Football Season Guide

Summer 2011: Udinese had just reached an historical qualification to the Champions League when they saw three among their main stars leave. The feeling was that the Black and Whites would have been incapable of repeating themselves without the likes of Sanchez, Zapata and Inler. Summer 2012: after reaching an outstanding third place and another qualification to the main European competition, Udinese management let go another array of key players and they replaced them with a group of hopeful and good-willing youngsters. After seven seasons among the posts, Handanovic joined Inter and so his place should be taken by Brkic, who returned home after an experience with Novara. Unfortunately for him, he seems to be a bit too injury-prone and an alternative could be highly needed. The defence remained untouched: coach Guidolin will thus be able to count again on the extraordinary Danilo, Benatia and Domizzi, with plenty of alternatives sitting on the bench. The midfield is the area that changed the most with Isla and Asamoah who joined in Juventus. Badu could be expected to become a protagonist after a couple of seasons as a substitute. Allan and Willians arrived from Brazil and they should represent some reliable alternatives to the regulars in the middle of the park. In the flanks, Basta should be back at full strength with Pereyra likely to play a major role with the passing of time. Faraoni, who arrived from Inter, should also represent some option together with Gabriel Silva. In the attack, Torje and Floro Flores were loaned out to Granada: they should not be missed. In fact, captain Di Natale, 80 goals scored in the last three seasons but he is not becoming any younger, will be supported by Luis Muriel, who shone with Lecce in the past campaign and is said to be better than Sanchez at his age. The “Wizard” Maicosuel, who is said to be quite similar to Ronaldinho Gaucho also for his partying habits, should be able to gain some playing time as an alternative to the two regulars.