Football Serie A special: Capocannoniere candidate, Marco Borriello
Marco Borriello, born June 18th, 1982, is Neapolitan striker currently plying his trade with AS Roma. Borriello started his football career from AC Milan youth academy. However, he failed to impress the Milan coaches, and he was loaned out to
Treviso in Serie C1. Borriello scored 10 goals for the club, which prompted Milan to recall the striker for the 2002/03 season. His return to the club wasn’t encouraging and many feared for his future at Milan, as he once again failed to make an impact and
could only muster 3 appearances for the club. He was subsequently loaned out to various Italian clubs over the next four seasons.
In 2006, AC Milan sold Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko to English Premier League outfit Chelsea for a record fee and Borriello was recalled to fill the void. In his first full season with Milan, things were looking bright for the striker, as he featured
regularly for the club until he was tested positive for banned drugs; Prednisolone and Prednisone. Upon confirmation of the test results in January 2007, Borriello had to face the humiliation of suspension. It was revealed the striker took the drugs to cure
a STI. Borriello was suspended until 21st March 2007 but the club decided against fielding him for the rest of the season. The striker was sold on a co-ownership deal to CFC Genoa at the end of the season.
At Genoa the career of the player took off. Being the only target man at the club, the striker relished in his role and banged in 19 goals in 35 league appearances. Borriello scored against all the top-ranked teams, particularly his scissor kick goal against
Inter Milan, making highlights. The striker was leading the Capocannonieri charts for much of the season but a dip in form in the second half of the season resulted in Zlatan Ibrahimovic winning the title instead.
As a result of his supreme form, Milan decided to exercise their right of purchase and the striker was back at Milanello. Heartbreak for the striker, as injuries plagued him all season and he could only manage seven league appearances. The following season,
however, he was back with his scoring boots and scored an impressive 14 goals in just 26 Serie A appearances.
His recurring injuries and Milan’s purchase of Zlatan Ibrahimovic meant the striker went down in pecking order at the Rossoneri. Borriello was never one to be happy with a bench role and made his move to AS Roma in the closing stages of this year’s summer
transfer period.
At Roma, the striker is already in the starting line-up. Roma lacked a target man striker since the departure of Argentine great Gabriel Batistuta from the club in 2002 and in Borriello they have found the right man to replace him. Although Borriello is
not half as prolific as the Viola legend, he is 28 and nearing his peak. His best is undoubtedly yet to come.
Borriello has already opened his scoring account this season with a sublime goal against Bologna on the weekend. Borriello has an abundance of creative players surrounding him. David Pizaro, Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi and Mirko Vucinic are all excellent
architects. Compared to his time at AC Milan, Borriello will arguably get better service at Roma. Borriello was often criticized for being too slow off his feet but that had more to do with his physical fitness than his agility.
If Borriello manages to stay fit for the entire 2010/11 season, he has all the talent and skill to top the Capocannonieri charts. His fans should particularly keep an eye out for his trademark bicycle kicks.
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