Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio’s summer spending spree continued yesterday with the capture of Emanuele Giaccherini from Italian champions Juventus. The 28-year-old arrives on Wearside in a four-year deal reported to be in the region of £6.5m and is the ninth new player to sign up at the Stadium of Light over the close season as Di Canio attempts to improve upon last term’s seventeenth place finish:
Upon completion of the deal, the new boy admitted to the Italian media that next year’s World Cup in Brazil played a key part in the move, as he looks to nail down a regular role on Wearside:
“I am full of enthusiasm and want to do good things as part of this adventure. I want to thank [Juventus] coach Antonio Conte. In the last two years he has given me the possibility to shine and make a name for myself here. A big part of my success is down to him. I thank him for that and will do so personally in the next few days. I have got into the national team now and I want to stay there. I will do everything for that. I hope this new adventure can push me to the World Cup. I will do my best playing in the English championship, which is the best in the world. Yesterday I spoke with Paolo Di Canio. For me, due to the fact that I don’t know the language, he will be a fundamental reference point, especially on the field.”
The History
Giaccherini’s career began in the 2003-04 campaign, where he notched 15 times for Cesena’s youth team. Over the next four seasons he was farmed out on loan to lower tier clubs Forli, Bellaria Igea and Pavia but his development seemed to stall, with just 13 goals scored over 87 matches for the three sides. Returning to his parent club in time for the 2008-09 season, Giaccherini helped Cesena rise through the divisions and eventually settle in Serie A, with 20 goals and four assists over 97 appearances.
His displays subsequently saw Juventus come calling in August 2011. Over his two seasons with the “Old Lady”, Giaccherini featured 40 times (with 21 of those appearances arriving off the bench) and produced four goals and six assists as the club won back-to-back league titles. He’s also featured 14 times for the Italian national side, scoring twice and providing a trio of assists.
The Prospects
A versatile campaigner, Giaccherini offers options on both wings in addition to through the middle. While the former Juventus man is more than capable of flourishing in “the hole”, Di Canio’s acquisition of Jozy Altidore suggests the Black Cats boss is looking to field a front two, with the US international expected to partner Steven Fletcher up top for Sunderland next season.
Standing just five foot five, Giaccherini is an archetypal wideman, with his trickery and directness in possession likely to torment many a full-back in the season ahead. Furthermore, he will bring a much-needed creativity to the Black Cats’ ranks – statistics show he provided a “key pass” at a rate superior to any Juventus team mate last term.
Certainly, regular game time seems secure for the new boy. Di Canio looked unconvinced by James McClean as a first-team option, with Giaccherini perhaps set to be handed the role on the Sunderland left, with either Adam Johnson or Stephane Sessegnon selected on the opposite flank. Yet to be added to any of the Fantasy games, a price of 7.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) looks on the cards, mirroring the cost of both Johnson and Sessegnon.
While there’s no doubt Giaccherini’s transfer is something of a coup for the Wearsiders, the initial schedule is likely to be enough of a deterrent to prevent any real bandwagon picking up in pace. Granted, an opening day home clash with Fulham, allied with a Gameweek 3 trip to Palace, has the potential for points but beyond that, a run of games which pits the Black Cats against Arsenal, Liverpool, United, City, Chelsea and Spurs in six of seven home fixtures between Gameweeks 4 and 15 is likely to dissuade even the most optimistic of Black Cats fan from investing from the off, allowing the little Italian time to settle before we consider splashing out on his services.
Further Reference
Emanuele Giaccherini Wikipedia
