Chapter 195: New Year, New Outlook
Chapter 195: New Year, New Outlook
Italian media were generally pessimistic about Udinese's recent transfer deal. The 22-year-old Egyptian winger, apart from having a decent performance during his two years at Basel, had been quite disappointing at Chelsea over the past year. A player who couldn't succeed in a top league seemed unnecessary for Udinese to acquire, especially in exchange for one of their main defensive midfielders over the past two years.
Indeed, on paper, Udinese's deal seemed financially sound. After all, Udinese bought Allan for only 3 million euros last summer, whereas Chelsea paid 15 million pounds for Salah, which converts to over 18 million euros. However, everyone knew the circumstances behind Udinese's acquisition of Allan.
Currently, the transfer market values the Brazilian midfielder at 15 million euros, while Salah's market value, after a year of poor performance, is only 10 million euros. European media even priced this transfer at 18 million euros, indicating an 80% premium for Salah and only a 20% increase for Allan.
To the Italian media, this player exchange seemed like a significant loss for Udinese.
However, both players involved were very pleased with the transfer. For Allan, although Udinese was leading Serie A, they were still a small club compared to Chelsea, who were at the top of the Premier League and one of the hottest clubs in the world. This transfer represented a significant step up in status for him.
More importantly, it brought tangible financial benefits. At Udinese, his annual salary was 800,000 euros, a mid-level figure within the team. Moving to Chelsea, his weekly wage was 30,000 pounds, translating to an annual salary of 1.56 million pounds, or nearly 2 million euros, more than doubling his previous income.
For Salah, leaving Chelsea was also a favorable move. He wasn't getting any significant playtime under Mourinho, which nearly guaranteed limited opportunities at Chelsea. Already 22, he couldn't afford to waste more time. Since he couldn't find opportunities at Chelsea, seeking them elsewhere was essential.
Udinese was an attractive option, having won the Europa League last season, currently topping Serie A, and advancing to the Champions League knockout stages. Their performance was not inferior to Chelsea's. Salah also studied Udinese's roster and realized the team lacked strong forwards. Apart from Di Natale, the other forwards were average.
Even though players like Muriel and Théréau had decent statistics, it was largely due to having a midfield genius like Bruno. As last season's Golden Boy award winner, Bruno's playmaking was exceptional. With 41 assists in a calendar year, breaking Messi's record, it was unimaginable that a small club like Udinese had such a player.
Salah was confident that with Bruno's top-notch passing, his stats would surpass those of Muriel and Théréau. So when Udinese showed interest, he agreed without hesitation, even though it meant his income would be halved.
Thus, the deal was completed without any hitches.
Actually, Mourinho's top target at Udinese was Bruno. Since they shared the same agent, Mendes, Mourinho had asked through him if Bruno was interested in joining Chelsea. Bruno rejected the offer outright.
Indeed, his playing style suited Mourinho's counter-attacking tactics at Chelsea. However, Bruno had no interest in joining Chelsea. He also knew Mourinho's tenure at Chelsea wouldn't last long. By the next season, entering his notorious "third year," Mourinho would likely face backlash and eventual dismissal by Abramovich.
Under such circumstances, Bruno wasn't inclined to move to Chelsea. After Bruno's straightforward refusal, Mourinho continued searching for new targets in the transfer market.
Returning to Chelsea for his second stint, Mourinho had a strong performance. After 20 Premier League matches, Chelsea achieved 14 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses, topping the league with 46 points. Interestingly, Chelsea and Manchester City were neck and neck, sharing identical records, goals scored, and goals conceded. Both teams scored 44 goals and conceded 19.
Manchester United, managed by Van Gaal, was third with 37 points, just ahead of the surprising Southampton. The points gap indicated a significant disparity between United and the two blue teams.
On January 6, Udinese faced their first match of the new year at Friuli Stadium against Roma. As a top-tier clash between Serie A's first and third-place teams, this match drew immense attention. Italian media especially focused on Udinese's recent signing.
On the afternoon of January 5, at Udinese's training facility, Guidolin met Salah, who was drenched in sweat after finishing his strength training. Following the agreement between Udinese and Chelsea on January 3, Salah flew to Italy, passed Udinese's medical, and joined the first team for training.
"How do you feel?" Guidolin asked.
"Great, coach. I'm ready to play," Salah responded immediately.
"Good." Guidolin nodded and asked, "You know what the media are saying, right?"
Salah's mood instantly dimmed. "Yes, coach."
"What do you think?" Guidolin asked.
"I'll prove them wrong with my goals. I'll show them Salah can help the team," Salah declared.
Smart and determined, Guidolin appreciated Salah's attitude, knowing he feared losing his trust due to media criticism.
"That's the spirit," Guidolin praised. "Mohamed, you will have a brilliant career. You have talent, and most importantly, you work hard."
"Thank you, coach," Salah replied. "Coach, tomorrow, will I..."
"You won't start," Guidolin said with a smile.
Seeing Salah's disappointment, Guidolin continued, "But I'll bring you on in the second half."
"Okay, coach," Salah said quietly.
Noticing Salah's low spirits, Guidolin smiled, knowing young players needed encouragement to build confidence.
"Do you trust me?" Guidolin asked, looking at Salah.
Salah, confused, nodded. "Yes, they say you have a great eye for talent."
"Then what are you worried about?" Guidolin smiled. "I traded our starting defensive midfielder to Chelsea for you. I have confidence in you."
Hearing this, Salah's mood visibly improved.
"Just be ready for tomorrow. We need your goals," Guidolin said, patting Salah's shoulder.
Imitating the media, Guidolin added, "Hmm, what will they say after the match? 'Young Salah came off the bench and showed everyone he's a great scorer. Coach Guidolin's eye for talent proves true once again.'"
"Heh heh heh." Salah laughed, imagining such a scene with eager anticipation.
"Rest well today and prepare for tomorrow's match," Guidolin instructed.
"Yes, coach," Salah replied happily.
Watching Salah leave, Guidolin's confidence waned. Though he agreed to the trade based on the general manager's insistence and Bruno's persuasion, he was still unsure about Salah's performance.
On January 6, at Friuli Stadium, the atmosphere was electric.
The match had reached the 65th minute, with the score tied at 1-1.
In the first half, Bruno scored a long-range shot to give Udinese the lead, but Roma equalized before halftime. Totti's cross found Astori, whose header hit the crossbar and crossed the line before bouncing out. Despite Udinese's protests, TV replays confirmed the referee's correct decision.
After the break, both teams continued to battle fiercely.
Since entering the new century, Roma had been a significant force in Italian football, particularly impressive over the past two seasons. Last season, they won eight consecutive matches and led the Serie A standings for an extended period. Despite some late-season setbacks, they remained strong contenders for the title, finishing second.
This season, Roma was again a top contender, consistently performing well. By the end of the winter break, Roma had 11 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses from 16 matches, totaling 36 points, placing them third in Serie A, behind Udinese (41 points) and Juventus (37 points).
Such a formidable opponent was the last team Udinese wanted to face. Today, Roma, the visitors at Friuli Stadium, played aggressively, almost dominating as the home team.
(End of Chapter)