Joe Fischetti

Sad news arrives from Verona on Friday. As reported by Toronews.net, Filadelfia native and ex-Hellas Verona FCand SSC Napoli goalkeeper Claudio Garella has passed away at the age of 67. Garella won two Scudetti during his playing career, first with Hellas Verona in 1984/85 and then with Napoli in 1986/87 - the first ever Scudetto for either club. Garella made 114 appearances for Napoli before joining Udinese in 1988. Garella passed away due to heart complications following surgery. He leaves behind his wife Laura and two daughters Claudia and Chantal.

After completing his medicals on Friday, striker Andrea Petagna has officially joined AC Monza.  According to Corriere dello Sport, Monza will pay €2.5 million for a season-long loan of the forward. If Monza achieve salvation, they will be obligated to purchase Petagna for €12.5 million (including bonuses).  SSC Napoli purchased Petagna from SPAL in January of 2020. However, with SPAL competing for survival, Napoli loaned Petagna back to the Biancazzuri for the balance of the 2019/20 season.  During his two seasons at Napoli, the Bulldozer made 68 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals and adding eight assists.  Petagna becomes the…

On Thursday, SSC Napoli confirmed the long-anticipated purchase of goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. The veteran goalkeeper has made over 500 professional appearances during his time at US Cremonese, US Ancona, Palermo FC, Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla FC, CA Osasuna, Torino FC and (most recently) Genoa CFC. https://twitter.com/sscnapoli/status/1557664877031874561?s=20&t=CZ7IpC-oU0k4Wq773Dwo4A Sirigu has been a regular member of the Italy national team for over a decade. Though he made only one appearance, the goalkeeper was an important part of the locker-room during Italy's Euro-winning run in 2021. On Tuesday, Sirigu arrived at the Villa Stuart Medical Clinic in Rome to complete his medicals. Sirigu will replace…

Goalkeeper Nikita Contini has officially joined UC Sampdoria on a season-long loan. Contini is a product of Napoli’s youth system but has never featured for the senior team. Sampdoria will be the ninth different club Contini has been loaned to since his 20th birthday.  https://twitter.com/sampdoria/status/1557664479864922112?s=21&t=_bWaP_3WmHLuJN2oUfqlcg The shot-stopper is hoping to bounce back after a somewhat difficult 2021/22 campaign. In the first half of the season, he conceded nine goals in seven appearances for Crotone. He was then loaned to Vicenza, where he conceded an additional 11 goals in 12 appearances. Contini also conceded twice in Vicenza’s relegation playoff against Cosenza.…

The Round of 64 of the Coppa Italia kicked off on Friday and closed on Monday with Napoli's quarter of the bracket. US Sassuolo joined Hellas Verona FC, Empoli FC and US Lecce on the list of Serie A clubs who have been eliminated in the early stages of the tournament. Sassuolo suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Modena FC, who were deserving winners. Giancamo Raspadori, who could be sold to Napoli before the end of the week, played an errant pass back to Diego Falcinelli on the opening goal of the match. Nicola Mosti added a brace…

On Sunday, SSC Bari shocked Hellas Verona FC in their Coppa Italia Round of 32 elimination fixture. Bari, who are owned by Aurelio De Laurentiis and managed by his son Luigi, fell behind early but responded well. I Gallotti scored four goals in the span of 48 minutes to win the match 4-1. The first of those goals was scored at the half-hour mark by Michael Folorunsho, currently on loan at Bari from Napoli. Walid Cheddira drove towards the bye line before playing a low cross in front of goal. Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo made a mess of the cross…

Turkish giants Galatasary SK appear set to announce the signing of ex-Napoli forward Dries Mertens. Rumours of a move to Galatasaray surfaced shortly after Mertens posted a farewell message to Napoli fans on his various social media platforms. Since then, both the player and the club have posted about the much-anticipated move. On Saturday, Mertens’ wife Kat Kerkhofs tracked the family’s journey from Belgium to Turkey on her official Instagram page. Mertens traveled with ex-Fiorentina player Luca Torreira, who signed with Galatasaray earlier this summer. Despite arriving in Istanbul at 3:00 AM, hundreds of Galatasaray fans showed up to welcome…

Lorenzo Insigne opened his MLS account in Toronto FC’s 4-3 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday. The diminutive left winger split between two Nashville players, then fired a shot that dipped into the bottom corner at the near post. https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1556095215278202880?s=20&t=wUgZCkEEGN-20dvBNVKfUQ Insigne celebrated the goal by tucking the ball under his shirt and sucking his thumb - an indication that he and his wife Genoveffa (Geni) Darone are expecting their third child. That was Toronto’s fourth goal of the night after Jonathan Osorio scored a first-half brace and Federico Bernardeschi converted a penalty - his second goal since joining Toronto FC…