Summer signings add extra Argentine influence in Derby d’Italia

The influence of South America on Italian football has been vast over the years, and comes to the fore once more as we prepare for the first edition of the Derby d’Italia in 2016/17.

Indeed Juventus and particularly Inter are among the sides to have been graced by some of Serie A’s finest imports from the continent. While the most famous to pitch up and leave a permanent mark in Italy’s top-flight was Diego Maradona, he is just one of a number of Argentine’s to really establish himself in Serie A’s hall of fame.

Elsewhere in Italy Gabriel Batistuta became an iconic player for both Fiorentina and Roma and his nickname Batigol is the influence behind new Inter signing Gabriel Barbosa’s ‘Gabigol’ billing. The Nerazzurri are hoping he can have even half the impact of fellow Brazilian Ronaldo, but they have seen a greater tradition of Argentinean authority at San Siro down the years.

From Crespo to the legendary Javier Zanetti in recent times and back to Antonio Angelillo, Inter’s history owes much to some of Argentina’s finest. Meanwhile, at the same time Angelillo was shining in Milan, The Old Lady won three Scudetti in four seasons from 1958-1961, owing no small amount of thanks to Omar Sivori. The pair made up two thirds of the trio - along with Humberto Maschio - named in the Italian media as ‘The Angels with Dirty Faces’ to arrive in Serie A in 1957.

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It was Sivori who held the bragging rights back then and Juventus’ Argentine contingent is again tipped to get the better of Inter’s almost 60 years on.

Indeed, Gonzalo Higuain’s switch from Napoli to the J-Stadium has left the champions five years running in a seemingly untouchable position. The 28-year old broke the Serie A goalscoring record with 36 last season - a chart in which the aforementioned Angelillo of Inter now ranks third (33) - adding further clout to a side that scored 75 goals last season.

That tally, however, was only enough to rank third in Serie A last time around, so Allegri’s desire to add firepower whilst simultaneously blunting the attack of his closest challenger was understandable. Higuain has joined fellow countryman Paulo Dybala in Juve’s ranks after the youngster became an instant hit following his move from Palermo last summer. With the two ranking second and third in WhoScored.com’s Serie A ratings last season, with scores of 7.74 and 7.71 respectively - while another new arrival in Miralem Pjanic ranked fifth - it’s clear that The Old Lady are monopolising the league.

Given that both forwards were joined in the top ten performers to make 20 or more appearances last season by a further four Argentine-born players, the country’s stronghold over Serie A is even more apparent - only one Italian (Giacomo Bonaventura) placed by comparison. Considerably further down the leaderboard from last season, there is another hitman that will hope to upset the apple cart this Sunday.

While speculation regarding his future at the club persisted over the summer, not least due to the exploits of wife and agent Wanda Nara - Mauro Icardi’s commitment to Inter remains strong. He is already captain of this side, following in the footsteps of compatriot Zanetti, and if the start to this season is anything to go by the striker could be in for his finest to date, having already notched his 50th Serie A goal for the Nerazzurri last time out in just his 94th appearance.

He may not possess the technical quality of Dybala or boast the same remarkable figures as Higuain, but Icardi’s unerring finishing is something that Juventus are aware of more than most. The 23-year old striker is off and running with 3 goals already this season - matching Higuain’s haul and bettering Dybala, who is yet to get off the mark - and has history against the Old Lady.

Icardi has scored 6 times against Juventus in his short career - against no other side has he netted more - though he’s still waiting for his first Derby d’Italia win having scored in both matches as former club Sampdoria recorded a memorable double over the Bianconeri back in 2012/13.

The concern for Frank De Boer is that his side relies too heavily on Icardi’s clinical finishing. His three goals, after all, are all that Inter have scored in the league thus far, and while the Dutchman has enviable depth throughout his squad, no player has proven capable of steering the club to victories quite like the captain.

After a summer of considerable upheaval, however, it will take time for this Inter side to settle, showing signs of doing just that to record their first win of the season over Pescara last weekend. Joao Mario enjoyed a solid debut after his big money arrival from Sporting, but it’s Ever Banega - signed on a free from Sevilla - that has really hit the ground running.

Yet another Argentina international brought into the league, the midfielder offers Inter the guile they lacked in midfield last season, with destructive middle men Kondogbia, Medel and Melo unable to forge that link with the attack. He already has an assist to Icardi to his name, while a total of 12 key passes in three matches is second only to Mo Salah in Serie A at this early stage, earning the 28-year old a team-high rating of 7.65.

It’s clear, then, that while Juventus’ all-Italian rearguard always has its say in matches such as this, the growing Argentine influence on Sunday will be pivotal to the outcome. Indeed, the Derby d’Italia hardly seems a justified title this time around!

Who will win out when Inter host Juventus on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below