Bologna has commenced the new season with the pivotal re-confirmation of Vincenzo Italiano as head coach. The club`s transfer market strategy was meticulously aligned with the coach`s requirements, aiming to achieve an optimal balance of seasoned experience and emerging young talent. This carefully considered approach was designed to offset the significant departures of key players such as Dan Ndoye and Sam Beukema.
The Most Utilized New Arrival
Among the fresh faces introduced at Casteldebole, defender Torbjorn Heggem has distinctly emerged as the player who has seen the most playing time. The `99-born talent, following a brief stint with WBA, rapidly acclimatized to the unique environment of Bologna. To date, he has accumulated 5 league appearances, totaling an impressive 445 minutes on the field. This immediate and substantial impact on Italian football has been remarkable, though a comprehensive long-term assessment of his contributions is still eagerly anticipated.
Other Key Players and Their Integration
Following Heggem in terms of minutes accumulated is Zortea, the winger who joined from Cagliari over the summer. Coach Italiano has deployed him for 389 minutes across both Serie A and Europa League competitions. Subsequently, attention turns to Vitik (360 minutes) and Bernardeschi; the latter, having recently returned from Canada, is progressively finding his best form and is projected to experience increased playing time as he eyes his inaugural goal for Bologna. Rowe is also in the process of full integration, having already featured in 5 matches for a total of 151 minutes.
However, some players have encountered less fortunate starts to their tenure. Immobile and Sulemana have been particularly unlucky thus far: the striker played a mere 30 minutes before being sidelined by an injury, while the former Atalanta midfielder suffered an injury almost immediately after his arrival. In the most optimistic scenario, Sulemana might only be able to return for the season`s concluding fixtures.
