Football Season Guide

Having parted ways with coach Ranieri, despite a positive top 10 finish, last season Sampdoria opted for D’Aversa, coming off a negative experience at Parma, where he had otherwise done wonders. They never managed to hit it off with the new coach and they even found themselves falling dangerously close to the relegation zone by the turn of the new year. Thus, D’Aversa was shown the door and in came Marco Giampaolo, who had led the team to the top 10 in 3 consecutive seasons between 2016 and 2019. Things did not improve much but they pulled 5 decisive wins in the last 16 fixtures, eventually achieving salvation. Coach Giampaolo was confirmed at the helm of the team for the new season but, if nothing changes, he might have to be working with a slightly weakened squad. In fact, over the summer Sampdoria saw Sensi, who should have become a leader in the middle of the park but never made it due to injuries, returning to his parent club, while centre-back Yoshida, who was not given much playing time under Giampaolo and holding midfielder Ekdal left for pastures new. Thorsby, another leader in the midfield, was sold to Union Berlin while promising Askildsen was loaned out. And even back-up goalie Falcone was loaned out. Moreover, forwards Giovinco and Supryaha, who failed to impose themselves due to injuries, also left. Apart from signing free agent Djuricic, who could represent an alternative to Sabiri in terms of offensive creativity, Sampdoria limited themselves to signing permanently Sabiri, Caputo and Rincon. Not much, considering how bad they were at times last season. Sampdoria are still looking for players in every area, a centre-back, a central midfielder and a scoring alternative to Caputo and soon-to-be 40-year-old Quagliarella above all.