Football Season Guide

Torino’s return to the Serie A after some dull seasons in the lower tier of the Italian football was characterized by a rather schizophrenic campaign. In fact, after a rather positive first half, they started sliding down the table and they eventually ended up just above the relegation zone. However, when in-form, the Bulls were capable of offering some good football. Coach Ventura, the author of their return to the elite of football, was thus confirmed at the helm of the team despite his age. In order to better finance their transfer campaign, the management sold Ogbonna to Juventus for a relevant amount of money. Santana was also let go together with the key striker Bianchi, whose contract was not renewed, and a few fringe players like Di Cesare and Stevanovic. Such departures were matched by several signings. In goals, Padelli will have to replace Gillet as the Belgian was given a 3-year-and-7-month suspension due to match fixing. In the final part of the past season, Ventura adopted a 3-5-2 formation, rather than his usual 4-2-4, and he could confirm such more defensive attitude also in the new campaign. Thus, Bovo and Moretti could join Glik in the back three, with Rodriguez as an alternative. In the middle of the park, Bellomo, Farnerud and El Kaddouri are expected to alternate together with Gazzi and Brighi while Masiello, Darmian and D’Ambrosio should still act on the flanks. In the attack, Cerci should be acting together with Immobile, preferred to the likes of Meggiorini, Barreto and Larrondo. Ventura can certainly rely on more alternatives than the past but both the attack and the defence seem to have lost some quality.