A touch of steel to go with a touch of class
World Soccer - October 1999
Yugoslav marksman Darko Kovacevic became one of the top transfers of the summer, costing Juventus a club record �14 million. But such is the mad, mad world of football economics these days that the former Real Sociedad idol is anything but guaranteed a regular spot.
There can be no doubting the quality of 25-year-old Kovacevic. Over the past two seasons he has netted 33 Spanish League goals for Real Sociedad.
Yet with Inzaghi and Del Piero likely to be Juve's twin strikers this season in the 3-4-1-2 formation favoured by coach Ancelotti, it is a reasonable assumption that the best Kovacevic can hope for is an ancillary role.
Some argue that Juve are too canny to have invested so many lire on a deluxe supersub, and suggest that Ancelotti could free space for Kovacevic by pulling Del Piero deeper or by opting to play all three forwards. Others do not deny the Yugoslav international's great ability but question the club's need for him. Had the shock of finishing only sixth in Serie A last term caused might Juve to panic?
Not that Ancelotti has any time for those who wonder why Juve made Kovacevic their most expensive recruit - the previous mark being �12m in 1992 when Gianluca Vialli moved from Sampdoria.
"It's of paramount importance to have a strong squad," says Ancelotti. "I don't know of any ambitious club with too much talent. Kovacevic is a fine player, a complete attacker. He's good with either foot, powerful and exceptional in the air. He's not just a finisher. He's a type who knows how to get into good wide positions and uses the ball well. There's a lot of Vieri about him."
Apart from a short, unhappy spell in 1996 at Sheffield Wednesday, where he suffered with work permit problems, Kovacevic, to his credit, has come up with the attacking goods throughout his career. His goals galore for Proeter Zrenjanin, Red Star Belgrade and Real Sociedad ensured he was the undisputed star of the show and, according to a former coach, more of the same should be expected at Juve.
"Darko is the sort of natural opportunist who will score goals anywhere," says ex-Red Star coach Ljubomir Petrovic. "He's an impeccable finisher with either head or feet and, crucially, he has a steely streak of determination in his character. This will help him succeed at Juventus.
