Why Bologna don’t miss Calafiori, Zirkzee and Saelemaekers: Numbers defined
Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna proceed to impress in and are aiming for an historic second consecutive look within the Champions League, regardless of dropping massive gamers in Riccardo Calafiori, Alexis Saelemaekers and Joshua Zirkzee in the summertime.
Right here is why these gamers will not be missed and the way the Rossoblu have changed them.
Why Bologna don’t miss Calafiori, Zirkzee or Saelemaekers
Bologna completed the 2023-24 marketing campaign in fifth place in Serie A, which was sufficient to qualify for the Champions League because of Italy’s further spot within the event this season.
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After 29 matches of the 2024-25 season, Bologna presently sit in fourth place with a barely higher factors per recreation file than that they had final 12 months. (1.78 ppg in 2023-24, 1.79 ppg in 2024-25).
After 29 matches final season, Bologna had been one level higher off than they had been this time final season (54 factors in 2023-24, 53 factors in 2024-25). They’d conceded fewer objectives this time final 12 months (25 in 2023-24, 34 in 2024-25), however had scored fewer themselves in comparison with this season (42 in 2023-24, 49 in 2024-25).
Bologna’s coach Vincenzo Italiano celebrates profitable the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Bologna FC and Borussia Dortmund at Renato Dall’Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 21 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ELISABETTA BARACCHI
Targets apart, Bologna have virtually managed to duplicate their factors tally and factors per recreation common from this time final 12 months, which is especially spectacular given the turnover within the low season that noticed , whereas additionally dropping key gamers in Calafiori, Saelemaekers and Zirkzee.
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What’s much more spectacular is the truth that Bologna have saved their consistency whereas additionally turning a big revenue on participant gross sales during the last 12 months.
, . In the meantime, Bologna’s most costly incoming participant this 12 months has been , whereas bargains have emerged within the type of Benja Dominguez and Jens Odgaard, who value the membership lower than €9m mixed.
Sam Beukema, Benja Dominguez and Dan Ndoye. (Photograph by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
All instructed, Bologna raised effectively over €100m in participant gross sales during the last 12 months, and spent simply over €50m themselves, whereas additionally managing to maintain consistency when it comes to factors and outcomes on the pitch.
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Calafiori’s departure has made for a blossoming centre-back pairing of Jhon Lucumi and Sam Beukema. The latter might be one of many subsequent gamers that Bologna flip a revenue on, who got here in at a price of €8m and is presently valued within the area of €35m.
Santiago Castro has been the star of the Rossoblu assault this season. The 20-year-old has eight objectives and 5 assists in Serie A to date this time period, and can be being linked with a big-money transfer away from the Dall’Ara, as Inter see him because the long-term inheritor to Lautaro Martinez’s throne.
Santiago Castro of Bologna celebrates with teammate Benjamin Dominguez after scoring his crew’s fourth purpose throughout the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and AC Monza at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 03, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photograph by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
So, all in all, Bologna have managed to show a revenue, may do the identical once more this summer season by various participant gross sales, and the Rossoblu funds will solely improve if there may be one other Champions League marketing campaign on the horizon as effectively, which might be the membership’s second in succession and solely the second time they’ve been concerned within the competitors for the reason that Nineteen Sixties. All finished with out Calafiori and Zirkzee as effectively.