Paratici eyes Fagioli as Fiorentina plan for future
Fiorentina sporting director Fabio Paratici has identified Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli as a prime transfer target, praising him as "a Barcelona-level midfielder playing in Italy." Paratici made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview with the Corriere della Sera, discussing the club's present fight for Serie A survival and his long-term vision, which includes the potential signing of the Italian international.
The director, who joined Fiorentina after a long and successful tenure at Juventus, stressed the need for immediate focus on securing the club's top-flight status. He revealed he has told the squad that suffering will be necessary to achieve their league objectives this season. Beyond the current campaign, Paratici outlined his ambition to build a competitive project at the state-of-the-art Viola Park training facility, which he compared favorably to Real Madrid's setup.
Central to those future plans is the potential acquisition of Fagioli. The 24-year-old midfielder, a product of Juventus's academy, has established himself as a key creative force when fit, known for his technical quality and vision from deep-lying positions. His future in Turin has been subject to speculation at various points, and Paratici's public admiration signals a clear intent from Fiorentina. No fee or formal negotiation was discussed, but the comments represent a significant public courting of the player.
Paratici also addressed the situation of striker Moise Kean, expressing hope that the club can retain him despite a significant release clause in his contract. He further advocated for the introduction of an Under-23 team in Serie A, akin to the model he helped develop at Juventus, believing such a side could thrive given Fiorentina's infrastructure.
The interview provided a glimpse into Paratici's past, including his reflections on the Cristiano Ronaldo era at Juventus. He suggested Ronaldo's prolific goal-scoring made life too easy for teammates accustomed to winning, contributing to a decision to change managers in search of a fresh challenge. Paratici also dismissed any lingering tension with former colleague Beppe Marotta, now at Inter Milan, crediting him with professional mentorship and denying his involvement in the collapse of Paratici's near-move to AC Milan in the past.
For Fiorentina, Paratici's blend of survivalist pragmatism and ambitious future planning defines this period. Securing a talent of Fagioli's calibre would be a major coup and a statement of intent for the Viola's project under his direction, though any move would likely depend on multiple factors, including Juventus's willingness to negotiate and Fiorentina's final league position.
