Football Season Guide

For some part of the past campaign, Parma were among the main surprises of the season. After all, despite being just promoted and being filled with inexperience, they played an entertaining football and even flirted with the top 10. A subsequent dip of form, due to injuries to key players, saw them falling down the table but their salvation was never really at risk. Roberto D’Aversa, the man who brought Parma all the way up to Serie A from Lega Pro in just 2 campaigns, was confirmed at the helm for the new season. He will have to deal with a somewhat changed squad since a few players have left, after their loans had ended. This was certainly the case with Bastoni, who managed to impose himself in the heart of the defence, or Dimarco, who had an uneven campaign at left-back. Also at the back, Gobbi hung up his boots after a season filled with injuries. The midfield lost Stulac, who left for pastures new after starting well but eventually disappearing from the radar following injuries, while the attack will not see Biabiany anymore, as he was set free after a poor campaign. More players have left but they hardly ever saw the pitch. They signed in Laurini from Fiorentina and he is expected to act at right-back. With Gagliolo moving to left-back for good, they should shift Iacoponi to centre-back alongside Bruno Alves, who is not getting any younger. So, it is curious that they have signed no new centre-backs or left-back. Hernani, arrived from Zenit, and Brugman, from Pescara, should earn themselves starting places in the middle of the park while the winger Karamoh, on loan from Inter, should be making the forward three. Interesting additions are also Kulusevski for the midfield and Cornelius for the attack: they are both on loan from Atalanta. However, their best summer move was having Inglese stay at Parma for good.