SSC Napoli

Dries Mertens made his first appearance in a Galatasaray shirt on Saturday. The Belgian came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, immediately after Borja Sainz opened the scoring for Giresunspor. The Galatasaray Number 10 replaced right winger Yunus Akgün, but played on the left wing. Mertens was only on the pitch for 12 minutes (plus stoppage time), but was very involved in the action. In the 81st minute he was part of the build up to a Haris Seferovic header that was barely pushed off the line by Giresunspor goalkeeper Onurcan Piri. Three minutes later Mertens' direct free…

On Saturday, Lorenzo Insigne scored his second winner in as many matches. With the score level at one and just over ten minutes remaining, Insigne made an incisive run into the area. Midfielder Michael Bradley played a cheeky lob to pick out Insigne's run. The ball took a fortuitous bounce off the back of Portland Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma and fell for Insigne, who smashed a volley into the back of the goal. The goal put Toronto back ahead after conceding the equalizer six minutes earlier. Central defender José Van Rankin was left completely unmarked in the area after Insigne…

Andrea Petagna made his AC Monza debut just one day after officially signing for i Brianzoli. Petagna played 75 minutes but managed only one shot attempt in the 2-1 defeat to Torino FC. Though Monza recorded eight shot attempts and enjoyed slightly more ball possession, Petagna struggled to assert himself in the match. Ex-Atalanta player Aleksei Miranchuk opened the scoring just before the break. Antonio Sanabria doubled Torino's lead in the 66th minute with an acrobatic scissor kick. Monza substitute Dany Mota scored in the final minute of stoppage time, but it was too little too late. Goalkeeper Michele Di…

A new look Napoli kick off their 2022/23 campaign with a bang, visiting the ever hostile Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to take on Hellas Verona. Hellas Verona Under the leadership of Igor Tudor, Bologna finished 9th last season, seven points behind an improved Fiorentina squad who qualified for the Conference League. With numerous changes at the club, another mid-table finish would be considered a success. Tudor left the Gialloblu to take a position at Marseille and has been replaced by ex-Udinese coach Gabriele Cioffi. Cioffi began the 2021/22 season as the assistant to Luca Gotti, but was handed the reigns after Cioffi was…

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…