Football Season Guide

Having immediately returned to the Serie A after being relegated following a disastrous 2012-2013 campaign, in the past season Palermo succeeded offering a good football and, at the same time, reaching an extremely comfortable safety. Well-deservedly, coach Iachini was confirmed at the helm of the team for the third season in a row, something quite unique, considering President Zamparini’s habits. For once, the latter opted not to destroy the squad completely, mindful of the harm done to the team in the previous campaigns, and sacrificed just one main protagonist of their past season, Dybala, who joined Juventus for an impressive amount of money. Especially considering that he is just a 21-year-old boy. Barreto also left, joining Sampdoria on a free transfer, having refused whatever offer of a contract renewal from the Sicilians. Ujkani and Morganella, who happened to be given some relevant playing time in the past campaign, were also let go, not too regrettingly, though. The money arrived from Turin was invested in some promising players like the Swedish Hiljemark, from PSV, the French El Kaoutari, from Montpellier, Goldaniga, from Perugia, the Brazilian Matheus Cassini, from Corinthians, and the Macedonian Trajkovski, from Zulte Waregem. Palermo should still be adopting a 3-5-2 formation, with 4-3-2-1 as an alternative, with Sorrentino confirmed between the posts. Struna, Gonzalez and El Kaoutari should form the back three with Goldaniga likely to become a protagonist with the passing of time. Rispoli and Lazaar should be acting on the flanks of the midfield with Chochev, Jajalo, Rigoni, Brugman, Hiljemark and Quaison all contending for the 3 places in the middle of the park. Vazquez and Belotti shold form the forward two, provided that the latter is not sold at the very last minute. The feeling is that they might be a bit short up-front, a situation which could worsen in case of Belotti’s departure.