If Manchester United are to sign Antoine Griezmann and Andrea Belotti they might have to shell out £170million for both of them.
“Increasingly ridiculous sums are being spent,” Belotti scotched on Italian television last month of his £85m release clause. “The cost of players has gone up far too much.”
The tattoos and celebration are misleading to the casual observer. Belotti is nicknamed il Gallo – the Rooster – because he used to chase after chickens on his aunt’s farm and that cockerel comb celebration is a reminder of his humble origins. The son of a builder, Belotti likes to have feet of clay.
“Don’t worry, mister. There’s no danger of that,” he replied to Torino coach Sinisa Mihajlovic before an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. The intimidating Mihajlovic had warned him: “Don’t let it go to your head.”
After struggling for a formidable figurehead since their 2006 World Cup triumph, Belotti is a throwback to the revered Serie A strikers of the 90s. English viewers’ love affair with what was – despite Sky’s insistence – the best league in the world was sparked by Channel 4’s unfeasibly cool Football Italia, replete with its funky theme and ‘Golazo’ cry. Italy’s 1998 World Cup forwards? Del Piero, Baggio, Inzaghi, Vieri and Chiesa.
Sir Alex Ferguson might have opined Inzaghi was ‘born offside’ but he courted some of his contemporaries in Italy. Ferguson’s attempt to sign Gabriel Batistuta was blocked by chairman Martin Edwards and Ronaldo was monitored before his world record move to Internazionale in 1997. Stamford Bridge became London’s Little Italy when Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola and Pierluigi Casiraghi moved to Chelsea over a two-year period.
Jose Mourinho needs a striker with a hit-rate comparable to Belotti’s: 27 goals in 34 appearances for ninth-placed Torino. United’s squad is in danger of becoming as mentally fragile as Arsenal’s and Mourinho need only point at their chance-conversion rate to justify his intensifying interest in Belotti. Mourinho has instructed Ed Woodward to be prepared to top Paul Pogba’s £89m world record fee, hence why they would not be dissuaded by Belotti’s extravagant buyout clause.
“You have got to create a blood relationship between yourself and the goal,” Belotti evocatively told Corriere della Sera, adding the goalkeeper is ‘an enemy who can ruin this relationship’. United’s blood has run cold.
United should not be dissuaded by Belotti’s valuation ahead of what could be a summer of upheaval for the majority of the Premier League’s top seven clubs as they scour for a new goalscorer to start at the tip of the arrow.
Marcus Rashford has proved to be a commendable replacement over the last few weeks. United cannot rely squarely on the 19-year-old’s burdened shoulders with their attacking ranks set to be further depleted by Wayne Rooney’s anticipated departure.
At City, Gabriel Jesus is in the midst of usurping Sergio Aguero and Arsenal require a No.9 if they are to shake off their also-rans tag. Chelsea upstart Diego Costa is the bull in the China shop window and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is a possible replacement. Liverpool lack a ready-made centre forward. Only Tottenham, with the exceptional Harry Kane up front, are exempt.
Belotti is valued at the same price as Griezmann but his going rate is justified. Gonzalo Higuain cost Juventus £75.3m and continues to be heckled not just for his big-game profligacy but his frame. The former Juve midfielder Robert Prosinecki likened him to a ‘little pig’ and Higuain has scored one goal fewer than Belotti in Serie A.
Release clauses could be a help rather than a hindrance. United’s interest automatically puts a premium on players while Hoffenheim and Aston Villa fabricated links between United and Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke to obtain inflated fees from Liverpool in 2015.
Had United pursued Miralem Pjanic last year Roma would have almost certainly demanded more than the £25.4m they received from Juve. Comparing United’s net spend with Juve’s – skewed by the excessive Higuain fee – is pointless when their stadium is smaller than Sunderland’s.
Serie A is also mainly fashionable with its Armani-suited players. Belotti’s impressive strike ratio – 46 of his 95 attempts have hit the target – is bettered by Edin Dzeko, who is the highest scorer in Italy two seasons after City thought they had flogged Roma a dead horse.
United could get a chicken coming to roost.
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