Verso la partita di sabato sera Torino-Empoli. Samuele Ricci è il grande ex della sfida e adesso è capitano del Toro
After two away games against Monza and Parma, Torino is ready to return to play in front of its home crowd. On Saturday evening, on the 29th day of Serie A, Empoli arrives at the Grande Torino. Then before the next day, there will be a break dedicated to the national teams. Samuele Ricci is the great ex of the challenge. Born in Pontedera, the class of 2001 grew up in Empoli and then moved to Toro, a team of which he is now also captain. The granata took him in January 2022, at a cost of 1 million on loan. Then in the summer he was bought back for 8.50 million euros. At the time he was worth 12 million euros, now he is worth about 30 million euros. Incredible growth, both as a man and as a player.
Il momento d’oro
Ricci is having a fantastic season. He has played 27 games so far, all as a starter, topped by 1 goal and 1 assist. 7 yellow cards, only Bologna-Torino missed due to disqualification. Too important for Vanoli. Just without him on the field, came the only defeat in the last 11 games played between 7 draws and 3 wins. In the goal area, he can still improve and be more incisive. But otherwise he turns the team around and has also become a leader with the captain’s armband on his arm. Now he is preparing to face his former team for the first time as captain.
La Nazionale e il futuro
First Mancini, now Spalletti. Not just Juric and Vanoli with Torino. He is a staple for the national team as well. He did not participate in Euro 2024, but then he took back his space in the Azzurro as well. Together with Casadei, a new arrival from Torino, he forms a pair of the future in terms of the Italian national soccer team. In the summer, many teams will have their eyes on him. So much will depend on Torino and the kind of project they want to pursue. But without Europe, it is very likely that the scenario will be the same as Bremer, Buongiorno, Bellanova…
Samuele Ricci
