Since Italy's World Cup triumph last year, a lot more Italian players have been applying their trade abroad. The Calciopoli scandal saw a few big names and World Cup winners depart from their teams to another country.

Spain was the most popular destination as Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta and Francesco Tavano all left to get a taste of La Liga. Bernardo  Corradi, on the other hand, left for England and a dreadful year at Manchester City.

As the transfer window has drawn to a close, no fewer than 11 players have left Italy with only six returning to their country. Serie A has never seen such a mass exodus.

'As the transfer window has drawn to a close, it has seen 11 players leave Italy and only six returning to their country'


The biggest names to go are World Cup winners Luca Toni and Fabio Grosso. Toni left Fiorentina for Bayern Munich where he has hit fine form scoring in almost every game so far. Grosso decided to try out the French lifestyle with Lyon after a year at Inter.

Cristiano Lucarelli and Rolando Bianchi are two of the strikers to leave. Lucarelli took a brave decision to go to Ukranian club Shakhtar Donetsk and his team will be playing Milan in the group stages of this season's Champions League.

Bianchi, who joined Corradi (who returned to Italy) at Manchester City, has been in fine form and scored on his Premier League debut for Sven-Goran Eriksson's team. Meanwhile, youngster Guiseppe Rossi left Italy once again for a team that has finally decided to keep hold of him for a few years - the yellow submarines of Villarreal. And Graziano Pelle moved from Serie B to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar .

Veteran Cristain Riganó couldn't help save Messina from relegation last season and decided to move to Levante, where he was joined by Milan goalkeeper Marco Storari, who is on loan to the Spanish outfit. Fellow keepers Morgan De Scantis and Christian Abbiati also opted for Spanish clubs Sevilla and Atletico Madrid respectively. And midfielder Massimo Donati has gone to Scotland, where he has been in great form for Celtic.

Serie A welcomes back Fabrizio Miccoli, who has left Benfica after two years on loan to join Palermo. Another player who returns after being away for a while is Alessio Tacchinardi. He terminated his contract with Juventus after 11 years with the club to take a step down and join Brescia in Serie B.

The much-loved Vincenzo Montella returned to Sampdoria after six months at Fulham, and scored on the first day of the season. Antonio Cassano has also joined Sampdoria after two miserable years at Real Madrid.

A name that is not too familiar is Arturo Lupoli, one of the most exciting youngsters in Italian football. He returns to Italy after spending two years at Derby County whilst being owned by Arsenal.

Should we be worried why so many Italian players are deciding to apply their trade abroad? Serie A has lost a lot of talent but the exodus can be seen as a positive. It gives a good name to Serie A as it shows Italian players are in demand - and there is plenty of young talent to replace these missing stars.

With Italy the current World Cup holders and Milan the champions of Europe, it is hardly surprising that clubs from abroad will be looking at Serie A to buy their talent.

Is it good for Italian football that top names are opting for leagues abroad? Post a comment below or submit an article to Sportingo.