Reuters Soccer Blog
World Soccer views and news
Why it pays to wait for the likes of Cruz and Panucci
You would think ex-Inter Milan striker Julio Cruz and former AS Roma defender Christian Panucci might be panicking about not having a club just a few weeks before the start of the season.
At 34 and 36, there surely is no time to lose.
In reality, they seem quite happy to bide their time and wait for the right offer like other top players released by their clubs.
Waiting until the season starts to find a club means their ageing limbs don’t have to be put through the torture of full pre-season training after years of running up hills and playing meaningless friendlies in bizarre places.
By leaving a decision until the last moment, a bidding war could ensue between interested clubs and wage offers could sky rocket. Argentine Cruz, a saviour for Inter so many times with late goals, has been linked with Roma, Lazio, Napoli and now Bologna.
