The Italian international, Christian Vieri, 32 years old, has officially unpacked his bags in Monaco. He overshadowed the arrival of David Bellion at OGC Nice. Vieri is every bit a star. His look: long hair, leather jacket… His lifestyle: confirmed businessman and very glamorous wife… According to the newspaper L’Equipe, Vieri will earn €400,000 per month, which will ensure him a princely lifestyle on the rock. However, his priority remains to play and to convince Marcelo Lippi, the Italian national coach, that he belongs at the World Cup in Germany in June.
Christian Vieri has been shining for a decade in the football world, but opinions about him are divided. Rarely lined up at AC Milan and absent from the last matches of the Squadra Azzurra, is Vieri still the powerful, skilled player we knew when he was playing at Atlético Madrid and then at Inter Milan? An answer will probably come as soon as Saturday against Bordeaux.
Several football stars have paraded at La Turbie in recent years with varying degrees of success: Oliver Bierhoff, Javier Saviola, Fernando Morientes… Let’s wish “Bobo” Vieri a princely experience similar to that of Morientes.
What can we expect from Vieri at ASM? First, a perfect understanding with his compatriot Di Vaio, who is also a new arrival. The two Italians are capable of scoring and assisting… So let’s trust Francesco Guidolin to perfect this partnership. Seven goals by the end of the season would be a good tally for the two new Monégasques. We can especially hope for ASM to finish in the top three to play in the Champions League next year…
Overall, Monaco fans are satisfied with the arrival of “Bison” Vieri, but beyond the rock, the comments are different. Excerpts:
“Vieri is on the downward slope of his career and he should not establish himself as an essential striker for the Monégasque team, and therefore in Ligue 1. I was quite surprised by this arrival, especially since ASM had just signed Di Vaio. I’m afraid he might have a ‘Saviola’ stint, which is quite disappointing and unnoticed…”
“ASM should have invested in a young prospect rather than an old warhorse like Vieri… Vieri has experience at the very top level as he has participated in the World Cup and played in one of the top 10 clubs in the world, Inter. He also has the advantage for Monaco of being Italian. Let us remind that the ASM coach is Italian, and Vieri might form the attacking duo with another Italian, Di Vaio. Integration should therefore not cause too many problems, and he may be able to mentor the young offensive talents of Monaco.”
“Alas, I think his level is no longer what it was a few years ago, and his career is nearing the end. Will he, at 32 years old, find the motivation for a new challenge? And the switch from San Siro to Louis II won’t help. Lastly, I don’t know the salary demands of this player, but they must be very high. Monaco benefits from a favorable tax situation… But it’s been years now, and after all, it’s not ASM who played the Champions League this season, as far as I know! Let’s stay positive by saying that this allows us to have famous players in Ligue 1 like Morientes or Saviola… Having a privileged situation is good, but one must know how to make use of it intelligently. And I think that ASM is increasingly unable to do so, and is making more and more poor choices in recruitment, strangely resembling a certain neighboring club from Marseille…”
“It’s a good thing for the French championship to be able to bring a player like Vieri. I think if he regains his physical form, the pairing with Di Vaio could be very damaging, and Monaco could truly compete for a place in the Champions League.”
“Physically he’s a monster. He’s one of the most powerful players in the world. And his striking power often finds the target. However, he is a bit slow… Monaco is taking a risk by acquiring him when he is not at his peak physically.”
“One can only be happy with such a recruit. Even if Vieri has been disappointing in recent years on the field, he remains a formidable player. I wouldn’t have been against a Postiga – Vieri at Saint Etienne (Note: Postiga, like Vieri, is the new striker for Saint Etienne).
Monaco has managed to bring in Morientes, Saviola, Di Vaio, Vieri… while each year they have financial problems… This clearly shows how advantageous their fiscal system is on the Rock!”
