I believe he inherited Silva's role once he left for City, and then really became the focal point of their attack from almost a number 10 role once they lost Mata and Joaquin t'boot. Definitely would provide us with even more flexibility though, given how good we were at nicking the ball back last season adding the power of Wanyama and then Banega with very solid ball-winning abilities instead of Gaston and Davis who lack that it would give us a great spine of solidity. Just part of the reason that I'm drooling over that potential move, but unfortunately don't really see it materialising.
Also I think when you have an ethic as strong as ours you can afford to rehabilitate players with past misdemeanours, he wont affect our settled lads and we have enough steady heads to make sure he's not a bad influence on our younger guys. I trust our players and staff to be able to handle him correctly, if the fee was higher, like say Osvaldo, I'd be very worried about the gamble, but at the kind of price that has been touted if in some dream world he did want to come we almost can't afford not to take a risk on him. You can't pass up that level of quality for around £9m or so, eccentric history or not.
Without wanting to get into a "his personality isn't that bad" "yes it is" "no it isn't" battle, it's not really similar to Osvaldo. Clearly Roma actively want him to leave, several fans agree. He's a far bigger problem personality.
Good informative post. You're right that some players who have had disciplinary problems in the past can be "rehabilitated", but there comes a point when there are enough of those bad apples to cause a real problem, and indeed if Banega has persistent bad habits off the pitch then that will hold him back whether he is in a positive environment in training or not.
If we do sign him I'll be excited because he's a good player, and I'll of course hope we can make him into a success here, but I have my reservations.
Norwich also moving for Alderweireld.
giaccherini going to Sunderland and Fer to Norwich according to Sky Italia.
Bueno has just scored a late equaliser for Uruguay U20s, good volleyed finish into the bottom corner from about 16 yards. He'd been crap until that.

Sign him up.
Just seen the replay of the goal. He did really well in the buildup of the goal too, ran it through midfield and slotted it to some guy who dinked it into the box, it was headed down to Bueno who continued his run all the way into space. Impressive.
Still wouldn't mind him here but £8m is too much. Plus the fact if we did sign him for £8m and he has one bad game etc the moaners will start.