Andrea Ranocchia transfer to cost Inter Milan €10 million
According to the reports in Italy, Genoa president Enrico Preziosi has told inter that they will have to pay close to 10 million Euros if they wish to buy the player outright from Genoa. Ranocchia is co-owned by Inter Milan and Genoa but currently plays
for the Genoa based outfit. However, Inter is expected to buy the other half of the player as early as next season.
The player was on loan at AS Bari last season where he had a breakthrough season. The former Arezzo youngster formed a formidable centre back pairing with Leonardo Bonucci at Bari. Bonucci was snapped up by Juventus at the start of the season while Inter
Milan acquired half ownership of the player. Inter Milan don’t have a single Italian in their first team and are frequently criticized for being the most un-Italian, Italian team in the top flight.
Bonucci and Ranocchia are wildly tipped to be the future of Azzurri defence. Italy has a tradition of producing world class centre backs and the production seemed to have dried up until last year. Ranocchia was a constant pick for the Italian U-21 side under
Pierluigi Casiraghi but failed to make his International debut despite being one of the best defenders in Serie A last season. His failure to make the debut can be attributed more to Marcelo Lippi’s much criticized squad selections than the defender’s inability.
Ranocchia’s ability and elegance has earned him comparisons with legendary Milan defender Alessandro Nesta who remains the best Centre back in the world despite turning 34 this year. Genoa president seems to agree with such comparisons, "The player is worth
at least 20 million Euros. He is a great talent just like Alessandro Nesta. You rarely see defenders of their quality”
The current first choice centre backs at Inter, Lucio and Walter Samuel, are not getting any younger and speculation in Italy suggests that the prodigious talent will make his much anticipated move to Inter Milan this January as the reigning champions look
to add defensive cover.
Preziosi has also squashed the rumours of any January sale being on the agenda, "Let me make it clear that Ranocchia will remain with us until the end of the season, he will not be sold in January”. Ranocchia is a vital part of Genoa team and any potential
sale will seriously dent Genoa’s European ambitions of achieving a European place for next season.
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