Torino ready to splash cash on Leganés marvel Marvel
Serie A side Torino are the latest Italian club eyeing Leganés defender Marvelous Antolín Garzón, but they'll need to cough up his €10m release clause to land him
Italian clubs just can’t stop eyeing up Leganés’ defensive gem, with Torino now ready to make a serious play for Marvelous Antolín Garzón - known simply as Marvel to fans in Spain’s Segunda División.
€10m or nothing
The Cucumber Growers have made their position crystal clear to the Turin outfit - pay the full €10 million release clause or jog on. When Torino rang up to start negotiations, they were given the cold shoulder with Leganés refusing to budge on their valuation of the 21-year-old defender.
It’s not the first time Italian sides have been sniffing around the former Real Madrid youngster. Last summer, several Serie A clubs were keen, but Marvel opted to stick with the pepineros - a decision that earned him serious brownie points with the club’s sporting director Andrés Pardo.
Why the fuss?
What makes Marvel such a sought-after talent? The Spanish-Moroccan centre-back brings a proper package of qualities that any modern manager would be chuffed to bits with:
- Versatility - comfortable at left-back or as a left-sided centre-back in various formations
- Physical presence - stands at 1.84m with impressive aerial ability
- Technical quality - excellent distribution both short and long
- Stamina - one of the hardest runners in his team
- Tactical intelligence - allows teams to play with a high defensive line
Raised in Real Madrid’s academy, youth coaches at Los Blancos always reckoned Marvel was a bit special - an atypical defender with unusual qualities for his position.
What happens next?
Leganés consider Marvel absolutely crucial both on and off the pitch. The club’s stance with all their prized assets remains consistent - pay the release clause or move along.
If Torino do stump up the readies, Marco Baroni’s squad would gain a significant boost in quality, security, speed and precision. But Leganés won’t be losing any sleep - they’ve only just secured Marvel on a permanent deal this season and won’t be letting him go for anything less than the full whack.