Juventus to Unload Atomic Ant
Italian giants Juventus are still building their squad ahead of the start of the Serie A season, and they have decided to unload their highly promising striker Sebastien Giovinco.
After a promising start last year under rookie coach, and former player, Ciro Ferrara, the Turin-based side struggled through a series of key injuries and lost 9 of 12 games. Eventually, interim coach Alberto Zaccheroni was brought in to replace Ferrara, however, the temporary change did not have the desired effect. The team, which had started the year in the Champions League, suffered an embarrassing 4-1 loss to Fulham in the Europa League, and eventually posted their worst season in team history. Finishing in 7th place in the Serie A table, they set new club records for most losses and most goals conceded.
This led to many internal changes this summer, with new coach Gigi Delneri and new director general Beppe Marotta hired from Sampdoria, and players like Fabio Cannavaro and Cristian Molinaro shown the door. By all accounts, the restructuring is not finished, and Marotta has now publicly announced that Giovinco will be moved.
“There are many clubs interested in him and we want to give him the opportunity to mature as a first team player,” he told the Italian press. While there has been transfer talk surrounding Giovinco for much of the summer, this was the first time the team has clearly stated their intentions for the highly touted offensive sparkplug. The comments are expected to kick start a bidding war.
Due to his diminutive stature – he stands only 5 ft 4’ – and his technical skill, Giovinco was nicknamed “The Atomic Ant” and is considered one of the most promising attacking players in world football. Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or a support striker, Giovinco earned praise in various international competitions, representing Italy from the U-16 level up. He also played for his country in the 2008 Toulon Tournament – where he was voted most valuable player – and in the 2008 Olympics.
Despite this success, however, the 23-year-old youth product has struggled to find space at Juventus, making only 19 appearances in all competitions last season, before suffering an injury in April. The lack of playing time has led some in the Italian press to suggest that the former Under-21 star is wasting his career, a sentiment Giovinco himself seems to share.
"If the club do not want me, what would I be staying here for? After two seasons I won't be spending another year languishing on the bench,” he told Turin-based sports paper Tuttosport, adding that he feels the club is to blame. “It would be a failure for the club, who have not believed in me. In the long run I think I will prove them wrong. I am more than convinced they will regret it."
Parma was thought to have had the inside track on the player, offering to take him in a part ownership deal. Since then, however, numerous other teams have been linked to Giovinco, among them Arsenal, Genoa and southern Italian team Bari, who have publicly tried to woo the player.
“The midfielder would suit our style and at the same time Bari would be the right place for him,” manager Giampiero Ventura told Il Corriere dello Sport. “He should understand how much we'd like him here. I'd like to meet him directly to explain our ambitions, our plans, but it's obvious the decision is his.”
The Bianconeri officially started their season yesterday with a 2-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League preliminary stages. Once again, Giovinco was not in the lineup, however, the Atomic Ant may soon get his chance.
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