Dusan Vlahovic was not missed at Fiorentina after departing for Juventus in January, according to his former team-mate Nicolas Gonzalez.
Vlahovic scored 20 goals in 24 appearances for Vincenzo Italiano’s side in the first half of last season, becoming one of European football’s hottest properties and earning a reported £66.6million move to Juve.
The Serbia international scored nine goals in 21 appearances for the Bianconeri following his big-money switch.
Vlahovic’s decision to join rivals Juve sparked outrage at Fiorentina, who had already seen the likes of Federico Chiesa, Juan Cuadrado, Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri, move to Turin.
Gonzalez, who finished as Fiorentina’s second-highest goalscorer after Vlahovic in the 2021-22 season with eight goals in all competitions, gave a frank answer when asked about the impact of the striker’s departure.
“His absence was not felt,” the winger told SportItalia. “Obviously he is a strong player, but the fans did not like his attitude.
“He is a young boy who has a lot to learn.”
Gonzalez has won 21 caps for Argentina, and featured from the bench during his 3-0 rout of Italy at Wembley earlier this month.
He hopes his international team-mate Angel Angel Di Maria, a reported target for Juve, will join him in Serie A.
Gonzalez said: “I’d like to see him in Italy. He’s a player I’ve always appreciated, and he could give a lot to Italian football.”
The 24-year-old would also like to see Paulo Dybala stay in Italy, saying: “I’d like to see him at Inter with [Joaquin] Correa and Lautaro [Martinez].”