The end of a long chapter lasting six years. It was already understood a year ago when, mister Pecchia decided not to call Roberto Inglese for the summer retreat leaving Parma on the sidelines. A bad blow for the experienced striker from Vasto (Lucerno by birth) who arrived in Emilia in 2018 after the Gialloblù had decided to focus heavily on him by taking him from Napoli for a sum exceeding 20 million euros.
An extremely correct assessment at the time, having signed, on loan to Chievo Verona, 12 goals in the 2017/2018 season, enough to deserve a call-up to the national team led at the time by Ventura. At 26 he was a talent on the rise, making 94 appearances and 25 goals for the Clivensithe summer of 2017 spent with the large in Napoli’s retreat before being sold to Parma. A long football love story with the ducals until last summer, in five seasons a total of 120 appearances between Serie A, B and Coppa Italia for a total of 20 goals. Having to live with an infinite number of injuries, some serious, above all those in January 2020 during a speed duel against the former Juventus player De Ligt. However, we must not forget the great performances, above all those at San Siro, Olimpico and Juventus Stadium.
He never gave up, he refused many offers with the aim of still being a protagonist in Parma and contributing to the climb back to Serie A but a year ago the club, having to live with an important contract for the cadet series with Pecchia’s approval he decided to leave him on the sidelines of the yellow and blue project. He risked remaining inactive for an internal season, but in January, on the gong of the winter transfer window the decision to move to Lecco, last in Serie B. He failed to avoid the relegation of Lombardy but he started to regaining playing time and continuity of performances with 14 appearances, 5 as a starter and the goal (on the penultimate matchday, 5 May) which had been missing for 596 days (since 17 September 2022).
Officially a professional since 2008 with his first contract signed in Pescara, in 16 years he has collected 337 appearances: 150 in Serie A (Chievo and Parma), 111 in Serie B (Pescara, Carpi, Parma and Lecco) and also the 76 in Serie C (70 with Lumezzane and 6 in Pescara). 71 goals in total, 38 of which in Serie A, a category which has greeted on March 7, 2021 with his last appearance at the “Franchi” in Florence, also signing a precious and heavy assist. Yesterday, Sunday 30 June, the five-year contract has expired officially writing the final word on his long experience with the Parma shirt.
As of today, Monday 1st July, he is a player releasedfree to negotiate and find an agreement (together with his agent) with a new company without having to answer to the ducals anymore. At almost 33 years old (which will be in November) it will be a summer of choiceswe don’t know in which category, whether in Italy or abroad but we are certain of Roberto Inglese’s hunger to make up for lost time, regain confidence and above all the goals, the ones that seven years ago earned him a place in the Italian national team.
