Fiorentina file: Fiorentina 0 Genoa 0
The high hopes of new owner US media billionaire Rocco Commisso are dissipating. We are still mid-table and the only real evidence of his financial backing is we still have Federico Chiesa.
Over the last few years there has been a revolving door of talented players from Florence like Alonso and Mo Salah to Chelsea and Bernadeschi to Juve. Chiesa might finish up in the end with la veccchia signora for £80m euros.
Commisso paid £170m for Fiorentina. Italian clubs come cheaper than Premier ones but as a media mogul he will note broadcasting revenues are £2b less than the Premiership.
Factor in old stadia; a reputation for dull football; falling behind Spanish, German and English clubs in the Champions League; and a powerful group of ultras who will not take kindly to being banned from singing homophobic chants and the investment looks less optimistic. Fiorentina have tradition but in recent years have achieved very little.
Commisso follows in the American footsteps of Henry’s Fenway group at Liverpool, the Glazers at Manchester United, and Elliott Management at AC Milan.
Not to mention Shahid Khan at Fulham. He was captain of Columbia University’s football team so must have some knowledge of playing the game.
Here is link to article about Commisso in Bloomberg – ROCCO COMMISSO
Yesterday Fiorentina owed their point to keeper Bartomelj Dragowski. He saved a penalty and pulled off some wonderful saves.
One concern was an attack of dizziness in young prospect Casrtovili who has already played for the Azzurri. He came off.
My dad remembered a game against in Genoa in 1982 when Giancarlo Antognoni fractured a temple and had to have mouth to mouth resuscitation on the pitch.
In serie a Inter have revived under Antonio Conte. If they buy Christian Eriksen they will have 3 ex-Premier players with Romulu Lukako and Alex Sanchez.
It’s very much a Juve and Inter challenge for the scudettto with no sign of Fiorentina.
