The sale of Sasa Lukic to Premier League surprise-packages Fulham has not gone down well with former Torino ace Pasquale Bruno, hitting out at the Serie A club for a perceived lack of ambition in conversation with La Stampa.
Bruno is not the only one who has issues with Lukic’s deadline day exit.
According to Sport Italia, Torino coach Ivan Juric was ‘furious’ after learning that one of his longest-serving players was going to be sold with next-to-no time to sign a replacement. Lukic was one of the first names on the Granata team-sheet; a leader, a key performer, and one of Italy’s most reliable penalty-takers to boot.
Fulham paid £8 million for the Serbia international (The Athletic). Lukic joins until 2027, and will reportedly take home around £40,000-a-week at Craven Cottage.
Fulham sign Sasa Lukic from Serie A outfit Torino
“I can’t justify it,” fumes Bruno, a Coppa Italia winner with Torino in 1993. “Because you never really grow like this.
“(Lukic) is the greatest guarantee for us fans. A point of reference.”
Lukic, physical and versatile, is capable of thriving as both a ‘number six’ and a more attack-minded ‘number eight’. He can provide cover for the superb Joao Palhinha, while also potentially playing a box-to-box role alongside the Portugal international.
Lukic, who featured at the Qatar World Cup alongside Fulham talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, scored four goals and set up five more for Torino in 2021/22. A tally of 11 yellow cards, meanwhile, highlights a mean streak in his game. Lukic should fit in neatly in an aggressive, high-energy Fulham midfield.
“I’m very happy to have signed, and to now be a part of Fulham’s squad,” Lukic explains.
“I’ve seen Fulham play this season and they’ve been playing very well. They have a good squad, with a great history. They have a lot of great players currently, like my compatriot Aleksandar Mitrovic.”
Fulham brought in Lukic after missing out on Sheffield United’s Sander Berge. Cedric Soares also arrives from Arsenal, the Cottagers’ pursuit of Eredivisie duo Joshua Brenet and Milan van Ewijk coming to nothing.
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