BARI – «At least a dozen signings will be needed: there are entire departments to be fleshed out». Giuseppe Magalini on Friday indicated the first trace on the Bari market. It will be a truly complicated job between entries and exits, with the need to complete a good part of it by July 10th, when the pre-season training camp will start. The new red and white sporting director added that we will work in a “functional” way on a precise tactical idea, just as the new coach Moreno Longo provided a precious numerical data: “22-23 outfield players, in addition to the three goalkeepers”. Therefore, the Galletti will be built with two elements per role and approximately one wild card per department. The reference module will not be a dogma, but some fixed points are emerging: the defense should start with three, with a midfield of four and three offensive elements which will be assorted to provide few points of reference. An offensive phase could be designed with an attacking midfielder and two pure attackers (a formula often used by the Piedmontese coach), or with two playmakers and a center forward. The certainty is that among those under contract, no more than a dozen men will be saved.
GOAL AND DEFENSE – The starting goalkeeper is missing: the only full-back under contract is Pissardo, whose stay is not even a given. The 26-year-old from Lombardy, in any case, would be a “deputy” or even the 19th over, an opportunity granted exclusively to a goalkeeper who can “extend” the list of 18 “overs” eligible for registration (i.e. born up to 31 December 2000) provided he enter the match list only in the absence (due to injury or disqualification) of another over goalkeeper. Bari is watching with interest several youngsters who have shown themselves in C: Filippo Rinaldi (21 year old from Parma returning from his loan at Olbia), Gioele Zacchi (21 year old from Sassuolo, returning from his season at Giana Erminio), Jacopo Sassi ( 20 years of ownership of Atalanta: played the last tournament in the Pro Vercelli). Magalini appreciates Andrea Fulignati, 29 year old from Catanzaro, but for the Calabrian club he appears untransferable. However, there are two defenders who will remain: Vicari who will constitute the new fulcrum of the rearguard and Pucino who can split between the roles of “arm” and those of the side. Matino is to be evaluated, while Zuzek and Celiento (who will return from his loan to Casertana) will leave. We therefore need at least three or four pure defenders, of which two are ready to be starters. There are some hypotheses circulating linked to young players: Alessandro Fontanarosa, a left-wing centre-back who will return to Inter from his loan at Cosenza or twenty-year-old Gabriele Guarino originally from Molfetta, but owned by Empoli. The external lanes also need to be adequately covered: Ricci will remain on the left (but an alter ego of him is needed), on the right Dorval’s fate is in doubt.
MIDFIELD – Numerically it is the best-stocked department. Maiello and Benali will be part of the new project. The news concerns Maita: the 29-year-old from Messina has ended up in the sights of Cesena, requested by Michele Mignani who has made him a cornerstone of his Bari. However, the club’s intention is to retain the player who has a contract until 2026 and would enjoy the “flag” status which would not weigh down the list of overs. Precisely in the last few hours, contacts have intensified both with the boy (Valerio Di Cesare, who has now moved on to the role of deputy sporting director, spoke to him several times) and with his agent, Maurizio De Rosa: the findings would lead to Maita’s will to continue his Apulian adventure which, if necessary, would see him with the rank of captain. Even in the midfield, however, at least three-four additions are needed: possibly a director, as well as inside legs, running and physical structure. Despite another year on his contract, Bellomo’s permanence appears unlikely, just as D’Errico’s stay is to be ruled out. Lulic’s fate remains to be deciphered.
ATTACK – Here everything is really on the high seas. The only certainty is Sibilli, just bought from Pisa and secured with a three-year contract: the 27-year-old Neapolitan will be used in the favored position of attacking midfielder. There doesn’t seem to be much room for Achik and Morachioli to stay and they could however be evaluated in retirement by Longo, while Simeri will be sold to Serie C. A question mark surrounds Scheidler who he didn’t convince even in his Spanish adventure at Andorra. We therefore need at least four pure attackers and a couple of elements capable of gravitating between the lines. Arriving from Naples will be Lorenzo Sgarbi (23 years old and a good season at Avellino) and Giuseppe Ambrosino, a 20-year-old much appreciated by Magalini who had him last year in Catanzaro. Two young people on the launching pad who will bring enthusiasm and physicality, but then certainties are needed. So, pay attention to two reliable names. The first is Alberto Cerri, 28 years old, a center forward who has returned to Como from a loan at Empoli: Longo trained him while leading the Como team and appreciates him. Contacts would also be open with Parma for Anthony Partipilo, a 29-year-old from Bari, who grew up in red and white and is eligible for the “flag”. The boy would like to take a chance in Serie A, but faced with the call of his favorite team… There is also a hypothesis circulating regarding Camillo Ciano, a 34-year-old from Benevento who worked with Longo in Frosinone: a track which, however, would not be available moment a priority.
