Pasquale Bruno has told La Nazione that Serie A has not boasted a centre-back as skilful as reported Liverpool transfer target Gleison Bremer of Torino since Fabio Cannavaro.
Cannavaro spent 15-years of his career shutting out the Italian top-flight’s best strikers and captaining his nation to the 2006 World Cup. His efforts that year also saw France Football award him the Ballon d’Or, and win both FIFA’s and Serie A’s Player of the Year awards.
No defender has won the Ballon d’Or or FIFA’s Men’s Player of the Year awards in any form since Cannavaro. The Naples-born enforcer also made the 2006 World Cup Team of the Tournament before leaving Juventus for Real Madrid following the Bianconeri’s relegation.
Juventus’ 1989/90 UEFA Cup-winning hero Bruno now sees similarities between Cannavaro and Torino’s Bremer. The Toro star has stunned the Italian with his performances so far this season after not only shutting out but silencing Dusan Vlahovic in both meetings this term.
Bremer dominated Vlahovic to help Torino beat his Fiorentina side 4-0 back in January. The Serbian then joined Juventus for €70m (£58m), but again failed to score during a 1-1 draw. Vlahovic is Serie A’s top goalscorer this term with 20 goals, 17 of which were with the Viola.
Bruno feels Liverpool target Gleison Bremer of Torino could justify an £83.5m fee
Bruno believes Bremer’s performances with Torino could see him justify a fee far above the €40m (£33.5m) sum Tuttosport report clubs like Liverpool would need to pay for a transfer. Tuttosport reporter Camilo Forte recently told TuttoMercatoWEB the Reds are interested.
“In Italy, there are two players – Bremer and [Juventus-owned Merih] Demiral – who don’t show [Vlahovic] the ball every time they meet him. They annihilate him,” he said. “These two are strong and on defenders like them, you could even spend €100m (£83.5m).
“It is with elements like Bremer and Demiral in defence that you can go on to win a championship. It was since the time of Cannavaro that in Italy they had not played such strong central players.”
Liverpool could face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and City for Bremer’s transfer from Torino, per Forte. Calciomercato also note Inter Milan are keen and that the 24-year-old is open to moving to the San Siro following months of negotiations.
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