Football Season Guide

Having returned to the top flight of the Italian football just two seasons ago, Sampdoria are still a long way from becoming protagonists of the Serie A as they used to be with the Mantovani family at the presidency. In fact, so far they have just been fighting for survival. However, the arrival of coach Mihajlovic at the helm of the team, in the middle of the past season, seems to have revitalized the team that succeeded reaching an early quiet safety. Too early, as they eventually stopped playing for a few weeks, having achieved their own goal. The new season should represent an opportunity for Sampdoria to grow, especially considering that President Ferrero is an ambitious one. Thus, they are trying to strengthen the squad in all departments, leaving as much unaltered as possible the backbone of the past starting eleven. Mustafi, one of the key man in the past campaign, and Renan were sacrificed for some good money, invested both in youths and experienced players. A few more players, who had failed to impose themselves at Mihajlovic’s court, such as Rodriguez, overrated Maxi Lopez and Berardi were also let go, together with some youngsters whose loan deals had ended. In the coach’s usual 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations, Viviano, arrived on loan from Palermo, should become the regular in goals, thus clearing past year’s confusions. Fornasier, given Mustafi’s departure, seems likely to become Gastaldello’s partner in the heart of the defence with De Silvestri and Regini as the full-backs. Soriano, Palombo and Krsticic should be confirmed in the midfield, with Duncan, who had a negative season with Livorno, and promising Campana, arriving from Chrystal Palace, to provide some cover. Bergessio, coming off a disastrous relegation with Catania, is definitely going to become the protagonist of the attack, with Okaka as a valid alternative.