Page 27 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

Empoli
The Tuscan club punched above their weight again to ensure a third consecutive season in the top-flight after finishing an admirable 14th last term. This time around the first priority will be survival after they lost both star goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and left-back Fabiano Parisi to Tottenham and Fiorentina respectively.
Youth team graduates Tommaso Baldanzi and Jacopo Fazzini shone last term and will be expected to develop further into dependable regulars in midfield. Forwards Emanuel Gyasi and Daniel Maldini were recruited to bring competition for places in attack as coach Paolo Zanetti aims to preserve the club’s Serie A status.
NICKNAME:
Gli Azzurri (The Blues)
MANAGER:
Paolo Zanetti
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 14th
Fiorentina
The capture of exciting Argentinian striker Lucas Beltran caught the imagination of Viola fans still smarting from last year’s agonising UEFA Conference League final defeat against West Ham United.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side will have designs on another top 10 finish after ending last season in eighth position. How Beltran connects with compatriot and likely strike partner Nicolas Gonzalez could determine if they place higher this year. In a busy transfer window, left-back Fabiano Parisi joined from Empoli along with Spezia’s M’Bala Nzola, young Argentinian midfielder Gino Infantino and free agent centre-back Yerry Mina. Meanwhile, Brazilians Arthur Cabral (Benfica) and Igor Julio (Brighton & Hove Albion) were sold in the summer rebuild.
The signing of Lucas Beltran is an exciting one for Fiorentina
NICKNAME:
Viola (The Purples / The Violets)
I Gigliati (The Lilies)
MANAGER:
Vincenzo Italiano
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 8th
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 27
FALL BIG MATCHES
SEPT 16
Juventus v Lazio
Inter v Milan (Milan Derby)
SEPT 24
Atletico Madrid v Read Madrid (Madrid Derby)
OCT 1
Milan v Lazio
OCT 8
Juventus v Torino (Turin Derby)
OCT 22
Milan v Juventus
OCT 29
Inter v Roma
NOV 12
Lazio v Roma (Derby Della Capitale)
NOV 26
Juventus v Inter
DEC 3
Napoli v Inter
DEC 10
Juventus v Napoli
DEC 17
Lazio v Inter
DEC 23
Roma v Napoli
DEC 30
Juventus v Roma
5 WHO
CAN
THRIVE
STEPHEN KASIEWICZ SELECTS FIVE PLAYERS IN SERIE A WHO COULD STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD IN THE 2023-24 SEASON.
LUCAS BELTRAN - FIORENTINA
The dynamic striker joined compatriots Nicolas Gonzalez and Gino Infantino as part of an Argentine revolution at Fiorentina during the summer transfer window. A pacy, energetic centre-forward with a high work- rate, the 22-year-old was in demand across Europe before moving to the club where fellow countryman Gabriel Batistuta achieved legendary status in the 1990s. He’ll be key to the Viola’s hopes of progressing towards the top seven or eight in Serie A.
FEDERICO CHIESA - JUVENTUS
Fully recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament knee injury which halted his progress last season, the Italian international wide man can be an absolute game changer for Juventus. Known for his explosive speed and devastating inside cuts from both flanks, Juve will need the 25-year-old to be back at his best to make the top four this season.