Five expensive Serie A benchwarmers in 2024-25

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·22 de noviembre de 2024

Five expensive Serie A benchwarmers in 2024-25

La Gazzetta dello Sport has highlighted five of the most expensive players in Serie A who have been struggling to get regular playing time this season, including Juventus’ Douglas Luiz and Atalanta’s Nicolò Zaniolo.

Hierarchies and pecking orders have become quite evident in the opening three months of the 2024-25 campaign, and some summer signings are struggling to get consistent playing time at their new clubs.

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Among them is Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz who is currently not available due to an injury. The Brazilian joined the Old Lady from Aston Villa in a €50m deal last summer, before Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior’s move to Villa Park for a combined €22m transfer fee.

epa11706272 Nicolo Zaniolo (R) of Atalanta scores against goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel of Stuttgart the 0-2 goal during the UEFA Champions League match between VfB Stuttgart and Atalanta BC, in Stuttgart, Germany, 06 November 2024. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

With an annual salary of €5m net, Gazzetta reports that Douglas Luiz has cost Juventus over €18,000 per minute this season.

It’s slightly more than Zaniolo at Atalanta. The Italian striker has 11 appearances for La Dea, all as a substitute, meaning his cost per minute exceeds €17,000.

Matias Soulé joined Roma for €26m, but his cost per minute is just €3,809, fewer than Bologna’s Thijs Dallinga and Napoli’s Leonardo Spinazzola.