Fabio Capello stunned the new, 20-team Serie A by ditching Roma for Juventus during the summer of 2004 but the move worked out wonderfully well for the Bianconeri, who got the better of their new coach’s former club, Milan, in an epic title race.
Indeed, the Scudetto was effectively decided by a head-to-head at San Siro with four rounds remaining, when the Old Lady prevailed 1-0 thanks to David Trezeguet. Juve’s triumph, though, owed much to their excellent dealings in the transfer market.
After two dreadful seasons at Inter, Fabio Cannavaro re-established himself as one of the world’s finest defenders alongside the class act of Lilian Thuram. Emerson proved an excellent addition to the midfield, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic top-scored for the Bianconeri after arriving with a big reputation – and an even bigger ego – from Ajax.
Capello played a pivotal role in all three’s seamless integration into the side and it was the coach who was really the star of Juve’s season.
CHANGES
Capello’s decision to abscond to Turin caused uproar in Rome, particularly when he subsequently persuaded Emerson to join him at Juve. Despite their financial problems, the Giallorossi were initially reluctant to sanction the sale of one of their best players to their most hated rivals, but the capital club acquiesced after the midfielder produced a medical certificate claiming he had been left clinically depressed by the impasse.
However, Juve’s best bit of business was convincing Inter to give them Cannavaro in exchange for reserve goalkeeper Fabian Carini, with both players inexplicably valued at €10m.
Inter’s gambles on Juan Sebastian Veron and Edgar Davids didn’t pay off either, but new coach Roberto Mancini’s decision to take Sinisa Mihajlovic with him from Lazio was fully vindicated, while the signing of Esteban Cambiasso on a free transfer from Real Madrid was a masterstroke.
Milan shrewdly took Hernan Crespo on loan from Chelsea but Lyon playmaker Vikash Dhorasoo was…
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Author : editors@footballcritic.com (Martin Macdonald)
Publish date : 2024-07-26 15:00:00
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