In 2022, the Argentine said ‘no’ to Mancini, who wanted to bring him into the national team. Now he is leaving Bournemouth on a free transfer and represents an opportunity for the Bianconeri that should not be missed

May 2022, Roberto Mancini calls: through one of his collaborators, the Italian national team coach expresses his desire to welcome him to the Azzurri. The player takes just a few hours to think about it, but in reality he has already made up his mind and does not change his position: “No, thank you, I don’t feel Italian.” However… Marcos Senesi has always looked at Italy and Serie A with a special eye, with the hope mixed with the conviction that he would end up there sooner or later. And that moment may have arrived at a turning point: there is growing pressure from Juventus on the Bournemouth defender, whose contract expires in June, as they have identified him as the main reinforcement for their defense to be finalized next summer.

A lot has changed since that spring four years ago. Starting with the player’s value, who at that time had been awarded best defender in the Dutch league, the Eredivisie, at the end of a successful spell with Feyenoord. In recent years, Senesi has also proven himself in the Premier League, albeit not at the top club level, and has since made his debut for the Argentine national team. He is now considered one of the talents close to reaching the footballing maturity necessary to emerge at European level: the opportunity for Juve is also linked to his Italian passport, but above all to his characteristics, as the club is looking for a left-footed center back.

CHARACTERISTICS—  Before devoting himself entirely to soccer and exploding onto the scene at San Lorenzo in Argentina, Marcos Senesi developed his physical structure by playing rugby and basketball. The 185-centimeter-tall center back has perfected his technique, growing significantly in his ability to build from the back and set up plays, acting almost as an additional playmaker. He excels in the air, of course, but also in man-marking with timely and fairly clean tackles. A player like Senesi can also influence the rest of the market: with him dictating the tempo from the back, there may be less need for a playmaker in midfield, leaving more room for physicality in the middle of the park.