled to find space and after a couple of seasons he was sold to Everton . In Liverpool the player, without the rivalry of established champions, managed to grow slowly and finally leave his mark.
In four seasons with the toffees, he has scored 68 league goals, reaching his peak in the last year. Mourinho’s Manchester United therefore strongly wanted it, grabbing it for the record figure of 90 million pounds, also counting the bonuses.
4. James Rodriguez
Fourth place for James Rodríguez, a player who at some point in our survey seemed able to annoy the favorites. In group E, during the first phase, he got rid of all his opponents quite easily, forfeiting 60% of the preferences.
It is true that perhaps the big names were missing in that group, but there were still Biglia, who joined Milan, Mendy, purchased from Manchester City, and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had just arrived at Liverpool. Then also in the semifinal, he made a good impression, surpassing four opponents who play in Italian teams.
Finally the final, where however he collected little, ending well spaced from the podium. Few, by the way, also commented on him in the comments, but certainly, Bayern Munich made a great deal. In fact, he took it home with a biennial onerous loan of 5 million euros per season, and with a redemption clause not very high (35 million) nor mandatory.
The exploit at the World Cup and the bench at Real
Born in 1991, James Rodríguez made himself known worldwide during the 2014 World Cup, when he played a series of extraordinary games. At that time, although still very young, the Colombian had a respectable career behind him.
After a couple of seasons spent in the most important Belgian club, he was bought at 18 by Chelsea. Here, however, very young, he struggled to find space and after a couple of seasons, he was sold to Everton. In Liverpool the player, without the rivalry of established champions, managed to grow slowly and finally leave his mark.
In four seasons with the toffees, he has scored 68 league goals, reaching his peak in the last year. Mourinho’s Manchester United therefore strongly wanted it, grabbing it for the record figure of 90 million pounds, also counting the bonuses.
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5. Andrea Conti
Fifth place for the surprise of our survey, the neo-Milan player Andrea Conti. The boy was greeted, from the beginning, as an important purchase of perspective for the Rossoneri. However, few would have bet that he would reach the final five, overtaking players such as Álvaro Morata, Alexandre Lacazette, Juan Cuadrado and Blaise Matuidi.
In the first round, Conti won the group in which Morata, Bernardo Silva and Juventus from Bernardeschi were also present. In the semifinals, he then finished second just behind Rodríguez, but barely detached (31.44% against 29.69%), earning the repechage towards the final.
However, it was inevitable that in the final round, alongside champions worth hundreds of millions of euros, his name would end up closing in the last place. But, given the age and the experience yet to be matured, having reached this point is certainly a result that should not be underestimated.
Milan’s new hope
Born in Lecco in 1994, Conti grew up soccer in Atalanta, the club he joined at the age of 7. There he made the whole journey in the youth teams until he was judged ready for more important stages. Before making its debut in A, however, the Bergamo company decided to lend it, to make it mature in the minor leagues.
Thus he spent a year at Perugia and another year at Virtus Lanciano, archiving a number of appearances congruous with the change of category. Finally in January 2016, he made his Serie A debut, starting to score some goals too.
In the following year, indeed, the coach Gasperini was able to take full advantage of the best qualities, making him one of the protagonists of the miracle of Atalanta. The Nerazzurri team closed the championship in fourth place. And this has led to the interest of Milan, which has grabbed the player for about 27 million euros.
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