Alberto Aquilani has finally bid farewell to his disastrous tenure at Liverpool, with the Italian midfielder moving to Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
Signed by the Reds in 2009 for a whopping £17 million as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, Aquilani did little to justify his price tag, and due to issues of form and fitness, struggled to make any sort of impact at Anfield.
Unexpectedly, he was sent out on loan to Juventus and AC Milan in the last two years, who in turn decided to turn down an offer to make the midfielder’s move back to his homeland permanent.
New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers promised the player one last chance to stake a claim in the Reds’ squad, but after sub-standard showings in a couple of pre-season friendlies, decided that the Merseyside club were better off without the player on their wage bill.
A number of Serie A sides were said to be keeping tabs of the player who was once called one of the biggest prospects from Italy, but it was finally Fiorentina who lay claim to the player, with both sides announcing on Friday that a deal had gone through to take Aquilani to the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
“We have bought Aquilani,” Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle told reporters at the side’s pre-season training camp in Moena, with the club later confirming the move on their official website, saying: “Fiorentina announces the acquisition of Borja Valero Iglesias and Gonzalo Javier Rodriguez from Villareal Club and Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool Football Club.”
The fee paid by Fiorentina for Aquilani, while still unconfirmed, is said to be around £5.45 million.
Due to issues of form and fitness?
Wrong! He got fit played well, MOTM in most of the games played under Rafa! Roy turned him into a problem when he loaned him out and Kenny just carried it on!How can a player make an impact if he is sent out on loan??????
I think it was more Aquilani who wanted to move on.
He never was able to show his true ability as a Red, was never really given the chance.
Agree with J75J. When he played he seemed to be the only one in the mid who showed creativity. There are far worse flops that should go like Adams for example.
As I said, I feel more that it was down to Aqua that he is now gone.