Former Gigi Garzya and the road to realism: «Lecce sells big names? It's fine»

LECCE - For players such as Federico Baschirotto, Wladimiro Falcone, Ylber Ramadani and Nikola Krstovic, the cycle with the Lecce jersey could be over. The head of the technical area Pantaleo Corvino said it clearly during the press conference to present Eusebio Di Francesco. In short, some of the pillars of the Giallorossi team could change air to live other experiences and to pursue new goals. Provided, the manager from Vernole underlined, that the agreement is found with the clubs that want to secure their performances.

"Baschirotto and Falcone have entered the club's history in all respects, as they played a leading role in the three consecutive salvations achieved from 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 - says former Gigi Garzya - Ramadani did very well in his first year, while in the second he will be remembered for the winning goal scored against Torino on the penultimate matchday. While Krstovic, since he arrived, has been decisive, with his goals. We are therefore talking about players who have given a lot and who, at the same time, have received just as much from Lecce. If they can now aspire to a leap in quality, it is thanks to them, but also to the Salento club, which has put them in the position to do well". Garzya believes it is normal for departures to occur, even if "painful": "A provincial team that fights for permanence knows that, at a certain point, it will lose some of its most prominent men. It is normal for a player to want to try to progress, to pursue new goals, to land in more highly rated clubs. Which then also translates into earning more. We cannot forget, in fact, that football is a passion for the fans, but it is a job for those who play it. To this consideration, moreover, another must be added, as Lecce is coming off a very difficult season, in which it had one foot in Serie B and managed to pull itself out and celebrate only by collecting six points in the last two rounds, beating Torino and going on to deserve a resounding success on Lazio's pitch. For the protagonists on the pitch, the stress was enormous. This is demonstrated by the tears of liberation of Baschirotto and Falcone at the Olimpico. Or those of Ramadani after the goal scored against the granata. All this affects the desire to follow different paths".

It will be necessary to adequately replace those who leave: «I expect a transfer campaign that is partly different from the recent past. In the sense that, in addition to those players who are completely unknown to most of the insiders who need to be launched and matured, I think that some players who have already played in Serie A could also arrive. Someone who perhaps worked elsewhere with Di Francesco». Corvino clarified that, if Falcone is sold, the starter will be Cristian Fruchtl, hired last summer: «I don't know the German goalkeeper, but if the Lecce management has faith in him, I believe that the choice deserves the utmost respect. The head of the Giallorossi technical area and the sporting director Trinchera know well how important it is to have a reliable goalkeeper available. Falcone, with his saves, has guaranteed points as precious as those brought by the bomber Krstovic».

Di Francesco is fresh from the relegations suffered on the benches of Frosinone and Venezia: «The Pescara trainer is a great coach. Let's not forget the results achieved with Sassuolo and Roma, with which he reached a Champions League semi-final. I am sure that he will learn from the mistakes made by him personally and also by others, in 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. In Ciociaria he would have fully deserved to stay. In the lagoon the squad that was made available to him had several limitations. Yet he expressed excellent football». In Lecce, Di Francesco brought a first-rate staff: «The collaborators are fundamental. I know the trainer Massimo Neri well, who I had in Giallorossi as a footballer. He boasts top-level experience with Real Madrid and Roma or in China with Marcello Lippi. The other prominent name is that of Fabrizio Del Rosso, already appreciated in Salento as Marco Baroni's assistant for two seasons». As a Lecce native, Garzya has a dream: «It is the dream of all the Salento fans, that is, to reach the fourth consecutive salvation, but suffering less than last year. It would mean having taken another step forward, not a small one».