Calcio Debate: Diego To Juventus – Top Or Flop?

Werder Bremen star Diego has all but signed for Juventus, according to his representative. Carlo Garganese asks whether this is a good or bad move for the Bianconeri…

May 13, 2009 1:30:29 PM

More On :  Juventus, Werder Bremen, Diego Ribas
Diego Ribas in action for Werder Bremen

The official confirmation may not yet have arrived, and when Alessio Secco is in town you should never count your chickens, but it nevertheless seems highly likely that the Diego-Juventus transfer saga, which has lingered on for the best part of two years, is finally coming to an end. The Werder Bremen playmaker’s representative Giacomo Petralito confirmed yesterday to Kicker that “the three parties involved have already put signatures on the contracts.”
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News of the transfer has been welcomed by the majority of Juventus tifosi, who have been praying for a big name midfielder ever since they returned to Serie A from their Calciopoli-imposed relegation. But is the Brazilian the man who will bring back the glory days to Turin?

The first thing to say about Diego is that in order for him to succeed, the environment and settings around him must be perfect. The 24-year-old cannot play in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. In either of these systems, he will be an almighty flop. Therefore, we can immediately deduce that Claudio Ranieri, who cannot flex to anything other than a 4-4-2, and has a dicey track record with fantasistas like Sebastian Giovinco, is not the right coach for Diego. The same can perhaps be said for touted Ranieri replacements Cesare Prandelli and Gian Piero Gasperini, who employ fast-paced 4-3-3 formations at Fiorentina and Genoa, respectively. Logically, this means Roma’s Luciano Spalletti, who has worked with ‘lazy’ players like Francesco Totti, Mirko Vucinic and Jeremy Menez, is the tactician to get the best out of Diego (although we must not discount youthful, unknown bandieras like Antonio Conte and Ciro Ferrara).

Diego must play in a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-2-3-1. Many experts argue that the team needs to be built around Diego for him to shine but, while this is true to an extent, the most important thing is that the ex-Santos man is in a team that plays a continental, passing game, and not direct, long balls. There is no denying that Diego always demands the ball, and likes to dictate the tempo, but there is no reason why he cannot co-exist with a Giovinco. The Samba star must be a key player though, and not just ‘one of the team’. He must be given creative licence, and not be expected to track back and fit into a rigid tactical system. Hence, another reason why Ranieri is the wrong man, and Spalletti possibly the right one.

The style and slow tempo of Serie A should suit Diego down to the ground. He is by no means a lightning-paced player, but he does have explosive moments of speed and skill. His slow, slow, fast approach is tailor-made for the peninsula. One criticism though is that he can drift out of games, which could pose a problem in away matches. Although, this has often been the case when Werder Bremen have been on the backfoot against stronger opponents. If Diego is in a Juventus team controlling the rhythm and dominating possession, he will be fine.

The imminent transfer of Diego is certainly a statement of intent from the much-maligned Juventus board, whose transfer history since 2006 has been nothing short of disastrous. The Old Lady has been crying out for a creative midfielder, and it seems she finally has one again. But, as the last man to lift the Champions League for Juve in 1996, Gianluca Vialli, remarked on Monday, “Diego is a great coup, but he alone will not be enough. In order to get back to being a great side, Juve have to think about strengthening other departments.”

Of course, Vialli was referring to the defence. The full-backs are simply not good enough, although Fabio Cannavaro will add steel and experience to the centre. If Cristian Molinaro, Zdenek Grygera and Olof Mellberg are still regular starters next season, then Juventus will win nothing. At least one top class terzino is required.

Diego is by no means a guaranteed hit in Italy, but if Juventus play to his strengths and employ the correct formation and tactical settings, they have a wonderfully-gifted player on their hands. Attacking midfielders are a strange phenomenon in Italy. For every legendary foreigner that has arrived, there has also been an utter disaster. Juventus will be hoping that Diego proves to be a Michel Platini or Zinedine Zidane, and not a Gaizka Mendieta or Ricardo Quaresma.

What are your views on Diego's proposed move to Juventus? Will he be a top or flop? Will the Brazilian take Juventus back to the top? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
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