Overview
Sampdoria are back for another season in Serie A after surviving relegation in 2012/13. The Genoese club had returned from a season in Serie B and although Serie A survival was mathematically sealed in early May, the Doriani had looked safe in March.
Former president Riccardo Garrone passed away in January this year, aged 76. Now his son Edoardo is the president of the Blucerchiati and he is slowly building up a competitive squad again after its depletion back in 2010-11, which resulted in relegation.
Sampdoria has sold some of their emerging stars such as Andrea Poli and Mauro Icardi but more youngsters have arrived in Manolo Gabbiadini and Vasco Regini. With the likes of Nenad Krsticic, Pedro Obiang and Shkodran Mustafi already on the roster, they help maintain the team’s youthful look.
Daniele Gastadello and Angelo Palombo are the most experienced members in this squad. The current and former captains respectively form parts of the three-man defence Rossi has implemented since his arrival as Doria coach.
Both Gastaldello and Palombo offer leadership and experience, which is something this inexperienced side really needs. Palombo has also thrived in his new role as a ball-playing defender, which is becoming the norm in the Serie A these days.
Coach Delio Rossi is contracted to the club until 2015. His first full season in charge will give an indication on how the new Sampdoria project is progressing. Rossi will need to avoid having a seven-match losing streak like Ciro Ferrara did last season to show that there is an end product.
Mercato
Most of Sampdoria’s deals have involved either loans or co-ownership deals and the majority of these players are in their early 20s. Sporting director Carlo Osti has shown that he will look for young talent and although he hasn’t brought in any experienced stars, he hasn’t blown any money on has-beens either.
The Blucerchiati have bought half of the rights for Gabbiadini. He was co-owned by Atalanta and Juventus but Samp have bought La Dea’s share in the striker for €5.5 million. The 21-year-old striker has won plaudits at youth level but playing for the Doriani might finally give him the platform to shine at senior level.
Two Polish youngsters have arrived at the club in Bartosz Salamon and Pawel Wszolek. Salamon arrives in a co-ownership deal from AC Milan and Wszolek was signed on a free transfer from Polish club Polonia Warszawa.
Both players are noted for the versatility. Salamon can play in either defence or midfield and Wszolek can play as a right-winger or attacking midfielder. The duo can provide Rossi with extra options and provide more tactical flexibility.
Defender Vasco Regini is co-owned by Sampdoria and Empoli but after two Serie B campaigns with the Tuscan club, the left-back will play for the Blucerchiati this season. Another Serie B campaigner from last season is Mirko Eramo. After scoring seven goals in 40 matches for Crotone last season, he is now expected to take Poli’s place in midfield.
Fiorentina wing-back Lorenzo De Silvestri has returned for another loan spell. His contract with the Gigliati expires next year but he could eventually sign with Doria on a free transfer. At 25-years-old, he is actually one of the oldest players in the Sampdoria midfield and since his former coach at Lazio arrived in Genoa, De Silvestri has benefitted from Rossi’s tutelage.
Poli has gone to AC Milan in a co-ownership deal which sent Salamon in the other direction. The Rossoneri paid €3m for Poli their share in Poli but they look keen to gain full ownership of the midfielder.
Mauro Icardi has joined Inter and like his former teammates he is also involved in a co-ownership deal. The 21-year-old Argentine centre-forward had a breakthrough campaign in the Serie A last season, scoring 10 goals in 31 matches for Doria. Most of those goals came in two matches against Juventus and in a four-goal haul against Pescara.
Sergio Romero has gone to French club AS Monaco. The Argentinian goalkeeper has been loaned out but the Ligue 1 club could take up the option to buy him.
Young striker Simone Zaza was sold by Sampdoria and now he has entered a co-ownership deal with Juventus and Sassuolo. After an impressive loan spell at Ascoli last season in Serie B, Samp were at risk of losing him on a free transfer next year. Juve stepped in and initially bought him outright, which resulted in the Doriani’s purchase of Atalanta’s share in Gabbiadini.
Delio Rossi
Delio Rossi arrived in December 2012 after Ciro Ferrara was fired and the former Lazio and Fiorentina coach lead Sampdoria to Serie A survival last season.
2013-14 will be the 52-year-old’s first full season as Doria coach and he can fully implement his ideas on the squad. This is a young squad that Rossi has at his disposal but it looks like a squad for the future.
Rossi worked on a small budget at Lazio and dealt with an over-bearing president at Palermo. Despite all that, he had some impressive results in both the Serie A and in the Coppa Italia with the Biancocelesti and the Rosanero.
If Rossi can achieve similar results or better with the Doriani, he would be bouncing back in style after the Adem Ljajic incident last year cost him his job with Fiorentina.
Predictions
Mid-table safety is a must. Survival was sufficient in Sampdoria’s first season back in Serie A but the club has to be competitive like it was in the 2000s.
Recreating the glory days of the 1980s and 1990s is a dream for now but with the young talent on offer, Blucerchiati fans could witness a great side in the making.
