Whilst loyalty for the club’s colors should be an appreciated trait in this day and age, sometimes a player needs to take a more selfish approach in order to further advance in his career. Therefore, we made-up a list of five Serie A players who need to seal moves for better clubs in the upcoming summer transfer market, otherwise, they risk becoming after-thoughts.
Andrea Belotti (Torino)
The Italian international has been at Torino since completing his transfer from Palermo in 2015. Il Gallo has become the captain, talisman and main inspiration source for the Granata.
However, at 27 years of age, Belotti must no longer waste his time in a side that more likely than not lies in the bottom half of the table.
(?) Roma and Milan are fighting for Torino captain and Italy international Andrea Belotti’s ?? signature. [@CorSport] #Roma #Milan pic.twitter.com/ez4jpaCIuy
— RouteOneFootball (@Route1futbol) April 7, 2021
Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
Yet another Azzurri star who seemingly can’t escape his mid-table club. It was more than seven years ago when a teenager from Sassuolo punished Milan with his super hat-trick, but one can hardly believe that this young man could still be found at the Mapei stadium after all those years.
Berardi is currently enjoying the best football of his career, playing a vital part in the Neroverdi’s successful Serie A campaign, as well as breaking through the first lineup of the national team.
Time to move on for bigger things, Mimmo.
#Sassuolo have never lost to #Benevento in their #SerieATIM encounters (W2 D1). The last time they met at the Mapei Stadium, the host emerged 1-0 victory thanks to a penalty from Domenico #Berardi despite being one-man down since the early 2nd half.#BeneventoSassuolo #Football pic.twitter.com/fAbzxitXZ1
— The Counter Attack (@TheCounterAtta3) April 10, 2021
Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese)
This season, the Argentine playmaker is currently Udinese’s leading goal-scorer, as well as their best assist provider, and simply put, the whole darn show at the Dacia Arena.
While writing the last line, one can’t help but feel some sympathy towards the Zebrette, as having to do without De Paul must be a terrifying prospect for Luca Gotti and his men.
Nonetheless, keeping the midfielder’s mercurial talent locked in Udine for a longer period would be a much bigger tragedy – especially with the likes of Inter, Juventus and Liverpool all reportedly interested in his services.
? | Rodrigo De Paul is ready to leave Udinese this summer.
[Mundo Deportivo] pic.twitter.com/iEE5MmrJk1
— The Anfield Buzz (@TheAnfieldBuzz) April 10, 2021
Sergey Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
Even though the Serbian represents a relatively big club compared to the other names on the list, playing for Lazio pales in front of the midfielder’s list of suitors, which includes the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Whilst the sky is the limit for Sergey’s potential, but he first needs to convince club president Claudio Lotito to sanction his sale to one of Europe’s elite clubs in order to fulfill his destiny.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the Serie A this season:
? 26 games
⚽️ 7 goals
?️ 9 assistsBest midfielder in Italy. pic.twitter.com/6zzMVBdfPV
— Serbian Football (@SerbianFooty) April 11, 2021
Simy (Crotone)
Perhaps the least famous name on the list, the Nigerian has been a loyal servant for Crotone since 2016, accompanying the Calabrian side through its journey between Serie A and Serie B.
The 28-year-old is on a brilliant form which saw him reach the 4th place in the league’s Top-scorers charts with 16 goals, and it would be a shame to see him return to the second division following his team’s expected relegation by the end of the season.
Surely a top-flight club would do with a striker of his caliber.
16 – Only Yakubu with Blackburn Rovers in 2011/12 (17 goals) has scored more goals than #Simy in Serie A this season (16) among Nigerian players in a single top-5 European League campaign in 2000s. Eagle.#SpeziaCrotone pic.twitter.com/e8zQSqpHlF
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) April 10, 2021