1. Frank Ribery
Probably one of the biggest surprises this summer is Ribery’s free agent move to Italy. The winger who has been capped 81 times by France having represented them in four major tournaments, will bring a wealth of experience at the top level to head coach Vincenzo Montella’s squad.
For all those with at least a passing interest in Serie A football, the acquisition of Franck Ribery by Fiorentina is enough to raise at least a few eyebrows. Yet for the supporters in the Tuscan city, this deal represents much, much more. It has been a long time since Fiorentina fans have celebrated the signing of a big name from a top European club, perhaps even since Stefan Effenberg joined the side from Bayern Munich back in 1992.
Even at 36, Ribery remains the signing that will truly mark a shift in approach for Fiorentina. Here is a world-famous player, winner of the Champions League, with numerous Bundesliga titles to his name and named in 3rd place in the Ballon d’Or voting in 2013. This capture marks the start of a new era for Fiorentina, one that will see the investment in the squad rise exponentially as the team’s results improve.
