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| Wednesday 4 June, 2008 |
| Blog: Taveller's Tale |
| Francesco Tavano looks to be moving again this summer, but is Fiorentina the right destination? Steve Wilson thinks there is a better Tuscan option |
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The more I think about it, the more I feel Francesco Tavano should complete his Tuscan odyssey by joining Siena this summer. Relegated with Livorno, the former Empoli sensation - who began his career with Fiorentina's youth team - would thrive as the big fish in the Robur pond, if they could afford to offer him a competitive wage.
His spell at the Armando Picchi is certainly over, despite the four-year deal he inked last summer. Any player with Champions League football and Azzurri aspirations noted on the most recent pages of his CV cannot settle for life in Serie B. This is no honourable salvation mission, like Juventus could offer her stars in 2006-07 - this is incarceration in Aldo Spinelli's mad house.
The rumour mill has churned out talk of a move back to Fiorentina, the club who spat him out as a 20-year-old, and it is a switch that appeals to Ciccio-gol. “My future depends on Livorno, but obviously I welcome the interest of a great club like the Viola,” explained the Caserta native. While agent Alessandro Moggi added: “He would certainly be pleased by interest from Fiorentina, but we haven't been contacted by them yet. There are other clubs that have requested him, but first we must talk with Livorno.”
However, the No 10 is no longer the exciting young prospect he once was. When he left Empoli in 2006 he appeared to be on the radar of all Serie A's top outfits, but instead he chose to head for La Liga and Valencia. When his Spanish adventure turned sour he got his chance at Roma, but two goals in 14 games was not enough to convince Luciano Spalletti. A good half season with Livorno this term faded away after Christmas and it is now a jaded and devalued Tavano on offer.
It seems though that the Viola may be willing to offer him the opportunity to rebuild his ambitions. But while no player would turn down the chance of top level European football at a club on the cusp of the Scudetto race I wonder if, for the long term, it is the best move.
Of course, he may thrive and play the best football of his career under Cesare Prandelli - he wouldn't be the first. But the Florence side have just signed Alberto Gilardino, another player seeking rebirth, and Montenigran youngster Stevan Jovetic, while they already have Adrian Mutu, Giampaolo Pazzini and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo on their attacking roster.
From the club's point of view it would be a prudent move, adding depth to their squad options - but is that really what he wants at this stage in his career? Siena are considering a move for Bernardo Corradi, but the 29-year-old Tavano would surely be a better option, even perhaps matching the impact that Enrico Chiesa has had with the Bianconeri.
They already have an accomplished strike partner for him in Massimo Maccarone and a nice line in talented, creative young midfielders to feed the duo their chances. It would be a big, and brave, decision for him to accept a switch to the one Tuscan contender that he hasn't represented, but surely, at his age, being a Siena idol would be a better choice than being a Viola bench-warmer?
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