The great debate: is Higuain worth $130 million?
Has Juventus spent way too much on Gonzalo Higuain? beIN's two armchair experts put forward the two opposing sides of the argument.
Tom Findlay on Why Higuain is a great value signing.
For a large chunk of the first half of last season it looked as though Napoli was going to rip the Serie A title from Juventus on the back of a swashbuckling brand of football. And the goals of Gonzalo Higuain.
By the time the season concluded, Juve had come good, while Napoli stuttered, though not for the efforts of the polarising Argentinian, who had found the net 36 times in 35 matches in all competitions.
Higuain’s impressive haul was almost double the nest best striker in Serie A and second only to Zlatan ibrahimovic (38) and Luis Suarez (40) in Europe.
In fact, of the continent’s top six strikers last season, Higuain's price is in the vicinity of what Real Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona paid for Luis Suarez.
This, of course, is not to make a comparison between these players’ general ability, or to suggest that, over the course of a career, Higuain compares to these players. But on current form, there’s no denying he is worth what Juve has paid for him.
You are entitled to disagree, but before you do, consider how much a club would have to pay to sign a Suarez or a Ronaldo in today’s inflated climate.
With this in mind, Higauin is value. Of that six, only the 34 year-old Ibrahimovic - secured by Manchester United on a free and six years Higuain’s senior – and Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski, cost their latest employers less.
Domestically, Higuain’s capture represents Juve’s second transfer masterstroke.
Consider that the defending champion has already recruited Roma’s best player, Miralam Pjanic, who equaled Paul Pogba for the most assists last season, with 12.
The Old Lady has considerably weakened two of its main title rivals by signing the best playmaker from one (Roma) and the striker who almost single-handedly spoiled the title party last year for another (Napoli).
In any league, that is good business. Juve fans can rest easy knowing their club has pulled out all stops to stay ahead of the game, despite the prospect of losing Pogba.
On face value, Higuain represents a much safer, more prolific prospect in front of goal than Alvaro Morata, Juve’s streaky marksman for the last two seasons.
Finally, a note on those naysayers citing Higuain’s knack for fluffing his lines on the biggest stages. My argument is presented within a domestic context. Over the course of a season the player is a proven match winner.
As someone who witnessed Higuain missing a sitter in the World Cup final against Germany, this author will finish with two points. Lionel Messi also missed a gimme in that match, so it happens to the best players. And to the very best players.
When you consider the amounts clubs like Liverpool – the same Liverpool that spent $62 million on Andy Carroll - and Manchester united, have spent in recent years to try and get back to the top of the league, Higuain represents a worthy investment.
Basil Saab on Why Juve has forked out way too much
Gonzalo Higuain.
I get that he’s coming off a great season, but one freakish year should not give you the right to suddenly walk among the game’s giants. Not when you consider that Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic do it year after year.
To say nothing of the pesky issue of Higuain’s age. At 28 years-of-age the Argentinian is in that strange period referred to as a player’s ‘peak’. It is an age bracket – 27-31 – where some players, such as Jamie Vardy, Dmitri Payet and Higuain himself – have enjoyed a sudden, unforeseen emergence into the talent stratosphere, while others, like Fernando Torres have seen their talent drain away like funds on a big night out on the craft beers.
Forking out $131 million for Higuain represents a huge risk, based on one breakout season towards the twilight end of his career. If he was in his early to mid twenties and had just notched a 36-goal campaign, it would be a different story. By the time he finishes up at Juve, his resale value will be non-existent, unless his form is still good enough to attract a cashed-up Chinese club.
Investment-wise it’s a baffling decision. Then there’s the whole competitive league thing. I get that players have a limited window to earn as much as they can but the romantic in me mourns a league that has been systematically weakened by its strongest protagonist.
By adding Napoli’s and the league’s best scorer, hot on the heels of Roma’s and the league’s best play-maker in Miralem Pjanic, Juve has made the Serie A that little bit more lop-sided than it was to begin with.
Even if Paul Pogba is back at Manchester United by the time the season starts, Juventus has achieved the time-honoured practice of weakening its main rivals by capturing their best players.
Don’t even talk to me about the disloyalty in joining one of your club’s great rivals. Where’s Higauin’s sense of respect and loyalty to the Napoli fans. On that point I can only agree with Francesco Totti, who lamented: "Modern players are a bit like nomads. They are following the money, not their heart. Not many athletes follow their heart. They decide to move elsewhere to win trophies and to earn more money,"
"People go to the stadiums to enjoy themselves and to see players in action who will always be with their team. They expect not to be betrayed.
"Just look at what happened with Higuain, leaving Napoli for Juventus. It's a disaster.”
It’s a disaster for the league and at $130 million for an inconsistent 29 year-old, it may yet be an expensive disaster for Juventus.
The strength of a domestic league hinges on how competitive it can be at the top. With Juve’s latest spending spree, the Serie A seems to be headed the other way.
