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.
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.
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.
The five most expensive Serie A benchwarmers
Douglas Luiz (Juventus)
Joined for: €50m
Salary: €5m
Cost per minute: €18,657
Nicolò Zaniolo (Atalanta)
Joined for: €6.4m loan, option to buy for €15m
Salary: €2.5m
Cost per minute: €17,123
Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli)
Joined for: free
Salary: €1.8
Cost per minute: €7,229
Thijs Dallinga (Bologna)
Joined for: €15m
Salary: €1.3m
Cost per minute: €6,915
Matias Soulé (Roma)
Joined for: €26m
Salary: €2m
Cost per minute: €3,809
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, November 22, 2024, page 22.
