The upcoming returns of Dzeko (39 years outdated) and Ciro Motionless (35 years outdated) to Serie A signify a “second of nostalgia” for Italian soccer, which is now totally different from the years when these gamers had been of their prime.
We check out an inventory of strikers who’ve one factor in widespread: returning to Serie A after the age of 30. Their fortunes after their “return”, nonetheless, are very totally different from one another.
Fernando Llorente
After two seasons at Juventus, Fernando Llorente leaves Serie A to hitch Sevilla after which spends 4 years in England: Swansea and Tottenham, levels that anticipate his return to Italy.
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Llorente joins Napoli at 34 years outdated in 2019, then in 2021 he strikes to Udinese: an unfortunate return through which he scores 4 targets over the course of three years.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic leaves Milan at 30 years outdated and stays out of Italy for 7 seasons: PSG, Manchester United, after which LA Galaxy earlier than returning to Milan on the age of 38 (virtually 39 years outdated).
His return is triumphant: a Scudetto received with Milan, to which he provides a aim common of 1 aim each two video games.
Luca Toni
Luca Toni “returned” twice to Serie A: first from Bayern Munich after which from Al Nasr in Dubai, however now we’re solely inspecting the final a part of his profession.
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After spending a season within the United Arab Emirates, he chooses to return to Fiorentina at 35 years outdated, with whom he has season, however he provides his greatest with Hellas Verona: 3 seasons, 45 targets, and in addition the title of prime scorer at 38 years outdated in 2015.
Mario Mandzukic
After arriving in Italy at Juventus at 29 years outdated and successful 4 Scudetti, Mandzukic leaves Serie A for just one 12 months, making a cease at Al-Duhail in Qatar.
In Italy, he’s recalled by Milan after 6 months of inactivity in January 2019: with the Rossoneri, he makes 10 appearances and scores 0 targets, the final unfruitful chapter of a profession wealthy in successes.
Gianfranco Zola
At 29 years outdated, Gianfranco Zola says goodbye to Parma and indicators with Chelsea: 6 seasons, over 200 appearances, and a legendary standing earned. His return is particular: even in Serie B with Cagliari.
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At 37 years outdated, he’s decisive in Cagliari’s promotion to Serie A, additionally enjoying a final season with 9 targets in 31 appearances within the prime Italian division in 2004/05.
Giuseppe Rossi
Giuseppe Rossi additionally made two returns to Italy over the age of 30: in 2017 he joins Genoa after a mortgage spell at Celta Vigo, however the later return is to Spal.
Pepito Rossi stays stationary from 2018 to 2020 earlier than signing with Salt Lake Metropolis, with whom he performs just one season. His come-back materializes at Spal in November 2021, as a free agent at 34 years outdated: the primary season isn’t unhealthy, however the contract isn’t renewed, the membership reconsiders and extends the settlement for one more season, which is disappointing.
Sebastian Giovinco
Giovinco stays out of Italy for 7 years: from 2015 to 2022, a interval through which he performs for Toronto (4 seasons) and Al-Hilal (2 seasons). He stays a free agent in 2021 however in February 2022, he’s employed by Sampdoria at 35 years outdated.
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The “formica atomica” performs solely two video games in Serie A for a complete of 37 minutes, then an harm makes him slide additional and additional again within the hierarchy. His profession ends with this expertise.
Marco Simone
Two returns of the center are these of Marco Simone: after 8 seasons and over 150 appearances with Milan, he decides to spend his soccer maturity in France with PSG and Monaco. At 32 years outdated, he returns on mortgage to Milan however with little success.
The second return is probably the most particular: in 2005, at 36 years outdated, he leaves Good to return to Legnano in Serie C2, a crew he had performed for at a youth degree and by no means within the first crew. In that final expertise, he performs 11 video games and scores a aim.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
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