Football Season Guide

Last year, at their first ever participation in the top flight of Italian football, Crotone seemed to be doomed to relegation right from the start. Until April it looked for all the world like they were going to expectedly go down. Then, in just two months, they succeeded in producing a miraculous salvation, winning one game after another. This time around, the Sharks will aim at a different beginning of the season, immediately adding to their tally as many points as they possibly can. In fact, miracles do not always happen twice. Coach, Davide Nicola, whose previous Serie A experiences had all been negative, was logically confirmed at the helm. However, this time around, he will have to deal with a completely new group of players. Several of the protagonists of the past extraordinary season had to return to their parent clubs, thus leaving several holes in the squad. This is certainly the case for Diego Falcinelli, the man whose goals were decisive for Crotone. He had to go back to Sassuolo. Leonardo Capezzi and Lorenzo Crisetig, brains and muscles in the middle of the park, had to return to Sampdoria and Bologna respectively. Another loss is also represented by Aleandro Rosi, a reliable right-back who is now back with Genoa. Perhaps the most keenly felt departure was that of the leader of the defence, Gian Marco Ferrari, who was acquired by Sampdoria. Counting on an extremely tight budget, Crotone management had to fill those holes with a group of loanees from bigger clubs and with some free agents looking for redemption. This is certainly the case of Davide Faraoni, who had to face a serious injury exactly when he was gaining some playing time at Udinese. He is going to contend with Mario Sampirisi at right-back. Leandro Cabrera should become a regular in the heart of the defence after three seasons at Real Zaragoza. Mariano Izco, who had a rather uneven last season at Chievo Verona might be given a place in the middle of the park until Rolando Mandragora, on loan from Juventus after a serious injury, finds his best form. Arlind Ajeti, on loan from Torino, Giovanni Crociata, on loan from Milan, and Oliver Kragl, their sole real investment, should also find some relevant playing time in defence and midfield respectively. The attack, devoid of Falcinelli, seems to have not been adequately strengthened with the sole arrival of Ante Budimir from Sampdoria and Marcello Trotta, whose loan was confirmed by Sassuolo. Considering that Aleksandar Tonev and Simy are not famous scorers, the Sharks absolutely need to add some firepower before the end of August.