Gonzalo Higuain (left) joined Napoli from Spanish side Real Madrid last month. - AFP
MILAN: Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Gomez have given some lustre back to Italy’s Serie A ahead of the new season after joining Juventus, Napoli and Fiorentina respectively.
Argentine international striker Tevez joined the defending champions from Manchester City in June and, along with Spain international Fernando Llorente, should give Juve the extra edge as they aim for a rare third consecutive scudetto as well as Champions League glory.
It is a deal which should suit both parties.
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where both the hosts and Argentina will be expected to shine, Tevez has one eye on snatching a place in Alejandro Sabella’s side.
Juve are desperate to boost their chances of advancing to the final stages of the Champions League following a 4-0 aggregate humbling by eventual champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the competition earlier this year.
Conte is hoping Tevez, who scored 73 goals in 148 appearances during a torrid spell with City, will prove a useful addition to his already impressive squad.
“He’s a true professional, a good person, and is willing to work,” said Conte, who also secured up and coming defender Angelo Ogbonna from city rivals Torino.
Whether the capture of Tevez and Llorente are enough to take Juve further in a competition they last won in 1996 remains to be seen.
While Llorente is already on the sidelines having struggled to adapt to Conte’s rigid tactical system ahead of their season opener at Sampdoria on Saturday, Tevez opened his account with a goal in a 4-0 Italian Super Cup rout of Lazio last Sunday.
Napoli, meanwhile, could have have their work cut in the Champions League this season having sold Uruguayan international striker Edinson Cavani to big-spending Paris Saint Germain for a Ligue 1 record 64 million euros (around RM284mil).
Cavani topped the Serie A scoring charts last season with 29 goals. But while replacement Higuain has a commendable record of 107 league goals for Real Madrid, his record in Europe leaves a lot to be desired.
The Argentine international, who scored once in a 2-1 friendly win over Italy last week, scored just eight goals in 48 Champions League appearances with Real and none of those came against big-name opposition.
Fiorentina pulled off a major coup by capturing Germany striker Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich.
Under Vincenzo Montella, Fiorentina finished fourth last year and, having also signed Slovenian forward Josep Ilicic from relegated Palermo on a five-year deal worth 9m euros (around RM40mil), are hoping to launch a more sustained challenge both at home and in the Europa League. - AFP
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