LECCE New faces at Lecce. The first ones will arrive in these hours. Pantaleo Corvino and Stefano Trinchera immediately got to work to try to materialize the dense network of contacts established in recent months. Because the transfer men of the Giallorossi club never sit with their arms crossed: one session ends and we immediately think about the other, sensing the deal and trying to play in advance. Hoping that the lens remains out of the spotlight until the last moment. It must have gone more or less like this Balthazar Pierret and Tete Morente expected in Lecce for the usual medical checks. Thus began the signing campaign for the first team which will be coached by Luca Gotti for the next two seasons. The objective is to increase the quality of a team that will have to earn its survival by fighting against many medium-level teams, at least in the intentions of the various Serie A owners.
TRAINER
The official announcement of the confirmation of the Venetian coach came a week ago. While the city was waiting (and waiting) for the new mayor, at the US Lecce headquarters, in via Colonnello Costadura, the following statement was issued: “Following the meeting that took place in recent days between the president Saverio Sticchi Damiani and the director of the technical area Pantaleo Corvino to define the budget and guidelines for the next season, director Corvino met with mister Luca Gotti, who together with his staff had his current contract extended until 30 June 2026”. One more season than what was said. Since Corvino has been the general director of the technical area, it is the second time that a coach has signed a contract longer than one season. It had already happened with Eugenio Corini who, in 2020, signed a three-year agreement. Now Gotti will remain in Lecce for another two seasons.
DOORMAN
Wladimiro Falcone hasn’t missed a match in two championships. Reliable athlete and goalkeeper who threatens the top of the championship in the category rankings. Fiorentina seems to be exploring the possibility of signing him, but Lecce is holding on to him for now. The same rule applies to everyone: no one is unsellable, as long as the right offer arrives.
DEFENCE
The new name in defense could be that of Kialonda Gaspar. In the last season he played in the Liga Portugal, in the ranks of Estrela Amadora. And he was used in a three-man defense both as a central defender and as a centre-left. He made 27 appearances and scored one goal. Last January he was involved in the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team, again in a three-man defence. Kialonda Gaspar is just one of the profiles followed by Corvino and Trinchera to shore up the defensive department. Instead, he greeted the Algerian Touba. The player will return to Başakşehir, a Turkish club that had loaned him to the Lecce club on a temporary basis with an obligation to buy if certain conditions were met, but from Via Colonnello Costadura for the moment there seems to be no intention of putting into practice what was signed with the İstanbul Başakşehir Futbol, provided that those conditions have occurred. He will also say goodbye to Kastriot Dermaku. His adventure with the Giallorossi never took off. At the end of June he will be a player released from Lecce. Something is missing in the central position, not on the external lanes where Lecce can count on pairs for now Gendrey-Venuti and Gallo-Dorgu. But the market is still long and, for example, for Dorgu, something is always moving. However, whoever knocks on Lecce’s door for the Danish footballer must know that they have to make a very advantageous offer for the Giallorossi club, also taking into account the player’s age.
MIDFIELD
The first reinforcement for next season had already been finalized in January. Pierret his arrival for medical visits has been postponed to this week) will be a valid alternative to Ramadani and Blin. They will give the right mix to the Corvino and Trinchera department. It remains to be seen what will be done with Maleh returning from Empoli.
ATTACK
There is also a new face for the attack and it is that of Antonio Jose Morente Oliva, better known as Tete Morente, who will be in Lecce in the next few hours and will start the ritual medical examinations from tomorrow. He arrives from the Spanish Serie B, from Elche, and will replace the departing Pontus Almqvist. With him Gotti will continue to have more solutions on the external front, a factor that helped Lecce a lot last season. There will be a lot to do in attack (the returning Rodriguez is unlikely to remain, while Burnete could be loaned out) if for Krstovic what are now simple surveys will then become concrete negotiations. And a second central striker is already needed to replace Piccoli, unless Lecce decides to reformulate the agreement with Atalanta in some way.
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