Talent Scout: Andrea Russotto

August 1st, 2008 by SM Dev (ste)

For those of you who read World Soccer (which is an English language football magazine) then the name Andrea Russotto will be know to you. This is because World Soccer named him in their list of ‘Top 50 of the worlds best players under the age of 21‘ calling him “the nearest thing Italy have to Roberto Baggio”.

Napoli look like they are a club going places under the stewardship of Director General Pierpaolo Marino. The transfer guru is now back at the Southern club for the second time. During his last spell with the Azzurri they won the double (1986–87), securing the Serie A title and lifting the Coppa Italia, and at the same time propelled by adopeted Neapolitan Maradona.

So why am I talking about Marino if this article supposed to be in reference to Andrea Russotto? Well the transfer guru left Udinese (where he helped to work wonders on a very limited budget) to return to Napoli in 2004, and since his return he has helped to transfer their fortunes. The Azzurri were declared bankrupt on his return, and the club was reborn under the name Napoli Soccer and the FIGC placed Napoli in Serie C1. Four years later they finished the end of the 2007–08 season (Napoli’s first season back in Serie A since their relegation in 2001) placed 8th, and in the process securing a place in the Intertoto Cup Third round.

Part of their sucess has been down to Marino and his shrewd signings in the transfer market. Last summer Marino analysed the Azzuri squad, highlighted that the midfield was weak, and signed Slovakian international Marek Hamsik who has been a revelation. Marino then added the little Mighty Mouse dynamo, Walter Gargano, from Uruguay and in attack the Argentine phenom Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marcelo Zalayeta. In the winter transfer window this year he picked up Fabiano Santacroce, Daniele Mannini, and Nicolas Navarro for minimum fees as well.

This summer Marino has signed Russotto for the Azzurri along with Leandro Rinaudo, Christian Maggio, and German Denis for a combined fee of 23.6 million Euro (which when youn consider that Fulham are on the verge of signing Andy Johnson for the same price as all of the aforementioned its not a bad business for Napoli).

It is difficult to argue with the results Marino gets when he goes into the market to acquire players, and that is why you should pay attention to his latest signing in 20-year old Andrea Russotto. Russotto looks set to be another young starlet to add to Napoli’s collection of growing young jewels.

However, the jewel of this summer’s transfers may be playmaker Andrea Russotto. The former Lazio youth product was voted one of the ‘Top 50 of the worlds best players under the age of 21‘ last year by English magazine World Soccer, and his signing by Napoli could be seen in the same light as their signing of Hamsik last summer.

Russotto has played regularly for the Nazionale youth squads working his way up from the U-15’s, and is now set to feature in the Beijing Summer Olympics. Assistant coach Gianfranco Zola says that Russotto has talent to burn, and has admitted he doesn’t even know himself how good he can be.

The playmaker has speed and the vision and technical ability to be a true trequartista in the classic mode, and many people are now comparing him with his idol and Italian football legend, Roberto Baggio:

Just why Lazio let go over the talented playmaker a few years ago still beggars belief, and I am sure they will regret their decision to let him join AC Bellinzona. However, one clubs loss is another clubs gain, and the Azzuri have benefited from this mistake.

Marino had already shown an interest in Russotto last summer, and after his dazzling displays in Serie B with Treviso he made his move for the youngster. The playmaker is currently an 80 rated forward and if he makes the same impact as Marino’s previous signings and shows his true class then there is no reason why he cannot go on to become one of the greats of Italian football.

Please Note: There is no guarantee that the player(s) named within this article will have an increase in rating, as the above information is my opinion, and not that of the SM Researchers. It is also your own responsibility if you decide to take a chance on the information I have provided.

Posted in: Talent Scout, Players

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