After a transfer window of much change and upheaval at i Granata, the potential for a breakout season is on the cards.
At the transfer window’s close, Torino announced the signing of English goalkeeper Joe Hart on a one-year loan deal from Manchester City. In hindsight, that is an incredible transfer for a club that has always been in the consistent shadow of city rivals Juventus.
As their noisy neighbours continue to augment their playing stocks with the arrivals of players such as Gonzalo Higuain, Axel Witsel, Juan Cuadrado and Dani Alves, the need for some spirited competition among Italy’s best is desperately needed.
POPULAR ARTICLES
Hernan Crespo: Higuain is worth more than Pogba
Abou Diaby speaks out about torrid injury run
Ronaldinho re-signs for Barcelona in special role
With Napoli and Roma the two sides to show signals of an attack on the Old Lady, the question remains as to who else can challenge. There is Inter, who worked their way through a huge transfer market in terms of attacking talent but left themselves open defensively.
Meanwhile, AC Milan and Fiorentina continue to lack inspiration heading into a new season of prosperity as Sassuolo continue to surprise. If Torino are to follow anyone’s footsteps, it would be Sassuolo’s, who qualified for the Europa League for the upcoming campaign.
Torino began their transfer window by appointing former Milan manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, who has taken over from now national team boss Giampiero Ventura. After losing central-defender Kamil Glik to Monaco and Bruno Peres to AS Roma, the Serbian looked to bolster his squad across the pitch.
Leandro Castan and Lorenzo Di Silvestri were first through the door and were soon followed by Adem Ljajic and Iago Falque. It was then that signing Joe Hart was the final piece in the puzzle. He replaced Daniele Padelli – an admirable performer but replaced by one of the best glovemen in Europe.
Even before the transfer window, Torino already boasted considerable quality with Andrea Belotti, Daniele Baselli, Marco Benassi and Davide Zappacosta all coming into calculations for the Italian squad. Twenty-two-year-old Belotti has already scored four goals this season and looks set for a breakout season.
After a defeat against Milan on the opening day, a 5-1 win over Bologna stamped Torino’s authority on the league. A commanding performance from the Maroons showed off their style of tenacious football, which has won plenty of admirers around Italy.
It was not long ago that Ventura’s side, led by Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile, sent Torino to Europe and this side is following a similar blueprint.
The only negative was Torino’s inability to keep hold of Serbian defender Nikola Maksimovic, who has headed to Napoli on loan for the season, and more than likely beyond. The 24-year-old was a constant at the back and garnered significant interest from around the continent, with i Partenopei winning the race for his signature.
Along with Gilk’s departure, that does leave them somewhat weaker in defence, which Carlos Bacca exploited on matchday one in Milan’s 3-2 win over il Toro.
But with Hart in goals and Castan to step in, the opportunities at Torino for a successful season are greater than ever.
Torino have the capabilities to compete with the best this season. Sassuolo’s successes must provide enough inspiration for Torino to pull through and potentially steal a place in Europe.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
