Even with the big win by Spain, we have to remember that the show is Forza Futbol, a better lens at Serie A and La Liga, whether we like it or not and the Silly Season has begun in earnest on the peninsula. Here are my Top 10.

1) Amauri from Palermo to Juventus. The inevitable transfer that was rumored in the works all last year finally happened. For €15.3 million it was a fine piece of business for a club that notoriously prefer not to splash the big cash, but when the market for target-men is becoming so inflated, and moreso now with Eto’o and Drogba, not to mention the delirious Emanuel Adebayor, this signing may well be the one that stands out for Juve.

2) Alberto Gilardino from AC Milan to Fiorentina. I’m not a huge Gila fan, but there is no denying that the man scores goals when he is happy and the pressure isn’t on, and when he’s away from Milano. Well, here’s his wish. For €15 million it may be a bit on the pricey side for La Viola, but they have found a quality replacement finally for Luca Toni and they have cover in case the rumoured Adrian Mutu transfer starts percolating. I think we see a return to form for Alberto.

3) Sebastien Giovinco from Empoli to Juventus. The new poster boy for the Azzurrini may not be classic striker material but his quality shines despite his lack of size. After years of plodding hulks up front, we are starting to see players like Giovinco, Lionel Messi, Kun Aguero and Diego Buonanotte bring some class and trickery to the position. Already owned by Juve, a loan spell at Empoli cemented him in the first team for the tiny club last year, and impressed those in the know who pegged him for the national team. For those people who called forJuve to sign a creative force behind the strikers, I think Giovinco does the trick. Don’t be surprised if he regularly starts for the Old Lady.

4) Juan Pablo Carrizzo from River Plate of Argentina to SS Lazio. After a failed attempt to land Carrizzo last summer, Lazio finally got their man. After a disastrous campaign with career backup Marco Ballotta Lazio were in desperate need of a quality keeper and River is a factory for quality keepers, especialy those valued at around €8 million. He’ll do well, but Lazio were in such need, that any sort of play from Juan Pablo will make an impact.

5) Marco Borriello from Genoa to AC Milan. Cash strapped Milan are still in the hunt for a big name striker, with all the big names involved, but buying full interest in Borriello from Genoa allows them some leeway in case the prices are too high in England and in Spain. He won’t be first choice, Milan don’t really rate him in the same way that they rate Pippo or Pato, but as a third strike option he is just what the Milanistas wanted: cheap and useful.

6) Felipe Melo from Almeria to Fiorentina. For around €13 million a player like Felipe Melo might be considered an anomaly, especially coming from an unheralded Almeria side, but Melo is an important cog from that squad and will obviously help to strengthen Fiorentina and also lengthen their bench as the Champions League beckons.

7) Raffaele Palladino from Juventus to Genoa. A very talented striker for the Azzurrini and one of a handful of the brighter lights of the youth competitions in Italy, Palladino featured in 26 games last year, 14 as a starter and 12 as a sub, but he never got a real chance in his preferred central role and was used more as an out-and-out winger. He will get his chance at Genoa as they will be looking for someone to shoulder the burden of top scorer Marco Borriello’s loss. Add to the fact that all told he cost about €4 million for half his rights and Juve have an option to buy him back later and it’s a win/win.

8) Matthieu Flamini from Arsenal to AC Milan. With his contract on its last year and still not starting for an Arsenal team in transition, Flamini was desperate for playing time and an opportunity to show his worth. After a year at Marseille, he had two workmanlike years at Arsenal, before having a career year starting alongside Cesc Fabregas. He traded up his journeyman’s contract for one more suited of a man of his station. What he’ll find out is that there are few open slots in that Milan midfield, there is obviously an adaptation period to Serie A, as we saw last year from Thiago at Juventus, and the expectations are much higher at the San Siro for winning championships than there are at the Emirates. It’s a good thing they got him on a free as they are more likely to give him a chance as a super-sub off the bench.

9) Pablo Ledesma from Boca Juniors to Catania. The Elephants will be running this year as Boca’s hard running right sided midfielder will be playing in Catania next year. Another in a long line of Boca prodigies, Ledesma will bring hard running and a strong shot to the islanders. A good, strong signing for a club that usually stays out of the mix.

10) John Arne Riise from Liverpool to AS Roma. Sorry, but it wouldn’t be right to ignore Roma, as I am a supporter, but frankly I think Riise is a good, complementary player, and of course no superstar, but a good fit for the giallorossi. He is better going forward of course and has a powerful shot, plus his throwins are some of the longest I’ve seen.

This list is of course just what’s gone on, to date, and as expected Inter still haven’t joined the melee and Milan will probably finalize the Ronaldinho move soon enough, but it’s usually these early deals that work the best, as it gives the players more time to adjust to their new surroundings. Stay tuned to the show for more transfer silliness.