A couple weeks ago, I was chatting with the Mikes ahead of recording the podcast and the subject of Christ Inao Oulaï came up. I figured the rumors linking him to Fiorentina were just idle, pre-window chatter based around a young player the world had taken notice of because he was heading to the World Cup. Those rumors have persisted, however, and now the the redoubtable Niccolò Ceccarini believes it’s just a matter of time. The fee I’ve heard bandied around is €30 million, which is quite a lot for
a kid, but I suppose we have to trust Fabiano Paratici.
Oulaï is a 20-year-old midfielder from Côte d’Ivoire who currently plays for Trabzonspor. He burst onto the scene after a strong season at Bastia as a teenager before moving to Türkiye last summer. He immediately earned Fatih Tekke’s trust, starting 24 of 26 Superlig games and chipping in with 2 goals and 4 assists. That was enough to pique the Elephants’ interest and Emerse Faé brought him into the setup ahead of the World Cup, where he appeared in all 4 games for the reigning AFCON champions, starting 2.
There’s a lot to like about Oulaï. The main thing is his ball carrying. He’s got a low center of gravity and excellent acceleration; those attributes allow him to absorb tackles and motor into space in the way that “modern” coaches want their midfielders to do because it breaks the lines and essentially creates artificial counterattacking situations. His passing range is decent and, as a bonus, he takes set pieces. He’s also more than willing to stick a boot in, showing good timing in his challenges. The main thing is definitely the dribbling, though.
That said, he’s 20 and is far from the finished article. He’s technically capable of good passes but doesn’t play them often enough, preferring to dwell on the ball. His reading of the game is also questionable: he’s piled up 19 yellows cards and a red card in 55 games as a pro. From what I can tell, most of them come when he’s caught out of position, often when he goes for a tackle, misses, and has to bring down the attacker or risk giving up a counter.
Forecasting Oulai’s fit in Florence is trickier. His athleticism means he’ll probably fit with any of Arthur Atta, Nicolò Fagioli, Cher Ndour, and Rolando Mandragora. The concern is distribution. Last year, opponents realized they could break Fiorentina by sticking tight to Nicky Beans, safe in the knowledge that nobody else could pick a dangerous pass. I don’t think Oulai helps fix that problem right now. Maybe his ball-carrying will replicate those line-breaking passes so badly lacking from this team since Arthur Melo’s departure.
That’s a lot to put on someone with 2 full years of experience at the senior level. To repeat, I like Oulaï and think he’s got everything it takes to become a well-rounded, modern midfielder, the type that garners a €50+ million transfer fee. There will be growing pains, though, as he adjusts to life in a new league, and the Viola fan base hasn’t always been the most patient with young players figuring it out in real time.
Oulaï’s arrival would also herald further changes, both the the current roster and Fiorentina’s transfer strategy for the rest of the summer. My best guess is that he’ll replace Mandragora, who’ll move elsewhere for about €10 million. I’d also guess that Fagioli and Ndour are no longer untouchable. The other wrinkle is that Oulaï would occupy the second non-EU transfer spot for the season. To open another, Paratici will have to sell one of Dodô or Matías Moreno, further confirming that both South Americans are likely edging towards the exit.
Regardless, it’s an exciting move. If Oulaï hits the ground running, he’s got the sort of profile that will delight fans and intrigue the mega-rich clubs. He’d better, too, as that €30 million fee would push Fiorentina’s transfer spend up to nearly €65 million in the first two weeks of the transfer window. How Paratici’s planning to navigate Serie A’s financial requirements, much less UEFA’s (it’s clear that he’s targeting an immediate return to Europe) isn’t any of our business. Instead, we’ll get to enjoy a talented young player, one who could make a real difference.
