AS Roma: Lamela’s move to Spurs sparks Serie A domino effect

Erik Lamela has completed his move from AS Roma to Tottenham Hotspur (Getty Images)

It was with deep regret that Erik Lamela finally competed his long-awaited move from Roma to Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentine winger making way as the Italian club needed to cash in on the £25 million deal to balance the books.

The move has been met by widespread disappointment around the capital as Roma have lost the electric pace and direct style that saw him score 21 goals and assist 12 in his two years in the eternal city, becoming a talent that Francesco Totti named as his obvious heir.

Totti’s remark is now poignant and Lamela’a brilliance will be a mere memory among the fans on the Curva Sud, though the Giallorossi have reacted with haste to the setback of losing the 21 year old starlet, pulling off an astute deal for Fiorentina’s Adem Ljajic. Locked in a contract dispute with La Viola and courting the long-term interest of AC Milan, Roma have jumped in to sign the 21 year old Serbian international for just €11 million.

For a player who was instrumental in Fiorentina’s fourth place finish in Serie A last year having scored 11 goals and assisting 6, it is a bargain deal for Roma as they fill the void left behind by Lamela with a similar dynamic, agile attacker able to play right across the front 3.

It was in the central slot behind the main striker where Ljajic spent the majority of last season before he was switched to the left side of Vicenzo Montella’s attacking trio, embarking on a prolific run of form from February onwards, scoring 10 goals in his next 11 games including a final-day hat-trick against Pescara.

The attacker has tallied 78 appearances for Fiorentina since moving from Partizan Belgrade 3 years ago and he already has 7 caps for Serbia at the age of 21. Blessed with fine vision, unerring close control and deft technique, Ljajic definitely has the attributes to play centrally, but his quick bursts of speed and ability to cross and hug the touch line dictates his immediate future is out on the flanks.

His talent was scouted by Manchester United as a teenager but a deal fell through with the Partizan director of football Ivan Tomic saying “I think they will regret this decision in the future”. Under the right guidance at Roma, the prophecy could turn true.