Dribble Diaries

The whispers have become official pronouncements. Fiorentina are set to finalize the transfer of Jacopo Fazzini from Empoli, a move that signals not just a strategic acquisition for La Viola, but also a testament to Empoli's continued prowess in nurturing young Italian talent. Fiorentina has signed a highly-rated Italy U21 international for a rumored sum of around €10 million, plus bonuses, setting the groundwork for their objectives in the upcoming Serie A season and beyond. This transfer, occurring in the aftermath of Empoli's relegation to Serie B at the end of the 2024-25 season, is a timely one for Fiorentina. It represents their first significant signing of the summer, and it fills a crucial need within the squad, particularly in the midfield. With Vincenzo Italiano at the helm, Fiorentina have consistently strived for a high-intensity, possession-based brand of football, and Fazzini, with his dynamic attributes, seems perfectly suited to that philosophy. The Empoli Pedig...

The Big Question Surrounding Džeko’s Potential Move As Fiorentina gears up for the 2025-26 Serie A season, one of the most intriguing transfer rumors involves veteran striker Edin Džeko. At 39, the Bosnian forward is in the twilight of his career, yet his name continues to command respect across Europe. The Viola, under manager Vincenzo Italiano, are looking to bolster their attack with a proven goal-scorer who can also provide leadership and experience. But is Džeko the right fit? This in-depth analysis will explore:  we’ll determine whether signing Džeko is a masterstroke or a nostalgic gamble. Chapter 1: Edin Džeko’s Career Evolution – From Bundesliga to Serie A Early Days in Bosnia and Breakthrough at Teplice Before becoming a European star, Džeko honed his skills in Bosnia with Željezničar before moving to Czech club Teplice, where his goal-scoring instincts first caught scouts' attention. Wolfsburg (2007-2011) – The Rise of a Bundesliga Star His move to Wolfsburg in 2007 was ...

Nicolo Zaniolo's recent controversy following Fiorentina's last game has sparked widespread debate in the football world. The Italian midfielder, currently on loan at Fiorentina from Galatasaray, has found himself under investigation after an alleged altercation with AS Roma’s youth team players2. The Incident That Started It All The controversy erupted after Fiorentina’s 2-1 victory over Roma in the Primavera 1 Under-20 playoff semi-finals. Reports suggest that Zaniolo entered the Roma dressing room post-match and engaged in provocative behavior, which allegedly led to a physical altercation with two youth players. Roma released a statement claiming that Zaniolo physically assaulted two of their players, an accusation that has led to an official investigation by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Zaniolo’s Response Zaniolo has denied any physical aggression, stating that he only intended to give a positive message to the young players. He admitted to losing his temper aft...

Tijjani Reijnders is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Milan's terrible starts to games, stating that 'every game is the same,' while Luka Jovic believes 'the coach will see' his contribution against Fiorentina. It was a fantastic match at San Siro, with the Rossoneri coming back from 2-0 down to tie 2-2, but the Viola also had two magnificent goals disallowed, the Luca Ranieri curler for an early foul and the late Dodo volley for offside. Both goalkeepers produced multiple saves in an intriguing contest, although each point contributes nothing to each team's chances of qualifying for Europe. "We started again by giving up two goals, and every game is the same. "We try to come back, but it's difficult if we start like this," Reijnders told Sky Sport Italia. "It's difficult, but we need to keep battling for this club and win as many games as possible in Serie A and the Coppa Italia. "The most essential thing is that we...

Antonio Conte lashes out at the media for criticizing his methods and undervaluing Napoli's accomplishments in the Scudetto battle. "You are portraying this as normal when it isn't." Please have faith in me. Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori gave the Partenopei a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this afternoon, putting them just one point behind Serie A leaders Inter with ten games remaining. After giving up late goals in recent weeks, Conte fully understands that Albert Gudmundsson's score set up a difficult finale. During his press conference, Conte stated, "I am not satisfied with that because it was a deserved victory, but we didn't score anywhere near enough goals for the amount of chances created." "We must perform to the best of our abilities without causing needless worry. We performed brilliantly and dominated for extended stretches of time, much like against Inter, before the fear crept in. ...

Each season, the goal is to improve on the previous one, and some players have had a breakout season this year. From last season's underperformance to this season's spectacular performances, we've looked at five of the most improved players in European football. Mateo Retegui (Atalante) Last summer, Atalanta agreed to pay €28 million to buy Mateo Retegui from Genoa, but it's fair to say that the Bergamo club's expectations have been exceeded. Signed as a replacement for the injured Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta may not have looked for a striker if the injury had not occurred. Retegui has not only replaced Scamacca, but also pushed Atalanta into the Scudetto race. The Argentine-born forward has 20 goals in only 22 league games for Gian Piero Gasperini's team, leading the race for the Capocannoniere title as the league's top scorer. After scoring just seven goals for Genoa in his first season in Italy, the 25-year-old has erupted in Atalanta color's. Rap...

Friday's football preview for the weekend's biggest games has returned, with the Madrid derby and a classic FA Cup match. Birmingham versus Newcastle. The fourth round of the FA Cup has produced some fantastic ties, with Birmingham's match against Newcastle at St Andrews being possibly the best. Birmingham smashed new records this summer, breaking the League One transfer record three times with a club-record spending spree. The Blues, backed by American owners including NFL icon Tom Brady, have big plans. Birmingham will face Newcastle this weekend, hoping to spark a cup upset. It has all the makings of a fantastic FA Cup tie. PSG versus Monaco. Paris Saint-Germain is on track for another Ligue 1 title, but the champions face one of their hardest tests of the season this weekend. Monaco is third in the table, contending for the 'best of the rest' title with Nice, Lille, and Marseille. The Principality team has already defeated Barcelona and Aston Villa in European f...

Edoardo Bove, a Fiorentina midfielder, slumped on the pitch during his team's Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday. Bove's teammates hastily shouted for medical assistance and surrounded the 22-year-old before doctors treated him and quickly transferred him to a nearby ambulance on the side of the pitch. The event occurred in the 16th minute of the match, which was momentarily suspended at 0-0 and then abandoned with plans to reschedule later in the season. According to Sky Sport Italia, Bove was rushed to the Careggi Hospital near Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi. The Italian broadcaster later stated that Bove was breathing and beating on his own. In the minutes following Bove's fall, his teammates and opponents were visibly stunned and sad, with some in tears. In April, Roma defender Evan Ndicka collapsed with a hand on his chest, and Piermario Morosini died after heart arrest during a Serie B match 12 years ago. Inter and Fiorentina are both near the ...

Paulo Fonseca described the penalty rulings as a "circus," but he also acknowledged that Milan's 2-1 loss to Fiorentina showed a lack of aggression on their part. ‘It’s not a tactical issue.’ The Rossoneri lost both of their Champions League games, although they had won three straight Serie A games before falling 2-1 at Stadio Artemio Franchi. It was an exciting evening in Florence when Milan-owned midfielder Yacine Adli defeated Mike Maignan and saved the first penalty attempt by Moise Kean. After Christian Pulisic's spectacular equalizer, David De Gea was able to block spot kicks from Tammy Abraham and Theo Hernandez. However, Albert Gudmundsson won the game with a long goal kick. Fonseca is furious with Milan's behavior in Florence. "As a football enthusiast, I do not wish to participate in this farce. These days, anything is a penalty, whether it's in our favor or not; this is not football if you give a penalty for even the smallest contact. I don’t ...

Atletico Madrid intends to sign another midfielder before the summer transfer market closes on Friday. They've been linked with several players, the most recent of which they were close to signing in January. Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Atleti has entered the competition to sign Sofyan Amrabat. The Moroccan pivot is set to depart Fiorentina soon, and while Fenerbahce are the favourite, Los Colchoneros are also interested. 💣🚨 Atlético Madrid has joined the race for Sofyan Amrabat. Fenerbahce stays in the lead, although Atleti is still interested.  Atleti were also interested in Amrabat during the winter transfer window earlier this year. They were unable to sign him at the time, and he was eventually loaned out to Manchester United. Amrabat would undoubtedly be an experienced addition to Atletico Madrid, and considering his aggressive style, he would be excellent for Diego Simeone. It remains to be seen whether he ends up at the Metropolitano, but it would almost certainly dep...

David De Gea completed his Fiorentina physical and signed a one-year contract with the option to extend for another season. The goalkeeper has been out of the game for more than a year, having let his contract with Manchester United to expire in June 2023 due to a lack of appropriate projects. That changed this summer, when he was in talks with several Serie A clubs, including Genoa and Monza, before agreeing to personal terms with Fiorentina. The Spaniard got his physical today in Florence and signed the contract. De Gea has returned to football for Fiorentina. It is supposed to be a one-year contract with a salary of €1 million plus bonuses, with the option to extend for double the wages in 2025-26. He will attend a press conference at the Viola Park training center on Monday, August 12. The former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper turns 34 in November and has 45 senior caps for Spain. De Gea made 415 Premier League appearances, 57 in La Liga, and 55 in the Champions League. Meanwhile...