Why the Bianconeri were wise not to sign Giuseppe Rossi

When news broke last week of Juventus’ reported interest in Giuseppe Rossi, it brought a lot of excitement to a fanbase desperate for an upgrade at the striker position. The American-born Italian was valued at over €25 million just two years ago, but multiple injuries and the relegation of Villarreal from the Spanish La Liga had seen his stock drop considerably.

It’s only understandable those same fans got very upset upon hearing the news that Rossi had decided to join rivals Fiorentina, per Goal.com. With the Bianconeri reluctant to take on Rossi immediately and only proposing a loan-deal, the Viola pounced and offered Villarreal a deal that could be worth up to €12 million.

Juventus are in desperate need of a class striker- that’s not exactly a big secret. But by not engaging Fiorentina in a bidding war for Rossi’s services, the Bianconeri made the smart move.

For a player that has had trouble staying healthy over the last few seasons, €12 Million is a lot of money to drop on a hope of fitness. Not only does Rossi represent a serious injury risk, there is no telling how he’ll recover from his current knee injury.

Rossi was a very talented player, and there’s no doubting that when he returns to form, he’ll still be able to play at a high level. But to think he’ll still have the same athletic abilities as pre-injury is very much wishful thinking.

We’ve seen top strikers return from horrifying knee injuries and still be able to produce, but the bulk of these players had to alter their playing style considerably. Ronaldo is one that comes to mind.

No longer able to rely on his superior athletic ability, the Brazilian all-time great became a world class poacher that relied on his positioning and vision rather than his speed and explosiveness.

Rossi has a solid track record when it comes to scoring goals, but he was never a volume scorer. He lacks the bulk and height to be a force in the box and one has to question what a potential loss of his quickness will do to his game.

He could turn out to be a great striker, in which case Fiorentina came away with a bargain. But the risk was far too great for Juventus to try and out-bid the Viola.

Beppe Marotta and Antonio Conte are better served to look elsewhere in an attempt to solve their problems up front. Despite the lack of a world class goalscorer, Juventus are enjoying another highly successful season in the Serie A and qualified as group winners for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

There is no point in making a worthwhile investment in a striker if the team isn’t confident said player will undoubtedly be able to make the team better. You don’t mess with a team’s chemistry or system unless the opportunity presented is too great, and in today’s economic climate, teams like Juventus shouldn’t overspend on damaged goods.

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