Squad practically rebuilt: Salernitana complete 11th winter transfer and sign Perotti

“Une, duo, tre?” the Italian Transfermarkt site asked the number of new signings at US Salernitana the day after the transfer window closed. Admittedly, they knew the answer themselves. Not one, two or three, but eleven – “undici!” – new faces can be found in the Granata’s squad since January. The last in the line was announced on Wednesday: Former Roma and Sevilla winger Diego Perotti returns to Italy on a free transfer after half a year without a club and signs until the end of the season.

No other Serie A team brought in as many new players in the winter as Salernitana. The activity may be explained by looking at the standings. The team from Campania sits at the bottom of the table. Jatin Dietl, Area Manager of Transfermarkt IT, explains: “The squad was not capable to compete in Serie A. Now the club has been sold, and in (Walter) Sabatini they have a good and active new sporting director. He has practically rebuilt the squad.”

Still, Dietl does not think it will be enough for Salernitana to stay in the league, “but at least they can try now. Before, it was simply a Serie B squad, and even there, they shouldn’t be considered to compete at the very top.” Yet the newly-promoted side from Salerno actually already started a rebuilding phase in the summer. Over the whole season, the Unione Sportiva added more than 30 players.