The eagle defender Nicolò Bertola is now a staple of the Under 21 national team, an immovable starter even in the match that the Azzurri won 1-0 against Indonesia U20. A great satisfaction for the white club to witness the maturation of the 21-year-old from Carrara, product of the eagle youth sector, launched by coach Thiago Motta in Serie A in the salvation match against Udine on 14 May 2022, won by Spezia 3-2 (on that occasion Thiago Motta used him in midfield, with excellent results). The good performances provided by Bertola with the Under 21s confirm his growth, already highlighted in the last Serie B championship with 16 appearances total and one goal to his name. An athlete with good basic technique, strong with a considerable physique in light of his height of 1.92 centimetres, Bertola is a candidate to play a leading role at the center of defense in Spezia 24-25. Among other things, in defence, two other young products of the cantera bianca will find space: Mattia Benvenuto, coming from Primavera Aquilotta and Simone Giorgeschi, returning from his loan with Pro Sesto. Remaining on the subject of the Under 21 national team, it is unfortunate that Rachid Kouda suffered an injury as he was struggling with a muscle strain which required his early return to the Gulf. The athlete seems to have suffered a flare-up of the pain in the rectus femoris of his left leg which, in the last championship, forced him into the pits for two months. The eagle health staff will carry out all the necessary checks to verify the possible existence of injuries.
A club like Spezia which, according to president Philip Platek’s admission, aims to combine sporting results with economic-financial sustainability through self-management, must plan important investments in the youth sector, which have recently been reduced. Only through ‘home-made’ young people is it possible to generate fundamental capital gains for sports management. In the past, Spezia went to Serie A with three players from La Spezia: Maggiore, Bastoni and Vignali. Not forgetting Mulattieri, sold to Inter in 2018 and Candela, who moved to Genoa. More recently the aforementioned Bertola, Pietra and Candelari made their first team debuts, in the next championship they will be joined with the ‘greats’ Plaia, Mascardi, Benvenuto and Di Giorgio. To them must be added Giorgeschi (ex Samp) and Serpe (ex Genoa).
Meanwhile, Spezia bought Nagy out of Pisa for 1.2 million (contract until 2027), today Dragowski will be sold to Panathinaikos for 2.2 million. Gelashvili and Jureskin not redeemed. The right of option for Pio Esposito has been exercised at 4.5 million, but Inter will exercise the counter option for 0.5 million by the 17th. For Di Serio, the €1.6 million redemption from Atalanta was just a formality. Cipot sold on dry loan to Austria. Bastoni and Zurkowski who were not redeemed by Empoli will be sold (for the Pole there will be a renegotiation) and Holm by Atalanta.
Fabio Bernardini
