Six years after submitting his resignation, Stefano Pioli returned for a second spell as Fiorentina supervisor after taking cost on July 12, 2025. La Viola kicked off Pioli 2.0 by thrashing Ukrainian outfit Polissya Zhytomyr 3-0, earlier than beating them 3-2 within the second leg to safe their place within the UEFA Convention League league section. Domestically, nevertheless, it has been a reasonably tepid begin for Fiorentina, who regarded set for a gap day win till conceding a 94th-minute equalizer to Sebastiano Luperto in a 1-1 draw at Cagliari. Their second Serie A match of the season, in the meantime, would see them succumb to a goalless stalemate at Torino. The third time wasn’t the attraction for Fiorentina, who returned from the September worldwide break with a go to from defending champions Napoli and have been obliterated 3-1 by the Partenopei. La Viola can be trying to choose up their first league win of the marketing campaign as they tackle Como at dwelling, and one participant who can be trying to play a big position is Nicolò Fagioli.
Born in Piacenza, Italy, Fagioli developed in Juventus’ academy and shortly emerged as an important cog for the primary workforce, profitable the Finest U-23 Participant award of the 2022/23 Serie A season. Little did he realize it, however storm clouds have been on the horizon; on 17 October 2023, the Italian Soccer Federation imposed a seven-month ban on Fagioli for violating betting guidelines.
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He returned in time to play the final two matches of the 2023/24 season in addition to two matches within the Euros, however his popularity was however tarnished, and he by no means fairly managed to bounce again and make a reputation for himself underneath new Juve supervisor Thiago Motta. It’s why Fiorentina determined to signal him on mortgage with an obligation to purchase on February 5, 2025.
Quick-forward seven months, and it appears that evidently this switch has been a win-win for all events concerned. Fagioli shortly emerged as a key determine in midfield underneath Raffaele Palladino, serving to Fiorentina attain the Convention League semifinals and end sixth within the desk. Juventus obtained a monetary enhance that was desperately wanted following their early eliminations within the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Membership World Cup. As for Fiorentina, they paid a reasonably affordable fee (€13.5m plus as much as €3m in bonuses, along with the €2.5m mortgage price that they had beforehand spent) for a participant who, simply a few years in the past, was thought of top-of-the-line skills on the continent.
Little by little, Fagioli has emerged as an indispensable determine in midfield for Fiorentina, able to executing the precise move underneath strain. Equally to a primary , Fagioli thrived at linking up along with his teammates and releasing up house for a possible by means of ball or shot, in addition to anticipating harmful counter-attacks nicely with a brave sort out. It’s why Pioli has persevered with him within the midfield, with the Azzurri worldwide enjoying the complete 90 in every of their first three matches.
After partnering Simon Sohm within the double pivot, Fagioli partnered captain Rolando Mandragora for the second leg vs. Polissya. He was dropped for his or her go to to Torino, however Pioli shortly realized his mistake and launched him for Sohm at halftime. Fagioli would reward his belief by making one clearance and one key move, finishing 25 out of 27 passes, and registering a shot, in addition to efficiently making one out of two lengthy balls.
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Nevertheless, he discovered himself ripped aside on the seams towards a star-studded midfield of Scott McTominay, Stanislav Lobotka, Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne and Matteo Politano. Working in a deep-lying playmaker position alongside Sohm and Mandragora, Fagioli didn’t encourage confidence in his facet, dropping possession six instances and finishing simply 41 touches earlier than being changed by summer time recruit
Hans Nicolussi Caviglia within the sixty fifth minute. It begs the query – ought to Pioli contemplate shifting Fagioli in a extra superior position with a view to reduce his defensive duties and permit him to hyperlink up with Moise Kean and Edin Dzeko? Ought to he make the most of somebody like Sohm, Mandragora or Caviglia within the regista position as a substitute of Fagioli?
While he broke onto the scene as a nifty attacking midfielder for Juventus, Pioli has chosen to make the most of him as a deep-lying playmaker, tasked with administering the primary section of possession, limiting troublesome passes and specializing in preserving issues tight in entrance of the backline. Versus Palladino, who used him as a box-to-box midfield engine and allowed him to drift ahead and advance the ball into the ultimate third, Pioli has tasked him with a much more defensive-minded method, thereby stopping him from taking dangers in possession, as seen by the beneath warmth maps.
A comparability of Fagioli’s heatmaps from final yr and this yr.
Pioli is aware of higher than anybody that it is a results-based enterprise, having already coached Lazio, Inter and Milan throughout his greater than twenty years of administration. Whereas he might need envisioned Fagioli within the regista position when he took cost, he additionally understands {that a} workforce like Fiorentina that aspires for European soccer and that has had a number of shut calls with silverware in recent times can’t afford to be lagging behind. One thing’s obtained to provide for Fiorentina – might that imply making an attempt Fagioli in a extra superior position vs. Como?
is the chief editor at and has appeared within the Guardian, 4 4 Two, and the Unbiased, amongst others.