Dessena and Cigarini, the ones everyone wants

By: Francesco | November 18th, 2007

It seems that for the past few days the only time you see news about Parma it’s a rumor about these two going to a big club, or our sporting director Giovanni Bia (decent defender, used to play for Bologna in the mid-90’s when Baggio, Signori, Ingesson, Andersson, Marocchi, etc all played for the rossoblu’) tells the media that our two young starlets are not going anywhere (until June). More on this after il gran salto (the jump)

Daniele Dessena has been with Parma since he was still in love with the Power Rangers, and is a midfielder. He is a mainstay in Casiraghi’s U21 side and considered one of the best talents in the peninsula, and has been linked to all the big teams (Juventus, Inter, Milan, Fiorentina, but not Roma, which is surprising because I think he would fit very well there next to De Rossi). He is a complete midfielder who can defend, attack, tackle, score, pass, in summation he does everything well. Think of him as a poor man’s Steven Gerrard of sorts, or a Simone Perrotta who can finish.

Luca Cigarini is also a product of the Parma youth system and is another mainstay in Casiraghi’s U21 midfield. He is most comfortable in front of the defense, and his strong point is his passing ability, although he has a good shot and is also very technical and knows how to beat defenders with ease. (cough Next Andrea Pirlo cough). In all seriousness, he does get a lot of comparisons to Andrea Pirlo, and he may very well be his heir for the National Team and maybe Milan if they decide to finally buy an Italian youngster. He reminds me of Barcelona’s Xavi as well. All the big clubs (same ones linked to Dessena), want him as well.

Although these two are very important to the future of Parma, I find it very hard to believe that these two will be on the Gialloblu’ roster come next season. I think this summer both of them will be gone, at the most they only have one season left at Parma before they make the big jump. They could very well end up at Juventus, as Claudio Ranieri had his eye on Cigarini and Dessena while he coached them last season. There have also been rumors that Inter may make a bid so that they can “Italianize” their roster, but I don’t see it happening. Fiorentina could be an interesting solution and form a “Future Azzurri” midfield of Montolivo-Cigarini-Dessena. Milan is also an option but with their transfer policy they’ll be there after their 30th birthday.

Anyway, keep your eye on these two, because if the do become stars (I’m pretty sure of it), you heard it here first.